When He was arrested, Jesus Christ spoke... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

Do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen thus?
Matthew 26:53.54.

When He was arrested, Jesus Christ spoke these words to His disciple Peter, who had drawn his sword to defend his Master. At first sight it is indeed difficult to imagine that Christ, the promised Messiah and King of the Jews, should allow Himself to be captured by His enemies without any resistance. He knew what awaited Him; He had previously spoken clearly often enough about His death and resurrection.

Why didn't the great God, on whom Jesus had always relied, now intervene on His behalf? Was a precise request from the Son of God necessary? And if Jesus spoke of more than twelve legions of angels, did He merely want to reassure His disciples? No, even if Jesus suffered death by crucifixion, He remained the Lord with all power at His disposal.

Jesus especially emphasised the Holy Scriptures that spoke of the death of the Messiah and the true reason for it. All had been prophesied beforehand: Christ was to suffer death for the guilty, and the holy God accepted His atoning death as the sacrifice for sin.

Jesus Christ died. God's counsel, laid down in the Old Testament scriptures, was fulfilled. To contemplate this truth, surpasses our understanding.

"Our Lord Jesus Christ died for us, that we should live together with him" (1 Thessalonians 5:10).

Today's reading: Joshua 11:12-23 · 1 Corinthians 10:14-22