When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, into which He entered with His disciples. 2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often gathered 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 in order that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled, “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?” John 18: 1-11 LSB
John 18: 1-11
V. 2 Now Judas also - The people closest to you, in your own ranks, are those who know the most about your habits, where you eat, sleep, where you like to go. The disciples had been with Jesus for some three years now and this garden is a place they often went to. You have to get away, reboot, recharge, have the quiet required for study and prayer. Jesus had just finished praying for His disciples, praying for them because of the moment that was about to come, their fear and even their future ministry. He covered all the important stuff. Jesus is committed to this task, and on such a grand level, I mean, He knows His betrayer, has sent Him away, but His betrayer is like the hunter of the group now. Judas knows their pattern, he knows where they will head to next, and He is convinced of the devil and his own greed to turn in the Messiah for a small amount of money, the price of a slave. Jesus recognizes him, but his disguise, his camouflage is so good that he looks just like those he is hunting. I included Luke's account of what transpired in the garden, what a marvelous Savior.
…20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. 22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.… Psalm 55: 20-22
…15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. 17And you will be hated by everyone because of My name.… Luke 21: 15-17
…21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.… Matthew 10: 21-23
V. 3 Having received the Roman cohort - The Pharisees wanted Jesus dead, but the Sanhedrin didn't hold the power of death because Israel had come under Roman rule. Jesus was popular as a healer among the people, Who had given many other signs as well, but rejected the additions and subtractions to the law that the Pharisees and Sadducees had made. He and His messenger, John the Baptist, had pricked the elite, overthrown their abominable tables in the temple market, and called them children of Satan. He didn't run the best campaign, all truth and no fluff, and people were more than offended. Jesus had attacked their pockets as well, the market was more sacred to them than the temple. The temple had become for them the lure, the means to get people to come in and give tithe, to buy sheep and doves, exchange money. They were prosperity teachers before Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen were even a thought, and Jesus was disrupting this.
…6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.… Matthew 3: 6-8
…43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!… John 8: 43-45
V. 6 They drew back and fell on the ground - Ah, the Lamb, imagine when He is no longer coming as the sacrifice, the offering for remission of sin, but instead as the Judge, the Lion of Judah. It's a little taste here. Here are the people with the swords, the Roman cohort, but this is God, and when He says, "I am He", they fall back and fall down. They hate Him, but they are rightly afraid. He has calmed the Sea, has had the voice of His Father from heaven inaugurate His ministry, the Holy Spirit descend upon Him. Judas had seen far more than even those he led here. Jesus could heal, could raise the dead, could make the blind see. He has shown the power to back His every claim, but they hate Him, and we know it goes deeper than that.
…9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.… Philippians 2: 9-11
V. 8 If you seek Me, let these others go their way - This we are told in the next verse fulfilled His prayer that He would lose none that the Father had given Him. The Father had given a people to the Son, and how do you make people a worthy gift to the Son of God? A price has to be paid, and what is the highest price, what could, Who could add more value or confer most upon a people set apart as a gift to God? You want to be worth something, you want to be valuable? Repent and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. There is nothing more valuable on this planet, no one in higher standing than a true believer, because they belong to the Son, were purchased by His blood, redeeming them from the slave market of sin.
…10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. 11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.… John 10: 10-12
18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.… 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20
V. 10 The slave's name was Malchus - I think this helps date this as passed the time of Peter, that he has probably already been martyred, and I think this because the other gospel writers don't call out Peter by name, they use companion and bystander, which probably protects him and other eye witnesses. All the Apostles would be at the top of a lot people's list, and not the good list. They were the pillars of the Church, Christ being the foundation, and to the apostate Pharisees they would be like cult leaders that needed to be put down. John was the longest living and latest writer, and by his acute description here, an inspired eye witness. What a great detail, the slave's name was Malchus. I am sure Peter felt very passionate here, and seeing his enemies fall back at Jesus' voice gave him no small boost of confidence.
…50“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. 51At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.… Matthew 26: 50-52
V. 11 The cup that the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it - John gives us some more of the conversation he heard that night, and it's very insightful. This wasn't a reaction to mankind's fall, for we already know that God chose us in Christ before the foundations of the World. This is the price for redeeming those that were given, the agreed upon price. This is the cup of God's just wrath to be poured out on these sinners. Those who are elect will believe, will profess Christ, and accept this atoning work, that He drank my portion and that of all who come to be saved. He is taking my place, as one man put it, He is standing before God's wrath as me, so that I may stand before God in the righteousness of Christ. Where He use to see a sinner He now sees His Son. I was born spiritually dead, and now have this new life that is tied to Christ, His work, His death, the Spirit's gift of faith to believe, and the Father drawing me in all along the way. He came to do this, it wasn't time to fight Rome, and Peter is yet to realize, like me before I was broken, or maybe someone else reading this, that you need this, I needed this just as much as Peter. I couldn't come to God on my own, I wouldn't have even known of Him, nor would I have understood the state I was in.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,… Ephesians 1: 3-5
…46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. 47Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”… Luke 7: 46-48
9He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. 10Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. 11After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.… Isaiah 53: 9-11
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