Betrayal By Divine Design

As we go through this section of Scripture, one can almost sense how it might have been scripted for a movie, with changes to make it palatable for our culture.  Imagine that Jesus is minding His own business.  Judas has gone out and knows the routine which Jesus has.  Judas would be featured as a double agent.  He knows that Jesus is going to be out in the Garden of Gethsemane for a time of prayer and reflection.  

Then the scene changes and we find Jesus in the Garden just as Judas knew He would be.  The disciples are with Jesus, after hearing some disturbing and encouraging things the past few hours.

The camera cuts to Judas and a group of soldiers coming into the Garden for the purpose of arresting Jesus.  For some reason, one of the followers, Judas, had decided to make their jobs easier by leading them directly to Jesus.  As they get closer, Jesus discovers the plot and immediately tells His disciples to leave and He takes off running for a prearranged meeting place.

Wait!  That’s not how it happened at all.  Jesus is God; He and the Father knew this was going to happen.  He wasn’t caught off guard.  Judas hadn’t tricked Jesus.  The soldiers would not have been able to capture Jesus if it wasn’t part of God’s plan.

There was no reason for Jesus to have come to this earth, unless He was going to give His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity.  This had to take place.  Jesus was in control of every element of His life.  

Even when it seemed like all was hopeless, John shows us that this was all part of God’s plan to give humanity hope everlasting. 

Regardless of the situation, the Christian can be assured that God is still in control.

The Place - 18:1-3

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.  Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.  Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

We understand that Jesus and the disciples had already left the upper room where they had experienced a foot washing, participated in the seder, and had been walking around Jerusalem.  In verse 1, we see that they must be leaving the city of Jerusalem.  Their destination wasn’t arbitrary.  It was by divine design.  They were going to cross the Kidron valley or ravine.  The literal meaning of Kidron is that of dark, dusky, or gloomy.  Again, how fitting, since the blood from the many sacrifices would often flow into this water. The destination was that of Gethsemane.  Interestingly, that name literally means “oil press.”  There was an olive grove close by which causes this name to make sense to us.  It also carries a great deal of symbolism, in the fact that Jesus would go through incredible suffering for our salvation.

Interestingly, we also know from the Bible that sin had entered into the world by means of Satan, when he deceived Eve and Adam in the Garden.  This brought death into the world for all mankind.  Here, we also know that, though the intent of the religious leaders was to go to the Garden for the purpose of putting Jesus to death; the divine intent was that Jesus would willingly sacrifice His life, to give life to those who would choose to believe in Him. The garden of Eden was where sin entered into the world. The garden of Gethsemane would be where the Savior would begin to experience the torturous process of gaining victory over sin.

According to the Gospel of Luke, this was a very familiar place for Jesus to go.  Obviously, a place like this is away from the hustle and bustle of normal life.  During Passover, there would have been many more people and activity than normal.  This was a great place to go for privacy and time alone with the Heavenly Father.  Yet, the reason for this trip was quite intentional in the plan of salvation.  The location and the hour were by divine design.  This is where the betrayal was to take place.  The familiarity and cunning of Judas was not even necessary.  As we know earlier, all the attempts to capture Jesus had been thwarted because it was not yet His time.  Now, however, is the time.  

You see, Judas had approached the religious leaders quite some time back.  Like so many, Jesus had not met his expectations.  Judas had wanted Jesus to radically transform the country and set up a new kingdom without Roman rule.  Judas had the Kingdom of God pictured quite differently than what it actually was to be.  Yet, Judas was still responsible for all that he had heard and seen under Jesus’ ministry.  He had multiple opportunities to repent and to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Yet, to Judas, that would have been naive and foolish. Thus, he makes these final arrangements.  He left the group to go about his dirty business.  He thinks he was going to force the hand of God, if that were possible.

The other Gospels speak of Judas identifying Jesus with a kiss.  Let me read to you Warren Wiersbe’s thoughts on this subject.  Judas’ kiss, which was given repeatedly to the Lord, was certainly one of the basest acts of treachery recorded anywhere in sacred or secular history. In that day, a kiss was a sign of affection and devotion. Members of the family kissed each other in meeting and in parting, but Judas was not a member of God’s family. Disciples greeted a rabbi by kissing him; it was a sign of devotion and obedience. But Judas was not truly a disciple of Jesus Christ, though he belonged to the disciple band. In the Garden, Judas stood with the enemy, not with Jesus’ friends!  When people today pretend to know and love the Lord, they are committing the sin of Judas. It is bad enough to betray Christ, but to do it with a kiss, a sign of affection, is the basest treachery of all. It was born in the pit of hell.

