Still Lord Even at His Arrest
Fortifying the Foundations #38
John 18:1-11[1]
6-27-04
Intro
In our study of John’s gospel we come this morning to the story of Jesus’ arrest. Here we see Jesus. We see him fully in control of his destiny. We see him full of majesty and authority even while being arrested as a common criminal. John does not want us to get the wrong idea about Jesus’ arrest. This arrest was like no other arrest you have ever heard about. In this situation the person being arrested is in charge. The mob that arrests Jesus think they are in charge but John lets us know in no uncertain terms that Jesus as the Lamb of God is voluntarily laying down his life in our behalf. Do you remember John’s objective in writing this gospel? John 20:30-31 “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John wants us to get an accurate revelation of Jesus so that we will put our trust in him.
Christ was not the victim of an angry mob even though every person in that mob stands morally accountable for his choices. Every person in the mob was exercising free will and exercising their wills against the Lord of Glory. But none of that thwarted the sovereign purpose and plan of God. Remember how Peter addressed the people of Jerusalem about 50 days later on the day of Pentecost? Acts 2:22-23 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” Wicked, accountable hands were at work on the night of our text. But we will see that “This man”, our Lord and Savior is being arrested “by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge”.
I want to share with you five powerful demonstrations of Jesus’ lordship in our text that assure us beyond any doubt that he was in control of the situation, that he gave his life for us voluntarily so that we might have life.
Observe with me
1st His Decision to go into Gethsemane (Verse 1-2).
Immediately after his prayer in John 17 Jesus leads his disciples across the Kidron valley into the Garden of Gethsemane. This is particularly significant because this is where Judas would expect to find him. Jesus knows that his hour has come. He is positioning himself to be arrested.
John 1:2 “Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.” Judas knew the place and Jesus knew that Judas knew the place.[2] When Judas was leading the mob to arrest Jesus he probably went first to the upper room. Not finding Jesus there he led them to the Garden.[3]
From the synoptic gospels we know that Jesus prayed in great agony there in the garden.
In fact, the emotional and spiritual pressure was so great that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. There he was in a deep spiritual struggle dealing with the ordeal that lay ahead. He had asked Peter, James, and John to pray with him. They tried but failed. They would start to pray but then fall asleep. Can anybody besides me identify with that? Jesus had gone a little space from them and prayed “Father, if You are willing take this cup from me; yet not by will but Yours be done.” Three times when he would come back to them they would be asleep. Luke, the physician, makes an interesting observation about their sleep. He says that they were “sleeping from sorrow”[4]. The emotional strain of everything that is going on has exhausted them and caused them to seek escape through sleep. I have never experienced what they experienced that night. But I have been in some situations where I found myself sleeping for sorrow—just trying to escape from it all by sleeping and hoping everything would be different when I woke up. Sleep is not the answer. Escape is not the answer. Prayer is the answer.
When Jesus comes to them the third time the crowd arrives in the Garden. The lights from the lanterns and torches could be seen in the distance. Perhaps the rumble of their footsteps and the clanging of their swords could be heard as well.
John does not specify where Judas’ betrayal with a kiss fits into the chain of events. It probably occurred somewhere between verse 4 and verse 10 of our text. What John wants us to see is that Jesus was not caught off guard, not surprised by Judas’ deception, fully knowledgeable of what is happening and submitting himself fully to the Father’s will. He is in this place where he knew they could find him. And when the crowd arrives he goes out to meet them.
2. His Demeanor in the face of this hostile crowd is full of majesty (Verses 3-4).
He is not a nervous, scared criminal who has finally gotten caught. He is not a helpless victim of a lynch mob. He is still the Lord of Glory and King of Kings even in this most humbling of circumstances.
The mob expects the usual human reaction of fight or flight. They have prepared for either response. They come with swords in case there is a fight. Pilate sends a detachment of soldiers with the Pharisees and temple police.[5] The word translated “detachment” in John 18:3 is “speira”. It is a military word used for a Roman cohort, which was one tenth of a legion or 600 men. Sometimes the word is used in a more general way and could possibly refer to a smaller number.[6] But Pilate did not want a riot on his hands during this feast and you can be sure he sent what he considered to be overwhelming force. This was a huge mob and they were out for blood.
During the Passover feast there is a full moon and lots of light at night. But the crowd has come with lanterns and torches in case Jesus tries to hide himself in the trees and bushes.[7] They approach Jesus with certain assumptions that prove totally false. When they encounter Jesus he is not hiding in some hole the way Saddam Hussein was captured. He boldly goes out to meet them.
Had we been there I think we would have recognized something very intimidating about that demon inspired mob. Satan has entered into Judas and Judas is leading the crowd. There was the normal intimidation of Pilate’s soldiers and the temple police; but beyond that was the spiritual darkness at work. The mob is energized by demonic activity. What a horrible thing to have to face. But Jesus has already won the spiritual victory in prayer.[8] Now the manifestation of that victory is a foregone conclusion. Here is one lesson we must not overlook. Even Jesus, the Son of God, prepared himself through prayer. He did not neglect his source of strength. Therefore, he was ready for the test when it came.
