Temple Police

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John 18:36-37

The temple police (officers) has tried to arrest Jesus before (John 7:32), yet some went again as they followed Judas to the garden with a centurion and some of the band from the Tower of Antonia, who were in charge of protecting Herod's Temple. They bore lanterns, torches and weapons, lest Jesus the Nazerene would try to hide in the shadows of the garden beyond Kidron's waters. A man approached them, He declared Himself the one they were looking for, "I AM," they went backward and fell on their face to the ground. They fell in worship as a glimpse of the future when every knee shall bow (Philippians 2:10). As they were binding Him Simon Peter, bearing one of the two swords the disciples had (Luke 22:38), swung at the head of Malchus and cut off his right ear. Simon was told to put up his sword, he did, and we can suppose that he fled with the others at this time (Matthew 26:56). The temple police were part of the binding, they were at the fire with SImon Peter (John 18:18) and they were even instrumental with the decision of Pilate to crucify Jesus, even after a brutal scourging (John 19:6). These temple police flexed their might that day, yet if it was God's will, they would have been crushed by another temple police.

When the Lord Jesus is before Pilate, He lets Him in on a secret that the temple police, centurion, and band would have been unaware of... He had His own servants ready at His command. These "servants" are not just the disciples wielding their two swords among eleven plus the Christ, but the word "servants" is the same as "officers," or temple police. There is a tabernacle for the worship of God in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2). At that tabernacle is the true holy of holies (Hebrews 9:9, 10:19). Ezekiel saw a glimpse of the heavenly mercy seat (Ezekiel 10) as the glory of God was between the cherubim which protect and keep out that which is sinful and defiling from the dwelling place of God (note Genesis 3:24 as an example). Yet His kingdom was not of this world, it is of the world to come.

Those from among His servants, temple police, will be with Him in the day when His kingdom will be in the world. They will be no doubt part of the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:14). They may be those more than twelve legions of angels ready at His command (Matthew 26:54).

It would have been no contest that night if His temple police would have fought for Him. Not just mere inexperienced swordsmen, but angels of the highest position, intelligence and might. We can be thankful that our Lord was willing to be made subject to the temple police of that day, allowing to be bound and condemned to death on a cross that He would suffer for sins at the hand of God, and thus be risen from the dead on the third day and ascend to His Father in heaven alive forevermore; soon to return with His temple police.