John 18:1-11 - The Arrest: Absolute Surrender
Introduction:
The word devoted in todays society does not seem to have much meaning. Especially when it comes to marriage. Men and woman today are not devoted to one another as they ought to be.
What kind of devotion should we have toward God? We know that God and Moses talked face to face in the Tent of Meeting, just as friends do. Why did Moses find such favor with God? It certainly was not because he was perfect, gifted, or powerful. Rather, it was because God chose Moses, and Moses in turn relied wholeheartedly on God's wisdom and direction. Friendship with God was a true privilege for Moses, out of reach for the other Hebrews. But it is not out of reach for us today. Jesus called his disciples—and, by extension, all of his followers—his friends (John 15:15). He has called you to be his friend. Will you trust him as Moses did?
A. A devotion to God (v.1-3).
1. “Jesus went forth with His disciples…” (v.1a).
a) "Went forth" to prepare Himself spiritually (v.1a).
(1) Jesus was facing the hour to which God had called Him, the hour of His death. He knew that God’s will for Him, was to die for the sins of the world.
(2) He also knew the aweful separation from God that sin causes. He was feeling the pressure of God's coming judgment upon sin which was to be exercised upon Him. He wanted to flee; He wanted another way to be chosen to save man:
Remember, Matthew says He "fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44NASB95)
(3) Yet, He “was committed to God”… “was totally devoted to His Father”… “must do God’s will”.
(4) In order to do God’s will, He needed God’s help. He had to pray and seek God, and I believe it is for this reason he went to the Garden. He was seeking to be alone with the Father.
(5) Think about this: Jesus knew everything that was going to come upon him, He could have turned away and insited that the cup pass from Him but HE DID NOT.
(6) He was totally devoted to God, so He "went forth" deliberately—for the purpose of praying and seeking strength from God, for the strength to fulfill God's will.
(7) Side Note: John’s gospel does not cover the actuall agony that Jesus went through while in prayer (Matt.2636-46). John’s purpose is to show the devotion to God’s will.
2. “Jesus went to the Garden…with His disciples…” (v.1b-3).
a) "Went forth" to prepare the scene for God's will (v.1b-3).
(1) Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane probably to the very spot where He had often prayed and spent the night when in Jerusalem:
Luke says that "He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him.” (Luke 22:39, NASB95)
(2) Is there a place that you often go to be alone with God?
Jesus said "when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, NASB95)
(3) And notice that Luke said “and the disciples also followed Him.”
(a) Jesus not only taught His disciples to pray as they requested (Luke 11:1-13).
(b) Jesus taught them by example, here in the garden and on the cross (Lk.23:34).
b) Went to a place known by Judas (v.2).
(1) Remember, Jesus could have gone to any other place; however, he went to a place that Judas knew.
!!!! c) Judas came forth with a large force to arrest Him (v.3).
(1) Now Judas was approaching with a large armed mob sent by the chief priests and elders from the temple.
(2) Matthew still refers to Judas as “one of the twelve” probably to emphasize the sense of shock and betrayal they all felt when he turned out to be a traitor.
(3) Judas’s facade of faithfulness to Christ makes his treachery particularly wicked.
(a) The wickedness of a close friend who pretended loyalty and love for Christ while betraying Him is far worse than if Christ had been handed over by someone known to be an enemy.
(b) Think about it: we talking about devotion to Christ, but here is someone who pretendes to be devoted to Christ.
(4) Luke says the mob included members of the temple guard (Luke 22:52).
(a) These were security officers who acted as policemen in the temple grounds and also had limited powers (sanctioned even by Rome) to arrest people for violations of the Jewish law (John 7:32).
(b) This is great: On at least one prior occasion, the chief priests had ordered the captains of the temple to arrest Jesus, but when they heard Him teach, they were so confounded by the way He spoke with authority that they came back empty-handed (John 7:45–46).
(5) John notes that the mob also included a detachment of Roman soldiers (John 18:3).
