"And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. (48) But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (49) When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? (50) And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. (51) And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. (52) Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? (53) When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (54) Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."
We now are called upon to another view of the Redeemer. I beg the Reader's close attention. Every word is big with importance. And, first, Judas, with the band coming to apprehend Christ. But what a band of such armed men to lay hold of one poor unarmed man? Had they conceived that Jesus was nothing more than man, is it likely that they would have taken so great a body? And wherefore did Judas give such a signal for the apprehension of Christ? And Matthew adds to this account, that Judas, who made this the signal for the seizing of Christ, said to the soldiers, that when he had kissed Christ, they should hold him fast. Matthew 26:48; Wherefore were all these precautions, but from a conviction, that Christ was more than man. Surely, in the very moment they seized the Lord of life and glory, the minds of the greater part of the party were struck with condemnation. Judas could not forget the miracles of Christ. He had known his Master escape from the hands of his enemies, when they sought to throw him over the hill of the city. Luke 4:29-31. Hence he charged them to bind him, and lead him away safely. Mark 14:44. Reader! pause here to remark, how the Lord was overruling their malice to his own glory. Christ was now accomplishing the whole predictions of the prophets. Though the voluntary of offering of the Lord Jesus formed a most momentous part in the great efficacy of his sacrifice, yet the sacrifice, according to the law, must be bound. Psalms 118:27. Hence Isaac, a type of Christ, was bound and laid upon the altar. So that to answer both purposes, Christ's willingness, and their holding him fast, we have Jesus' voluntary surrender of himself, and their binding him.
And, secondly, I beg the Reader not to overlook what is said of the whole band, both of Jews and Gentiles, as engaged in this apprehension of Christ. By the spirit of prophecy, ages before these events came to be fulfilled, it was said, that, the kings of the earth, and the rulers, should take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. Psalms 2:1-2. Here we behold the accomplishment. And God the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of Peter, sweetly explains the whole, and applies it. Acts 4:19-28. Compare with Psalms 22:1 the title of it, and Psalms 22:19 and Psalms 22:16 explain each other.
And, thirdly, I pray the Reader to observe, that though all along, as the mock trial which follows proves, their intention was to deliver Christ over to the Roman power; yet to the High Priest he shall be first led. And wherefore? Aye! there's the point. They saw not the Lord's hand in all this; but the sacrifice of Christ must be bound, must be led away, as all sacrifices under the law were, to the High Priest, and both Jew and Gentile must be engaged in the great work. So that the hurrying the Lord Jesus, from the High Priest to the Governor, and from the hall of Pilate, to the Mount of Calvary, shall be in confirmation of that glorious scripture, He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7.