John 18:1-11
In the anonymity of darkness a crowd bearing weapons, sent by the chief priests and Pharisees, come to forcibly take Jesus away. In the lead, His betrayer, Judas. Day after day they had seen Him, some may have listened to Him teaching at the temple, or eaten the bread and fish He miraculously provided - now, only under the cover of night, brave enough to attempt this hostile act against Him.
Not that the religious leaders hadn't attempted to lay hands on Christ before. In John 10:31-39 we find, " Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him." However, "...He escaped out of their hand." What made the difference this time? The darkness? A larger, well armed, group?
Just prior to His betrayal, Jesus had spent an agonizing time of prayer with His Father. Some of the prayer is recorded in John 17. Luke 22:41 tells us that He also prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Jesus would obey God's perfect will. It was all about the timing- not only would God's will be done, but in the way He had foretold His prophets in the past! "But all of this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." (Matthew 26:56) The hostile crowd could take Him now because it was the right time, God's will would be done, and prophesy would be fulfilled.
Evil will still use the cover of anonymity and darkness to do its work. Ugly words that may never be spoken in person will find their way to the inbox of an unsuspecting reader. The dark of night works well to hide a thief going about his business. An anonymous tip may reveal the name of a Christian believer in a country where Christianity is forbidden.
Darkness, however, will not prevail over light. John 1:4 tells us that Jesus is life, and His life is the light of men. The men that came to take Jesus away and crucify Him could not keep Him in the dark grave. Jesus rose again to bring light and life to all that believe in Him!
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