2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 44

“Friend, do what you came to do.” – Matthew 26:50 CEB 

Judas steps forward. The signal is a kiss. The soldiers move in. The torches flicker against olive trees in the dark. And Jesus—knowing exactly what is happening—says:

“Friend, do what you came to do.”

Friend.
Not traitor. Not snake. Not enemy.
Friend.

The Kind of King He Is
In that single word, Jesus shows us the kind of kingdom He is bringing. He is not scrambling for control. He is not reacting in panic. He is not lashing out to preserve Himself.

He is steady. Obedient. Resolved.

The betrayal does not surprise Him. The arrest does not derail Him. The cross is not an accident. This is the cup He prayed about. This is the will He submitted to in the garden.
And even in betrayal, He speaks with dignity.

The Multitude He Died For
It’s easy to isolate Judas as the villain in the story. But Matthew doesn’t let us off that easily.

Judas betrays Him. The crowd seizes Him. The leaders condemn Him. The soldiers strike Him. Peter denies Him—three times. And still… Jesus goes to the cross. Not just for Judas. Not just for Peter. Not just for the religious leaders.

For the multitude. For us. We were not in the garden physically, but our sin is not absent from the story. If we are honest, we’ve had moments of betrayal, moments of denial, moments where fear outweighed faith. And yet the path to the cross continues.

Put the Sword Away
Peter’s reaction feels familiar. When the arrest happens, he draws his sword. He swings. He fights.

In today’s world, we often assume it is our job to defend Jesus. We feel compelled to protect His reputation, to win arguments, to overpower opponents. But Jesus tells Peter to stop. This is not how the kingdom advances. The kingdom does not grow through panic. It does not expand through violence. It does not depend on our ability to overpower critics.
It moves forward through obedience. Through surrender. Through the quiet strength of a Savior who trusts the Father more than He fears suffering.

Following, Not Defending
There is a difference between standing firm in truth and assuming we must control outcomes. Jesus never asked us to rescue Him. He asked us to follow Him. To stay awake when it’s easier to sleep. To pray when it’s easier to react. To obey when it’s easier to fight. To endure when it’s easier to run.

Peter’s denial later that night is painful to read. The man who swung the sword couldn’t withstand the questions of bystanders around a fire. That’s what happens when we rely on our own strength. Courage without obedience collapses under pressure. But obedience, rooted in surrender, endures.

His Ways Are Better
In the garden, it looked like evil was winning. But what looked like defeat was actually obedience unfolding. What looked like weakness was actually strength. What looked like betrayal was actually redemption beginning.

His ways are better than ours.

Not softer. Not easier. But better. If Jesus can call His betrayer “friend,” then we need to examine how we speak about those who oppose us. If Jesus can submit to the Father’s will under injustice, then we need to reconsider how quickly we grasp for control. If Jesus refuses to be defended by the sword, then we need to question the weapons we are tempted to pick up.

Today, don’t rush past this scene. Sit in the garden. Hear the word “friend.”
And ask:
Where am I tempted to defend instead of follow?
Where am I reacting in fear instead of resting in obedience?
Where have I denied Him in small but real ways?

Then pray: Lord, teach me to follow. When I want to fight, teach me to trust. When I want to control, teach me to surrender. When I feel betrayed or misunderstood, shape my heart to look more like Yours. Your ways are better. Help me stay the course. Amen.