Lessons from the Garden: Peaceful Surrender

The Peace of Surrender: Jesus in the Garden

Bible Passage: John 18:1–14

Summary: This passage recounts the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, highlighting His calmness and authority even in the face of betrayal and violence.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand the power found in peaceful surrender, encouraging them to trust God through challenging situations rather than reacting with hostility or fear.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that true strength is displayed in surrendering to God's will, as exemplified by Jesus. It invites listeners to reflect on how they respond to adversity and how they can embody a peace that surpasses understanding.

How this passage could point to Christ: Jesus demonstrates the ultimate act of obedience and submission to God's plan, which is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. His peaceful approach in the face of betrayal reveals the depth of His authority and love, foundational to understanding His sacrifice.

Big Idea: Jesus shows that true strength is displayed in surrendering to God's will. He invites us to reflect on how we respond to adversity and how we can embody a peace that surpasses understanding.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider using Logos to delve into the historical context of the arrest, including Roman and Jewish customs of the time. Also, explore commentaries on the theological implications of Jesus' authority over His captors and the nature of His surrender. Investigate how various translations of key terms around 'surrender' might influence understanding.

Good morning,

Last week we saw Jesus pray to glorify God, protect his friends, and for us. This morning we see Jesus and his disciples finally make it into the Garden and the moment Jesus has been preparing them for is upon them. His betrayal is about to be complete and His arrest is coming. It is about midnight and in the silence of the garden they hear the clanging of the soldiers armor and the flickering light of their torches as they approach Jesus and his disciples.

John 18:1–14 NIV

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Big Idea: Jesus shows that true strength is displayed in surrendering to God's will. He invites us to reflect on how we respond to adversity and how we can embody a peace that surpasses understanding.

1. Peace in Peril

John 18:1–4 NIV

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

Matthew 26:36–45 NIV

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

Mark 14:32–41 NIV

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

We read of more of the account in the other Gospels, this really gives us insight into the emotions Christ was going through.

He knew what was coming

He prayed to the Lord, asking for another way.

He made peace with what was coming

He fully accepted the will of the Father

How hard is it for us to follow the will of the Father?

Sometimes it is with the smallest things

Going into ministry

Coming to Swansea

Prayer and Fasting

We have to be willing to step out

Jesus knew what was coming, but was willing to fulfill the total redemptive plan

He did this for us

Perhaps you could emphasize Jesus' foreknowledge and proactive step toward His captors as a demonstration of His sovereign control and willingness to fulfill God's redemptive plan. Jesus' approach teaches us the value of intentional peace in the face of anticipated challenges, reminding us that trust in God's plan trumps fear of circumstance. By taking the first step, He models how believers can face challenges with a calm assurance that God's will is being accomplished, even when it requires walking into difficult situations.

2. Power in His Presence

John 18:5–9 NIV

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Jesus identifies himself as “I am He”

This is God’s self-revelation we have seen throughout John and back into the OT

We always need to remember who He is, and how much of an honor it truly is to be in His will.

Surrender is not easy, but it is essential.

As Jesus prayed and stepped into the will of the father He did so in confidence

Many times we pray, hear, step out, but not confidently, we tip toe

We cant tip toe through life

There is power, as Jesus identifies himself to the men coming to arrest him they fall to the ground. Him uttering the words, “I am He” carries immense power. That is the God we serve.

Jesus protects his friends, gives himself over freely

We are to do the same when it comes to the Will of God

You could explore how Jesus identifies Himself with "I am he," echoing God's self-revelation in the Old Testament. This assertion resulted in His would-be captors stumbling back, indicating His inherent authority over the situation. This authority challenges Christians to remember who Jesus is, encouraging them to draw strength and peace from His identity in moments of crisis. By understanding who is with us, we gain confidence to surrender to God's plans with the same peace that Jesus displayed.

3. Put Down the Sword

John 18:10–14 NIV

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Surrender is hard when we want to fight

Peter was a fighter at heart, this will prove helpful in the future

Peter is reacting after being told that He will deny Christ

Matt 26:31-31; Mark 14:27-31; and Luke 22:31-34

He is trying to prove a point, stand out.

When we are looking at the will of the Father we have to understand what he is asking and how he is asking us to do it.

When we surrender toHis plan that means we surrender our personal plans for his greater purpose which will lead to the ultimate victory.

Do you trust in Him?

We all have at some point

My life is a combination of success and failures in trust.

Sometimes we have to put aside our sword to truly trust in His ways

Perhaps you could highlight Peter’s rash reaction and contrast it with Jesus’ command for peace. Jesus’ rebuke of violence and submission to the unfolding divine plan demonstrates true strength in surrender. This point encourages believers to choose peace over instinctive reactions, showcasing how surrendering personal agendas for God’s greater purposes leads to ultimate victory. In reflecting on Jesus’ example, Christians are invited to trust God’s sovereignty, even when it means putting aside their swords.