Mt 26:47-68

• vv47-56: Jesus Arrested:
• v47: here came Judas, and with him a large crowd, armed with swords and clubs. Not sure whether there were Roman soldiers in the midst (probably not because they were sent from the chief priests and elders?). Most likely they were all Jews--his own people had turned against him (how sad that must have been!), and that's just the beginning of the ordeal.
• v51: violence erupted
  
• vv52-53: one man and his sword is nothing compared with the 12 legions of angels, but Jesus wanted neither.
  
• v54, 56: He knew this was the path he must take--through trials and tourture and a humiliating death on the cross--to fulfill the purpose of his life. Only by his death can men's sin be cleaned, and their ransom paid. It's a huge price to pay, but that's what Jesus came for, and now the time had come. Obviously he had many choices at this juncture, but he did not sidestep--instead he got on it without looking back (but he did prayed very hard beforehand). What is the calling of our lives? Has it been clear yet? Do we have the determination to fulfill it?
  
• v56: all the disciples deserted him and left (the scene must be quite vilent: Mk 14:51-52). Some followed at a distance (v58).
  
• vv57-68: Jesus Before the Sanhedrin:
• v57: the crowd who arrested Jesus must have been led by someone like Paul--they thought the were doing God's will and loyal to the priests, teachers and elders (their authority of God's Law); "How could they be wrong? At least they can't be all wrong, can they?" -> Oh, yes they can! People in the crowd were zealous, but they didn't know what they were doing. They were blinded by their own zeal. This leads to the conclusion that zealousness by itself cannot be good--it must be balanced by cool discretion, an ability comes from knowing God and God's word. Can one be both at the same time? Porbably not. But one must reserve time for both.
  
• v64: Jesus admitted he's the Christ, the Son of God;
• v65: this became the evidence to execute Jesus;
• v67-68: then the scene turned ugly.