The Approach Of Judas. Physical Swords Are Not Enough (22:47-53).
Having finally satisfied Himself that the way ahead was in accordance with His Father's will Jesus awaited His fate with equanimity. The battle having been fought and won in His mind and heart from this time on He goes forward without a moment's hesitation. And in all His suffering we are made aware that He was in control. This passage deals very briefly with what happened in the Garden on the Mount of Olives. He was not taken by surprise to see Judas leading a party of Temple police towards Him, accompanied to the rear by a Roman cohort, who had presumably been warned of how dangerous this man was, with His band of bloodthirsty insurrectionists, whom they were coming to seize. The Roman cohort was therefore no doubt surprised when Judas stepped forward and kissed Him. It would not quite tie in with what they had almost certainly been told about this fearsome desperado.
But the disciples must have watched, unbelievingly. They could understand the arrival of Judas, but why with this great crowd of people? And then the kiss and what followed betrayed all. It especially emphasised Judas' hardness of heart. How many men could have carried such a thing through, or even have considered arranging it? And most significantly it revealed to all who saw it that Jesus really was no threat, and that Judas knew that Jesus would not respond violently.
But it was different with ever impulsive Peter, and when he woke up to what was happening, he drew his sword ready to defend his Master with his life. It was a foolhardy act, for even though he was probably not yet aware of the composition of the approaching crowd, they only had two swords between them. And what were they against so many? But Peter, ever precipitate, did not consider the consequences, and striking out wildly, took off the ear of a servant of the High Priest, who no doubt saw the blow coming and dodged, but not quickly enough. Peter was no doubt still feeling rankled about Jesus' warning that he would deny Him. But Jesus immediately told him to put his sword away, and restored to the man his ear. He did not want the disciples arrested as well. Nor did He want His own case to be marred by accusations of violence, and ‘resisting arrest'.
Then He rebuked His opponents for their hypocrisy, and for this great show which He knew was only in order to impress the Romans and convince them that He really was a political danger. For all knew what He was. They had seen Him daily preaching in the Temple.
a While He yet spoke, behold, a large group, and He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and he drew near to Jesus to kiss Him (Luke 22:47).
b But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48).
c And when those who were about Him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we smite with the sword?” (Luke 22:49).
d And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear (Luke 22:50).
c But Jesus answered and said, “Allow them to go thus far.” And He touched his ear, and healed him (Luke 22:51).
b And Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, who were come against him, “Are you come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves?” (Luke 22:52).
a “When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53).
Note that in ‘a' treachery is revealed against Him, and in the parallel there is similar treachery. In ‘b' the treacherous one is questioned, and in the parallel the other treacherous ones are questioned. In ‘c' His disciples asks what they should do, and in the parallel Jesus tells them. And centrally in ‘d' one of His disciples cuts off the High Priest's ear. Was this seen by Luke as symbolic of the deafness of the Jewish leaders to His message?