Scene 6: Jesus is betrayed by Judas and Arrested

The one I kiss is the one you must arrest

 Judas, who was one of the twelve, came near. He knew the place well; Jesus and his disciples had often gathered in it. There Judas came, accompanied by the guard, and officers, and a great crowd carrying swords and clubs, with lanterns and torches; they had been sent by the chief priests and the scribes and Pharisees and the elders of the people.
The traitor had arranged a signal with them.
"It is none other than the man whom I shall greet with a kiss; hold him fast, and take him away under guard."
The Chief Priests and Temple Guards didn't want to arrest the wrong man and at night the chances are that he would get away so they needed Judas to let them know.
The Romans were there to watch what was happening.

My Friend, on what errand have you come?

When Judas approached, and gave Jesus the friendly, familiar hug and kiss, Jesus said, "My friend, on what errand have you come? Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"
You will see that moments like this happen throughout he Passion. Jesus could have stopped the whole train of events at almost every point. Here Judas could have repented and told Jesus what was happening and stopped the arrest. Jesus gave him the chance.

Seeing that Judas would not take the opportunity, Jesus said to the waiting Temple Guards, "Who is it you are looking for?"
The guards replied, "Jesus of Nazareth"
Jesus said, "I am Jesus of Nazareth"

Judas, would you betray me with a kiss?

At this, the guards fell back. Their prisoner wasn't meant to stand with such authority and firmly announce his identity. They were in doubt as to what they should do.
So Jesus looked at them firmly and asked again, "Who are you looking for?"
"Jesus of Nazareth" the guards replied, with a little bravery, seeing as they were asked again.
Jesus replied, "I have told you already that I am Jesus. If I am the man you are looking for, let these others go free."
With this he would make good the words he had spoken to his disciples, “I have not lost any of those you have entrusted to me.”
As the Temple Guards approached Jesus, James then asked…
"Lord, shall we strike out with our swords?"
Remember how Jesus asked that they get swords at the Last Supper? James had learned from his prior experience with Jesus that he should check on these things so wanted to make sure that now was the right time to use the swords and defend Jesus.

We have swords for a reason!

But Peter, impetuous as always, heard the question, saw the Guards coming for his best friend Jesus and launched himself at the guards, cutting off the ear of the Temple Guard, Malchus.
Jesus cried out, "Stop! Peter! Let them have their way in this!"
Once more Jesus had to step in to force the process along in order to achieve God's will.
While everyone reacted to Jesus' voice of authority and paused, Jesus went to Malchus, placed his hand on Malchus' head and healed the cut-off ear.
He then explained to Peter and the others, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink that chalice which my Father himself has appointed for me? All those who take up the sword, will perish by the sword. Do you doubt that if I call upon my Father, even now, he will send more than twelve legions of angels to my side? But how, were it so, should the scriptures be fulfilled, which have prophesied that all must be as it is?"

Malchus. Be healed.

Then he spoke to the waiting Temple Guards, "You have come out to my arrest with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber; and yet I used to sit teaching in the temple close to you, day after day, and you never laid hands on me. But your time has come now, and darkness has its will."
At this the Temple Guards rushed forward and grabbed Jesus. They attempted to catch His followers but the disciples all ran and escaped.
Scripture records that there was a young man there following Jesus, who was wearing only a linen shirt on his bare body and when they laid hold of him left the shirt in the temple guards' hands and ran away from them naked. Wouldn't that be an interesting scene for the play? Maybe not.

While the Chief Priests gladly led the Temple Guards and their prisoner away to the house of Caiaphas, the Roman Centurion realised all this meant trouble. While he was amused at the mess the Temple Guards had arresting some unarmed itinerant preacher, the Centurion Longinus saw that their peace may be disturbed.

Peter, let them have their way in this.

Hey Malchus. Wasn't your ear cut off? Looks good to me.

He said to his second in commander, the Optio Marcus, "Come Marcus. We must tell Pontius Pilate what has happened here tonight. I fear this arrest means trouble."

OK. You can arrest me now.

We better let Pontius Pilate know there is trouble brewing. Again.