Find John 18 with me, if you will. One-half of the entire gospel of John is devoted to Jesus’ last week. In the weeks leading up to Easter, millions of Christians all around the world spend their time thinking about why Jesus suffered and died. We are just 4 weeks away from Easter. What we’re going to do for the weeks leading up to Easter is see how John tells the story. We’re going to take a look at one of the gospel writers, Saint John, and we’re going to look at how he tells the story of Jesus’ last days.
Today’s Scripture
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people” (John 18:1-14).
Our story takes place on Thursday evening, and it’s either April 6, 30 AD, or April 2, 33 AD. It’s a real story in a real time and place.
For many of us, fear often means “Forget Everything and Run.” But for Jesus, fear meant, “Face Everything and Rise.”
Watch Jesus carefully at what would be one of the most frightful moments in anyone’s life.
Sermon Preview
I want to set the scene with you, but I want you to notice three items in this story:
1) What Jesus Knew;
2) What Jesus Says;
and 3) Who Jesus Saves.
1. What Jesus Knew
“Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?’” (John 18:4).
1.1 Arrested
If you knew you’d be falsely arrested at a certain location at a certain time, wouldn’t the natural thing be for you to do anything to not be there at that certain time and certain location? When Jesus entered the Garden, He knew He would be arrested there. He knew it was the beginning of the end.
The FBI reports there were more than 6 million arrests in 2024.1 That’s more than 16,000 arrests per day, or about an arrests for every 5 seconds.
When you dig around a little, there are an interesting number of stories behind these numbers. An 81-year-old man from Ohio was tricked by scammers when he shot and killed an Uber driver. He believed the Uber driver was working with people who had threatened his family.2
Then there’s the story of federal authorities catching up with a group of people who were stealing from big-time athletes like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and then-Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic. A group of seven Chilean nationals stole high-end goods like designer handbags, jewelry, watches, and cash.3
But perhaps most shocking of all was the arrest of Iowa’s largest school district Superintendent Ian Roberts, who turned out to be in the country illegally with no work authorization.4 With so many arrests, why would we focus on one arrest made some 2,000 years ago? Because this one arrest has freed so many people from guilt. And nowhere else do you learn about the arrest of the very Son of God.
Here’s the story.
1.2 The Garden
Let’s set the scene. It’s Passover, and observant Jews would stay inside the extended city limits to observe this special day. Jesus and His Disciples entered into an olive grove on the slope of the Mount of Olives. This is known as the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s still there today, and you can visit it. Some think a wealthy supporter of Jesus’ ministry provided this walled-off area for Jesus and the Twelve to come and pray. The Gospels tell us Jesus often came here to pray. They came here so often that Judas knew exactly where to find Jesus.
1.3 Garden of Eden vs. Garden of Gethsemane
When John shows Jesus’ arrest in the Garden, He wants you to think of how life began in the Garden. Remember that in the Garden of Eden, that’s where life began. In the Garden of Gethsemane, that’s where new life began. In the Garden of Eden, it was Adam who was conquered by sin. In the Garden of Gethsemane, it was Christ, whom Paul calls the second Adam, who conquered sin. In the Garden of Eden, Adam ran, fled, hid from God. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus says, “Not my will, but your will be done.”
1.4 The Scene
John simply calls Judas the betrayer in verse 2. Judas has now officially crossed over to the other side.5
John has already told us that Satan entered into Judas back in John 13:2. This Garden is likely the same place and time where Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek to betray, but John doesn’t mention the kiss. Evidently, Jesus made it a habit to retreat to this Garden when He was in the area. Judas knew exactly where Jesus was going to be.
Remember, it was none other than Jesus Himself who chose Judas to be one of the Twelve. And Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal: “Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.’ He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him” (John 6:70-71).
Judas is a counterfeit Christian, but long before Satan captured him, it was his own greed that paved the way for Satan to enter. Judas brought with him two types of soldiers to arrest Jesus that night.
