Gethsemane
(A Night Like No Other – Part 13)
#149 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-52, Luke 22:47-53, John 18:2–12
There are times when God’s Word is rather … silent about matters we would desire to know… And then there are times when we see that The Holy Spirit had more than one writer to record details about an event… Such is our observation today.
All four gospel writers record details about what happened when Jesus was arrested… Though there are different aspects emphasized in each record, we are going to focus primarily on John’s record found in chapter 18.
Last time, we read the first verse, and it would be good for us to revisit it for just a moment –
John 18:1
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.
Different commentators have pointed out that as Jesus crossed over “the ravine of the Kidron”, He was crossing over the very … channel through which the blood of the Passover lambs drained away from the Temple… One said that when Jesus “crossed the brook Kedron it would still be red with the blood of the lambs which had been sacrificed” (Barclay)...
C.H. Spurgeon – “The very brook would remind him of his approaching sacrifice, for through it flowed the blood and refuse from the temple.”
I wanted us to pause at this point, to at least acknowledge that God’s Word is not trivial in what it records… The Lord has tucked away, even in the crevasses of seemingly insignificant texts, glimpses into His divine purpose for all that is about to transpire!...
Let’s look to our text, beginning with verse 2 –
John 18:2-12
2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” 10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” 12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,
1. The Demonstration of Treachery by Judas
John 18:2-3
2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
This was certainly the most … tragic act of betrayal ever demonstrated by a man… Judas knew where he was most likely to find Jesus. He had been with Jesus many times in this very garden…
I want us to read Matthew’s report of this, because he gives a detail that we need to think about. Matthew says that –
Matthew 26:47-50a
47 While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” 49 Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 50 And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.”
There is a strong contrast between the way Judas addresses Jesus, and the way Jesus addresses Judas… Judas only calls Jesus; Rabbi… That is always the way he addressed Jesus… The fact is, Judas is being hypocritical with his greeting. He doesn’t respect Jesus as his rabbi – he is betraying Him to those who want Jesus dead!
And yet, Jesus … calls Judas; friend… Judas has never had a better friend than Jesus, and Judas is … no friend to Jesus…
(Mark 14:43-46) Mark gives the same details, but does not mention Jesus calling Judas; friend…
The specific circumstances surrounding Jesus’ betrayal are important to understand… Jesus knew this is what was going to happen, and He … allowed it… Why?... If it were you or me, we would do all we could to avoid this – but not Jesus!
Again, Jesus is on-mission! He knows His mission, and He is very much … in control of this whole situation…
C.H. Spurgeon – “It is appointed that he must die, but how shall he fall into the hands of his adversaries? Shall they capture him in conflict? It must not be, lest he appear an unwilling victim. Shall he flee before his foes until he can hide no longer? It is not meet that a sacrifice should be hunted to death. Shall he offer himself to the foe? That were to excuse his murderers, or be a party to their crime. Shall he be taken accidentally or unawares? That would withdraw from his cup the necessary bitterness which made it wormwood mingled with gall. No; he must be betrayed by his friend, that he may bear the utmost depths of suffering, and that in every separate circumstance there may be a well of grief. One reason for the appointment of the betrayal, lay in the fact that it was ordained that man's sin should reach its culminating point in his death.”
And indeed, it is man’s sin at work here… Perhaps there is no one who had such a … seared conscience, as Judas, in his sadistic way of betraying Jesus!
2. The Display of Deity by Jesus
John 18:4-9
4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”
John is careful to record a detail that could so easily be lost on many readers…
John has pointed out many times, when Jesus … claimed the Covenant Name of God for Himself – and He does it again here!
When Jesus asked the officers whom they were seeking, they answered; “Jesus the Nazarene”... And what was Jesus’ answer?... “I AM”... (Notice the pronoun “He” is italicized, indicating that it is supplied by the translators in order to … “help” the reader… I think they should have just not tried to “help”... For Jesus simply said; “I AM”, and they … fell back on the ground!...
By the way… when you stand before the Lord, in His manifest presence, I think you and I will … fall before Him!
