Practical Proverbial, from Matthew, 22 September 2025. Today's topic: They Did It Anyway
His Word, Our Journey
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Matthew 26:47-49 (NIV).
By the time of Jesus’ arrest, the Jewish Temple no longer had political authority to enforce civil law. They lost it when the Romans invaded the Levant nearly 100 years before. Only Rome could field armies; only Rome could police Jerusalem with force; only Rome could execute a death sentence. Hence, arming soldiers (or “a large crowd”) with swords and clubs would have been illegal under the Roman occupation. But the leaders of the Temple did it anyway.
The lesson for our time? Don’t be surprised what people will do to stop you from preaching Jesus. I write this in the wake of the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. I won’t get into the politics of the case, but I will say I believe he was silenced because he believed so strongly in Jesus Christ. Most of those who celebrated him yesterday believed the same. It wasn’t just a political assassination: it was an attack on faith…and Jesus still prevailed.
Don’t be surprised when people attack you and I for our faith, too. I sincerely hope they don’t do so with bolt action rifles, but let’s be honest and say that’s always possible. Keep preaching Jesus anyway with whatever means are at your disposal. Channel His energy so you want to both get closer to God’s Word and resolve to use your voice to share it however you can, using words if you have to. Actions are better. In other words, help your family; help your neighbor; help strangers. Let’s strike up conversations with each other, especially if we don’t know each other. How about me and you reach out to people we haven’t talked with in awhile and catch up, say “how are you doing?”
How about we dive deeply into our Scriptures so we might embrace what it says?
But don’t be surprised if some turn hostile, even some closest to you. Judas was one of Jesus’ closest friends and he betrayed Him to people who didn’t have the authority or power to do what they did but did it anyway. So great was the power of the living Word of God that His chief opponent was willing to do whatever he could to stop Him from doing even more. After all, it wasn’t just the Temple priests who were working to permanently silence Jesus. No, the nefarious power behind them was the same nefarious power who said to Eve, “did God really say?” The same is true in our world today.
For more, read Mark 14:44-45, Luke 22:47-48, John 18:4-6, Matthew 26:50
Lord Jesus, let me study Your Word today!