How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?

 

 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?"  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"  In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.  But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."  Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

 

- Matthew 26:47-56 

 

Yesterday we read that, after the Last Supper, Jesus came with disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and said to them, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."  And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.  Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.  Stay here and watch with Me."  He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."  Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What?  Could you not watch with Me one hour?  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."  And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.  So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.  Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting?  Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going.  See, My betrayer is at hand."

 

  And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him."  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him.  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?"  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  Let us take note that Christ is still trying by any means to save Judas.  He has given him a warning at the Last Supper, even as it was made clear that Judas was intending to betray Him (see He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me).  Here again, at this scene of open betrayal, Jesus asks, calling Judas Friend, "Why have you come?"  It is yet another prompting for Judas to think about what he is doing, to repent, a last chance even as he betrays Christ.

Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"  In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.  But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled."  Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.  Here Jesus gives another rebuke to Peter (identified as the one who stretched out his hand and drew his sword in John 18:10).  My study Bible says that Jesus rebukes Peter for using the sword because Peter still does not understand that Christ is going to His death willingly, that salvation of humankind might be fulfilled.  My study Bible explains that a legion is 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions equal 72,000 angels.  That Christ's death was foretold in the Scriptures served to strengthen the disciples at their hour of greatest test. 

Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the fulfillment of the Scriptures.  My study Bible explains, quite importantly, that the prophecy of this death being foretold in the Scriptures served to strengthen the disciples at this hour of their greatest test.  This emphasis illuminates for us the essential function of prophecy.  It is not simply to foretell, or to give people a sort of expectation, although these functions remain a part of prophecy.  But Jesus, for example, prophesies about the destruction of the temple, together with end times to a lengthy extent in Matthew's Gospel (see chapters 24 and 25).  We need to ask ourselves why this is so.  It is not simply for those who immediately hear, although of course it was important and essential to the first apostles, the followers of Christ, and to the Church they would go on to establish.  But as was observed throughout our commentary on those chapters, and in the notes quoted from my study Bible, prophesy is not given so that we make timetables of events to come.  Neither do those prophesied events occur simply to fulfill prophecy, as some conclude from Christ's words here.  The prophecy exists so that when we see such events unfolding, we might comprehend them with the perspective of the Scripture.  Jesus gives the parable of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32-35) with just this admonition:  "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!"  His constant injunction is to watch and pray:  prophesy is given to us so that we are aware of what is happening and not asleep to the reality and meaning of events we observe.  Here Jesus speaks of the fulfillment of the Scriptures in the secrecy and stealth with which He is taken, not in the light but in darkness, and that He is treated as a thief ("numbered with the transgressors" reads Isaiah 53:12), so that the disciples may understand with certainty what is truly happening here -- and that we who follow understand as well.  Events do not happen in order to fulfill prophecy, but we are given prophecy in order to understand those events when they do happen.  It is the event itself of the Crucifixion, in all its meanings and effects which reach even beyond our understanding, that is at the center and cause of the prophecy, and not the other way around.  The prophecy of what is happening, of the Suffering Servant of Isaiah (among other Scripture) allows us to understand these events in a true perspective given by God, so that we know what we serve and Whom it is we worship, so that we understand the meaning of these events.  And the prophesy serves the foundation of faith of these disciples, even through the events they experience are so devastating and so terrifying.  As my study Bible puts it, at this hour of their greatest test.  And this, once again, is our own reality as well, with the Scriptures giving insight even to our own suffering in His name, our understanding of what it means to call ourselves "Christian" and to be His followers.  For He gives us a light through the darkness, even the worst sorts of darkness we can imagine in our lives.  He challenges us -- even through these events -- to maintain our faith, that there is a way through the darkness, and even that God is capable of using the greatest evil, through our faith, to create good, even to bring salvation to the world.  Let us have faith and know what it means to have prophecy, to follow our faith through all things, and know that even the darkest moments of our own lives can serve the power in the Cross, for redemptive strength that is possible for the One with whom all things are possible (Matthew 19:36).  Jesus tells Peter, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword," raising for us the question:  In what (or Whom) do we put our faith?  Christ teaches us to rely upon God, and that message remains as important as it ever was, and perhaps now more than ever.