(a) None of the gospels gives a numerical estimate of the size of the mob, but Matthew, Mark, and Luke all agree that it was a great multitude (Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47).
(b) Depending on the size of the detachment of soldiers (there were six hundred soldiers in a typical Roman cohort), the crowd could easily have numbered in the hundreds.
(c) The fact that the chief priests sent such a large crowd to make the arrest indicates the degree to which they were frightened of Jesus’ power.
(6) Our application: again, before all this took place, what did Jesus do?
(a) He went to be alone with the Father in prayer, Prayer, prepared Jesus to do God’s will.
(b) No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)
B. A willing determination (v.4-6).
1. “Jesus, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward…” (v.4).
a) He "went forth"—voluntarily (v.4 cf. Matthew 26:37-38).
(1) There was the mental, emotional and physicL agony: the weight, pressure, anguish, sorrow, and excessive strain such as no man has ever experienced. He was the Son of God, Maker of heaven and earth, yet images and thoughts were pressing ever so heavily in upon His spirit, the images and thoughts of...
(a) the unbelief of all men everywhere.
(b) the rejection of His own people, the Jews.
(c) the malice of the world's leaders, both Jew and Gentile, religious and civil.
(d) the betrayal of one of His own, Judas.
(e) the desertion of all His men.
(f) the denial by the leader of His own men, Peter.
(g) the injustice and condemnation of His trial.
(h) The ridicule and pain of being scourged, spit upon, slugged, cursed, mocked, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the cross and killed.
!!!!! (2) There was the spiritual experience of death while being the Son of Man: There is so much here, yet so little can ever be known…
(a) First, what is it like to be without sin? Christ, made in the image of man and being fully man, was sinless.
It’s comforting to know that "we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)
John says in his first epistle that "you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin." (1 John 3:5, NKJV)
Hebrews says that "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Hebrews 5:8-9, NKJV)
(b) Second, what is it like to bear the sins of the world? In some mysterious way, God took all the sins of the world and laid the whole body of sin upon Christ (2Cor.5:21).
Paul said "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV)
This is something that really blows me away that "Christ died for the ungodly." (Rom.5:6)
We read that "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:3, NKJV)
Isaiah writes that "the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all… Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him." (Is.53:6, 10)
(c) Third, what is it like to bear all the judgment and condemnation of sin for all men?
Isaiah writes that "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV)
Christ became a curse for us "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)," (Galatians 3:13, NKJV)
Christ tasted death for everyone "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9, NKJV)
He did it to bring us to God "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit," (1 Peter 3:18, NKJV)
(3) His death was the supreme act of obedience (John 10:17-18). Jesus said this "commandment" to die was of God. This gives a higher meaning to the death of Jesus than just meeting man's need.
(a) It means that Jesus did not just die because of sin, but because He wished to glorify and honor God. He wished above all else to show His love and adoration for God.
Remember Jesus said "that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do." (John 14:31, NKJV)
2. “Jesus confessed that He was who they were looking for…” (v.5).
a) A confession and claim (v.5a).
(1) He didn’t flee and run the other way, fearing the persecutors. He knew God's will, and He was determined to carry out God's will.
(2) Think about this: when persecution comes, people ask if we are Christians, do we flee to the oppossite direction or do we stand and say as Jesus did “I am”, that is “I am a Christian” as well a proclaiming that Jesus is the “I AM” proclaiming Christ to a lost world.
I think the first way to do this is to have the mind of Christ "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1-2; 1 Cor.15:58; 1 Cor.16:13).
!!! 3. “He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground…” (v.5b-6).
a) A blast of revelation: "I Am" (v.5b-6).
(1) I am not sure what happened. Not many commentaries comment on this. Perhaps, some sort of majestic power overstruck them
(2) Think about this: those who were going to arrest Christ, still had time to confess Him as the Christ. As long as man is still alive, he still has time:
For God says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NKJV)
Joshua puts it this way "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, NKJV)
(3) We have a great responsibility as watchmen (Ezekiel 3:16-21).
