In The Beginning - Chapter 18 (The Kiss of Death)

Chapter 18

Jesus and his disciples left the house where they had been celebrating Passover, the time when the Jews remember their rescue by God from the bondage of slavery to an evil king brought about by covering the entrance to their home with the blood of a lamb.

A powerful formation of angels encircled them as they proceeded along their way.  Satan's forces of evil were everywhere, but they dared not attack.  They knew their time was coming and they had their orders.  Each of the disciples had an angel assigned to them for their protection, but on this special day, a multitude of heavenly hosts was on hand.

They crossed through a valley to an olive grove called Gethsemane.  Judas knew it well because Jesus had often taken his disciples there.

Jesus left his disciples there in the grove and went a short ways away and began to pray.  He took Peter, James, and John with him and asked them to keep watch while he prayed.  Ever since Satan had entered Judas back at the house his heart was heavy with despair.  He knew what he had to do, but the thought of giving in to Satan was disdainful to his divine nature in the extreme.

Likewise, his human side was struggling mightily with the pain he knew he was about to endure.

Walking a short distance from the three, he fell to the ground and began to speak to his father.  “You can do anything!” he pleaded.  “Isn’t there another way to redeem your creation?”  But even then he expressed his obedience.  “But let your will be done, and not mine,” he said.

The troupe of angels who had protected them at the house and had accompanied them to the garden now drew close to him to provide protection and comfort.  Jesus was struggling mightily with sorrow and despair when Gabriel, God’s messenger, walked up to Jesus, placed his hands on his shoulders bent his head down low and spoke words of comfort and strength into his ear.

Jesus' spirit began to calm and his will once again became resolute.  His emotion was in check and he knew it was time.  This was the defining moment in the history of the world.  It has been ordained by God since the original sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, so long, but then such a short time ago.  This was God’s perfect plan and it would be as He had ordained it.

Jesus returned to find Peter, James and John sleeping.  It was about one in the morning and the day had been long and tiresome.

“Why are you sleeping?” he shouted, pointing across the garden.  “I’ve been betrayed into the hands of sinners and here comes my betrayer!”

The three awoke quickly and were alert.  As they looked through the olive trees they saw Judas approaching with a bunch of armed guards.  The rest of the disciples had moved quickly to Jesus’ side and were now standing around him ready to protect their master.

Judas walked through the others and up to Jesus.  “Teacher!” he said, and then moved forward to give him a kiss on the cheek.

Jesus pulled back incredulously.  “Are you going to betray me with a kiss, Judas?”

Judas leaned forward and kissed him lightly on each cheek.  This was the signal to the temple guard that they should move forward and take into custody the one who was kissed.

Everyone stayed still as the temple guard looked at Jesus and his disciples and they looked back wondering what would happen next.

“Who is it you want?” he asked.

“Jesus of Nazareth,” one of them replied.

“That’s me,” he said.

Immediately the temple guard stepped backward and fell to the ground.  There had been much talk around the temple about Jesus.  Many had claimed that he was The Messiah, the one who would come to save the Jews from their oppressors and rule the Earth with them as his ruling party.

Some said that He could do miracles and most of the temple guard was afraid of him.

“Who is it you want?” Jesus asked them again.

Timidly, the same soldier replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

“I told you that is me.  If you are looking for me then let these others go.”

Seeing Jesus was about to be arrested, Peter, who had brought a sword with him, drew it and lashed out at one of the temple guards.  The guard, whose name was Malchus, was taken a little by surprise and almost managed to dodge the blow completely, but was just a bit too slow.  His ear was severed from his face and he screamed in agony holding his hand up to the side of his bleeding head.

Emboldened by this attack, the temple guards raised their weapons and moved into an offensive posture, planning to slay all of Jesus’ disciples and take Jesus away by force.

Jesus stepped up immediately and yelled “Put your swords away!”

Everyone stopped and looked at him.  He spoke with such authority one couldn’t help but obey.

He walked over to Malchus who was holding pressure on his wound trying to stop the bleeding.  Jesus bent down and picked up his ear.  Malchus looked at him cautiously.  Jesus put his hand to Malchus’ arm and pulled it away from his face.  The bleeding had stopped.  He then put the ear back to the side of Malchus’ face and held it there for a few seconds.  When he removed his hand the ear had been re-attached.  It was completely healed and Malchus felt no pain.  Only the blood remained as a reminder that there had been any injury at all.

Jesus turned to face his disciples and said, “Should I not drink the cup the father has given me?”

At that the temple guard took him by both arms and tied them together.  It was about half past one in the morning.