This Week's Story
click here to play audio"Am I a dangerous criminal? Is that why you brought weapons to help you take me?"
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
The Night of His Capture,
part two
Words collided inside Peter’s head as he relived his teacher’s arrest. “Once we were 12 men following Jesus as his trusted students. Judas, one of us, used a kiss to betray Jesus. What did I do instantly? I drew a sword and sliced off the ear of the high priest’s servant, a guy in the phony religious establishment determined to capture Jesus.
“I acted fast and thought foolishly. Judas is a traitor. Jesus is in legal custody. The priests have won and Jesus is their prisoner. They hate him. What will they do to him? He could have resisted, but he didn’t. Why?
“Tonight, I escaped the crowd’s blazing torches and weapons. I followed the crowd with its battalion of Roman soldiers and temple guards. They were excited by the night’s surprises.
“Enough of my head talk! What are those two men in the back of the crowd saying?”
“Did you see Jesus when soldiers arrived to arrest him?”
“Yes, he was absolutely calm and asked, ‘For whom are you looking?’”
“Jesus of Nazareth.”
“I am HE.”
“A strange power suddenly caused the soldiers and guards to fall to the ground. They stood and Jesus repeated his question. ‘For whom are you looking?’”
“Jesus of Nazareth.”
“A follower of Jesus stepped forward to Jesus and kissed him.”
“Judas, how can you betray me, the Son of Man, with a kiss?”
“Did you see the magic trick that happened next?”
“I saw the ear chopped off completely. Jesus somehow replaced it with a normal ear. I do not think it was a magic trick. This man Jesus, whom we just tied up, has healed many people.”
“You are talking like you know the man.”
“I am telling you what I have seen or heard. Jesus also spoke strongly to the man who cut off the ear.”
“Peter, put your sword away.
“Now, you men, am I a dangerous criminal? Is that why you brought weapons to help you take me? You could have easily arrested me in the temple in Jerusalem. I was there day after day. This is your moment. The power of darkness is reigning.”
The crowd moved forward through the streets of Jerusalem to the high priest who would question Jesus.
Peter’s mind flashed to three years earlier. Jesus had seen him fishing at the Sea of Galilee and had called to him. “Come. Follow me. I will make you a fisher of men.”
Peter did not wait. That day his training with Jesus began. Often, Jesus talked to the twelve students he had chosen. There were exhausting days when Peter saw Jesus healing, and teaching large crowds of children, women, and men. He had compassion with greatness and authority. When religious leaders tried to trap him with trick questions, his wisdom showed the leaders’ poverty of mind.
Peter now wondered: Does Jesus have a plan for me?
Until we continue our story, follow thisweeksstory.com or the concluding chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible.
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