We are warned in Hebrews: "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end," (Hebrews 3:12-14, NKJV)
There are those who will run out of time "He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." (Proverbs 29:1, NKJV)
C. A protective or vicarious commitment (v.7-9).
1. “Jesus answered, If you seek Me, let these go their way…” (v.8).
a) He gave Himself for His disciples (v.8).
(1) Now… the disciples were in danger, but the Lord offered Himself in their place.
(2) His protective love and vicarious suffering for man is clearly pictured. The word “vicarious” means “one in place of another.” The emphasis of the New Testament is that Christ died a substitutionary death on behalf of sinners.
(a) The pronouns in Isaiah 53 stress the substitutionary nature of Christ’s death: “But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”
(b) The tone of 1 Peter 2:24 is similar: “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
Jesus said "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51, NKJV)
He goes on to say in John 10 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep…"As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." (John 10:11, 15, NKJV)
And here in John 18:5 we see Him fulfilling John 15:13 which says "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13, NKJV)
!!! 2. “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one…” (v.9).
a) His reason: To fulfill His Word (v.9).
(1) Jesus' act fulfilled Scripture. He was not to lose anyone whom God had given Him (Psalm 41:9; Psalm 109:4-13; John 17:1-4, 9-11). Note three significant points:
(a) The security of the believer. Jesus will lose no one whom the Father has given Him.
Listen to the words of Jesus "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29, NKJV)
(b) The protection Christ has provided for man. Just as Christ physically protected his disciples at that hour, will He not do the same for you?
Jesus said in Matthews Gospel to "not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28-31, NKJV)
(c) The committment believers are to have for the world. We are to give ourselves, to meet the needs of a lost and dying world:
Jesus said "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, NKJV)
(i) In doing this, we will not only have the right perspective of the world but also have the right perspective to live in the world.
D. An unswerving obedience (v.10-11).
1. “Peter, having a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave & cut off his right ear…” (v.10).
a) Peter's loyal, but carnal zeal (v.10).
(1) Background of this evening: Having heard all Jesus’ talk of betrayal and His predictions about His arrest and crucifixion, the disciples did not go into the garden unarmed. Earlier that evening in the Upper Room, when Jesus was informing them that one of them would betray Him, Luke records an exchange that took place:
He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.” (Luke 22:35–38)
(a) I believe that Christ was cautioning them about the impending violence. Although they had always been perfectly safe under God’s providential care, a horrific act of violence was about to be perpetrated against them. They needed to prepare themselves for it so that when it occurred, their faith would not be shaken.
(b) He was speaking, of course, about spiritual, not physical, preparedness. He was warning them of a spiritual battle they were about to face, and He certainly was not telling them to arm themselves with fleshly weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Remember, Paul said "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4, NKJV)
(c) But the disciples mistakenly assumed that He literally meant for them to go and purchase swords. So they had taken a private inventory and found that they already had two swords among them.
!!!!! (2) The cause of Christ has never been advanced by earthly warfare, though many misguided souls have tried.
As Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36).
(3) Jesus severely rebuked Peter: “Put your sword into the sheath” (John 18:11).
(a) Matthew says He added, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).
(b) The words were an echo of Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” I believe Jesus was signifying that He regarded Peter’s deed as no legitimate act of self-defense, but rather an unlawful act of attempted murder, worthy of punishment by death.
(4) Christ had no need of fleshly power to defend Him anyway.
(a) He continued His rebuke of Peter, “Do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).
(b) A legion was comprised of 6,000 soldiers. Twelve angelic legions would be 72,000 angels. Bear in mind that in the Old Testament—when Sennacherib’s armies threatened Jerusalem—a single angel slew 185,000 Assyrian troops in one night (2 Kings 19:35). So the military might of 72,000 angels would be quite imposing!
(5) The Point: acting in the flesh will always result in failing:
Paul wrote "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:5-6, NKJV)
And he goes on to say that "if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13, NKJV)