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      "Betrayed"
      John 18:1-11
      Theme: Jesus’ sovereign power is demonstrated even in the darkest moments of our experience.

        1. The Pretenses of Godless Plans – 18:1-3

          1. The Pretenses of Discipleship – vv. 1-2

            1. We now begin the final portion of this Gospel – the account of the Savior’s passion.
            2. It begins with Jesus departing the upper room and heading over to the rendezvous point for His arrest – "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples."
            3. The "Kidron" is a wadi located south east of Jerusalem between the city and the Mount of Olives.
              1. The word "Kidron" literally means "dark waters" and was seasonal in its flow of water – exclusive to the wintertime.
              2. It had a history in Israel of being a place where idolatry was dealt with – cp. 1 Kings 15:13; 2 Kings 23:42 Chronicles 29:16; 30:14
              3. Thus, there is a figurative import even in Jesus crossing through this area as he prepared to become sin for us.
            4. Jesus had frequented this place with His disciples – including Judas Iscariot – in the previous days – "Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples."
            5. There is a sentiment by John that is poking through these comments that reveal a certain hostility and disdain for Judas because of the fact that He had enjoyed the benefits of knowing Jesus yet it was all pretense – there was no loyalty to Jesus at all.
              1. Judas was a zealot – a political activist group that had one agenda … the expulsion of Rome from Israel.
              2. He had apparently seen Jesus as the King of the Jews, hoping that Jesus would lead an insurrection and cause the long awaited war with Rome.
              3. As He followed Jesus, Judas was merely being an opportunist – seeing the potential personal benefit of seeing the national hope realized.
              4. However, his focus was entirely temporal – with no eternal priorities (see below)
              5. The idea of being betrayed by someone with whom you had grown close was a great treachery to the Jewish mind – cp. Psalm 41:19.

          2. The Product of Disloyalty – vv. 2-3

            1. We are told that simultaneously to Jesus entering the garden, Judas "… was betraying him …" – v. 2
            2. Having failed to allow the truth of God to penetrate his hardened heart, Judas exalted the only other authority in his life = himself.
            3. He was totally self-governed – feeling free to "do what is right in his own eyes" – which clearly here meant to force Jesus’ hand in His struggle against Rome.
            4. Thus, Judas in his disloyalty to the person of Christ Jesus and his loyalty to his own agenda, numbers himself with transgressors – "Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons."
              1. A "Roman cohort" was typically 1/10th of a Legion – approximately 600 men.
              2. In addition, there were the "officers [temple police] from the chief priests"
              3. They were tremendously worried about the possibility of resistance –
                1. They came armed with "weapons"
                2. They had arranged for a signal of deception (a kiss) to identify Jesus – cp. Matthew 26:47-50
            5. It is curious that they come "with lanterns and torches" to apprehend the "Light of the World" and with "weapons" to overpower the "Prince of Peace."

        2. The Proofs of God’s Purpose – 18:4-9

          1. The Affirmation of Christ’s Divine Awareness – v. 4

            1. In demonstration that Jesus was not taken by surprise, John reports that "Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him …" took initiative.
            2. These were the "all things" that God decreed should happen – agreed to by the Son of God before the foundation of the world, predicted throughout the Old Testament and repeatedly foretold by Jesus during His ministry.
            3. This includes the awareness of Judas’ treacherous plan to betray Him with a kiss and therefore "…went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’"
            4. This harmonizes perfectly with the other Gospel accounts if you see Jesus preemptively exerting His sovereign control over the situation.

