The Gospel of John Lesson 77 (06-15-14) John 18:1-11

The Gospel of John Lesson 77 (06-15-14)

Lesson 77 – John 18:1-11

Now Jesus’ time of preparation with His disciples has come to an end. He had given His disciples all the necessary instructions, details and plans necessary to go forward to build and establish the Church, His Kingdom, in His absence, but there was only one problem…they were still in the dark. There were too many details given to them in such a short period of time and the concepts were too difficult at this time to comprehend that they did not have a clear picture of what Jesus was talking about.

Many of the concepts that Jesus had shared with them were spiritual and would not function or work if applied by carnal means. It was evident from the conversations and interactions at the table at the Last Supper and the time that followed that His disciples were still thinking in the framework of their abilities and talents to establish the Kingdom instead of relying on God to supply the power and wisdom to do the job.

As yet, even though they had heard Jesus’ instruction in John chapter 15 concerning abiding in Him they still were not willing to give up their own will and ways for His. Besides, most men are known for not reading instructions.

There was much conversation at the dinner and following the dinner that night that would have made the events that were about to happen confusing. In Luke chapter 22 in verses 28-30 we see that Jesus had promised and appointed His disciples a kingdom and a position in His kingdom, appointing them thrones and the position of judging the 12 tribes of Israel. A little later in that same chapter in Lk. 22:35-8 He instructs them to prepare for conflict telling them that this conflict will become up close and personal maybe even needing them to consider defensive action that could get real needing the use of weapons.

 However, although Jesus understood the difference between what was meant to be according to the Father’s will and what needed or required action, His disciples did not always recognize or understand the difference between the two. Lk. 22:37 the meaning of what Jesus meant in Lk. 22:37 went right over their head, Lk 22:38, where they respond to what He said in the flesh, thinking that now Jesus was speaking their language, thinking that He was telling them that now they were allowed to move with force, that it was now time to use force to establish His kingdom. Soon we will see Peter take off on this conversation taking action that was not timed right and inappropriate, cutting off the high priest’s servant’s ear. As yet, they did not understand what abiding in Jesus meant depending on Him for guidance and wisdom to get it right when serving and doing His will.

But, Jesus knew what time it was. He now guides them through the Father’s will for the present time just as God’s Holy Spirit will soon be guiding them, telling them that force and apparent victory is not always God’s ways to accomplish His will at the time. Jesus knew that it was the Father’s will to, for the moment, appear to lose because the Father had some unpleasant work yet for Him to do before it e was done.  

It appears that Jesus saves the best till the last concerning His remaining time with His disciples, praying for their perspective, their understanding and their protection, placing them into the Father’s care, making their outcome secure.

Now having secured the eternal safety of His followers by His prayer, He now heads with a single minded focus toward completing His work. He had a job to finish and now He leaves with His followers from most likely the upper room and heads to face the world and the enormous task of defeating the greatest enemy that the world and God’s creation will ever know. This great encounter will now take place, the engagement of the enemies coming face to face in the little garden in the hills of Jerusalem just a short walk from the Temple mount. Jesus now heads over the Kidron brook to Gethsemane.

Things will now begin to move very quickly now. Judas knew this place very well. Jesus had trained Judas as to where to find Him when the time came to engage Him for battle. Jesus had purposely resorted to this place often so as that there would be no doubt as to where to find Him when this time had come. But, first Jesus needed a few more moments this His Father before it all began.

When arriving at the Garden with His disciples He leaves most of His followers behind and retreats to a quiet place to be alone with the Father. In doing so He separates out from the other disciples Peter, James and John taking them a little further into the garden closer to where He would pray to the Father. He asks them to pray with and for Him as He goes further into the garden to be alone with the Father.

Moments before His face to face encounter with His great and powerful enemy, Jesus knowing what was at stake and the enormous power that He was about to face and do battle with, He has some personal business to finish with the Father before the plan of action is set in stone.

Jesus knowing what the plan was, He had formulated this plan with the Father long ago before the foundation of the world that he now would face, asks the Father if there are any details in the council of God the Father  that had not been shared with Him as yet. He asks the Father if there is a twist in the plan that would change or alter the details of the job that He was about to engage in.

It is interesting that in Matthew chapter 26 Jesus approaches the Father three times with this same question or request. It appears that the Father is silent on the matter and in the Father not answering Him it appears that Jesus receives His answer and walks out to meet His enemy face to face.

