Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 18:3

"Judas then, having received the band [of soldiers], and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons." — John 18:3 (ASV)

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Lanterns to give light to the Sun, torches to find out the Light of the world; Weapons with which to fight with the Lamb of God, the unarmed Sufferer. Strange treatment this for him who came to save and bless!

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

How completely the traitor must have been in the power of Satan, and how hardened and callous he must have grown, that he could lead thither the men who were going to arrest the Saviour!

Truly it was by wicked hands that Christ was taken, and crucified, and slain; yet, unconsciously, these evil men were carrying out the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.

How strangely were they equipped for their deed of darkness! With lanterns and torches and weapons.

They were coming to the Light of the world bearing lanterns and torches, and armed with weapons that they might use against the Lamb of God.

If He had wished to deliver Himself, all their weapons would have been in vain, and their lanterns and torches would not have revealed Him, even with the help of the full moon, which was probably shining at the time.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

What strange paraphernalia they brought with them to the garden of Gethsemane—"lanterns" to show them the way to the Sun of righteousness, "torches" with which to find the bright and morning Star and "weapons" with which to overcome the Lamb of God, who had nothing to oppose them with but His own innocence.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

It does not matter much about the band of men and officers with lanterns and torches and weapons, but the dreadful part of the narrative is that they were led by one who had been a disciple of Christ, one who had been numbered with the apostles. Is Christ still betrayed by his professed friends? Yes, it is so, but may you and I never be guilty of that terrible crime!

Yet why should we not, unless the grace of God prevents it? We are of the same flesh and blood as Judas; and although we might not be tempted by a sum of money, we may be tempted by a sinful pleasure or by a sinful shame. Lest we should be led astray, let us pray that we may not enter into temptation, and especially ask that we may be preserved from betraying our Lord, as Judas did.