John 18:1-11
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.
3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"
5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,"
9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" (NKJV)
When we come to John 18 there is much written in Matthew, Mark, and Luke that needs to be worked into our explanation of what is going on.
In order to get a more complete idea of the events that take place in John 18:1-11 I am going to use “A HARMONY of the GOSPELS” by Mr. Loraine Boettner, Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1977.
The book that I have has no statement of copyright restrictions. Unique to Mr. Boettner in all of his books by this same publisher is this statement:
“Any one is at liberty to use material from this book with or without credit. In preparing this book the writer received help from many sources, some acknowledged and many unacknowledged. He believes the material herein set forth to be a true statement of Scripture teaching, and his desire is to further, not to restrict its use.”
Mr. Boettner’s harmony takes all four gospels and arranges the verses in chronological order as the he believes them to be.
Now to bring all the events before us I will read the harmony that brings in Matthew, Mark, and Luke with John 18:1-11. After John 18:1, the harmony uses Matthew’s gospel as the foundation and works Mark, Luke, and John into its flow.
18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words (and when they had sung a hymn –Matt. 26:30), he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron (as his custom was, unto the Mount of Olives – Lu 22:39), where was a garden, into which he entered (and the disciples also followed him - Lu 22:39).
GETHSEMANE
Matt. 26:36-46. (Mark 14:3242; Luke 22:40-46)
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. (And he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation – Lu 22:40).
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (James and John – Mk 14:33), and began to be sorrowful (greatly amazed - Mk 14:33) and sore troubled.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went forward a little (about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down – Lu 22:41), and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me (and he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee – Mk 14:36): nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, (Simon, sleepest thou? – Mk 14:37) What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not -into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 Again a second time he Went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy (and they knew not what to answer him – Mk 14:40).
44 And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words. (And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. And when he rose up from his prayer – Lu 22:43-45),
45 he came to the disciples (and found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation – Lu 22:45). And he saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: (Do ye sleep on, then, and take your rest? —marginal reading): (it is enough – Mk 14:41); behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.
THE BETRAYAL AND SEIZURE
Matt. 26:47-56. (Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-54; John 18:2-12)
(Now Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples – Jn 18:2).
47 And while he (Jesus) yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves (and lanterns and torches and weapons – Jn 18:3), from the chief priests and elders of the people. (4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth, and saith unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When therefore he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Again therefore he asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, Of those whom thou halt given me I lost not one – Jn 18:4-9).
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him (and lead him away safely – Mk 14:44).
49 And straightway he came to Jesus (to kiss him – Lu 22:47), and said, Hail, Rabbi. (But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? – Lu 21:48) And (Judas) kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. (And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? – Lu 22:49)
51 And behold, one of them (Simon Peter – Jn 18:10) that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his (right – Jn 18:10) ear. (Now the servant's name was Malchus - Jn 18:10).
52 Then saith Jesus unto him (Peter – Jn 18:11), Put up again thy sword into its place (into the sheath - Jn 18:11) : for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Suffer ye them thus far – Lu 22:51). (The cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? – Jn 18:11). (And he touched his ear [the servant's ear] and healed him - Lu 22:51).
55 In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, (to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him - Lu 22:52), Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: (but this is your hour, and the power of darkness - Lu 22:53).
56 But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. (So the band and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound Him – Jn 18:12), (and led him away - Lu 22:54). Then all the disciples left him, and fled. (And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they lay hold on him; but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked –
Mk 14:51-52).
We will look at the “arrest” of Jesus by the detachment of troops who follow Judas to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus had gone to pray. This message will consecrate on the ignorance and the irony of those present at this scene.
Who is present?
Jesus of Nazareth, of course, but who is He? If by the grace of God you have had His divine person revealed to you then you will see His glory. But in this first scene in the Garden only eleven men really knew who this Man Jesus is and they had not yet fully grasped what they will later come to understand about Jesus.
John 16:12-15
12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. NKJV
The eleven are with Jesus now but soon all of them except John will scatter and abandon Him out of fear for their own safety. Peter commits an act of defiance as he lops off a man’s ear and unless Jesus had intervened Peter surely would have been killed on the spot.
