It is noteworthy to see such a band of heavily armed men come for a man who had his whole life demonstrated the essence of love, one who had never given a political speech nor advocated civil unrest. Judas must have surely known, if he believed Jesus to be sent of God, that no force of man could stand against Him. He had seen His power demonstrated in all His many miracles. Some have said it is because of this very knowledge Judas acted to precipitate Jesus exercising His power to establish His kingdom, thus acting as His unsolicited agent. Never did he intend or expect Jesus to be arrested, nor certainly stand dumb before His accusers to be condemned to crucifixion, hence his overcoming remorse and fatal end.

Another thought here is that the Pharisees had seen Jesus act indignantly in the Temple at the outset of His ministry, and again most recently when driving out the moneychangers, and they stood idly by, doing nothing. But this time they would be prepared to act and meet Him on their terms.

Whatever the case, it can be clearly said that people have always misunderstood Jesus, thus leading them to underestimate His Authority; and so they came with great fanfare. An almost, if not ludicrous scene -- hundreds armed to the teeth against twelve with only two heretofore unstained swords.

Jesus is not caught by surprise. He who needs no counselor to advise Him of the heart of man, has anticipated this moment. He is prepared to meet His detractors and deal with the unregenerate condition of man that is responsible for bringing these against Him. He knows they are but puppets, acting in blind obedience to the master of sin. He will pray for their forgiveness on the cross for their unwitting involvement. Accordingly, he seems to be saying in His salutation: "WHOM SEEK YE?" -- "May I help you?"

"JESUS OF NAZARETH" There can be no mistaking His identity. They have desired Him since 5:16; looked for Him on the Holy Days, 7:11; disappointed in their earlier attempts to detain Him, 7:45; hence now they must be certain, and He must certainly no longer escape. ( 8:59, 10:39)

"I AM" John has used the great "I AM" 7 times in connection with all that He is, e.g., "I AM THE DOOR"; but here Jesus utters the great I AM in power as when spoken by God to Moses for personal identification. And when spoken, it is clothed in His Glory such that it drives unholy man to his just place before the Holy God. The very voice of God that spoke the worlds into creation, breathed the breath of life into man in the beginning, spoke on the Mount to that man Moses, now speaks in the darkest hour of man's depravity, and he senses a Holy Presence! He had been energized with such Power by the angel's touch for His coming ordeal, it must have been spoken in great restraint, else they would have been consumed by the blast of His Breath. Think about it.

After Jesus successfully intervenes on behalf of His followers, Peter, likely in a conscious reaction against his predicted denial, and not waiting to hear Christ's will when asked, impulsively raises his sword, swiftly severing a servant's ear. In one act of defense against his feared denial, as to prove Christ wrong, all his courage was expended, and he will later cower by the night's fire, cursing his master. He will no longer be able to rely upon his own strength in the future as a follower of Christ. This is his pivotal moment of total depletion of self-sufficiency for full surrender to Jesus' way. He will forever be a changed man! (Mk.14:66-72, Acts 3:6, Acts 4:13)

Peter learns the hard way that the battle against evil will not be fought with the steel sword of man, rather the Spirit of Christ. His sword is not to be used for spiritual persuasion. (Comical anecdotes come to mind here of gun-wielding preachers in days of yesteryear.) Jesus is saying here: Cease from anger...Forsake wrath...Recompense to no man evil for evil...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good...Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.

Meanwhile, it is in Christ's nature to restore the victim of Peter's final act of self-determined ambition and misguided boldness. Christ really does love everyone, even His enemies. (I Pe.2:11-25, key vs.17)

Coupled with his last arrestable act depleting his self-sufficiency and the seizure of his Source of calm amidst his past storms in life, Peter's courage has now given way to cold cowardice. With him, all men are seen to live in the extremes. It is only Christ who can bring balance into anyone's life for daily living, establishing them for endurance through life's many ups and downs.

Before, Peter stood against soldiers with drawn steel swords; now he cannot muster even enough strength to give witness to a woman servant. How pathetic, how tragic! Fallen from the pinnacle of positions at his brightest hour, the illuminous Transfiguration, to the pit of self-pity in this his darkest. Having once basked in Christ's radiant Glory, now reduced to the pathetic want of the warmth of a fire's glow amidst an early spring night's cold.