The Arrest of Jesus

[Read John 18:1-12]

What does leadership look like? Real, true, good leadership. There are a ton of different ideas about what that looks like in the world right now. Especially in an election year, everything we see and hear seems to be painting a different picture of a good leader. Is a good leader someone who gets things done no matter what happens? Is a good leader someone who works for the people? Is a good leader someone who is charismatic and vibrant and motivates people? Is a good leader someone who comes up with creative ideas for complex problems? I could keep going on and on and on about the different pictures of a good leader. Yet, which one is right? Or, maybe more accurately, which combination of these elements makes a good leader?

What about another topic that has become very confused in our current cultural situation. What is love? What does it mean to truly love someone? Does it mean having butterflies in your stomach or a burning in your heart? Does it mean affirming and supporting them in whoever they want to be? Does it mean never saying hard things to them? What does real, true love look like?

Jesus has been setting the stage for the foundational answer to these questions over the past few chapters and in this passage, we see him living out this reality. A few chapters ago, Jesus said this, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, ESV). The good shepherd—the good leader—lays down his life for his sheep—for his people. That’s fundamental to anything else we talk about when it comes to leadership. Jesus also said this a few chapters later: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, ESV). What does real love look like? It looks like laying your life down. What does real leadership look like? It looks like laying your life down. What does loving leadership look like? It looks like willingly, joyfully laying your life down for your people. And in this morning’s passage, we see Jesus doing this for us.

This morning’s passage begins, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.” (John 18:1, ESV). When this talks about Jesus speaking “these words” it’s not just talking about the last thing  he said, it’s talking about everything we’ve been talking about for the last few chapters, basically since chapter 14. Jesus has been talking to his disciples about the fact that he’s going to be leaving them and things are going to get really hard for them. He’s been reminding them that they will receive the Holy Spirit to help them through this difficult time. He’s been reminding them of the mission they are called to fulfill in the world. Now, after talking about these things for the past few chapters, they are beginning. The hour has come.

So, Jesus leads his disciples across the Kidron brook to a garden—the Garden of Gethsemane. Here’s what is interesting about this decision by Jesus. He knows what is about to happen. He’s already sent Judas away to do what he needed to do. He knows he will be betrayed and he knows things will start happening. And yet we read, “Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.” (John 18:2, ESV). This is one of the main hangout spots for Jesus and his disciples. That’s why Judas knew they would be there. Jesus knows that he’s about to be betrayed and he doesn’t do anything to try to avoid it, rather, he walks right into it by heading to the place that Judas already knows. This is a clear picture of Jesus joyfully and willingly entering into this hour of suffering for his people.

Then we read this, “So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.” (John 18:3, ESV). Notice one of the words I read in this passage—Judas procured… Judas was more active in this process than simply showing people where Jesus was. He also gathered the soldiers and officers for this task. He was actively working to betray Jesus by gathering soldiers and officers for this task.

And he gathered a large group of soldiers and officers. Most likely the “band of soldiers” was a Roman cohort that had been placed in the area. They often expanded these cohorts during the feast times to help lessen the chance of riots. The “officers from the chief priests and Pharisees” were most likely temple guard. These terms don’t mean that it was a full cohort of Roman soldiers, most likely not. However, a full Roman cohort was about 1000 men and a “band” of soldiers typically was about 200 men. This doesn’t mean the full 200 showed up for this event, but this was a much larger group than five or ten soldiers. It was a large group of military and “police” officers that were coming for Jesus, being gathered and led by Judas. This was a massive show of force coming for Jesus.

Here’s how Jesus responds, “Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”” (John 18:4, ESV). There’s so much in that sentence. Jesus knew what was about to happen to him. Jesus saw the massive show of force coming after him, a large group of soldiers and officers with weapons. And his response? He comes forward. He doesn’t fall backward, but he steps forward toward the trouble and addresses them: Who are you here for? Jesus is taking the initiative and taking charge of the situation. Even though they have all of the earthly power at their disposal, Jesus is showing them who is ultimately in authority and who ultimately has the power.

Then we read this interaction: “They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:5–6, ESV). Again, there’s a lot here. First, notice how Judas is pictured here. He’s “standing with them” and John is telling us that to show that Judas is standing with these people, rather than standing with Jesus. Then we are told that when Jesus responds with “I am he”—which could be also translated as simply “I AM”—that they drew back and fell to the ground. Don’t forget that Judas was standing with them, so this happened to him too.

Notice the contrast here. John paints this stark picture of Jesus coming forward and his betrayers drawing back and falling down. Who has the power? Who is in charge here? People can get into the weeds about what actually happened when Jesus said “I AM” but that’s not the main point of all of this. The main point of all this is that in the face of massive worldly power and force, Jesus is still in control, still in power, and is still willingly and joyfully offering himself up to die.

Actually, there’s one more part of this that I think bears mentioning. John is back to his typical tactics of using irony in some glorious ways. When he says that this band of soldiers and officers “fell to the ground” he actually uses a word that is typically used to describe someone falling down in worship. Now, they didn’t really fall down and worship Jesus one moment, then arrest and kill him the next. However, John is doing what he does best, showing that this band of soldiers were doing more than they knew in that moment. They fell down, and even though they weren’t worshiping Jesus, they SHOULD have been worshiping Jesus when they fell down—they should have been worshiping him as the one who has received all authority and power from the Father.