          2. The Affirmation of Christ’s Divine Authority – v. 5-6

            1. He further demonstrates His control by forcing an identification of their "prey" – "They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene’."
            2. It is possible that they were disabled from recognizing Him due to a Divine intent – demonstrating the blindness and a need to be enlightened as to who Jesus Christ is – "And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them."
            3. Jesus reply to them provides a glimpse at His Omnipotence – "He said to them, "I am He’."
              1. This is one of the clearest expressions of deity that Jesus made – cp. John 8:28, 58
                1. I am … the bread of life – John 6:35
                2. I am … the Light of the world – John 8:12
                3. I am … the door – John 10:7, 9
                4. I am … the Good Shepherd – John 10:11, 14
                5. I am … the resurrection & the life – John 11:25
                6. I am … the way, truth & life – John 14:6
                7. I am … the vine - John 15:1, 5
              2. It is a reference to Himself that reflects the identical self-designation of Jehovah (YHWH) of the Old Testament – cp. Exodus 3:14 – "I AM WHO I AM" – the "Self-Existent; Self-Dependent One"
            4. The consequence of this declaration by God of His own power and glory was the inability of man to stand before Him – "So when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground." – out of a fear of God.
            5. This occurred for three basic reasons – all of which bring glory to Jesus:
              1. First, it happened to demonstrate that Jesus was more than mere "of Nazareth" – He is the Son of God.
              2. Second, it happened to demonstrate that Jesus voluntarily gave Himself up – that He was not in any way susceptible to the power of a Roman cohort; rather, it was vulnerable to His power.
              3. Finally, it happened in order to remove any excuse for their treachery – they saw the power and glory of God evidenced in Christ Jesus, but remained committed to His murder.

          3. The Affirmation of Christ’s Divine Affection – vv. 7-9

            1. Jesus then repeats His question as to whom they seek – "Therefore He again asked them, ‘Whom do you seek’?"
            2. They repeat their answer to eliminate any confusion … they are seeking Jesus – "And they said, ‘Jesus the Nazarine.’"
            3. In this exchange we see Jesus providing a means by which the disciples would be able to avoid indictment – "Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way’."
            4. It is apparent that those arresting Jesus were intent on apprehending the disciples as well – cp. Mark 14:51-52
            5. Knowing that their faith would not be able to handle the tremendous intimidation of arrest and persecution at this point, Jesus secured their safety
            6. He is very much in tune with what we can handle and keeps us from being tested above what we are able – cp. 1 Corinthians 10:13
            7. Thus, he is described as loving His disciples to the very end – "… to fulfill the word which He spoke, ‘Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.’" – cp. John 13:1

        3. The Promotion of Godly Priorities – 18:10-11

          1. The Impulsiveness of Temporal Priorities – v. 10

            1. Jesus had everything under His total control – able to handle Himself with the infinite power of God.
            2. However, Peter’s impulsiveness caused Him to think that the advantage that He had just seen by Jesus over the "enemies" meant that they could "take them."
            3. Therefore, because of an overconfidence in his own agenda, Peter drew his sword and took matters into His own hands – "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."
            4. The other sword in the possession of Jesus disciples was offered, but Jesus refused it – cp. Luke 22:49
            5. This event was offensive to the Lord Jesus for several reasons:
              1. First, He was offended that Peter didn’t feel that Jesus was powerful enough or in enough control to take care of the situation – cp. Matthew 26:53
              2. Second, He was offended that the Romans and Jews came out to arrest him as though He were a common criminal – when He was vulnerable to their arrest at any moment while He taught them – cp. Matthew 26:55.

          2. The Insistence on Eternal Priorities – v. 11

            1. Jesus rebukes Peter and said "Put the sword into the sheath" and then he healed the fresh wound on the ear of Malchus – cp. Luke 22:51
            2. He then informs His disciples that He was committed to fulfilling the will of the Father – "the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"
              1. This "cup" is associated in the OT with suffering and especially judgment, i.e., the cup of God’s wrath - Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, 22; Jeremiah. 25:15; Ezekiel. 23:31–34; cp. Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42.
              2. It is indicative that Jesus’ sufferings were at the will and direction of the Father with a view toward redemption.
            3. Jesus hereby demonstrates the level of His commitment to take the steps of obedience necessary to save us – His own death.
            4. Jesus hereby identifies Himself with the will of God in much the same way that He had called upon His disciples to identify with Him through observing communion where He commands us to drink "all of it" (the cup He had given us) – cp. Matthew 26:27.

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