Behold Jesus’ Power and Obedience (John 18:1-27)
In 1940, Warner Sallman created the oil painting Head of Christ. This image has since been reproduced hundreds of millions of times and can be found on various Christian merch and on the wall of many Protestant homes and church buildings in America.
It depicts a warm, gentle, and beautiful Saviour so many people long for. But my concern with this picture and really any attempt to depict Jesus is the inability to accurately capture the Jesus that we find in the gospels.
We know from the Scriptures that Jesus lived under more rugged circumstances. Jesus didn’t work in an airconditioned office but had trained as a carpenter. He lived in the wilderness for 40 days which sounds way more intense than the Jungle Confidence Course that some go through during National Service. He associated with fishermen and probably clocked more than 10,000 steps a day despite not having any memory foam Skechers.
Jesus was gentle but also spoke authoritatively. Evil spirits feared Him and the wind and waves obeyed His voice.
Jesus performed miracles yet was also acquainted with grief. Jesus was approachable, but He was zealous for God and overturned the tables of evil merchants.
In John 18:1-27, we have an eyewitness account of Jesus’ power to withstand the forces of darkness. Although Jews and Gentiles had ganged up to arrest Jesus, they were unable to take Him by force. Jesus even had the power to shield His disciples from danger. However, out of obedience to God, He gives Himself over to evil men.
Behold Jesus’ power to protect His own and obedience in drinking the cup His Father gave.
It is my prayer that today’s passage will help us have a more accurate and glorious picture of who Jesus is. May we behold Jesus’ power to protect His own and obedience in drinking the cup His Father gave.
Hence my first exhortation from John 18:1-9 is: Find comfort in Jesus’ power and care for His own.
And my second exhortation from John 18:10-25 is: Give thanks that Jesus obeyed God and drank the cup of judgment.
Over the past few weeks, we studied Jesus’ last words to His disciples and prayer for them. Today we look at the events that led to Jesus’ crucifixion.
Find comfort in Jesus’ power and care for His own (Jn 18:1-9)
A husband who faints at the first sign of blood is not going to be of any help to his wife when she is in labor. A parent who jumps at the sight of a dog will not be able to offer a terrified child much comfort. Only someone much stronger and unfazed by danger can bring us a sense of security. Therefore, a recurring theme in the gospel according to John is Jesus’ surpassing power. On many occasions, the Jews had sought to kill Jesus. Yet no one was able to lay a hand on Him. When they picked up stones to murder Jesus, He simply escaped from their midst.
Hence John makes clear to us that although Jesus was eventually captured by the Jews, it did not happen because of a lack of power. Jesus’ life cannot be taken by force. Jesus will go to the cross only on His terms.
We know from crime shows and the news that criminals on the run usually get caught when they return home or visit some place from their past. But John 18:1-2 show us Jesus intentionally sticking to His routine. After Supper, Jesus left Jerusalem with his disciples. They descended the hill Jerusalem was built on, crossed over the brook Kidron, and ascended the Mount of Olives to reach a private garden that He often went to with His disciples. Jesus was not making some rookie mistake or ignorant of the devil’s scheme. He intentionally chose to go to a place Judas was familiar with.
Just a few hours earlier, Jesus had dismissed Judas from the Last Supper and permitted him to carry out his evil deed. And John 18:3 tells us that Judas had done just that. Judas had convinced the chief priests that he knew where Jesus would head to after Supper. He knew the perfect place to ambush Jesus in the cover of darkness. What better place to capture Jesus than when He was outside Jerusalem and cut off from any potential supporters.
And so, the chief priests dispatched the temple guard. But the Jewish officials were not confident of arresting Jesus on their own. Therefore, they sought Roman assistance. The Greek word for “band of soldiers” in our text makes clear these were not Jews but Romans.
I am not sure how many of us are aware of just how large the arresting party was. The phrase “band of soldiers” may give the impressions that a few Roman guards accompanied Judas. But the Greek word used refers specifically to a cohort of soldiers. The Jewish authorities must have painted Jesus as such a huge threat that commentators estimate between two to six hundred Roman soldiers reinforcing the temple officials. The combination of Jews and Gentiles for the arrest represent the world’s opposition to the Saviour God had given.
John paints an imposing force holding lanterns and torches and weapons going forth from Jerusalem. The disciples who were with Jesus in the garden on the opposite mountain must have been terrified as they heard the sound of marching and witnessed the flames moving closer. Surely Jesus and the disciples could have run off to hide if the goal was to avoid capture. But John 18:4 says that Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
Jesus not only waited for his captors to arrive, but He goes forth to welcome them. Jesus confronts them head on and asks them to state who they are seeking. Jesus’ question gave His captors an opportunity to reconsider what they were about to do. Had they really come to arrest the Son of God?