Judas blinded by greed, believing that he is the man with the only plan that makes sense, receives a band of men and Temple officers or police and brings the world to face Jesus in the Garden. This begins the event and showdown of all of history! Jesus probably never having picked up a weapon in His life on earth walks forward empty handed to meet His enemy and his accompanying army who has planned for this encounter a little different than He did. Jesus walks forward to meet them, their coming with weapons, lights and torches and numbers that would assure what they thought would be a victory.

However, it tells us in v. 4 of chapter 18 that Jesus knew all things that they would be allowed to do to Him. He now walks forward in confidence willingly to face them. This was more than fate to Jesus, this was destiny!

He now meets His enemy face to face and in this awkward moment, in that moment of silence when you would need a knife to cut the tension in the air, they face each other, His enemy wondering who would make the first move or make the first comment.

In v. 4 Jesus forces the encounter with the first words, drawing His enemy in even closer now coming eye to eye with him. Jesus gets things started by asking them who they were looking for. The world that was with Judas had previously made plans so that they would not make a mistake in this encounter. At some point in this encounter Judas would come forward and kiss Jesus on the cheek making a positive identification as to which one was really Jesus.  

Jesus had been in their presence many times and in their mind had somehow cleverly eluded them. But, Jesus knew different. He knew that all of the encounters before this were not the appointed time and no matter what they had planned or could have done before that they would not have been allowed to secure Him into their custody at that time.

However, this encounter was different. This was that appointed encounter. It was time for Jesus to let them have their way and take Him, letting them think that their so called plan to get Him had worked. But, Jesus did not let them take Him without a witness as to who He really was.

In v.5 it tells us that after Jesus asked them His initial question asking, “Whom do you seek?” that the crowd with Judas responded with the obvious response of “we are looking for Jesus of Nazareth”. But, what happened next caught everyone there except Jesus by surprise. Jesus’ answer to them of “I am He” was no surprise, but the effect of those words on those that had come out to get Him was.

It says in v. 6 that as soon as Jesus had spoken the words ‘I am He’ that the crowd upon hearing those words fell back at the power of them being spoken and in that moment and for a moment there eyes were opened as to Who they were dealing with. In that moment, for a moment, when Jesus had spoken the words “I am He” His Devine person was revealed to them as to who He really was and that that they were forcibly overcome by His words, so much so that they were forced backward being pushed over onto the ground…probably disarming them. This was totally unexpected by all present except of course Jesus.

Saul of Tarsus had a similar experience that is recorded in the book of Acts in the ninth chapter. As Saul was traveling on the road nearing Damascus God’s presence was revealed to him and because of God’s revealed presence Saul’s response was one of being struck down to the ground. It was evident to those there that night in the garden with Jesus that they at that moment had been confronted with a power and a force that they had not anticipated. Jesus had spoken the God words “I am” to them not only identifying to them that He was Jesus, but that in saying these words to them in this way that He also spoke to them that He was their God. In doing so they were overcome with His presence and His majesty.

It is my opinion that at that time when Jesus’ enemies had fallen backward that at that moment any weapons that they had held were dropped completely disarming them. If so, what an awkward moment, Jesus standing in front of them, them being overcome with who He is and them on the ground totally disarmed.

 At that moment Jesus could have walked away without a hitch again eluding His captures, but this was not that time. He stood there giving them time to recollect themselves, their wondering for a moment if it was such a good idea to do this in coming to get Him.

But, Jesus waits for them to collect themselves, Jesus taking no action or advantage of the situation, and follows the incident with repeating His initial question asking them who they are looking for. As they begin to collect themselves, probably looking around at each other to get a consensus of what to do next, they respond again that they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus replying again that He was Him, this time His words do not have the same response on them, He asks them that since they are looking for Him would they not let His followers go. It says in v. 9 that He made this request not only because He loved them, but also to fulfill prophesy.

As usual and customary for Peter, he chose this moment to draw the sword and apparently defend Jesus. What was he thinking? He pulls his sword and cuts off a servant of the high priest’s ear. Jesus using that moment as a teachable moment for Peter and His other followers tells Peter that this was not the time for action, reminding him that sometimes difficult situations and circumstances are allowed by God for a purpose and for His glory.