Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

After leaving the Last Supper, Judas informed the captain of the temple guards that he was ready to lead them to Jesus. Arriving at the expected location, Jesus had already left with the apostles, causing Judas to fear their retaliation. He went to Gethsemane instead and requested a company of forty armed soldiers from the Jewish rulers. After facing obstacles, they obtained permission from Pilate and, accompanied by over sixty individuals, including armed soldiers and temple guards, Judas set out to arrest Jesus. Their arrival at Gethsemane aroused the apostles, who headed to where Jesus was sitting alone in the moonlight. The apostles approached from one side and Judas and the armed soldiers approached from the other side. Judas stepped out in front, hoping that he could identify Jesus quickly and the arrest could be made with little fuss. But Jesus stepped up and asked the guards who they wanted before Judas could reach him. He immediately identified himself as the one they were looking for. Judas could have stopped there and not carried out his betrayal, but he needed to carry out his bargain with the rulers who were going to pay him. So he embraced Jesus and placed a kiss on his face. It was a shocking scene. Jesus once again asked the soldiers who they were looking for, and again he identified himself as the one they wanted. He told them he was ready to go with them.