Daily devotion – the Lamb led to the slaughter
Jhn 18:12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
Jhn 18:13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
Jhn 18:14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
When Jesus our Lord was arrested, it was dark and late at night. Jesus had already had a long day. His disciples were so exhausted by the schedule and the pressures that they had fallen asleep.
But for Jesus, the time while they were sleeping was a deep crisis in prayer and agony that He endured alone – Luk 22:44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Now Jesus was bound and in the hands of His enemies. He was alone since His disciples had been scattered.
His ‘trial’ was about to begin!
After Judas identified Jesus with many kisses, Jesus was arrested and taken to Caiaphas house.
Jesus never protested, never resisted, He did not berate His arresting party, neither did He physically protest – these were not signs of weakness but of controlled power. Jesus was in control!
He was the Passover Lamb…just as Isaiah had foretold – Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
I personally struggle with Jesus’ treatment here as I read it each Easter. For my old nature desires judgment and retribution. But our God is the God of grace. Our way of fixing things in the flesh is never the right way or God’s way.
That is why Easter is so humbling to me. For it is my own rebellion, my own sinful nature that Jesus came to suffer and die for so that I might be free from such living and foolish selfish behaviour.
This Easter, surrender your old ways to Him. His suffering, His silence was the price He paid to free us from our old selves. Let His sacrifice and suffering not be wasted on you!