26:51Matthew 26:51

On the night of his arrest in Gethsemane, Peter in vehement anger and rashness drew his sword when cords were brought to bind Jesus, and struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.5RED 24.2–3+3 Jesus freed his own hands from the soldiers holding him, touched the wounded ear and instantly made it whole.5RED 24.2–3+2 He rebuked Peter and told him to put the sword away, for those who take the sword will perish by the sword.Ms 42, 1897, par. 23–27+3 He was not helpless, for he could have asked his Father for more than twelve legions of angels to rescue him and his disciples, but he refused to use force to escape arrest.5RED 24.2–3+2 He willingly submitted and accepted suffering to drink the cup the Father had given him, so that the Scriptures must be fulfilled.5RED 24.2–3+2

Matthew 26:51 belongs to Passover night in the garden of Gethsemane, reached in company with His disciples after the Passover supper, when the broad full Passover moon shone from a cloudless sky and the city of pilgrims' tents was hushed into silence.DA 685.1+2 After that supper neither food nor drink was given Him, and at midnight He was seized by force in Gethsemane, beginning the chain of trials that leads to condemnation and crucifixion.ST Nov 30, 1882+1 Just before the seizure He agonized in the garden in conflict with satanic agencies striving to divorce Him from God, and He would not yield.Ms 95, 1897, par. 10–12

As they approached the garden the disciples marked a change, never before seeing Him so utterly sad and silent, with a strange sadness deepening as He proceeded, His form swaying as if about to fall, every step taken with labored effort and groaning aloud as under a terrible burden, so that twice His companions supported Him or He would have fallen to the earth.DA 685.3 After earnestly conversing with and instructing His disciples He became strangely silent near Gethsemane, a place He had often visited for meditation and prayer but never with a heart so full of sorrow.DA 685.2 Throughout His life on earth He had walked in the light of God's presence, but now He seemed shut out from God's sustaining presence, numbered with transgressors bearing the guilt of fallen humanity with the iniquity of all laid upon Him who knew no sin.DA 685.2 Sin appeared dreadful to Him, and the weight of guilt tempted Him to fear being shut out forever from His Father's love, and feeling the terribleness of God's wrath against transgression His soul was exceeding sorrowful even unto death.DA 685.2 The conflict was so terrible that great drops of blood came from the pores of His skin, moistening the sods of Gethsemane, after His long agony there.Ms 107, 1893, par. 2+1

He was betrayed by Judas, one of His professed disciples, with expressions of love, with a kiss, to a band of men and soldiers with staves and spears, who laid violent hands on Him to bind His precious hands that had ever been employed in doing good.ST Jun 6, 1878+2 He was then taken to Annas, then to Caiaphas, and then to Pilate.Ms 95, 1897, par. 10–12 The one who drew the sword was Peter, one of those with Jesus, acting in vehement anger and rashness when cords were brought to bind Jesus.5RED 24.2–3+1 The disciples had seen the armed, strong men fall prostrate and helpless and thought Jesus would not allow Himself to be taken, since the same power could keep the mob helpless until He and His companions escaped, and they were disappointed and indignant to see Him submit to binding.5RED 24.2–3+1

In that anger, as Jesus was surrounded by His enemies, Peter stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, smiting off his ear.5RED 24.2–3+4 Jesus freed His own hands though firmly held by soldiers, touched the wounded ear, and instantly made it whole.5RED 24.2–3+4 The arrest was a severe trial and difficulty for His followers in which Peter was not the only one who failed to stand firm.Ms 29, 1909, par. 10–11+1 Their hope gave way to despair as Jesus allowed Himself to be led away, and all His disciples forsook Him and fled, yet He had prepared and strengthened His true followers for the ordeal surrounding His betrayal and crucifixion.EW 137.1+2

Jesus at once rebuked the stroke and commanded Peter to put the sword away.ST Dec 9, 1897+4 The same rebuke met Peter's drawing of the sword and cutting off the ear during the arrest, forbidding resistance and requiring submission to arrest and to the suffering the Father had given.5RED 24.2–3+1

The rebuke teaches that resorting to the sword brings death by the sword, that those who take the sword will perish by the sword.Ms 42, 1897, par. 23–27+2 He was not helpless, for He could have prayed to and asked His Father for rescue.Ms 42, 1897, par. 23–27+4 More than twelve legions of angels were at His call to rescue Him and His disciples, yet He did not use force to escape arrest.ST Dec 9, 1897+4 That power was deliberately left unused, though prayer alone could have summoned it.5RED 24.2–3+1

He willingly submitted to arrest and accepted suffering so that the Scriptures must be fulfilled.5RED 24.2–3+4 He must drink the cup the Father had given Him, and therefore allowed Himself to be taken and led away.5RED 24.2–3+4 The companion drawing a sword when Jesus was arrested stands recalled as an image of Christ again being delivered into the hands of Caiaphas and Pilate.GC 198.2