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betrays Me is at hand!" (Matthew 26:46).
As Jesus spoke, Judas arrived, followed by a large number of men with swords, lanterns, and clubs—a Roman cohort (of 300-600 men) as well as officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. Judas called to Him—calling Him "Rabbi," or teacher—and kissed Him, a traditional greeting at the time. In case they didn't get the picture, Jesus asked the soldiers who they were looking for. When they said "Jesus the Nazarene," Jesus responded, "I am He." Whereupon the guard and soldiers drew back and fell to the ground.
Jesus submitted to the mob, but His disciples did not. One asked if they should fight back. Peter didn't wait for an answer. He drew his sword (possibly a long fisherman's knife) and cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. The Bible doesn't elaborate why. Perhaps Malchus was ushering Peter and the other disciples away. Or maybe he had his hands on Jesus. We don't know. But Jesus rebuked Peter, in effect telling him that if violence was his first instinct, violence would be his undoing. "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54). To emphasize His point, Jesus healed Malchus' ear.
Jesus then pointed out the cowardice of the mob, that they came to confront one unarmed man in the dead of night instead of taking Him in the day where the people could see. But, as in His prayer, He acknowledged that this was God's plan. Each member of the mob was responsible for his own choice, but for Jesus' part He would not struggle against God's instruction.
As the guards took Jesus away, the disciples ran, one (perhaps Mark) naked.
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