The Hour of Darkness and the Kingdom of God

We begin the third movement of Jesus’ Passion and suffering this Lord’s Day morning as Jesus is betrayed and denied by his disciples. This time period Jesus calls the “hour and the power of darkness” (22:53b). This heightened and intensified time of darkness will unfold according to God’s sovereign will and Jesus will be arrested and numbered with the transgressors (or criminals) on the cross (22:37).

In our passage today (22:47-71), Dr. Luke writes his Gospel so that we might contrast two disciples: Judas and Peter. One betrayed Jesus and became apostate dying a horrible death; one denied Jesus and was restored by Jesus’ grace. Why did one overcome and one did not? God’s sovereign will and Jesus’ prayer for his own (22:31-32). Thanks be to God for His grace in Jesus!