Contrary to the crowds expectations, Jesus walked up to them with majestic composure and calm and asked them the question, “Who is it you want?” Their reply was very specific, “Jesus of Nazareth.” They did not recognize him as the Messiah or the Christ but only as a common peasant from the little town of Nazareth. They are approaching him as they would any other man. But they are about to discover that he is more than a man. He is Lord. And his Lordship is demonstrated powerfully by what happens next.
3. His Demonstration of Power (Verses 5-6)
Look with me at John 18:6 “When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” There is no question in my mind as to what happened in that verse. When Jesus spoke the words, “I am he,” the crowd was knocked down by the power of the Spirit. Have you ever seen God do that? We sometimes refer to it as being “slain in the spirit” or “falling under the power.” But when God wants to assert His dominion He will sometimes overwhelm people with His presence. I’m not certain whether the whole crowd went down or if it was just the front people who were speaking to Jesus. But clearly this is a demonstration of Jesus’ control over the situation.
If Jesus had that kind of authority and power—the ability to speak the word and knock them to the ground, he clearly did not have to surrender to them. John tells us about this so that we will know beyond any doubt that Jesus was in control. No man took his life. He willingly laid it down as a sacrifice in your behalf and in my behalf.
Some commentaries try to soften this by indicating that they just stepped back. You even see that in the video clip we showed at the beginning of the service. But the original language clearly indicates they fell to the ground.
4. His Desire accomplished for the disciples release (Verses 7-8).
Look at his focus during this exchange in verses 4 thru 8. Think about all the questions Jesus might have asked. Think about all the arguments he might have brought in his own defense. He does not defend himself. But he does defend his disciples.
What is the design of his question to the mob? “Who do you want?” Isn’t it obvious that they want Jesus? It is. But Jesus is getting at something that is paramount in his mind at the time. He is forcing them to focus on him rather than his disciples. He is leading the conversation to this conclusion in verse 8, “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”
That is a revelation of his heart toward you and me. He is always looking out for us. Here in his darkest hour he is making sure his disciples are ok. I have found it is a lot easier to be unselfish when I am not under pressure myself. It’s easier to offer someone else my seat if I am rested and would just about soon stand as sit. But when I am totally exhausted it is not so easy. Here is Jesus in the most extreme circumstances. If ever there were a time to justify a little selfishness it would be right here. But he continues to love his own to the end even though they are failing him in many ways.
We saw earlier that we can trust him in any situation because he is powerful. He is always in control and therefore in a position to help. But here we are seeing that we can always trust him because he is always looking out for our best interest. As the good shepherd he even puts our welfare above his own and takes the blow in our behalf.
John adds this comment in verse 9, “This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: ‘I have lost none of those you gave me’.” Usually when we read that kind of terminology we expect to find the quote somewhere in the Old Testament. But that is not the case here. Jesus is referring to Jesus’ words in John 17:12 where Jesus prayed, “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”[9]
Judas stands in cold contrast to Jesus in our text. There he is with the enemy. Not long ago he was in this garden praying with Jesus. Not long ago he sat next to Jesus at the communion table. He had lived so close to the Lord of Life. He had worked miracles in the name of Jesus. He had so seemed to be part of the twelve that no one but Jesus suspected him as a traitor. Charles Spurgeon says that Judas proves the futility of knowledge apart from sincerity and that familiarity with the sacred can still produce a traitor.[10] Judas never surrendered his heart to Christ though he followed him along with the other eleven.
Here is an amazing thing in our story. Judas and the entire mob that came with him do not alter their intentions even when confronted with the majesty of Christ. They have to be surprised at his noble demeanor. His glory is demonstrated when they are knocked down by the power of God. Surely when they see the miracle of Jesus’ healing Malchus’ ear—surely then they will repent and abandon their mission. No, they continue headstrong in their iniquity.
If God would just show His power surely people would repent and turn to Him. Some will respond that way. But the demonstration of power does not guarantee repentance. Repentance is a choice made in the heart of an individual. Don’t say, “I would serve God if He would show Himself real.” He has done that a thousand times over. Accept the facts that are already before you. Turn to Him and serve Him.
John shows us this same thing in the book of Revelations. There God deals directly with sinners but they still refuse to repent. Listen to what John writes in Rev 16:8-11
“The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. 9They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. Men gnawed their tongues in agony 11and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” Their response to the judgments of God was to gnaw their tongues in agony and curse God. With amazement John adds, “but they refused to repent...”[11]
In our text this headstrong crowd refuses to repent. They have no doubt come with intentions to deal with this problem once and for all. They intend to take Jesus and everyone who stands with him. That attitude is obvious from the way they try to seize the young man as recorded in Mark 14:51[12]. But Jesus submits himself to their arrest only after he gains the freedom of his followers. This is even more remarkable considering Peter’s behavior in the rest of this story.