The temple officials attempt to downplay the significance of who Jesus is by referring to Him as the one from Nazareth. By emphasizing Jesus’ origins from the despised region of Nazareth, they convinced themselves that they were arresting a mere human, someone God would never use.
But when Jesus said to them, “I AM he,” they drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6).
If you recall Exodus 3:14, God revealed Himself to Moses as “I AM”. This title communicated such weight and glory that armed Jews and Romans alike drew back and fell to the ground. Bear in mind that due to previous uprisings, the Roman soldiers assigned to Jerusalem were seasoned warriors.
The temple officials were right to be nervous about arresting Jesus. As much as they tried to heed the chief priests’ accusation that Jesus is a heretic from some backwater village, they were in fact facing off with the Christ, the Son of God.
Jesus’ declaration probably triggered a flash back to the seven “I AM” statements He had publicly made. Jesus is the bread of life, the light of the world, the Gate, the Good Shepherd. He is the resurrection and the life, the way the truth and life. He is the true Vine. Jesus was not just fully human. But Jesus is also fully God. Jesus is the great “I AM”, before whom every knee shall bow and tongue confess that He is Lord.
It is no wonder that they drew back and fell to the ground.
We cannot help but notice the irony in John 18:7-8. Jesus helps His fallen captors stay on mission. But He dictates the terms of His arrest. Yes, He will go with them, but they must let His disciples go. Isn’t it reassuring to know that no earthly power could overwhelm Jesus?
Even in the face of death, Jesus is robed in majesty and glory. Hundreds of armed soldiers in the cover of darkness were no match for Him. Toughened warriors who would have obeyed Caesar on pain of death fell before Jesus. They could only do what he permitted, and they obeyed what He commanded.
Isn’t it comforting to see Jesus’ care for His disciples even when the world had gathered to oppose Him? Jesus is not a powerless and selfish king who seeks to escape through the backdoor while His people get slaughtered by the enemy. Jesus is the good Shepherd who “lays down his life for the sheep” (10:11).
John helpfully reminds us in John 18:9 that This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” Jesus has joyfully received the people God has entrusted to Him. He will watch over them with tender care. He lovingly uses His sovereign power for the good for His people.
In the same way that Jesus ensured that not one of His disciples would be captured by the soldiers, so He will ensure that not a single Christian will be captured by the devil. Believers are secure in Christ. Therefore, we can look to Jesus for comfort whenever we experience challenges in life. Satan may assail us with persecution, with calamities and bad health. But we can put all our trust in Jesus who is Lord over all.
Jesus has never been defeated. Even when Satan’s army had closed in on that fateful night, Jesus made clear that He remains in control. No one can overwhelm our Lord.
He will ensure that not one of those God has given Him will be lost.
Further, Jesus loves us as His own and personally cares for us. He will ensure that not one of those God has given Him will be lost.
If you are feeling rather helpless right now, I urge you to turn to Jesus. You can find refuge in the one whom even Roman soldiers feared. You can find comfort in knowing that Jesus is committed to keeping you.
Because God has entrusted you to Jesus, He will see you to the finish line. Jesus will not only carry you through your present trial, but He will ensure that you will reach your heavenly home.
For your Saviour loves you so
He will hold you fast
He'll not let your soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold you fast
If you are not yet a believer, consider the blessing of having a Saviour like Jesus. You don’t have to fear your inadequacies and weaknesses. Jesus will protect you from all evil. He gave His life to save us from the consequences of sin, and He offers you salvation.
In the midst of the storm, let us find comfort in Jesus’ power and care for His own.
Give thanks that Jesus obeyed God and drank the cup of judgment (Jn 18:10-27)
In John 18:10-11, Peter is a great example of the Holy Spirit’s power to transform a person. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter says and does things that reveal a lack of understanding and faith in Jesus.
Peter had just witnessed one of the grandest displays of Jesus’ surpassing power. Hundreds of Roman soldiers had fallen before Jesus, and they had listened to Jesus’ command to leave the disciples alone. Thus, it is incredulous to watch Peter suddenly draw his sword and swing it clumsily at the high priest’s servant. If Peter was aiming to slay Malchus, he must have been embarrassed to only slice off a ear. Who did Peter think he was? Could he possibly save the Christ whom soldiers quaked before? Nevertheless, Peter’s feeble attempt warranted a reminder of Jesus’ mission and obedience to the Father.
Although Jesus could slay the soldiers in the same way that the angel of the Lord had slain 185000 Assyrian soldiers during the days of King Hezekiah, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Peter had let his emotions get the better of him. In the heat of the moment, he failed to consider God’s will. He had forgotten Jesus’ teaching that His sacrificial death is necessary to secure the salvation of His people. Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah spoke of God’s wrath in terms of a cup of judgment that his enemies were to drink (Jer 25:15–28; Zech 12:2). Because God is holy, sin incurs God’s wrath and sinners deserve to die. But because God is also full of love and mercy, He sent His Beloved Son to save His people. Isaiah 53 says that it was the will of the Lord to crush His Son and allow Him to bear the iniquities for His people. God graciously planned to count His people righteous through the sacrifice of His perfect Son (Isa 53:10-11).
