“Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound Him and brought Him first to Annas…the High Priest that year.” (John 18:12)
We must remember that the garden that night was filled with people that Jesus loved. This simple place of solitude for our Savior was crowded with disciples, Roman soldiers, religious officials, and other people caught up in the frenzy of the arrest of this “notorious” rebel, Jesus. And Jesus loved every one of them. Not just the disciples who had dedicated themselves to His leadership but, the Jewish leaders who wanted His blood. He loved the Roman soldiers who were just following orders by arresting another Jewish trouble maker. The soldiers didn’t care. The priests were jealous and hated Him. The disciples loved Him and were afraid.
When I think about it I get mad at every one in the garden. I am mad at the disciples for abandoning Him. I get mad at the Jewish leaders for being so blind. I get mad when I see how rough the soldiers treat Him even when He offers no resistance. I even get mad at Jesus because He doesn’t resist. He is way to calm. In fact, there was only one calm voice in the garden that night. There was one person who kept people from killing each other. It was Jesus. Why? Because He loved every one in the garden that night. He was going to die for the Roman soldier as well as the disciple. He came to show love to the pharisee who hated Him as well as the fishermen who loved Him.
There are a lot of angry people in our world. There are those who don’t care about you or your God. There are some that would rather hate you than hug you. And Jesus loves every one of them. Suddenly the calm sense of peace and respect exhibited by Jesus in the garden makes more sense and His words from the cross come to mind, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” He loves us. The good and the bad and the angry.
Can you allow Jesus to bring that calm into your world today? Can you stand with Him and see the people around you as those He loves? Can you allow your heart to break with His as He sees lives trapped in a world of hurt and sin? And then, can you love them along with Him? I cannot do it without Him. I would guess that you can’t either. So, pray that God would open your eyes today and that He would give you the strength and insight to see those around you as He sees them.
Blessings.