The Night Mankind Arrested God (Matthew 26:45-56).Sunday March 8, 2026
Main idea: The Son of Man allows Himself to be seized so that He can be handed over as a substitute for us and lay hold of us forever.
Last conversation with disciples until after resurrection
Mat 26:45-46 Then He came to the 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. 46 "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"
Christ of resolve.
Grace to the disciples: their sin is not immoral but being too busy for Him.
Get up! Let’s go! He lays hold of them and will never let go.
The hour: the bell that tolls for the salvation of the world.
Son of Man. His description in Dan 7:13-14 is of a ruler of a worldwide, everlasting kingdom. Has something gone wrong?
Substitution for sinners by the King: from Genesis to Isaiah.
The one who hands Me over is at hand. Confront your enemy (even the little ones).
Four mentions of “seize” bookmarked by “fulfilling the Scriptures.”
Matt 26:47-56 While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him." 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.
51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. 53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 "How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"
55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. 56 "But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
They wouldn’t arrest Him in public (Mat 26:3-5)
Swords and clubs: Jesus replies - “Am I a robber? You know I’m a teacher.” Unfairness, foolish stupidity will persecute God’s people.
“Friend, wherefore are you here?” or “Friend, do what you have come for.” Last appeal to Judas. This line opens again the paradox: Sovereignty of God and free-will of man. Don’t ever count anyone out - be gracious and gospel giving to all.
Peter tries to seize them - sleeping instead of praying.
The legions of angels show that Christ had options in prayer.
Christ is in control of Himself because He knows the Word of God.
You and I must be perpetual students of holy Scripture (Isa 53:8).
Seize - used four times and so is the theme of this passage.
krateo - take control of someone or something; seize, take hold of.
An issue of control: who rules you?
When the end goal is the kingdom of God, rule becomes a major issue.
Born in Adam: controlled by sin and death (Rom 5:21; Tit 3:3-8 “enslaved to various lusts”).
Jesus voluntarily puts Himself under the control of sinners so that by substitution, salvation would come to the world (Isa 53; Zec 11:12-13; 13:7; Psa 22: 69; 41:9; Dan 9:26; every drop of blood in Leviticus).
Why Scripture? The will of God for the history of mankind, in particular, man’s redemption.
Judas did not know he was handing Him over to save all.
The Lord Jesus allows Himself to be taken hold of.
The night they arrested God. He allowed it to be tied to the altar:
Psa 118:26-27 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord; We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
God is going to have foolish, sinful people take hold of you.
Peter prophecy: John 21:12 “when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”
The Father always had hold of Christ.
Isa 42:6 “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,”
Isa 41:13-14 "For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.' 14 "Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you," declares the Lord, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
He allowed sinners to take hold of Him but death could not hold Him
Acts 2:24 "But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power
As a result of His death and resurrection:
He lays hold of the devil: Rev 20:2-3
He holds the church: Rev 1:16; 2:1.
He holds you forever: Joh 10:27-30.
Summary / Conclusion.
Gethsemane: cup of wrath, prayer, submission, resolve, grace.
Arrest: The plan of God was to become a true human, allow sinners to bind Him to the festal altar (Psa 118:26-27), so that He could bind you to Himself forever.
It is a plan of excess love, not balance sheets.
The balance sheet was unbalanced and nailed to a cross.
God is going to allow you to be taken hold of by others for two reasons:
1) You come to know more fully how tight God’s grip is on you.
2) You will lead others to be taken hold of by Christ and released from the fear that the devil uses to hold the world (Heb 2:14-15). |