John 18:1-14. Two very different people
We now come to the arrest and trial of Jesus prior to his execution. John mentions several features in his account that are not included in the accounts of the other gospel writers. John’s intention is to stress the supremacy and victory of the Lord Jesus over adverse circumstances. There are two central figures in this account, the treacherous Judas and the majestic Jesus.
The situation
‘When Jesus had finished praying’ (v. 1) surely refers to the prayer of John chapter 17, where he had prayed firstly about himself, then for his immediate disciples and finally for all subsequent Christians. Prior to that (in chapters 14-16) he had taught his disciples what they should prioritise after his departure.
They then left the upper room, descended the steps that led down to the Kidron valley, on the south-east side of Jerusalem. The word Kidron literally means a ‘winter torrent’, but for most of the year it was a dry bed. Only in the rainy season would water flow. It is said that the blood from the tempkle sacrifices ran down a drain into the Kidron valley and the farmers there used it to fertilise the ground.
The group then ascended the gentle slope of the Mount of Olives, along the roadway that led to Bethany and then to Jericho, but they soon turned off to enter the Garden of Gethsemane, which apparently was an olive grove (v. 1). Gethsemane is an Arabic name that simly means ‘oil-press’. This all suggests that this was a walled area and presumably they had the permission of the owner, possibly John Mark’s parents, to use this. We know that Jesus often frequented this garden with his disciples and they probably slept there during their visits to Jerusalem. John explains how Judas knew where Jesus would be staying.
“ . . . because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove . . .” John 18:2
Judas - the despicable
It is hard to understand how Judas could backslide so far. He had been chosen by Jesus to be one of his special disciples and had willingly joined this small group. For three years he had been taught by Jesus what it meant to be one of God’s people and how his followers must think and behave. He had administrative gifts, having been chosen to look after the communal purse of the group. Yet the pressure from the Pharisees and the High Priest, combined with the promise of a not insignificant financial reward, led to him turning his back on God’s Messiah. Thirty pieces of silver would be worth about £200 pounds in today’s money. He was party to the private plans of Jesus and was willing to use this knowledge to betray him. He must have been a very hard man to have turned his back on both Jesus and the other disciples. How can a man fall so low?
Judas had left Jesus and his disciples towards the end of the last supper and had gone to meet up with the High Priest and his companions. Doubtless they made him feel that he was doing something good for the Jewish community by identifying Jesus to their soldiers. The word used for this group of soldiers is a ‘cohort’, so presumably these were Roman soldiers on loan to the Jewish authorities. A cohort, if literally meant, was a tenth part of a legion, and would have consisted of 4-500 men. Matthews account says,
“With him (Judas) was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.” Matthew 26:47
This large crowd must have been because the Jewish authorities were afraid of there being an uprising as Jesus was known to be popular in some quarters. Jerusalem would have been crowded with Galileans and other Jews for the Feast of the Passover.
Judas hadn’t really understood who Jesus was, he was spiritually blind, yet here he is leading a large group of soldiers – the blind leading the blind.
It was ironic that they were ‘carrying torches’ (v. 3) to find him who is ‘the light of the world’. They were carrying ‘weapons’ to arrest him who was the ‘Prince of Peace’.
Where was Judas standing? He was standing ‘with them’. Judas had spent three years ‘standing’ with Jesus and his disciples, but now he had become a renegade, a traitor.
It is so easy for men and women to be seen as members of Christ’s family, to appear to be genuine disciples of Jesus, but in our hearts to reject his rule.
Jesus – the man of integrity
In the garden, Jesus left most of his disciples and went off with Peter, James and John to pray. Jesus was fully human and was distraught at the prospect of his coming execution. Jesus knew what was about to happen yet he faced everything with determination.
“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him . . .” John 18:4
Matthew gives us details about how low Jesus felt and how this led him to pray but John omits this. John is clearly assuming that his readers knew of the other gospel accounts.
Jesus was a remarkable man who was clear about his destiny and pressed on towards that goal. Earlier in his ministry, the crowds had wanted to force Jesus into becoming their king but Jesus had quietly withdrawn ‘to a mounatin by himself’ (John 6:15). But now they came, again by force to deliver him to the cross, and this time he graciously steps fowrd and offers himself. He came to this world to suffer and die. He could do this because he knew that he would return to heaven where he would again be in close communion with his Father.
Jesus takes the initiative. When he sees this large crowd coming he leaves his disciples and, out of the darkness approaches the leaders of the crowd,
“He went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’” John 18:4
They reply,
“Jesus of Nazareth.” John 18:5
He doesn’t withdraw, as before, but boldly presents himself to his opponents. Their soldiers were well armed, presumably because they did not know what would happen. It would appear that the leaders could not identify Jesus, photographs had not been invented, and they had obviously not attended any of his teaching in the temple court! Matthew and Mark add that Judas had planned to identify Jesus to them with a kiss.
“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’” Matthew 26:48
Jesus makes a striking reply to those who had come to arrest him,
“I am he.” John 18:5
Jesus repeats this a further two times, the next time this has a profound effect on those listening. He must have spoken loudly and emphatically for all to hear him. Whether the crowd understood what Jesus was saying or the manner in which he said it, there was a dramtic effect.