Judas Iscariot had left the upper room about two hours before to quickly bring about his treachery and betrayal and brings with him a small army just to arrest one man.
The troops come with lanterns, torches, and weapons; what a force assembled just to take one man!
In this first scene we have Jesus, Judas, the troops, and the eleven.
But there are others present at this scene that cannot be seen with physical sight. Satan is there having entered into Judas. There are holy angels there who minister to Jesus. And God the Father and God the Holy Spirit are there as God the Son is honoring the Covenant of Redemption made in the Holy Trinity before the world was.
As we move through the arrest and trials and the “contradiction of sinners against Himself,” it is essential that you see the two natures: divine and human, in one person, Jesus of Nazareth. Sometimes Jesus did not answer His accusers because as our Substitute in His human nature He was made to be sin for us. Jesus had not a single sin of His own but He was put in the rank and order of sinners and God looked on Him as sin!
All of the animal sacrifices in the Old Covenant are brought to their purpose and conclusion in the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29]
But as our Substitute in His divine nature He cannot lie and when Jesus was questioned about being a king He answered, “My kingdom is not of this world”. He is King Jesus and He reigns over His kingdom and prays even now for His subjects. In His divine nature He must speak the truth to Pilate but in His human nature He spoke not a word to Herod. [Luke 23:9]
So let’s look at this first scene by bringing together a harmony of the gospels. The other writers did not record what Jesus said and did in the upper room and later what He prayed after they went out into the night [14:31] as that was left to John to write down about 30 years after the other three gospels were written.
“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.” [18:1]
James Montgomery Boice, in his commentary, makes some excellent comparisons between two gardens. What was lost in the Garden of Eden was to be restored in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Luke writes [22:39] that it was the “custom” of Jesus to go to the Mount of Olives. Matthew [26:36] and Mark [14:32] tell us that this place of prayer is called Gethsemane. John does not write about the agony in the garden that Luke describes as it were great sweat drops of blood [22:44]. But John tells us that Judas knew the place where Jesus was in the habit of going to pray.
GETHSEMANE [Olive Press]
Gethsemane was situated on the Mount of Olives just east of Jerusalem, across the Kidron Valley and opposite the Temple (Mark 13:3; John 18:1). From its name scholars conclude that the garden was situated in an olive grove that contained an olive press. Attempts to locate the exact site of the garden have been unsuccessful.
The Brook Kidron is a wet weather stream that only runs in the wet winter season. There are several mentions of Kidron events in Scripture.
1 Kings 15:9-15
9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah.
10 And he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother's name was Maachah the granddaughter of Abishalom.
11 Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did his father David.
12 And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
13 Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron.
14 But the high places were not removed. Nevertheless Asa's heart was loyal to the LORD all his days.
15 He also brought into the house of the LORD the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils. NKJV
2 Kings 23:3-5
3 Then the king [Josiah] stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant.
4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. NKJV
Jeremiah 31:40 mentions Kidron in a prophetic statement that your eschatology will interpret for you.
To me the most gripping mention of Gethsemane is when King David is there and mourns over the betrayal of his friend Ahithophel who is a type of Judas who is betraying Jesus at this same garden.
2 Samuel 15:30-31
30 So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.
31 Then someone told David, saying," Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." And David said, "O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!" NKJV
Ahithophel hanged himself as did Judas. [2 Samuel 17:23; Matthew 27:5]
(2) Judas knew the place where Jesus often went to pray and Jesus knew that Judas knew where He would be. John is careful to tell us that “Jesus therefore knowing all things that would come upon Him….” [18:4]
We saw in previous studies that Judas was a prophetic figure, the man of perdition [hell], who while doing exactly what his wicked heart drove him to do, was at the same time fulfilling prophecy.
Some people think that God was not “fair” to use Judas in this way. All I know is that God did use Judas and there is no unrighteousness with God!
Romans 9:14-24
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!
15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."
16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."
18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"
21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? NKJV
The reason some people have trouble with God using the wickedness of a man and sending him to hell for his deeds is that they have missed the most important thing about all men. Every one of us deserves to be in hell!