This is why Jesus was not running away from the cup. Jesus is the Christ, the Son whom God had appointed to drink the cup of judgment on behalf of His people (1).
And Jesus was unlike the first Adam who failed to obey God. Jesus is the new and better Adam who did not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Jesus is the perfect Son of God who obeys Father even at the cost of great suffering.
Consider the suffering Jesus endured for drinking the cup of judgment.
Jesus suffered the betrayal of a disciple (Jn 18:2-3)
Firstly, we see in John 18:2-3 that Jesus suffered the betrayal of a disciple.
Jesus had shared His life with Judas and shepherded Him for three years. He had fed Judas when he was hungry and comforted Him when the boat they were in almost broke in a storm. He allowed Judas to stay by His side even when He had withdrawn from the crowds to rest.
Thus we can imagine how Jesus must have felt to see one of His disciples leading an armed band of soldiers to arrest Him. Judas used privileged information to intrude on an intimate space that Jesus used for private prayer. In the same way that the serpent infiltrated the Garden of Eden to attack Adam and Eve, so Judas led the forces of darkness to strike the Son of God in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus suffered humiliation (John 18:12-14, 18-24)
Secondly, Jesus suffered humiliation, as we shall see from John 18:12-14, 18-24. Even those Jesus was innocent, they bound Jesus like some dangerous criminal.
The detail in John 18:18 of Peter and the servants standing around a fire during Jesus’ trial reveal that it was night. According to Jewish law, trials should not take place at night. Yet Annas had convened an urgent meeting to quickly decide on Jesus’ fate. He couldn’t wait to get rid of Jesus.
We learn in John 18:13 that although Caiaphas was high priest that year, true power and influence lay with Annas. Annas had been the high priest until the Romans deposed him. Even then, he continued to wield significant authority because the Jews continued to recognize him as the real high priest. Further, Caiphas was his son-in-law and no fewer than five of Annas’ sons had also served as high priest. Annas was doubtless the power behind the scenes and explains why Jesus was first tried before him.
In John 18:19, Annas questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. But Jesus makes clear that Annas himself could answer that question. Jesus had spoken openly to the world. He had taught in the synagogues and in the temple which Annas oversaw.
Annas was not asking questions because he lacked knowledge. Annas simply did not like what Jesus taught. He could not accept the implications of Jesus being the Son of God. He did not want a lowly carpenter from Nazareth calling the shots. He wanted to retain control and influence over the nation.
Since he had no credible evidence against Jesus, he was basically fishing for a way to incriminate Jesus.
Note the irony between the earthly high priest questioning the perfect high priest. Annas was supposed to help people worship God, but here he led the people in rejecting the Son of God. Instead of helping the people reflect on God’s salvation during the Passover, he led the people in mocking the Lamb of God. Like Caiaphas, he believed that the nation would be better off with Jesus dead.
Jesus on the other hand, is the perfect high priest, who prayed for His disciples in chapter 17 and willingly lays down His life for their sake.
When Annas and his cronies had no good response to Jesus’ challenge to produce witnesses, they resorted to physical violence. One of the temple officers struck Jesus. Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas for yet another trial.
Jesus’ final words to the Jews, “why do you strike me?” conveys the humiliation He had to endure for our sake. Though He had done no wrong, though He had never even told a lie, Jesus was taken away by force and judged unfairly (Isa 53:8-9). He was rejected by the very people who claimed to love God. He was despised by those He had come to save.
Jesus suffered abandonment by those He loved (John 18:15-18a, 25-27)
Thirdly, Jesus suffered abandonment by those He loved. Almost all the disciples scattered after the soldiers bound Jesus at Gethsemane. Peter tried to accompany Jesus and offer some kind of support. But his lack of credentials kept him outside Annas’ home.
Another disciple who had the connections convinced the gatekeeper to let Peter in. But ironically, Peter ends up bringing Jesus grief rather than comfort.
Three different servants associated with the chief priest asks Peter if he was Jesus’ disciple. And three different times Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Was Peter so desperate to enjoy the warmth of the fire that he feared being kicked out? Or was Peter fearful of what the Jews might do to associates of the man they were trying to kill? Either way, Peter’s repeated denial illustrated the abandonment Jesus experienced. All those professions of love and willingness to die for Him proved empty. The one disciple who had drawn his sword an hour earlier, was now swearing to Malchus’ relative that he was not even in the garden with Jesus.