1.5 The Police and the Soldiers
First, Jewish officials accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus on this dark night. This first group would have been temple police, and they would have likely served as the primary arresting officers since Jesus was taken to Annas and Caiaphas, the high priest. They were sent by the Sanhedrin, and Luke tells us that even some of the chief priests had come out to arrest Jesus themselves (Luke 22:52). Second, a Roman cohort, a tenth of a Roman legion, headed by a Roman tribune. A cohort, a detachment, is 600 armed men. They mean business. It’s the SWAT team of the Roman army. In a few places, we see this technical term used for 1/3 of a cohort, which could number as many as 200 men.
Remember, crowds of people adored Jesus just a few days before on Palm Sunday. If you thought the guy you were about to arrest had an adoring crowd around him, you’d bring a cohort of soldiers, too! The Romans would station soldiers around the city strategically during Passover because of the huge throngs of people. The Roman soldiers were there, likely to assist the Temple police in case things went wrong.
Watch Judas in your mind’s eye, guiding all these men to arrest Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew calls this a “great crowd” (Matthew 26:46). John says they have lanterns, torches, and weapons in their hands as they move through the dark to arrest the Son of God. The sight must have been terrifying as the long line, punctuated by the flickering torches, wound down from the dark, high walls of the Holy City, across the stained Kidron, and up the slopes of Olivet toward the garden.6 No doubt Judas was in the lead.
Jews and Romans normally hated one another, but their common enemy of Jesus has made them strange bedfellows.
1.6 Jesus Already Knew
Remember, the Bible says Jesus already knew all of this. “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward” (John 18:4a). When I pause and really think of the garden of Gethsemane, I consider what Jesus Christ already knew. You see, when everything was dark, when the disciples were asleep, and there were no soldiers there. This was the perfect time in which He could have gotten out. But Jesus didn’t run.
Remember, there could have been a couple of hundred Roman soldiers accompanying the Temple police that night. Jesus could have easily seen and heard such a large group coming for Him from quite a distance. In fact, Jesus does hear this great crowd coming for Him for He says to the sleeping three of James, Peter, and John: “Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand” (Matthew 26:46). Still, He choose not to flee.
He knew when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane that the soldiers were on the way. He knew when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane, there was going to be torture. He knew when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane, there were going to be nails splintering His bones. He knew when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane, there were going to be thorns in His scalp, and there was going to be a spear in His side. He knew when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane, there was going to be the slow death of suffocation awaiting Him on the cross.
1. What Jesus Knew
2. What Jesus Says
“When Jesus said to them, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6).
2.1 I Am
Careful Bible students will note that when Jesus says “I am he” in English, it is really the words “I am.” The word “he” is not there in the original language. We remember God’s famous self-identification to Moses at the Burning Bush, “I Am Who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). This may simply mean “I am (the one whom you seek).” But careful readers of John’s gospel will remember what Jesus has said before using these exact same words. “When he said to them, ?ego eimi,’ they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:6).
2.2 Who Says These Things?
There’s one place where Jesus actually says to his opponents, “I keep sending prophets and sages to you over the centuries, and you kill them all.” What? Here’s Jesus, here’s a human being, saying, “I’ve been sending you prophets and sages for …” How could a human send prophets centuries before? No one lives that long. There’s another place where Jesus says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” Who else can say this kind of thing? Either Jesus is Coco for Coco Puffs, or He is the Son of God, and you must bow down before Him in worship. Either Jesus is delusional, or He is divine.
2.3 Knock Down
Turn your attention for a moment to verse 3 and focus on these soldiers. Behind the word “a band of soldiers” is a technical term for a Roman cohort, normally a force of 600 men (one tenth of a legion). These imperial troops would be battle-hardened. They’d be tough guys, no matter how you look at it. They’ve been through the wars. They were an amazing group of people. Here is a meek, mild-mannered carpenter, rabbi, philosopher. Can you imagine any mild-mannered professor knocking down a group of battle-hardened Marines by simply speaking? He stands up, He says, “I am,” and this entire imperial Roman troop is knocked flat on their backs. Bam, you are on your back staring up at the stars. At that point, I think I would have packed up and gone home.7 They did not fall down when He asked them what they wanted, but only after He said, “I am.”
