Ps. 143-145
Psalm 143 asks God for deliverance. “For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies…” (Ps 143:11-12a). Notice that it doesn’t say, “for my name’s sake” or, “because I am righteous”. There is nothing about who we are or what we have done that deserves God’s mercy or deliverance except that He loves us. He loves us because He is good, because He is righteous, and because His steadfast love never fails. The good He gives is because He is good. Why would anybody not choose to be the benefactor of such goodness through grace?
Psalm 145 praises God for this goodness, and for His greatness. He is fully able to bestow whatever good thing He wills, because He is God. These Psalms let us know that there is nothing we can’t take to God or ask of God that He is not capable of handling and cannot see us through. God is great, and God is good.
John 18:1-18
In this passage, Judas brings a band of soldiers and Jewish religious leaders to Jesus, in order to betray Him to them. Jesus knew what was about to happen, so He stepped forward and asked them who they sought (which, of course He knew, so why did He ask?). Verse 6 says, “When Jesus said to them, “I am He”, they drew back and fell to the ground.” I don’t think I’ve ever really noticed that before.
The soldiers must not have ever met Jesus, since it seems they did not recognize him by sight (thus the need for Judas’ kiss), but I find it fascinating that when He identified Himself, they stepped back and fell to the ground. Such an intimidating squad!! It’s almost like Jesus had to actually help them arrest Him! So something in the soldiers knew that there was something about Jesus to be feared, and their reaction shows all the more how Jesus gave Himself up to the cup God gave Him to drink, as He put it, of His own accord. He was not taken by force, but gave Himself up willingly. And He did that for us.