God violates no man’s rights by sending him to hell!
No one has a right to be saved! That is why it is grace!
If God uses a pharaoh or a Judas and sends them to hell God has not trampled on any “right” that they have to mercy!
Some well meaning but ignorant preacher said, “I believe that everyone has a right to hear the Gospel at least one time.” No! No! No! No one has a right to hear the Gospel at all. That is why it is grace!
We have talked about Jesus and about Judas and now let’s look at the troops who are at this scene.
(3) Judas comes with the Sanhedrin officers [7:32] and a “cohort” [detachment] of Roman soldiers. A detachment (cohort) is one-tenth of a legion or 600 troops along with temple guards and chief priests.
It is Passover so the moon is full and it is almost as light as day. The torches might be needed if Jesus were to hide in some dark corner.
As we will see when we get to the trial the Roman soldier was known for his brutality. With the exception of the Centurion they enjoyed inflicting pain.
Luke 23:47
So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" NKJV
(4) I took my title and the theme of who is present at this scene from verse 4, “Whom Are You Seeking?”
Jesus knew from the beginning who it was that would betray Him. He knew that He was going to be put to death on the cross. But you must see that Jesus is in complete control of what is taking place.
And most important of all you must see that He acts voluntarily!
Cf. John 10:18
If Jesus is not a voluntary Substitute the entire Gospel message is void.
Jesus steps forward and boldly challenges the troops.
“Whom Are You Seeking?”
John does not mention the kiss [Luke 22:47] or the hypocritical greeting of Judas, "Hail Rabbi" [Matthew 26:49].
How close can a man come to heaven and still go to hell? Judas kissed the Door of heaven and went to hell!
“Whom Are You Seeking?”
(5) The troops are seeking a mere man, Jesus of Nazareth.
How unnecessary was the kiss; did Judas suppose Jesus would not identify Himself?
Now a most remarkable thing happens. Jesus answers, “I AM”. Notice in your Bible that the word “he” is in italics which means that the word is not in the original. I don’t know why the translators added the word “he” it does not help my understanding of the passage.
“I AM” is the name of Jehovah that spoke to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”!
[Exodus 3:14]
If there is any doubt that this is Jehovah standing before them look at what happened when Jesus says, “I AM”!
(6) "I AM" answers and Judas and over 600 men fall to the ground!
Judas must have been stunned but now it is too late for him to repent.
(7) Jesus asked them again: “Whom Are You Seeking?”
Jesus asks them a second time; they are still looking for a mere man, He is not the Christ to them.
Even after the troops are thrown to the ground by the power of His voice they still do not know who Jesus is.
Examine the Bible and you will find that no one ever comes to saving faith by observing a miracle or some awful act of God. They may temporarily pause in their rush to judgment but unless God opens their heart and grants them repentance they will recover and keep on living in rebellion to a holy God. I had more than a few people tell me after 9/11 that they were really going to behave and start back going regularly to church. It will take more than a terrorist attack or a hurricane to make a man quit his bosom sin.
(8) (9) Jesus protects His own.
Jesus is in complete control of this mob who have come with sticks and ropes to arrest Him. When I AM permits them, then and only then are they able to bind Him.
Jesus tells the troops to let the others go. Again the irony of this scene is that with all of the force of power gathered they can only do what Jesus allows them to do.
Some prophecies wait for centuries to be fulfilled and some are fulfilled in a few minutes. Cf. 17:12
In a broader application of verse 9, J. C. Ryle writes:
The youngest, the weakest, the sickliest
"I have not lost a single one of those You gave Me." John 18:9
These words are meant for the encouragement of all true Christians. Our Lord Jesus is a Shepherd, who cares tenderly for every soul committed to His charge. The youngest, the weakest, the sickliest of His flock are as dear to Him as the strongest. They shall never perish. None shall ever pluck
them out of His hand.
He will lead them gently through the wilderness of this world. He will not overdrive them a single day, lest any die. He will carry them through every difficulty. He will defend them against every enemy. With such a Shepherd, who, having once begun, need fear being cast away?
