When he had said this, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. 2 Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.” He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. 6 When he said to them, “I AM,” they turned away and fell to the ground. 7 So he again asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill what he had said, “I have not lost any of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. 11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its scabbard. Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”
It was night when Judas left the room at the Last Supper (Jn: 13:30) and Judas came to complete his betrayal of Jesus (Mt. 26:14-16) with armed guards from the Jewish temple police and Roman soldiers. They came with lanterns and torches because they could not see through the darkness/evil even though Jesus was the light of the world (Jn. 8:12). They had weapons to kill the author of life (Acts 3:15). But Jesus was in control of the situation. They were looking for Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus revealed who he was; “I AM” and all who came to arrest him fell to the ground. The Gospel does not suggest that there was any divine action that made the group fall to the ground, but the Jews would have recognized the significance of the words “I AM (Ex. 3:14)” and reacted to them. Jesus asked the question again and used the opportunity when there appeared to be uncertainty from those seeking to arrest him to secure the release of his disciples (Jn. 6:39; 10:28). His disciples must fulfill their own mission after he is raised from the dead and they truly understand what he had told them.
At this point Judas was no longer considered to be a disciple. Simon Peter, who was always brash, cut off the right ear of the High Priest’s slave. Peter did not realize that he was interfering with God’s plan and Jesus rebuked him. Jesus was committed to doing his Father’s will. Luke’s Gospel is the only one that has Jesus healing the slave (Lk. 22:51). The cup is a reference to Jesus’ agony and loneliness in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mk. 14:36; Mt. 26:27; Lk. 22:42). Jesus had not yet been arrested.
Almighty God, help us not to betray your Son and strengthen our spirits so that we can overcome the weakness of our flesh. Help us to bear our crosses with joy ever looking towards you so that we may complete the tasks you have given us in a manner pleasing to you. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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