This is The Taking of Christ, by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. Do not worship the image but instead consider how this piece of art points us to the all-sufficient Savior.
Matthew’s Gospel, in chapter 26, recounts the story of the violent mob coming to arrest Jesus armed with clubs and swords. At least one of the disciples reacted by retaliating with his own sword and violence. Jesus stopped him and said, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Jesus was not afraid, even the slightest. Escaping was not on His mind at all. But surrender, that was on His mind.
He looked at Judas, kissing him in betrayal and said, “Friend, do what you came to do,” and then maybe folded his hands peacefully just like the painting depicts. Jesus was not caught by surprise at all. He had already surrendered to this moment light years in the past, before the world was even created. God the Father decreed that the all-sufficient atonement would be made by the Son and Jesus submitted lovingly to His Father to obey and give himself as the sacrifice.
“Put your sword back into its place,” he said, “How then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” Just like Isaac lay silently on the altar ready to die as the sacrifice (Genesis 22:7) and “like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).” Jesus surrendered, humbly, obediently, willingly, to endure the punishment that brings us salvation.
“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10
