55 “At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.” (Matthew 26:55–56 (ESV)
48 “And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.” (Mark 14:48–50 (ESV)
52 “Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” (Luke 22:52–53 (ESV)
4 “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” (John 18:4–9 (ESV)
In observing the four Gospels concerning Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane, Matthew, Mark and Luke record Jesus asking the crowd “Have you come out as against a robber?” Luke alone specifically identifies the crowd, consisting of “the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders” (Luke 22:52).
The three authors mention Jesus saying, “Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.” Again, Luke alone records Jesus also saying, “But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). The setting of physical darkness is appropriate for the dynamic of spiritual darkness. Additionally, Matthew and Mark alone mention the disciples leaving Jesus and fleeing the scene of darkness (Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50). Jesus also refers this scene as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
Psalm 88:8 (ESV) – “You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape.”
Psalm 88:18 (ESV) – “You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.”
What an ironic contrast to Jesus’ statement in His Sermon on the Mount that His disciples were salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16) and also when Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” (John 8:12).
Not surprisingly, John emphasized the deity of Jesus Christ in his narrative. He refers to Jesus’ omniscience (John 18:4), His holiness (vs. 6), His authority (vs. 8) and His perfect fulfillment of Scripture (vs. 9).
“Our Lord expressed amazement during His arrest, noting that He was being treated as a robber and being taken at night even though there had been opportunities to arrest Him during the day (Mark 14:52–53). The soldiers acted as if He were a criminal even though they had plainly seen in the daylight that He was not one, and their arrest of Him at night shows their awareness that He was guilty of no sin. They had to come at night, when no one was looking, lest they meet protests from the crowds that Jesus was an innocent man. They had to hide their unjust actions under cover of darkness,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“If anyone wishes to know what kind of person this Jesus had proved himself to be during the slightly more than three years of his public ministry, let him read such passages as Matt. 4:23–25; 11:25–30; 12:18–21; Luke 24:19; Acts 2:22. To say, as some, in commenting on Matt. 26:55, have done, that he was “harmless” is putting it too mildly. He was and is, “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14), the world’s greatest Benefactor. How absurd and hypocritical it was for the foe in the hour of darkness to pounce upon this Good Shepherd, from whom no one who heeded his message had anything to fear, and who even taught people to love their enemies,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 