(10) Peter tries to nullify Christ's orders (8) by provoking the enemy. Peter's sword is more of a dagger. Peter had poor aim; he wasn't trying to cut off the man's ear.
(11) Doctor Luke [22:51] tells us that Jesus healed the man's ear.
Jesus rebukes Peter.
The reference to the “cup” in verse 11 is not something that our idiom of language will readily call to mind. What does the “cup” mean in biblical terms?
CUP
A small container used for drinking water (Matt 10:42), wine (Jer 35:5), and other liquids. The cup is spoken of often in the Bible in a literal sense. Figuratively, the image of a cup also expresses several important ideas.
The cups described in the Bible may be of silver (Gen 44:2,12,16-17) or gold (Jer 51:7; Rev 17:4) and have a decorated brim (1 Kings 7:26; 2 Chron 4:5). Kings had an official called a cupbearer (1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chron 9:4; Neh 1:11) who prepared and handed him his drink (Gen 40:11,13,21). His task was to sample the drink to make sure it contained no poison. Such an Assyrian official serving in a military capacity was called RABSHAKEH
(2 Kings 18:17; Isa 36:2).
According to the teachings of Jesus, the lowly service of giving a cup of cold water (Matt 10:42; Mark 9:41) carries its reward.
The "cup of consolation" is the drink shared with the grieving (Jer 16:7).
The "cup of blessing" (1 Cor 10:16) refers to the cup over which a blessing is said.
For the wicked, the cup is a calamitous fate (Ps 11:6; Ezek 23:33). To experience the Lord's wrath is called drinking the cup of His wrath (Isa 51:17; Jer 49:12). The Lord's judgment is spoken of as an intoxicating drink of wine from a cup, causing drunkenness and staggering (Ps 75:8). The end of a nation comes by drinking this cup
(Jer 25:15,17,28; Lam 4:21; Hab 2:16). Babylon was the cup in the Lord's hand from which nations had to drink as she overran them (Jer 51:7). … This figure of drinking the cup of the Lord's wrath is taken up in the New Testament to describe the punishment of the disobedient (Rev 14:10).
The suffering and death of Jesus was His cup (Matt 26:39-40; John 18:11). For Him, the endurance of suffering was to drink the cup (Matt 20:22-23). But through this suffering, He provided a way for our salvation.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Revelation 14:9-11
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." NKJV
The “cup” is symbolic of the Substitution of Christ for sinners.
The Father gave the cup of suffering to the Son.
And so in this first scene at the “arrest” of Jesus of Nazareth we have Jesus whom most of the world it seems sees only as a pitiful man.
But to those who have seen His glory [opinion], instructed by the Holy Spirit, see the Lamb of God voluntarily offering Himself up as the only sacrifice for sinners.
We have seen Judas who lived with Jesus for three years and who saw His power over creation and mankind, over storms and death, and yet would not repent.
We have seen the troops and Sanhedrin police come and stupidly think that they have “arrested” a helpless man, even after they have to get up off their backsides having fallen helpless themselves to the ground. And divine power could have as easily kept them pinned to the ground to allow Jesus to escape but Jesus came to do the will of His Father.
And we have seen the eleven represented by Peter who is ever speaking and acting on impulse. About the only time Peter ever got it right was when he confessed that Jesus was the Christ and even then Jesus told him that flesh and blood did not know that truth but it was given to him from the Father.
[Matthew 16:16-17]
“Whom Are You Seeking?”
Do you see your need for the Savior?
If by grace you are taught of God that you are justly condemned and you need to be saved then come to the Savior of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We preach the Gospel and we call on sinners to trust Jesus Christ. We do not know nor do we need to know how the Holy Spirit uses the word of the Gospel to convict of sin and brings sinners to repentance and commitment to Jesus Christ. But this I do know, that you are called on to confess Jesus Christ in a public manner and to follow Him in believer’s baptism.
The method that this local body of Christ believes to be closest to the order of the Bible is that a person should meet with the elders of the church. This meeting is not an infallible way to determine the genuineness of a person’s confession but it is surely better than what is done today in most Baptist churches in America.
Amen
Sola Scriptura 
