Selfishness, Lies, and the Gracious Plan of God

John 18:1-27

Intro

Main Point: We will never lack a reason to hope because though sin abounds (from without and from within), God’s redemptive plan remains unaltered and every promise is fulfilled for the glory of His name and the good of His people.

Sin Abounds but Christ Submits for Us- Vs 1-8

Exposition:

Jesus leads His Disciples to the Garden- Read Vs 1-2

John begins a new section in His gospel and draws attention to the previous words of Jesus. What were they?

We must keep in our view that Jesus just laid bare His heart to His beloved followers, friends that He kept close to Himself daily for 3 straight years. Being in the upper room with them, He gives them assurances, warnings, blessings, instructions, and a final prayer on their behalf and behalf of all of His chosen people throughout the world.

Following on the heels of this wonderful section is this shift to a most tragic section.

Jesus though already is revealing His initiative to fulfill His father’s ultimate redemptive plan.

If he was trying to evade betrayal, and slip away from being arrested, then going to a public garden that was known to his betrayer was not the best way to do that. Jesus knew what He was doing the whole time and knew that Judas knew where He might be.

Judas pursues Him to officially betray Him (Read Vs 3)

Judas now has a band of soldiers with him as he goes to point out Jesus and have him arrested.

The greek here literally renders this as a cohort of soldiers. and a Roman cohort of soldiers back in this time was a tenth of a legion. Legions consisted of 3,000 to 6,000 men, and so a cohort would be between 300-600 men. This was standard in this time— that many soldiers to escort one criminal.

But think of it, they saw this man as a threat. The Jews who opposed Jesus and His teaching at the time knew that the prophets predicted a new exodus—a redemption that in some sense modeled the deliverance that God brought to the people when they were slaves in Egypt so long ago. Jesus has proclaimed Himself as that messiah who would come and redeem the people.

Up to 600 men to arrest Jesus and now we can maybe understand why. One commentator pointed this out and highlighted the facts that Jesus caused an uproar in the temple, He evades people who tried to arrest him or stone him on more than one occasion, and not only has He proclaimed Himself to be the son of God, but also the Kingly son of Man prophesied by Daniel. So these two threats here, proclaiming to be God which was a threat to the Jews, and proclaiming to be a king who would be lifted up and exalted.

So what do you expect? I’m sure these soldiers and religious leaders were expecting nothing but trouble when confronting this man named Jesus.

Jesus commands the crowd Vs 4-8

(Read vs 4) Here’s the first indicator in our text of the sovereign hand of God in the redemption of the world—Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him… He knows the end and this knowledge manifests with a courageous word to the soldiers.

I Know many in this room who think it is absolutely evil to spoil a movie for others. I know some in this room who will cover their ears for a spoiler even if the movie has been out for years and there’s a good chance they won’t even watch it! But for some, knowing how the movie ends actually lessens the anxiety. Did you know some people need to know the ending to make it through? That’s how I was with a thriller I watched a few years back. I had to pause it and ask for the spoiler to that I can sit through without fear and anxiety.

He doesn’t wait for others to introduce Him. Of course, other gospel accounts tell us Judas kisses Jesus to indicate who Jesus is to the rest. But here it seems like this is the first action taken. Jesus steps forward because he knows the sovereign decree and plan of God—He must go to the cross. He knows how it’s going to end—He knows the outcome which is why Hebrews 12:2 says that it was the joy set before Him that He endured the cross. Knowing the end, He steps with both feet into God’s plan.

(Read vs 5) They call for Jesus of Nazareth not knowing that they were already speaking to Him. As Justin said last week, Jesus had no outward glory that we should recognize him. He wasn’t glowing with a halo above his head and he didn’t speak with reverb in His voice. But clearly, there’s power that He still manifest to showcase His supremacy…

*(Read verse 6) He speaks and confirms who He is by saying “I am.” Most pass over this I am statement in the gospel of John. The word “He” is not in the greek so Jesus literally said “I am.” And when He did the band of soldiers fell to the ground. I believe this is simply because of the power of Christ’s voice and the utterance of the divine name. He reveals His power over these soldiers even in the face of their weapons and army. But still He gives Himself over.

(Read vs 7-8) Jesus repeats Himself and tell them to let the disciples go. We’re seeing here the motif of promise and fulfillment that unfolds through out our passage.

Jesus willingly gives himself to His captors to be killed to let the disciples go free and this fulfills Jesus’ promise. And which was that? The promise He just made in His prayer to the father in Jhn. 17:12. He lost none of whom the Father gave.

Sin Abounds but Christ Loses None of Us- Vs 9-11

Sin Abounds but Christ Remains True for Us- Vs 12-24

Sin Abounds but Christ conquers and Restores Us- 25-27