The Garden, The Arrest, and the Conviction.


John 18
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.

Jesus just finished telling them that they would be hated for his name's sake, persecuted, etc. He also told them that he will be leaving them and prayed for all those who are his and those who will be his that we might be one as he is one with the Father...

John 18 (cont.)
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

Now John is showing that Judas knew where Jesus was going to pray.

John 18 (cont.)
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Judas gets a band of men and goes out to where Jesus is at to have him arrested. Judas figured that he had to get something out of this, he wasted 3 years of his life. Didn't he???

Matt. 26:15 shows what Judas said,
"15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver."
Zech. 11:12,13 is a prophecy concerning that transaction...
"12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD."
         WHAT DID ZECH. 11:13 SAY? THE PRICE FOR WHO??? THE LORD...As I have said many times before, when you see captial L O R D in the KJV Bible, it is always Jehovah God.

Then jump ahead one chapter and check out
Zech. 12:10
"10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
When was Jehovah pierced? In the God/man Christ Jesus on the cross. Jehovah God was pierced when he became a man and hung on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world.
Ck.
Matt. 27:3-10 says,
"3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."
What else is interesting here is: Jeremiah preached it but Zechariah is the one who wrote it down as we just saw...

John 18 (cont.)
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Did you read that??? Jesus KNEW ALL THINGS THAT SHOULD COME UPON HIM... And remember in John 17 he was praying that we might have his joy in us... Awesome! Totally awesome!!!

John 18 (cont.)
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

They were standing before Jehovah God Almighty in human flesh and so they went to the ground when he chooses them to do so. The only way that you can stand before the Almighty God is when he allows it and furnishes the ability to do so.
Compare
Daniel 10:9-11
"9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling."

John 18 (cont.)
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

He said, "I have lost none..." He said that in the spiritual sense before but now he is saying it in the physical sense. They were all protected from harm...
In the spiritual sense, he said in

John 17:12
"12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."

John 18 (cont.)
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

THINK ABOUT THIS ONE?!
Remember Jesus said in

Matt. 26:50-54
"50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
But in
Luke 22:35-38 we see this,
"35 And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
36 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
37 For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
38 And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough."
So we see that if you kill with the sword, you will die by the sword but we also see that he told them to get some swords. Solomon said that there is a time for war and a time for peace, etc...
Cf
Ecc. 3:1-8
"1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."
A few comments about Solomon at this point and time, he was the wisest man to live outside of Jesus Christ but he was also talking as a man "under the SUN" not a man "under the SON". All though this book he was talking as a man living under the sun and all was vanity,
Jesus came to die for the sins of the world but HIS TIME AND PLACE WAS THE CROSS, nothing less...

John 18 (cont.)
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,

"THEN..." We need to see by using another gospel what happened before "...the band... took Jesus, and bound him,"
Luke 22:50,51 says,
"50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him."
To show their appreciation for Jesus healing the servant of the high priest, they take Jesus bound for Jerusalem... Nice guys!
Let's look a little more at this disciple whom Jesus loved in

John 20:2
"2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him."
         So we are seeing plainly that it IS NOT PETER since he is mentioned with this disciple... We also know the inner three were Peter, James and John... They were with the Lord at his most intimate times, his hardest times, etc.
Now let's close this thought with...

John 21:20-24
"20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true."
John lived longer than the rest of the apostles and he wrote the book of Revelation... That sounds like so many Christians today, we are overly concerned what other Christians are doing or going to do than what the Lord is telling us to do...

John 18 (cont.)
13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Since Caiaphas was high priest that year, he gave sort of a prophecy...wouldn't you say???

John 18 (cont.)
15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
Strike One!
Let's keep going in John 18 and see what is going on with Jesus.

John 18 (cont.)
18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

So we saw a little bit of what is going on with Jesus now we turn to Peter during this episode...

John 18 (cont.)
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
Strike Two!
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Strike three! Peter is out!

Use your sanctified imagination a little here and imagine Jesus looking at Peter as he is going through this with eyes that see him in his despair and confusion and a heart that loves and understands... Since Jesus was God and man, he knew exactly what was going on at this point and time. Now let's look at Peter and what Jesus Christ saw...by using
Matt. 26:
"74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."
How many times would we be crying if we only knew all that God truly sees within us and around us??? The junk that we do at times is unbelievable yet he keeps giving us chance after chance.

John 18 (cont.)
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.

Good answer! Kinda like Peter's answer, no meat, just fat and grissle...

John 18 (cont.)
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:

They sure tried to stone him plenty of times but then again when you are moving in anger and hate, you don't know what is going on around you or in you...

John 18 (cont.)
32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

Only under the Roman law could he die since it was prophecised that he would die nailed to a cross...

John 18 (cont.)
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

Jesus was giving Pilate a chance to think about what was going on, to really think... IS Pilate thinking for himself or others thinking for him??? AND that is true for us especially if you want to be POLITICALLY CORRECT...

John 18 (cont.)
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, it is not a physical kingdom... IT is spiritual and eternal..

John 18 (cont.)
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Does it look like Pilate really wanted an answer to his question regarding truth??? Pilate had his own problems, his wife told him of her dream and have nothing to do with this man, Jesus Christ.
By reading
Matt. 27:19
"19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."

God gives us warning after warning to heed the route we are taking, to test the things going on around us, etc...Do we really listen?

John 18 (cont.)
39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
         Has the king of the Jews, the king of the Gentiles, the king of the universe been "released" into your life? Have you truly been born again? Is he THE SAVIOUR and THE LORD of your life??? Or are you settling FOR A ROBBER? Satan, THE THIEF came to steal, to kill and to destroy... Are you walking in life or in death, in victory or in defeat??? God says that he sets life and death before us and we can choose... Today can be your day of decision...


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John Chapter 19