Jesus often taught by asking questions. "Am I leading a rebellion?" in the NIV is better translated, "Have you come out as against a robber ... ?" (ESV).  He was no thief, but He came to reclaim what had been stolen and spoiled (1 John 3:8): the authority of the law by the religious rulers; the covenant relationship with God by the nation; and the souls of men by Satan and his agents.  His tactics were not stealth or duplicitous words, but the open proclamation of truth with signs of God's power (John 14:11).  Jesus was no covert or self-seeking burglar; that should have been obvious (John 10:10).  But the hit squad was blind to their part in the greatest robbery on earth - taking away the priceless Son of God.

It was no part of their plan to endorse their crime by fulfilling the Scriptures - but they did.  Isaiah 53:8, written some 700 years before that night in Gethsemane, shows God knew what would happen.  But it was more than that.  The prophecy was not just God's telescope view into the future, but His plan for Satan's henchmen to do their worst, so that heaven could display its best.  The 'home team' of disciples would also be a disappointment, but Zechariah 13:7 had already predicted the weakness of the disciples as they melted into the night (as Jesus had just prophesied to them and recorded in Mark 14:27).

Yet, this was the same Person who taught every day that week in the Temple.  He was on full display and His action against the temple money changers – those who 'turned God's house of prayer into a den of robbers' (Mark 11:17) was prophesied in Jeremiah 7:11.  Jesus was probably cheered on by the crowd who were the victims of religious corruption.  Malachi’s condemnation, "You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me." (Malachi 3:9) was another prophetic reason for Jesus to be arrested as a robber: He became cursed for the sins of the world (Galatians 3:13) and especially the nation of Israel who had robbed God of His glory.  Wonderfully one robber joined Jesus in paradise because he admitted his sin and trusted the Sin-bearer (Luke 24:43)

This little episode highlights at least two important truths: firstly, nothing escapes God's notice (even hundreds of years before it happens); and secondly whenever God announces His plan in His Word, it will always happen!  The extraordinary sovereignty of God is so breathtakingly amazing for all who will trust Jesus and devastating for those who do not.  What a confidence we can have, today, that the Lord's will is going to be done!  He even uses His enemies to bring Him glory.  But the recurring theme of robbery should cause us to search our hearts lest we are robbing God of tithes or offerings; lest we have used what He has given for our own glory instead of His.