As the one with all of the power and authority in this situation, what does he do? Does he overthrow the army? Does he scatter them like chaff? No. He begins by saying, “Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”” (John 18:8, ESV). He begins by defending his disciples—his flock. He takes action, steps into the trouble and the difficulty, and protects his disciples. He says that since this group of soldiers is only there for him, then they better leave his disciples alone. The good shepherd is laying down his life for his friends and his flock. He’s showing what real love and leadership looks like.

There’s another strong contrast in this passage that comes next. I think it’s important to realize that when Jesus says, “I AM” he is definitely pointing at his divinity, as he has been throughout the gospel. However, he’s doing something else. He’s putting himself forward as the one they are seeking. He’s intentionally stepping forward and presenting himself to this band of soldiers and saying, “I am the one you’re looking for. I am ready to step into this trial—this hour.” Again, it’s showing Jesus willingly and joyfully laying down his life for his flock—for us. Everything is done to remind us that Jesus is not the victim here. Judas hasn’t tricked him. The army hasn’t overpowered him. Jesus knew it was coming, had the power to prevent it from happening, yet he didn’t but willingly suffered and died for us. That’s loving leadership.

The contrast comes from Peter. Peter doesn’t like this plan. So we read, “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.)” (John 18:10, ESV). Now, Peter gets quite the bad rap for this decision, and rightly so since Jesus rebukes him for it. However, I don’t think many people accurately understand what is going on here with Peter, or at least haven’t connected the dots with what has been happening prior to this.

One of the questions that should be asked is, “Why did Peter have a sword?” AND “Why hadn’t Jesus rebuked him for having the sword?”. It’s not like you can hide a sword—it’s not really something you can conceal and carry. Well, one of the other gospels helps us understand this. Jesus says this to his disciples right before they leave for the Garden: “And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.”” (Luke 22:35–38, ESV). Jesus had just told them to buy a sword because things were going to become difficult for them. They respond by saying, “We have two swords” and Jesus doesn’t rebuke them but says, “That’s enough.” So, this tells us a couple things. First, Jesus had told the disciples to carry a sword AND it also tells us that they had two swords. So, Peter wasn’t the only one packing a sword in the garden. Someone else had one.

Also, don’t forget Peter’s declaration to Jesus just a few chapters ago. He said, “I will lay down my life for you.” (John 13:37, ESV). He had just made a big deal about being willing to lay down his life for Jesus and not turn away from him when things got hard. This is now his chance to prove that to Jesus, especially in light of how many soldiers he was facing down. Think about the bravery—foolish bravery albeit—of Peter pulling out his sword and entering into battle, one man again 100 possibly. And hadn’t Jesus just manifested his power? Hadn’t Jesus just knocked them down with his words? Maybe now was the time to rise up and fight!

Jesus rebukes Peter for this act, but not for the reasons that many people think. Jesus says, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11, ESV). Why does Jesus rebuke Peter? He rebukes Peter for trying to prevent him from doing what he came here to do. That’s what was wrong. Peter was jumping in and trying to prevent Jesus from drinking the cup that the Father has given him. Jesus responds by telling Peter, “What do you think you’re doing? The Father has given me this cup. This is why I’m here. I’ve been telling you about this for a long time. Don’t try to prevent this from happening. I trust the Father and I’m going to drink the cup he has placed in front of me.”

The imagery of the cup is really powerful. Throughout scripture, there are two types of cups often referenced: the cup of sweet blessing and the cup of bitter trial. And both of these cups come from the hand of the Father. Job references this understanding when he says, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD…Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 1:21, 2:10). Jesus is not talking about the sweet cup of blessing here. He’s talking about drinking from the cup of bitter trial and difficulty. He’s actually talking about having to drink from a cup that is much more bitter and difficult than anything we’ve ever experienced. This cup is spoken about in Isaiah when God talks about “the bowl of my wrath” (Isaiah 51:22). The cup that Jesus is about to drink is the cup of God’s wrath for the sins of humanity. That’s the cup the Father has placed in front of him at the table. Jesus knows which cup it is and he willingly and joyfully picks it up and drinks it until there is nothing left.

I just want to take a moment to make sure we see the beauty and the power and glory of what Jesus is doing here. Don’t pass over this so quickly without letting it hammer you in the heart because this is true leadership! This is true love! And it is directed at each one of us. It’s because of our sins and failures that Jesus had to drink the cup of God’s wrath. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t do anything to deserve God’s wrath because he was perfect. Yet, because he loved us with a true and pure love, and because he fully trusted the Father, he picked up the cup—he bore the wrath that we deserved, he drank the cup that we should have drank—so that we don’t have to. That’s real leadership. That’s real love. Isn’t there something inside of you that cries out for this? Isn’t there something inside of you that cries out, “Yes! That’s beautiful. I want to give my life to him, someone who will love me and lead me like that!” I pray that you do that. I pray that everyone here will look to Jesus, see how beautiful his life is, how beautiful his love and leadership are, and then respond in faith, giving every aspect of your life to the one who drank the cup of God’s wrath so you don’t have to.

From there, I also pray that we would leave here not only trusting in Jesus and resting in him, but also desiring to live the beautiful life that he lived. I don’t want you to only rest in his beautiful love and leadership. I want you to trust him and then ask him to help you live like he did. We should leave here this morning trusting in Jesus to help us lead and love like he did—willingly and joyfully laying down our lives for those we love. That’s real love and leadership. We need to do that for our spouses. We need to do that for our children. We need to do that for this church. We need to do that for this community. If we want to truly love and lead people, we need to lay down our lives. May God help us learn that lesson and may the Spirit strengthen and guide us to do that for his kingdom and glory.