02-10-2019 – Jesus is Arrested at Gethsemane

Bible Text: John 18:1-12 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: John | This is the outline put in the bulletin. For the full sermon, click “notes” below.

John 18:1-12

John 12:23, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.,” (John 13:1), “Jesus knew His hour had come,” John 17:1, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.”
Read John 18:1-4… The disciples were with Jesus all evening, then they left the upper room, Jesus as they headed across the Kidron valley to a garden (Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32) called Gethsemane, where Jesus, He had taken the disciples many times.
But Jesus goes there now to fulfill His purpose (1Corinthians 15:3), “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”
Jesus wasn’t a victim, He willfully gave Himself up (John 10:17-18), “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
The Jews tried many times to capture Him, but His hour had not yet come (John 7:30; 8:20), it was now that hour (John 18:1, 4), “He went forth.”
Judas fulfilled his treachery (John 13:18-30), when he earlier left the upper room, willfully allowing Satan to control him, he led the Jews and Romans to Christ.
Matthew 26:47 says, “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.” There were 200-600 soldiers and temple police.
Only Judas and Malchus are mentioned.
Read John 18:4-9… Judas points out Jesus with a kiss on the face (cf. Luke 22:48, “Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”).
Jesus repeatedly told His men He would be arrested, crucified, and buried, but on the third day He would rise from the grave (Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 8:31-33; 9:31; 10:33-34; Luke 9:22).
At the garden Jesus asks who they are looking for.
“Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus replies “I AM He!” This caused hundreds of men to fall like dominos. As they begin to get up, He asks again who they are seeking, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Again Jesus says, I AM He, so let these men go, it is Me that you want.
John inserts (verse 9), that this fulfills the Scripture, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”
John 17:12, “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition [Judas], so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”
Read John 18:10-11… Peter pulls out his sword and takes a swing at the head of Malchus, cutting off his ear.
Jesus rebukes Peter here (verse 11). Matthew tells us (Matthew 26:52-54), Jesus says to Peter, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
John doesn’t record the healing of Malchus, but Luke, records (Luke 22:51), Jesus commanded, “‘Stop! No more of this.’ And He touched [Malchus’] ear and healed him.”
In front of a large crowd of Jews and Romans, the Lord performs His last miracle before going to the cross, after which, He allows Himself to be taken captive (John 18:12), like a lamb being led to the slaughter.