“When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:6
This was what Jesus had been claiming all along, to be the great ‘I am’. This is how the Lord had identified himself to Moses on Mount Sinai and here he does so again. This was how Jesus had repeatedly identified himself to really be – for example,
“I am the bread of life” John 6:35, 48
“I am the light of the world.” John 8:12, 9:5
“ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was (born), I am.’ At this they picked up stones to stone him.” John 8:58
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no-one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46
Jesus had dared to take on himself the sacred name of the Lord God.
Whether it was the bearing of Jesus, a supernatural majesty or just a miraculous understanding that the crowd were in the presence of someone very special we do not know, but for a crowd of soldiers to react in this way was extraordinary. Were they falling before him in worship or fear?
The concern Jesus had for his disciples was even to be seen when he was under immense pressure.
The third time he uses the phrase ‘I am’ he immediately acts to protect his disciples.
“ ‘I told you that I am he.’ Jesus answered.’ If you are looking for me, then let these people go.’” John 18:8
How Jesus cared for his disciples. He had just prayed in his High Priestly prayer,
“While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by the name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.” John 17:12
In normal circumstances the soldiers would have arrested all those present so why didn’t they? Was God still in control of all these circumstances?
A decision is needed
“There is a tide in the affairs of men. .” is a phrase taken from from Shakespeare's ‘Julius Caesar’, where Brutus talks to Cassius. It means that the key to success lies in knowing that a tide, or simply an opportunity, only occasionally comes to men and and it is up to us to recognize, and seize the opportunity. When people are confronted with Christ we must make a decision about what we are going to do with him. This is a warning right at the beginning of the Bible.
“Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man for ever, for he is mortal.’” Genesis 6:3.
A time approaches when we will no longer be able to accept God’s forgiveness and know the life-changing effect of God’s Spirit in our lives. St. Paul reminded the members of the troubled church in Corinth not to procrastinate in making their minds up which way they are determined to go,
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
Similarly Joshua demanded that the Children of Israel make a decision,
“ . . . choose for youselves this day whom you will serve . . .” Joshua 24:15
When the opportunity to embrace Christ comes your way, accept him, as that opportunity may not come your way again.
John adds, in parentheses, a comment about Judas that clearly has a double meaning,
“(And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)” John 18:5
Judas, like all of us have made a deep-rooted decsion about Jesus. We will either worship him or will reject him.
Peter is stupid
Peter doesn’t seem to understand that he can trust God to care for him, whatever the situation. The reaction of Peter, it had to be the impetuous, impulsive Peter, is described in all four gopels. Peter draws a sword and attacks Malchus, severing his ear. Doubtless he was trying to kill him but perhaps, being just a fisherman, he was not very adept with the sword. Good intentions are no excuse for wrong behaviour. While trying to fight for Christ he was actually fighting against him. Jesus had to go to that cross in order to die for our sins, in order to be the once for all time sacrifice for our sins. J.C.Ryle comments in his Expository Notes on John,
“It is not those who are for a time most demonstrative and fervent, whose religion is deepest. John never smote with the sword; but John never denied his Lord, and was at the foot of the cross when Jesus died.”
Luke, the doctor, is always interested in the medical details. He tells us that Jesus ‘touched’ the ear and it was immediately healed. Even when being arrested Jesus thinks of the needs of even one of his adversaries – a remarkable demonstration of the love of God..
Matthew records that Jesus then reminded Peter that his power was in no way diminished. Peter had clearly not fully understood what being the Son of God meant.
“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen in this way.” Matthew 26:53-54
The great Christian teacher, John Calvin, commented on Peter’s actions,
“It was exceedingly thoughtless of Peter to attempt to prove his faith by his sword, while he could not do so by his tongue. When he is called to make confession, he denies his Master; and now, without his Master’s authority, he raises a tumult.
Warned by so striking an example, let us learn to keep our zeal within proper bounds; and as the wantonness of our flesh is always eager to attempt more than God commands, let us learn that our zeal will succeed ill, whenever we venture to undertake any thing contrary to the word of God.”
Jesus simply says to Peter, ‘Put your sword away!’ It is amazing that Peter was not arrested and punished for this action. John wants us to focus on what Jesus said to Peter next,
“Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” John 18:11
In the Old Testament ‘the cup’ is repeatedly referred to as ‘the cup of God’s judgement ( or wrath)’. Jesus was about to bear the brunt of God’s judgment on himself. He was literally to become the sacrifical lamb.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” Galatians 3:13
Luther wrote in his commentary on this paasge in Galatians,
“And all the prophets saw this, that Christ was to become the greatest thief, murderer, adulterer, robber, desecrator, blasphemer, etc., there has ever been in the world. . . In short, he has, and bears all the sins of all men in his body – not in the sense that he has committed them, but in the sense that he took these sins, committed by us, upon his own body, in order to make satisfaction for them with his blood.”
Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath so that we can be free. No wonder he was to say on the cross, quoting the opening verse of Psalm 22 which describes in detail the Messiah’s future death by crucifixion,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46
This is why the sky went dark during those last three hours, signifying that God had turned his back temporaliy on his Son as he carried our sin, the sin that God so hates.
BVP