Now, this large group is here to capture this one Person.  Scholars tell us that a cohort consists of between 600-1000 soldiers.  The majority believe that probably a smaller detachment of around 200 was there to arrest Jesus.  Regardless of the size, that still seems like trying to kill a mosquito with an elephant gun.  Yet, they had seen Jesus remain untouched all those other times they had tried to arrest Him.  

As John gives more details about their arrival, we remember that he was witness to all of this.  Even though there was no need for weapons, since Jesus had shown no signs of wanting to wage a physical battle, they brought them.  Though it was a full moon (during Passover, it always is), they brought torches and lanterns.  We can only guess that they might have feared that Jesus would run away and they would have to find him in dark woods.  That too was unnecessary, since this was all part of the divine design.  Even the place where Jesus was to turn Himself over to the ungodly authorities was a part of the divine design. 

The Power - 18:4-6

So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”  They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.  So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

It’s at this point that we are reminded again in verse 4 that Jesus is God; Jesus is Sovereign; Jesus is in control; this is all part of the divine design.  Jesus did not hide.  Jesus did not run.  Jesus did not keep to Himself.  He went right up to them and asked them the question, Whom do you seek?  This question was not because He was curious.  He needed them to understand fully Who He was.  

When they answered Jesus, Jesus’ response is even more powerful in the Greek than we fully grasp.  Many of your Bibles may have the word, He, in italics which shows that it wasn’t in the original.  So, what Jesus says to them is, I am.  You’ve just got to love reading that!  Even while He is about to be arrested and tortured and falsely accused, then hanged on a cross, Jesus informs follower and unbelievers alike that He is God.  Everything that is about to happen is by divine design because of the great love the Father and the Son have for us.

Now there’s an interesting comment which John brings to our attention when he reminds us in the last part of verse 5 that Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.  Judas was seeing and experiencing everything that was taking place.  Though Judas thought he was in control of the situation, he was not at all in control of Jesus.  How do we know this?  

Well, just from verse 6, we know that Judas was part of them and they, the group who was there to arrest Jesus.  Just like the other hearers who were not followers of Jesus, Judas hit the ground as well when Jesus stated Who He was.  By merely speaking His Name, I Am, the name of God, those who were supposed to be powerful and in charge, were helpless.  One commentator states:  The words “drew back” comes from the Greek word aperchomai. In this case, the words depict the soldiers and temple police staggering and stumbling backward, as if some force has hit them and is pushing them backward. The word “fell” is the Greek word pipto, which means to fall. It was used often to depict a person who fell so hard, it appeared that he fell dead or fell like a corpse.

Why is this important?  Jesus was not captured by force.  He was not seized against His will.  The soldiers would have recognized, that unless Jesus cooperated, they would not have been able to seize Him. Jesus went willingly because this was part of the divine design.  This situation that may have seemed hopeless, was to fulfill the plan that would give us eternal hope.  

Some may question how something like this could happen.  They forget that God spoke and the universe came into being.  He spoke and the Israelites who were rebellious died in the desert during the exodus.  He speaks and nations rise and nations fall.  Once again, the divine design provided another opportunity for all present to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and repent and turn to Him for salvation.

The Protection - 18:7-9

Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”  Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”

We continue reading and find Jesus asking them again as to whom they seek.  Their response is the same.  However, Jesus’ response in verse 8, has something added to it.  He repeats giving His Name as God, but then adds, so if you seek Me, let these go their way.  Twice, the soldiers had stated that they were after Jesus the Nazarene.  Not once did they mention any other names or even a group.  It was only Jesus they were to capture.  Obviously, they must have known there was some incredible power for them to have been knocked down.  There would be no argument against letting the other 11 go their way.

I am thrilled to read of this little section here.  I see a picture of Psalm 23 and John 10.  I see a Shepherd who will protect His sheep and will allow nothing to come their way that is not part of His divine design.  Not one of these 11 would be lost.  Part of the divine design is the protection which Jesus provided to the very end and continues to provide for His own.

