12 Legions

Matthew 26:50-54 (New American Standard Bible)

⁵⁰And Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

⁵¹And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁵²Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.

⁵³"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

⁵⁴"How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"

I think this is one of my favorite passages in all Scripture. The willingness of Christ to be a sacrifice on my behalf resonates from these words. He could have stopped it all. He could have put on display the array of angelic warfare at the slightest inkling. He didn't.

On a side note, I was speculating on the reason Christ specifies 12 legions. It could be that there were twelve legions created and Christ could call them all, but I tend to think the angel hosts are innumerable. It could mean that of the created legions, He could call twelve. If the latter, I think it might be because of the actions of " one of those who were with Jesus" immediately preceeding this statement. Instead of twelve disciples rashly trying to thwart the plot of Satan, Christ could call in an airstrike, if you will, or, as we can see by virtue of time, He could soundly defeat the plot of Satan on the cross. But He didn't need and ear-chopping rabble to protect Him. He needed to do God's will.