While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.

I find responses of the different people in this historic moment in time interesting to observe. Here are a few worth noting: 1) Judas: he responded to Jesus’ calling on his life to be a disciple … by betraying him. He even gave the kiss of friendship in his betrayal. Judas traded Jesus for the evil one and committed an evil act. How tough this must have been for Jesus to receive. 2) The Crowd: some came out of duty, some out of anger, others out of jealousy and so many other motives. But none had compassion on the healer, the one who drove out demons, who raised them from the dead and performed miracles. No one stood by him when the Jewish leaders were trying to arrest him in his innocence. 3) Peter: he was quick to defend Jesus and take action. And he was quick to get rebuffed. Jesus told him to put his sword away. Peter had apparently been ready to fight, but he was not ready yet to follow Jesus to the grave in self-sacrifice. 4) Jesus: he maintained his peaceful position of power in the midst of the earthly chaos around him. A betrayal with a kiss, a false arrest and false accusations, a lack of appreciation for the ways he gave of himself for others — all of these could have been reasons to lash out in anger. But instead, Jesus rested in God’s plan for his life and acted in the spirit and manner of a loving Savior!

Lord, thank you for modeling this behavior for me. It is a stark contrast to the “eye for an eye” manner in which this world tends to operate. Your peace is such a bright witness to your goodness and your sovereignty. May I rest in it too!