Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus 

After hastily departing the Last Supper, Judas went to the home of his cousin and then immediately went to the captain of the temple guards. He informed the captain that he was ready to lead them to Jesus. However, when they arrived at the home where Judas expected to find Jesus, he had already left with the eleven apostles. Judas became increasingly nervous, fearing the disciples' retaliation, and decided to go to Gethsemane instead. He explained to the Jewish rulers that Jesus had armed followers there and requested a company of forty armed soldiers. Despite Jesus advocating for non-resistance, Judas harbored concerns that not all of Jesus' followers would adhere to this teaching, and he feared for his own safety.

After facing several obstacles and delays, they eventually obtained permission from Pilate to use Roman guards. At about eleven-thirty on the night of April 6, 30 CE, Judas was accompanied by more than sixty individuals when he set out to arrest Jesus. Among this large group were over forty armed soldiers and temple guards. They headed to the garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, who had recently returned to the camp with his apostles from the Last Supper.

As the group of armed soldiers and guards advanced towards the garden, carrying torches and lanterns, Judas positioned himself at the front, eager to swiftly identify Jesus, hoping the soldiers could arrest him before anyone could come to his defense. Additionally, there was another motive behind Judas' decision to be ahead of those who sought to capture the Master. He wanted to create the impression that he had arrived on the scene prior to the soldiers, preventing the apostles and others gathered around Jesus from directly linking him to the armed guards that followed closely behind him. Judas had even contemplated making it look like he had come to warn them of the imminent arrival of the captors.

But, upon catching sight of the armed band approaching with torches, Peter, James, John, and about thirty others who were staying in the camp immediately recognized their purpose: to arrest Jesus. With a sense of urgency, they hurried down the hill towards the olive press, where the Master sat alone, illuminated by the moonlight. While the soldiers advanced from one side, the three apostles and their companions approached from the other side. Judas, striding forward to confront the Master, found both groups standing motionless, with Jesus positioned between them, and he prepared himself to carry out the treacherous act of betrayal.

Initially, the betrayer had hoped that after leading the guards to Gethsemane, he could simply point out Jesus to them or, at most, fulfill his promise to greet him with a kiss and swiftly withdraw from the scene. However, as soon as the Master addressed him as a betrayer, Judas became so bewildered that he made no attempt to escape.

In a final attempt to prevent Judas from carrying out his betrayal, Jesus took a step aside just before the traitor could reach him. Directing his words to the first soldier on the left, who happened to be the captain of the Romans, Jesus inquired, "Whom do you seek?" The captain responded, "Jesus of Nazareth." Immediately, Jesus positioned himself directly in front of the officer and, exuding the serene grandeur of the God of all creation, declared, "I am he."

Many of these soldiers had previously heard Jesus teach in the temple, while others had heard accounts of his remarkable miracles. Consequently, when they heard him fearlessly assert his true identity, those in front fell backward in astonishment. The composed and majestic manner in which Jesus revealed himself overwhelmed them with surprise.

At that moment, it was truly not necessary for Judas to proceed with his scheme. The Master had fearlessly unveiled his true identity to his adversaries, rendering them capable of apprehending him without Judas' assistance. However, the traitor felt compelled to justify his presence among the armed group, and he desired to demonstrate his commitment to fulfilling the betrayal agreement with the Jewish leaders. Judas anticipated receiving substantial rewards and honors for his pledge to deliver Jesus into their hands.

So, Judas stepped up to Jesus and, placing a kiss upon his brow, said, "Hail, Master and Teacher." And as Judas embraced his Master, Jesus said, "Friend, is it not enough to do this! Would you even betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

The apostles and disciples stood in a state of sheer disbelief, utterly stunned by the unfolding events before their eyes. A brief moment passed in which nobody made a move. Then Jesus, extricating himself from Judas' treacherous embrace, approached the guards and soldiers, once again posing the question, "Whom do you seek?" The captain, repeating his previous response, said, "Jesus of Nazareth." In reply, Jesus reiterated, "I have already told you that I am he. If, therefore, you seek me, let these others go their way. I am prepared to accompany you."

As they departed from Gethsemane, with Jesus now in custody, Judas walked alongside the soldiers. However, both the Jewish captain and the Roman officer utterly despised the betrayer to such an extent that they refused to utter even a single word to him, holding him in utter contempt.