2.4 Only His Voice
With no other weapon than Jesus’ voice, by uttering the words “I am,” Jesus knocked these battle-hardened soldiers down to the ground.8 With nothing more than His voice, Jesus vanquishes the greatest army on the face of the earth. Earlier in John, Jesus brought dead people back to life by just calling their name: “Lazarus, come forth!” If Jesus has this much power when He’s about to die, how much power will He have when He reigns?
Hunters talk about their ammo having knock-down power here in Texas. Jesus had knock-down power in just His voice. The same voice that stills the winds and the sea now spoke to these soldiers.
2.5 I’ve Got it Under Control
Have you ever said to someone, “I’ve got it under control?” Traci will be riding in the passenger seat, offering me some wonderful advice on when to properly stop and when to go in DFW traffic. If I’m feeling bulletproof, I’ll say, “I’ve got it under control.” There’s a lot of life that you’d like to have under your control, but it can spiral out of control very quickly. But that should never come from the lips of a believer. Because that’s God’s line. Say that with me, if you will: “That’s God’s line.”
There can be little doubt that these temple police and Roman soldiers came to arrest all of Jesus’ followers, along with Jesus. “Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go’” (John 18:8).
Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17-18).
With the arresting officers falling all over themselves, it makes you wonder who’s really in charge here? Jesus didn’t stumble into suffering. He stepped into it.
2.6 The Sovereignty of God
God is the only one who can say, “I’ve got it under control.” This is known as the sovereignty of God. If there is one doctrine the world hates, it is the sovereignty of God because they hate that He is in control. If there is one doctrine the believer loves, it is the sovereignty of God because we know this world is under the control of our all-loving, all-knowing Heavenly Father.
He’s writing the script here. He’s the manager, moving all the stage pieces where He wants them. He steps forward, and He says, “I am.”
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall” (Psalm 27:1-2).
2.7 He Grants Them Permission
Jesus asked these 200 soldiers and temple police, “Who do you seek?” Were the police and the soldiers still on the ground, or had they gotten back on their feet? We don’t know. Each time the temple police and the Roman soldiers respond: “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus, very deliberately, says, “It’s me you want. Are you seeking me?” Even though Jesus is being arrested, He’s controlling the entire situation. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go” (John 18:8-9).
Jesus goes with them willingly, not violently. It’s as if Jesus gives them permission to arrest Him. One comment here to put it beautifully, “They came to arrest Jesus. They didn’t arrest Jesus. Jesus arrested them.”
1. What Jesus Knew
2. What Jesus Says
3. Who Jesus Saves
“This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: ‘Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one’” (John 18:9).
Jesus is a willing savior.
3.1 Release Everyone Else
Jesus offers Himself up to save the Twelve. This is a preview of everything Jesus will do for the next few days. He offers Himself as a substitute. Jesus ensures that everyone else is released. Jesus says, “I’ve got it under control.”
Even when Peter takes matters into his own hands by striking out at the arresting party, Jesus once again comes to the rescue. Jesus reaches out and simply touches the ear to heal the high priest’s servant (Luke 22:52). If Jesus had not done that, there may have been four crosses at Calvary that day. Only John tells us that it’s impulsive Peter who attempts to defend Jesus. Jesus shows compassion for a slave of the very people conspiring to kill Him.
Here, Jesus protects His followers. Remember, Jesus’ prayer, just one chapter before? “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). Remember, Jesus calls Himself a Good Shepherd because He protects His sheep.
Jesus then asks, “Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11b).
3.2 Twelve Legions of Angels
Jesus adds, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).
