Daily Word

Dangerous preacher | Matthew 26:55-56

55 Then Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. 56 But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Matthew 26:55-56 (NLT) 中文

No protection needed

Jesus is being arrested by the crowd in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas has betrayed Him and some of the other disciples are trying to protect Him. Such a crazy idea – to think they needed to protect Jesus. He corrects their error and, as Luke’s gospel reveals, heals the servant’s ear as instant proof He doesn’t need protection!

Dangerous preacher

They came with swords and clubs with temple guards to arrest Jesus, the humble servant. The most violent thing He had done was to upset the money changers in the Temple about a week prior. Otherwise, He was teaching and healing and setting people free. But more than that, He was preaching the Good News that those who repent and believe in Him can be freed from their sin. And they can be restored to a perfect relationship with God, their Father and Creator.

So in a significant way, Jesus was indeed dangerous. Not to the people He was there to serve (Matthew 20:28), but to God’s enemy, the Devil. He was about to destroy the power of sin and death and make the way for all mankind to be saved – past, present and future. 

Prophecies fulfilled

There are many, over 300 prophecies about the Messiah. Together, they provide overwhelming evidence not only that Jesus is the Messiah, but the reliability and accuracy of the Bible and, the existence of God who orchestrates all of life. If you’re interested, here is an exhaustive list of 351 that one site has compiled. And who is not familiar with Handel’s Messiah which quotes many an OT prophecy about Messiah.

Of these prophecies, many are related to the events we’re presently studying, the passion of the Christ. “Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies, including Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10 (cp. John 19:31–37)…Just before His arrest, Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7, stating that prophecy is about to be fulfilled (Matthew 26:31).” (gotquestions.org) Of course Isaiah 53, the suffering servant, is the most well-known.

RЯeflection

  • First we must ask, have you repented of your sin? Have you believed that this man, Jesus, is God’s Messiah, your Savior? He is very God. Click here to learn more.
  • For those of us who have already repented and believed, I’ll ask what was preached yesterday in church. Do we need to re-commit our lives to His calling? Are you God’s soldier who has become entangled with civilian affairs? (2 Timothy 2:4) Have you put put our hand to the plow and looked back? (Luke 9:62)
Billy Gram praying. Image from billygrahamlibrary.org *

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