Scripture: John 18:1-13 (NIV)

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.

After Luke Skywalker has the truth about his parentage confirmed, he realizes on the trip to Endor that he is potentially leading Darth Vader straight to the rebel band. Knowing that he needs to confront Vader anyway and try to sway him to leave the dark side, Luke leaves his friends behind in the Ewok village and finds a garrison of stormtroopers. He surrenders to them, knowing he will be taken to his father, but tries to protect his friends by saying that he is alone.

Luke’s sacrifice didn’t necessarily work the way he wanted. Darth Vader immediately gave his men the freedom to go out and search for the other rebels. While they didn’t find Han Solo and Leia Organa, it didn’t really matter given the fact that the Emperor had already laid a trap for them at the shield generator. However, Luke was willing to take the risk to his life in order, at least in part, to save his friends.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ faced a similar situation. Judas had led a group of officials and soldiers into the garden to arrest Jesus. Whatever his motivations, this was obviously not a good situation for Jesus to be in. It was fraught with tension and anxiety for His followers, including Peter who lashed out to try to fight for his Master. Instead of fighting, Jesus surrendered. He knew the path that He was to walk. He knew that He was going to His Father in a painful way. He wasn’t going to try to fight what God had ordained.

All He asked of His captors was that they would let His disciples go free. He was about to sacrifice His life for the whole of humanity, but He used these last few moments of freedom to care for His sheep, so that none of them would be lost to death at this time. Unlike Luke, He was very effective in this request, as all of the disciples lived to serve another day. While they would all (save Judas and John) die martyr’s deaths, those deaths were in the future, after they had gone out to spread the word to all nations.

Christ doesn’t want any of us to be lost either. His death was for our sins, even though it was over 2000 years ago. We need to live our lives in the light of that fact. Maybe that means stepping into a breach to draw attention away from others. Maybe it means dealing with a problem so someone doesn’t have to deal with it. Whatever you do, do it with the knowledge that Christ died for your sins and rose again so they would have no power over you. Today is a day of mourning, but Easter is coming!