5. His Dramatic of Healing to Malchus is our final proof of his lordship in this situation (verses 9-11).
There is Jesus face to face with the mob. Malchus is not just a servant of the high priest but he is “the” servant of the high priest. Behind Judas he is probably leading the crowd.[13] Jesus is securing the safety of his disciples when suddenly one of them shouts out, “Shall we smite with the sword?”[14] Peter slings his blade toward Malchus and misses his head but cuts off his right ear. No one aims at an ear in that kind of situation. You want to make that first blow count. But Peter is no swordsman and does a sloppy job of trying to kill Malchus.
Have you ever tried to help Jesus in the wrong way? Peter is trying to help Jesus. But he is not moving in the spirit but in the flesh.[15] And even though his intentions are right, he is actually doing more harm than good. He is going about a good thing in the wrong way and the result is that some sinner’s ear gets cut off.
Have you ever cut a sinner’s ear off? Have you ever approached him in some way that actually made it harder for him to hear the gospel than before he encountered you? I am embarrassed to say that I may have done that a few times in my ministry. Jesus always has to come behind us correct the mistake. Here he heals the man’s ear and tells Peter to put up his sword.
Why did Peter make such a mistake?
1. Lack of spiritual preparation. He was sleeping when he should have been praying. Had not Jesus said to him and the others, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” We must put on our spiritual armor before the evil day is upon us. Sometimes we’re like the five foolish virgins who think they can take care of everything last minute. But Peter failed to prepare himself for the challenges he would face.
2. He relied on carnal weapon to win a spiritual battle. Paul reminds us in 2Cor. 10 that “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty thru God to the pulling down of strongholds.” Are you trying to solve your problem thru carnal means? Maybe a more spiritual approach would yield better results.
3. Peter was looking at secondary causes rather than seeing the situation as Jesus saw it.[16] Look at the contrast between Peter’s perspective and that of Jesus. Peter sees this mob as the problem so he just attacks it. But Jesus looked beyond secondary causes and linked up with the Father’s will. Verse 11 “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” If we’re not careful we will be expending all our energy dealing with secondary causes rather than discovering the Father’s will and cooperating with it. It’s a tiresome thing to deal with secondary causes because the problem seldom gets solved that way. Have you tried to solve your problems by attacking them the way Peter does here? Are you vigorously hacking away at something and getting unsatisfactory results? If what you are doing is not working, then pray as Jesus prayed until you can see what God is doing and how He wants you to respond.
The healing of Malchus’ ear is actually recorded in Luke 22:51 where we are told that Jesus touched his ear and healed him. This is Jesus’ last miracle before his crucifixion.
It is another demonstration of Jesus’ power and authority at the time of his arrest.
John makes one thing abundantly clear in this story. Jesus was not taken against his will. He willingly offered himself as the sacrifice for sin.[17] He was not a victim of an angry mob. He was totally in control of the whole situation. And if he was in control during those darkest hours—the time when the powers of darkness were most at work, you can know that he is in control of whatever may be happening in your life. Circumstances may seem like they are out of control. On the surface the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus looked like an unfortunate miscarriage of justice. But in reality the sovereign plan of God was being marvelously fulfilled. In this story we are assured of Jesus’ control over the events and circumstances of our lives. Here we find courage to trust him even when we don’t understand all that is happening.[18]
TEXT: John 18:1-11
18:1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" 5"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." 10Then 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.) 11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" NIV
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
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[1] Text was presented earlier in the service using DVD from Visual Bible International (www.gospelofjohnthefilm.com ). Text is provided at the end of this message for easy reference. All quotes are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
[2] John 18:4 John’s wording in this verse helps us understand his message about Jesus in this text.
[3] Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Book III (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1984) p. 534. According to Edersheim the upper room used for the Last Supper probably belonged to John Mark’s father and the young man whom the crowd tried to seize in Mark 14:51 was John Mark (p. 545)..
[4] Luke 22:39-46 NKJV
[5] The make up of this crowd demonstrates how enemies will join forces to oppose the truth. Sadducees join with Pharisees. Jews join with Gentiles. The common denominator in this crowd is opposition to Christ.
[6] Fredrick Danker and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000) p. 936
[7] Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Hendrickson Publishers: Peabody Mass., 2000) p. 605F.B. Meyer, Gospel of John (Ft. Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1983) p. 308
[8] He could have called 12 Legions of angels and wiped them out instantly (Matthew 26:53)
[9] Charles Spurgeon, A Treasury of Spurgeon on the Life and Work of Our Lord, Vol. VI (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House Co., 1979) p. 164
[10] Spurgeon, pp. 97 & 173
[11]Author Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975) p. 165
[12] Pink, p. 167
[13] Eidersheim, p. 544 Note the use of the definite article.
[14] Luke 22:49
[15] Galatians 5:16-25
[16] Pink p. 170
[17] John 10:17-18
[18] Alternate outline of text using theme of His Trustworthiness for your Situation: 1. Jesus’ CONTROL over the situation (verses 1-6). 2. Jesus CONCERN for his followers (verses 7-8). 3. Jesus COMMITMENT to the Father’s will (verses 9-11).
