Sacrificial Love Among Betrayal

Jesus Sacrifice

John 18:1–2 NASB95

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.

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives because he knew that he could be caught there. It is interesting that He crossed over the Kidron valley also known as the valley of darkness. It was know for it dark hiding places in the ravine. There would have been many hiding places Jesus could have gone to in order to escape the betrayal and arrest.

Instead of hiding Jesus went to an upper plain in the Mount of Olives which He had taken the disciples to before. He knew His time had come so He chose to go to a place that would facilitate His purpose.

Jesus knew all that was going to transpire. John 18:4

John 18:4 NASB95

So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

What would motivate Jesus to do such a thing? I believe their are two reasons Jesus put himself in a place to be caught. The first is to be obedient to the Father. We see this in Luke 22:39-44

Luke 22:39–44 NASB95

And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

Jesus knew the purpose the Father had called Him. It was to offer Himself as a sacrifice for the atonement of man’s sin. He knew that He had to do what the Father willed.

This is interesting because we see the humanity of Jesus and the deity of Jesus displayed in this prayer. We see in His humanity that He did not want to go through the process of giving Himself as a sacrifice. The betrayal, physical beating, crucifixion, and ultimately having the wrath of God for all man’s sin placed upon him was too much for Him to handle in his humanity.

In His deity he subjects Himself to the will of God. The cup that the Lord desired for Jesus was far greater than his humanity could handle, but in His deity he would surrender to the will of God. His purpose would be fulfilled.

The second reason Jesus put himself in this position was His love for us. Jesus explained this in the teaching of the good shepherd in John 10:11-18

John 10:11–18 NASB95

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

Jesus is our good shepherd and has laid his life down for you. Your sins can be forgiven because of Jesus love for you. Jesus reminds us of this in John 15:13

John 15:13 NASB95

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus is the only one who could take away the sins of the world. He is the Son of God

Jesus Authority

John 18:3–9 NASB95

Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 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. 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 must understand the crowd that was sent to arrest Jesus. The word of God said a cohort of roman soldiers, officers from the chief priest, and pharisees (temple guards) came to arrest Jesus. A roman cohort generally had anywhere from 600-1,000 soldiers. The officers of the chief priests and Pharisees would have been mus smaller. So why did so many people come to arrest one man.

Jesus had shown himself to be the Son of God for three years by His miracles, teachings, and proclamations. People knew who he was and thought that they needed a large force to subdue Him.

What happens next is fascinating. When they told Him that they were looking for “Jesus the Nazarene” He quickly corrected and reminded Him of who He is. He said “I AM”. The original text leaves off “he”. It was added for clarity sake, but I believe it takes away from the significance of what He said. He told them that He was God.

The text ells us that when He said this they drew back and fell to the ground. This would have been several hundred soldiers that fell to the ground because of who Jesus is. The power of the proclamation reminds me of what the Paul writes in Philippians 2:10-11

Philippians 2:10–11 NASB95

so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We see a small picture of this during this scene of Jesus life. There is coming a day where all people will do this. You can either do it while you are still alive and receive salvation or you will do it after your death and receive separation in the Lake of Fire.

Jesus Drinks the Cup

When Peter perceives that they are going to arrest Jesus, he cuts the ear off of the high priests slave. He missed. I am sure he was aiming for his throat. nevertheless Jesus heals the man and tells Peter to put his sword into the sheath.

Peter did not know the cup that Jesus was suppose to drink, so he took matters into his own hand. This was foolish on many accounts. First he was one man with a sword against hundreds of men with many swords. But most foolishly because He was unknowingly trying to thwart the plan of God. Why would he do this? Because that which he wanted and what God desired were two different things.

Peter wanted to save Jesus so he could establish his kingdom on earth and rule with him. Peter though that Jesus would overthrow Rome and establish His own kingdom. This was too small and temporal for Christ.

God desired Christ to demolish the kingdom of Satan and establish a thrown forever. Peter didn’t see it until after the resurrection.

The cup that Jesus drank is still having affect today. Jesus kingdom is still being established by the church through the sharing of the gospel and making disciples.

Conclusion

Jesus sacrificially gave his life for you because He loves you.

He is the only one who has the authority to lay his life down for you.

This is the reason that he drank the cup for you.