In contrast to Jesus who did not cower from His identity, Peter buckles before his questioners and denies ever knowing Jesus. He basically erased any association with Jesus and doubled down on denying the master he had professed to love. Before the rooster crowed, Jesus was disowned by His most zealous disciple. That must have been more agonizing than the slap from the temple officer.
The suffering of Jesus continues beyond today’s text and culminates with the crucifixion. As the atoning sacrifice, Jesus was “cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of His people” (Isa. 53:8) (2).
Friends, do you realize the extent of suffering Jesus endured for our sake?
Jesus had no sin and not even the chief priest or the Romans had any incriminating evidence. Yet He was despised and rejected by men (Isa 53:3).
Jesus experienced betrayal, injustice and abandonment for our sake. Therefore, let us Give thanks that Jesus obeyed God and drank the cup of judgment.
Because Jesus drank the bitter cup reserved for us, you need not fear death.
Because Jesus’ blood has washed away your sins, the Father's wrath is completely satisfied, and you can sit at His table.
Because Jesus drank the cup, we are no longer under condemnation. He has taken away our guilt and shame. Though we stumble, we can give thanks that He is faithful and just to forgive us.
So what does giving thanks look like for us? How can we practically express our thankfulness to Jesus? Firstly, give Jesus the worship He deserves. Because Jesus has given us life, we should gather with His people to lift our voices in praise and adoration. We should not let our failures or shame keep us from drawing near to Jesus. Because Jesus drank the cup, we are no longer under condemnation. He has taken away our guilt and shame. Though we stumble, we can give thanks that He is faithful and just to forgive us.
This is why church should be safe place for sinners to gather. We can freely confess our sins and rejoice that Jesus has paid it all. We can lift up our voices because He has freed us from the bondages of sin and death.
Secondly, be committed to following Jesus even when it involves sacrifice. If Jesus had been more self-preserving, He would not have drank the cup and we would still be under judgment.
But Jesus was so intent on obeying God that He drank the entire cup of judgment.
He did not just endure the suffering for one of us, but the suffering for all of God’s people throughout history.
Therefore, we too should be willing to take up our cross to follow Him. We should persist in living according to God’s Word even when we have to endure opposition from the world.
May the suffering Jesus endured for our sake put the suffering we endure into perspective.
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands our soul, our life, our all.
May we take heart that Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us obey God and that all who share in His suffering will also share in His glory.
Thirdly, treasure your relationship with Jesus. He cares for us and welcomes us 24-7. So pray to Him often, not only when you need help. Share with Him your joys. Bring before Him your burdens. Jesus is our great high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
Friends, may our hearts be filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore our pain
Who plumbed the depths of our disgrace
And gave us life again
Peter’s blunder stands out like a sore thumb in our text, and we might be concerned about failing like he did. Therefore, it is important not to miss the main point of today’s text. Peter is not the main subject. John wrote this account so that we will behold Jesus’ power to protect His own and obedience in drinking the cup His Father gave.
The Saviour we have is not just gentle and nice to look at. He is not a picture on a wall or a print on a mug. Jesus has unmatchable power to protect us from evil and keep us to the end. Jesus has endured the wrath of God so that we can receive forgiveness of all sin, past, present and future.
Hence, Peter’s failings should point us to Jesus in the same way that Adam’s failure points to Christ. Where Adam failed in obeying God’s command, Jesus obeyed God to the point of drinking the bitter cup of judgment.
Where Peter failed in clinging to Christ, Jesus remained faithful in keeping all whom God had entrusted to Him.
Jesus subjected Himself to betrayal, injustice and ultimately death on the cross as part of His commitment to pay the penalty for Peter’s sins and to redeem him at the right time.
The risen Christ restores Peter before His ascension and fills Peter with the Holy Spirit. In the book of Acts, we have several accounts of Peter living as a faithful witness of Jesus. Gone are the days of his blundering. Jesus had not only preserved Peter from Satan’s assault but breathed new life into him.
It is no wonder that Peter could say in 1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Therefore, in our weakness and suffering let us turn our gaze towards Jesus.
In our affliction and in distress, let us find comfort in Jesus’ power and care for His own. Let us take comfort in knowing that He who watches over us is stronger than the devil. Jesus cares and will not lose one of us. He will hold us fast.
And when we fail and sin in our weakness, let us give thanks that Jesus obeyed God and drank the cup of judgment. Jesus covers us with His righteousness and has paid the penalty for our sins. By His wounds we are healed. And through faith we have received the Holy Spirit to help us be a faithful disciple.
Jesus, thank you.
Let us pray.
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Bibliography:
Richard D. Phillips, John, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, 1st ed., vol. 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014), 497.
Richard D. Phillips, John, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, 1st ed., vol. 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014), 500.