The Night They Came For Jesus Series

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.