Lent Day 37

John 18:1-14

This is not the first time people tried to arrest or kill Jesus (cf. Lk 4:30; Jn 10:39). Each time they tried to kill Him, He simply walked away through their midst. Something stopped them and He left unharmed. Again in the garden that same confusion or fear stopped the guards and Jesus could have walked away. But this time He knew it was time for His arrest and He reminded them of why they had come. They sent a huge crowd of soldiers (Jn 18:12) for just one man and it would not have been enough if the timing wasn't right. Yet since this was part of God's plan for our salvation, Jesus did not walk away but called them back to their senses to complete the arrest. And so Caiaphas' plan went forward not because they overwhelmed Jesus with their force but because He chose to go with them.