The emphasis of both Isaiah and John is on Christ's willingness to die. The first indication of this is His going to the garden where He knew Judas would find Him.

The manner of the arrest is wholly ironic. The soldiers came with lanterns and torches to search for "The Light of the World", and with swords and spears to subdue "The Prince of Peace". This insult proved how very much His mission was misunderstood, and how fully the Saviour was regarded and treated as a common criminal.

Not wishing to hide or escape, Jesus presented Himself to His captors, declaring who He was with calm resolution and in full control. Suddenly, His captors fall to the ground, possibly overwhelmed by the unexpectedness of Christ's behaviour and His majestic bearing.

The over-confident Peter, however, does not withdraw. He has to make good his previous boast. Jesus reprimands him sharply for his rash action and is completely at variance with Christ's determination to willingly lay down His life for His sheep. His yielding to His captors was, in reality, not a surrender, but a glorious victory over human frailty and the power of darkness.

Jesus is seized. He who came into the world to bring true freedom was Himself bound - bound that we may be loosed from sin. The bogus trial where the Heavenly High Priest stood in the dock before the sinful earthly one must have cut deeply into the sensitive heart of Christ.