Christ is arrested (Matthew 26:47-56)

Christ spent the last night before his death praying with the apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane. That same night, Judas Iscariot – also one of the apostles – arrived with a band of soldiers sent by the chief priests. They were there to arrest him.

Judas had agreed to betray his friend in exchange for money. To identify Christ to the soldiers, he famously kissed him in greeting. When the soldiers came to arrest Christ, St. Peter got caught up in the moment. He drew his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. But Christ immediately told him to stop. The soldiers then seized Jesus and led him away.

All four gospels cover the story of Christ’s arrest, while including additional details. St Mark says that a young man – possibly even Mark himself – tried to follow Christ (Mark 14:43-52). St Luke says that Christ healed the servant’s ear (Luke 22:47-53). And St John tells us the servant’s name – Malchus (John 18:1-11).

Pope St John Paul II spoke of the arrest of Christ as the moment when the Hour of his Passion began. He explained: “Before the hour chosen by the divine plan, his enemies have no power over Jesus. Many attempts were made to stop Jesus or to kill him. In relating one of these attempts, John’s Gospel highlights the impotence of his adversaries: “They sought to arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come” (John 7:30).

He continued: “When the hour comes, it also appears as the hour of his enemies. ”This is your hour, and the power of darkness”, Jesus says to “the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders, who had come out against him” (Luke 22:52-53). In this dark hour it seems that no one can stop the raging power of evil. Nevertheless, this hour also remains under the Father’s power. He will allow Jesus’ enemies to capture him. Their work is mysteriously included in the plan established by God for the salvation of all.” 

This stained glass detail of Christ’s arrest is part of a scene telling the story of the Agony in the Garden. It was produced by Sister Margaret Rope, who was part of the Arts and Crafts movement. She made this stained glass beauty for St Mary’s, in Lanark, around 1915-1920.

Here we see Judas, clutching his blood money, arriving with the soldiers to arrest a prayerful Christ. The window features two other components from the story of the Agony in the Garden – above, the angel who appeared to strengthen the sorrowful Christ, and below, the sleeping apostles.

The window is typical of Rope’s style, with vivid colours, intricately drawn faces and elements from the natural world. It’s found within the Sacred Heart chapel to the right of the sanctuary, along with other stained glass scenes by her of the life of Christ.

See the full image:

Detail of the angel who strengthened Christ:

Detail of the sleeping apostles:

Where to find this work of art
St Mary’s, Lanark

Read the relevant passage
Matthew 26:47-56

• From the Old Testament: For preaching the truth, The Prophet Jeremiah was also arrested and imprisoned (Jeremiah 38:1-6)
• From the New Testament: It was Judas who betrayed Christ, leading to his arrest by the soldiers.