A legion would have been 6,000 soldiers. So, if you do the math, that’s around 72,000 angels. No, Jesus didn’t need Peter’s help. It’s right here that the other gospels tell us that all the disciples fled the scene (Matthew 26:56). Jesus protects every single one of them. Jesus had to drink the cup of suffering. The irony of it is that even Caiaphas unwittingly predicted Jesus was to die to protect His children. John reminds us of this in verse 12: “It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people” (John 18:12).
3.3 Jesus’ 6 Trials
John previews what Jesus goes through for us: “First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year” (John 18:13).
Jesus experienced 6 trials – 3 were religious, and 3 were civil. Again, from the moment they arrested Jesus, He underwent 6 trials, 3 were by the Jewish religious authorities, and 3 were by the Roman government.
It’s probably really early on Friday morning now. The Bible says that the temple police and the soldiers led Jesus to the high priest named Annas. This was probably a brief interrogation while the Sanhedrin were being woke up. There were no charges and no witnesses. This was an illegal trial by every stretch of the imagination.
3.3.1 Annas
John alone includes this account of a brief hearing before Annas, the former high priest and father-in-law of the present high priest, Caiaphas. Now, it gets a little confusing here. Annas held the office from AD 6 until AD 15, when Pilate’s predecessor removed him. Now, some 15 years have gone by, but Annas continues to hold enormous influence. You can think of him as high priest emeritus. Annas may have been the one who had masterminded Jesus’s arrest after Judas had approached the chief priests concerning his betrayal.9 But 5 of Annas’ sons, plus his son-in-law Caiaphas, held the office of high priest at one time or another. You can think of Annas was the patriarch of a high priestly family. This family was extremely wealthy, and they would have controlled a lot of the market for ritual and sacrificial goods around Jerusalem at the time.10 John is showing us that Annas is the power behind the high priest, Caiaphas. Annas will question Jesus beginning in verse 19, and Caiaphas will not take his turn until verse 24.11
“Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11b).
3.3 The Cup
Inside that cup, Jesus knew there was terrible physical pain. He knew over the next few hours He would be tortured and crucified.12 He had nerve endings in His skin just as we do, and He recoiled at the thought of all the pain He would face. Also, inside that cup was isolation. All His disciples would forsake Him, and He would face the cross alone. Even on the cross, He endured isolation from His Father. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have YOU forsaken me?” But I think the most horrifying content of that cup were sins of all who are in Christ. He would bear all the sins in His body on the cross. All the lies, murders, rapes, and hatred of the world would stain His sinless soul. That’s why He prayed, “Father, please take the cup away. But not my will, but yours be done.”
EndNotes
1 https://beautifydata.com/united-states-crimes/fbi-ucr/2024/number-of-arrests-by-race-and-ethnicity/total/Adult; accepted March 8, 2026.
2 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-man-81-charged-fatal-shooting-uber-driver-mistakenly-thought-was-rcna147827; accepted March 8, 2026.
3 https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/48104437/man-pleads-guilty-2024-athlete-home-burglaries-case; accepted March 8, 2026.
4 https://apnews.com/article/iowa-des-moines-superintendent-ian-roberts-b52a9ea28d002d27832c67513403368e; accepted March 8, 2026.
5 Andreas J. Kostenberger, John, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2004), 505.
6 R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1999), 416.
7 J. D. Greear, “ The Passive: John 18:1–40,” J. D. Greear Sermon Archive (Durham, NC: The Summit Church, 2017).
8 Frederick Dale Bruner, The Gospel of John: A Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Eerdmans, 2012), 1029.
9 Andreas J. Kostenberger, Justin Taylor, and Alexander Stewart, The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014), 104.
0 Robert D. Culver, The Earthly Career of Jesus, the Christ: a Life in Chronological, Geographical, and Social Context (Christian Focus Publications, 2002), 212
1 D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 580-581.
2 https://gabc-archive.org/wp-content/uploads/s071220.pdf; accessed March 8, 2026.
