And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him.(vs47-51)
Jesus went to Calvary and the cross, willingly (vs47-53). He died for us whom the Father gave Him, willingly, laying down His life a ransom for sin. He said, “Permit even this.” He wasn't carried away kicking and screaming, but He submitted to the Father, because atonement had to be made and no one else could put away sin.
Never look upon any evil in this world as beyond God's control. All of it, no matter how wickedly inflicted, is according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23-24). He has a plan in the evil that men do, and we bow to Him as we endure the evil of this world. Look to Christ's submission as your own payment for sin, and receive the benefits that He's earned. Surely, His willing suffering unto death is enough for all the mercy and grace that you need.
Secondly, it pains us that we are sinners (vs54-62). We read, “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times'. So Peter went out and wept bitterly”. We have hopes for ourselves, and we think we're better than we are. We look in the spiritual mirror, and even when we see sin, we still don't see the blackness of the image. In our own minds, we are better than we really are, but when reality hits, and we fall short, it is discouraging and shameful - “Peter went out and wept bitterly”.
Thank God for Jesus' grace: He was paying for the sins that Peter was committing, our sins, the sins of you and I who believe. This grace has saved us, not because we're less sinful than Hitler or anyone else, but because God is merciful to whom He pleases, paid for our mercies in Jesus Christ, and gave us faith and love by the Spirit (1 Tim 1:14). Peter thought that he'd improved to the point of will-power obedience, that he could “will” victory, faithfulness, and courage, and they would come by the strength of his resolve! But, it isn't so. We obey by grace and apart from Him, we do no good works, and we fall.
How are you with sin? Are you ashamed? So was Peter, but it wasn't over because Christ prayed for him, Christ DIED for him, and Christ RETURNED unto Him in gospel blessings. After the resurrection, Jesus came back to the frightened eleven, and said, “Peace be unto you”, and showed them His wounds whereby we are healed (John 20:19-20). You and I will be saved, not because we're as faithful as we should be, but because Jesus receives us in spite of the sin in us, and it's because of the holiness and grace in Him.
Finally, Christ endured the cross by assurance (vs63-71)! He told His accusers, “Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God”. He knew the Father's promises of enthronement were real, so He looked forward in hope to the His return, even while going to the cross for His humiliation.
Look up, children of God, in hope, to the sureness of heaven to come! Know that God has chosen you, not only to believe and suffer but also to conquer. Know that His grace never fails to bring the saint home. Philipians 1:6 says, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”. Look upon your trials and temptations, painful as they are and as close as they are to you right now, as something already conquered in the promised gift of eternal life. He didn't say, “I'll get you started, give you a chance and see how it goes”. Grace is not probationary or handed out with a “wait and see” doubtfulness of hope; grace is SURE salvation based upon the gift of God, a gift that conquers sin, failure, and trials. It will never be said that one trusted Christ and did not make it to heaven, so don't trust Christ and yet doubt now. Take God's promises, and His truth will sustain you. His promises are real, so live in the reality, even while suffering. 2 Cor 4:17-18 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal”.
The present hardships, without the eternal promise of bliss, would be too much to bear. But, next to the eternal wealth guaranteed to us, the pain of today is nothing but a light affliction. Bless Him for assurance; it is God's gift by the scriptures to all who believe.
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