What happens next is … rather interesting as well… It is –
3. The Impulsive Aggression of Peter
John 18:10-11
10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
There goes Peter again! He is impulsive, and often … wrong!... There have been times, his impulsive outbursts have proven to be right!... He was the one to get out of the boat to walk on water (Matthew 14:29)! It was Peter who blurted out … the good confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16)!... But, there were also times when Peter’s outburst were … not in God’s will, and here is one!
I’m of the opinion that Peter wasn’t trying to … pierce Malcus’ ear – he was trying to take his head off, and Malcus … ducked!
Let’s read Mark’s account –
Mark 14:46-52
46 They laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49 Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.” 50 And they all left Him and fled.
51 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.
Jesus does challenge the legitimacy of His arrest… But, there is no legitimacy… There is no crime they can charge Him with, no warrant … because there is no cause except their … hatred of Christ, and wanting to get rid of Him…
Jesus points out that what they are doing, is actually… fulfilling Scripture – which should have given them … pause, but it doesn't...
The only thing we know about the young man mentioned in verses :51-52, is just this… We don’t know his name, why he was following Jesus at this point, or anything… As far as I could determine, it would be mere speculation to read anything else into it…
The main point in this section, has to do with Peter, and what he did… I like the observation that two commentators made –
David Guzik – “When Peter used sword-power he could only cut off ears; but using the power of the Word of God, could pierce hearts for God’s glory (Acts 2:37).”
Alexander Maclaren – “When the Church takes sword in hand, it usually shows that it does not know how to wield it, and as often as not has struck the wrong man.”
We come to a final observation, and we need to think about this carefully… It is –
4. The Willful Surrender to Godless Men
John 18:12
So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,
We need to see this event in the bigger picture… John simply reports who does the arresting … but think about this from the perspective of Who is being arrested…
There is no ability within the arresting party to even … lay a hand on Jesus – unless, and until … Jesus … lets it happen!
Up until now, “His hour had not come” (John 7:6, 7:8, 7:30, 8:20)... There have many times when those who opposed Jesus tried to arrest Him, or even kill Him – but “His hour had not come” … until now…
Now is the time when Jesus … purposefully allowed Himself to be arrested and bound…
Why?... If Jesus always had the ability to … slip away, then why not now?...
It is because the hour is upon HIm – the very purpose for His coming in the first place!
The Apostle Peter explains this best… In his first sermon, after the empowering by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and began to preach! Listen to a portion of that message –
Acts 2:22-24, :36
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power…
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Even though … sinful, godless men intended the worst for Jesus … God meant it … for the greatest good!
The greatest crime in all of human experience, becomes the … greatest act of love – the greatest sacrifice for sin – the only … avenue for forgiveness!
It is God’s sovereign plan, for the saving of His people!
Questions to Consider in Community Group
● What is the difference between the betrayal of Judas, and the denial of Peter (that will come later)?
● Why, do you suppose, the Holy Spirit would have the detail of Peter using his sword be recorded?
● What evidence is there in this narrative that demonstrates that Jesus is in control of the whole situation?
● What are your thoughts about any of the quotes shared?
C.H. Spurgeon – “The very brook would remind him of his approaching sacrifice, for through it flowed the blood and refuse from the temple.”
C.H. Spurgeon – “It is appointed that he must die, but how shall he fall into the hands of his adversaries? Shall they capture him in conflict? It must not be, lest he appear an unwilling victim. Shall he flee before his foes until he can hide no longer? It is not meet that a sacrifice should be hunted to death. Shall he offer himself to the foe? That were to excuse his murderers, or be a party to their crime. Shall he be taken accidentally or unawares? That would withdraw from his cup the necessary bitterness which made it wormwood mingled with gall. No; he must be betrayed by his friend, that he may bear the utmost depths of suffering, and that in every separate circumstance there may be a well of grief. One reason for the appointment of the betrayal, lay in the fact that it was ordained that man's sin should reach its culminating point in his death.”
David Guzik – “When Peter used sword-power he could only cut off ears; but using the power of the Word of God, could pierce hearts for God’s glory (Acts 2:37).”
Alexander Maclaren – “When the Church takes sword in hand, it usually shows that it does not know how to wield it, and as often as not has struck the wrong man.”
