Jesus Christ suffered for our salvation
Though He was shamefully betrayed by a disciple and friend, he patiently accepted the humiliation of being kissed and turned over to his enemies.
Though he knew he was innocent of any charge against him, he endured this mockery of a trial.
And though he alone has the power to give life, he was cast down for us and beaten by the guards of Israel and Rome and brought to the cross of Calvary to suffer and die so that He might satisfy the demands of God's justice
Earlier in Jesus' ministry, in the lead up to his passion and death on the cross, “he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again." (Mark 8:29-31 ESV)
These things he told them to prepare them – as he told them, “ 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27 ESV)
But could anyone fully expect what happened?
Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
So, in the moment of this betrayal, Peter the bold steps forward to free them.
But what do we see?
Peter's strike demonstrates the futility of fisherman, peasants, and tax collectors resisting trained Roman guards.
Peter's strike also demonstrates a willingness of the disciple to die for him but they could not die with him – they could not go through what Jesus was now going through for their deaths would not accomplish what the death of the Son of God accomplished for our salvation!
As one writer put it, “Salvation would come to God's people not through the defeat of their enemies but through the death and resurrection of the Saviour” (Kernaghan, 306)
That was the only way – let us never forget that!