The Purpose - 18:10-11

Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.  So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

However, Peter can’t just leave things alone.  He has to get involved and won’t allow himself to fully trust Jesus.  Sounds a bit like some of us at times. We can’t really blame Peter.  After all, he had just witnessed Jesus speaking and the whole group of enemies falling to the ground.  So, rather than think through things, Peter impetuously pulled out a sword and proceeded to use it.  We need to understand that according to Luke 22:49, the disciples did have 2 of these weapons.  However, lest we think that these are swords wielded by people like those on the Princess Bride, they were not.  The word for sword actually means a short sword or dagger.  

One almost gets the feeling that Peter had one of those moments of bravado that had him thinking he was some sort of Rambo and was going to hack his way through that whole military group and keep Jesus free.  Remember that Peter was a fisherman.  He could probably handle a knife pretty well, but he was not a soldier.  It might be more likely that Peter was attempting to behead Malchus and either missed or Malchus ducked.  Thus, Peter cut off the right ear of Malchus.  His enthusiasm and zealousness were tools of the world and not of Christ.  My friends, the only sword the Christian is called upon to use against those who would persecute the believer in Christ, is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  

So, we ask ourselves as to whether Jesus was still in control here.  He was absolutely in control.  Sometimes, God allows His children to do some very foolish things so He can teach us exactly what we need to learn at the appropriate time.  Here, Jesus prevents a major battle from breaking out.  The reality is that it wouldn’t have been much of a battle, for Peter and the other disciples would have most likely been eliminated or killed.  The divine design was still in place.  For the plan is that these disciples were going to become apostles and they were going to lay down the foundation of the church through their teachings as the Holy Spirit tells them what to say and write.

The interesting thing about this is that since Jesus is God, He would not have chosen these 11 to fight on his behalf.  He has a lot more resources than that.  But the divine design was for the purpose that Jesus would willingly give His life for the sins of all humanity.  

We recall from Luke 22 that Jesus restored Malchus’ ear.  Again, that shows us that Jesus was fully in control of the whole situation because it was all by divine design.  Jesus knew that the cup which the Father had set before Him must be drunk and not avoided.  Throughout the Bible, the drinking of the cup referred to suffering and sorrow.

Ponderings

We smile as we look back at Peter and some of his bizarre actions.  Yet, he represents so many of us.  We try to do so many things in our own strength and in our own ways.  We know what God wants of us, yet we sometimes try to take matters into our own hands.  We’re going to see some more of that in the messages ahead.  

We also reflect on this whole scene and understand a bit more clearly that all of this was by divine design.  Nothing caught Jesus off guard.  Yet, we need to be reminded that this is true even today.  There is a lot of stuff that seems to catch us off guard.  There is foolishness that is taking place in our world that causes many to wonder if God is going to have to come up with a different plan.  Brothers and sisters, look at history and recognize that this is nothing new that is happening today.  God is still on His throne.  God will accomplish His purposes. 

If Jesus was able to cause the enemy to fall backwards simply by His Words, He could have defeated that whole group.  However, this was not the divine design.  If Jesus chose to extend grace and mercy by healing the ear of a servant who was on the side of the enemy, Jesus could have done anything else miraculous that would have allowed Him to escape.  Yet, that was not part of the divine design. 

The divine design was that this was all part of the plan before time began.  The divine plan was that Jesus would fulfill Scripture and willingly submit Himself to the hands of the enemy.  The divine plan was that Jesus would willingly give up His life and die at the hands of the enemy in order to pay the price for our sins.  

So, you and I cannot afford to bemoan and wring our hands at life’s negative situations.  We must look at all that is happening in the world and in our own lives, while looking to God and recognize that as we live in obedience to Him, He will fulfill His purposes in us and through us.  In addition, we must remember that it is not about us, our comfort, our rights, our dignity, etc.  It is all about the glory and honor of God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  And if we remember that the cup we may be asked to drink has already been drunk by Jesus, that it is prepared by the Father, then we have nothing to fear.  God will take whatever suffering and anguish we may experience and turn that into good for His glory.

I want to offer one more thought to consider.  There are too many Christians who are very much like Peter.  They take up whatever sword it may be to defend Jesus.  Do you realize that Jesus does not need defending?  The sad reality is that Peter acted in contradiction to what Christ wanted.  That hurt his testimony about Jesus.  Any onlooker would have thought that followers of Jesus hate their enemies.  My friends, I believe that some of what is happening against the Church and against Christians today is brought on by well-meaning people like Peter.  The world looks and assumes that because of these people, that Christians are against those who don’t believe in Jesus and that we actually hate them.  May our response to an unbelieving world be that of Jesus; restoring people and showing them the love of God in our words and our ways, in our attitudes and our actions.