“A Journey with John” Day 28: A garden betrayal (John 18:1-40)
Last time, our guide took us to hear Jesus’ priestly prayer. In this prayer, Jesus prayed for Himself and for the disciples. He prayed for Himself, asking that the Father would glorify Him (having come to His moment of being offered up). He asked that the disciples would be protected from the evil one. He also asked that they would be able to be where He was.
Having met no new people last time, let’s catch up with our guide. It seems we are going to a garden with Jesus.
As we enter the scene, we see Jesus arriving at a garden to which He had often taken the disciples to pray. Judas, knowing this was Jesus’ custom, brought troops and officers from the religious leaders, to arrest Jesus. When Jesus sees them coming, He asks them who they are seeking. When they tell Him, Jesus says, “I am He.” At these words, the soldiers fall down. A second time, Jesus asks the same question, and repeats, “I am He,” when they indicate who they are looking for. Again, at His answer, the soldiers fall down. Jesus then tells them to let the others go. At this point, Peter takes his sword and cuts off the right ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus scolds Peter saying that He must drink this cup. Jesus is then taken to Annas (the father-in-law of Caiaphas), who sends Him to Caiaphas (the high priest). During this time, as Jesus warned, Peter denies being connected to Jesus, three times, before the rooster crows. Then Caiaphas sends Jesus to Pilate (Roman governor of Judea). Now, Pilate is very intrigued with Jesus and wonders why the Jewish leaders want Him dead. Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king. Jesus says that He is a king, but that His kingdom is not of this world. Pilate finds no fault in Jesus, but fails in His attempts to get the Jewish leaders to relent concerning wanting Jesus to be crucified. Pilate even offers to release Jesus, but they choose a thief, Barabbas, to be released instead.
Our highlighted verses for today:
“Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed. Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”
John 18:3-9, 11, 17, 22-23, 25-27, 31-32, 36-37, 40 NKJV
Question for reflection:
Why did Peter deny Jesus, even after Jesus warned him?
Next time, we witness the unthinkable: Jesus is crucified!