The Arrest of Jesus (John 18:1-11)

John now comes to the third major division of his Gospel, and this third section is concerned with the death and resurrection of Jesus. After the prologue in chapter one, John had used a large section of his letter to explain several signs and other incidents that revealed who Jesus was. Then he had used chapters 13-17 to detail the teaching of Jesus and his prayer on that final evening. Now John moves into his third section. Of course, we should remind ourselves why John wrote his Gospel. He wrote it in order that the disciples of Jesus would have faith in him. So we should be looking for reasons from this passage that will strengthen our faith in Jesus, and praying that it would take place.

Jesus mission proceeds (18:1-3)

John tells us that Jesus led his disciples across the brook Kidron on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. Perhaps he wants his readers to recall the experience of David, who centuries earlier had crossed the Kidron with a few disciples because he had been betrayed by many, including some close followers.

The striking feature of John’s account here is what he omits from his presentation of Jesus. In the other gospels we are told in detail what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane before Judas arrived. But John does not mention that detail. Perhaps he was too embarrassed to admit that he along with Peter and James had been asked by Jesus to help him in a special way, but they had fallen asleep. Jesus had wakened them for the third time just before Judas appeared with his gang.

John does tell us that Jesus often had gone with his disciples to that garden. It had been his regular practice to go there. This raises the question as to whether or not we should change our practices of prayer when danger threatens. Jesus could easily have avoided the arrest by Judas by simply choosing to go somewhere else that evening to pray. Of course, Jesus always did what was right, so it is not appropriate for any to question his decisions. Yet we can think of another who refused to change his regular practice of prayer just because danger threatened. That person is Daniel, who continued to pray towards Jerusalem even although he knew that such an action had been declared illegal by Darius (Dan. 8). For his faithfulness, he ended up in a den of lions. Nevertheless he received a marvellous deliverance from God. Is John saying here that times of danger are not occasions to change our regular practice of prayer? Those who did not pray in Gethsemane discovered that danger overtook them and defeated them whereas the One who prayed overcame all who opposed him.

The men who came to arrest Jesus were the religious police. We are beginning to see here the coming together of the foes of Jesus. Normally, the chief priests, who belonged to the Sadducees, and the Pharisees would have avoided one another. The Sadducees were the equivalent of theological liberals whereas the Pharisees were like theological traditionalists. Usually they would have been arguing with one another, but they come together to deal with their common opponent, Jesus. John is reminding his readers to expect combined opposition from unusual groups against the Lord. In any case, Jesus is marching on and the enemy comes to face him.

Jesus’ majesty observed (18:4-6)

So Jesus moves ahead and speaks to the gang of soldiers who have appeared at the garden. He asks them a simple question, one that will have profound consequences on the gang. Jesus responded to their question about identification with a revelation of who he truly is. The reason why they asked their question probably was connected to the darkness of the night, which made it hard for them to identify which of the group was Jesus. Jesus, however, wanted them to realise that they were affected also by another kind of darkness, that of the darkness of the soul. How did they discover how dark they were?

They asked to see one whom they assumed was an ordinary man called Jesus of Nazareth. Instead they discovered that this ordinary man was the extraordinary God. It has often been pointed out that what Jesus said to the men in response to their question was the words ‘I am’. Certainly the first response of the men is very unusual because they take a step backwards and I suspect that they then fall forwards in prostration before the One they have come to arrest. Without any hesitation they fall down before Jesus, but the sad thing is that their acknowledgement of his authority does not come from a changed heart. Although they acknowledge his supremacy they are still his enemies.

What may be also the case is that among the men lying on the ground is the figure of Judas the betrayer. Although he never truly bowed in his heart to Jesus as a disciple, yet now he does even although he is numbered among the enemies of Jesus. What we have here is a foretaste of the judgement day. They had come to arrest Jesus and bring him to trial, but instead they discovered that they were on trial and that he was their judge.

Jesus’ mission illustrated

Jesus is arrested from a position of power and not from one of weakness. He was not in the hands of his opponents. Instead they were in his hands. This means that his statement that his disciples be released is not a plea to the soldiers but instead it is a command. John reminds the readers that this instruction was connected to Jesus’ awareness that his work on earth would ensure that none of his people would be lost. The Saviour was aware that he did not need any help from his followers as he proceeded to allow himself to be arrested.

Why was this event taking place? At a surface level, we can say that it was happening because Judas had betrayed Jesus and had joined with his enemies in order to destroy him. At a deeper level we can say that the devil was directing events in order to get rid of Jesus. Yet it would be safe to assume that both Judas and the devil would want also to destroy the disciples of Jesus. It is obvious that neither Judas nor the devil was in charge here. Someone else has arranged the arrest of Jesus and it is part of the arrangement that the disciples will find freedom, even although at this time they would be unaware of the kind of freedom that was being provided. Jesus was going to be arrested in order that they would be set free from the penalty and power of sin.

We can see in this statement of Jesus an amazing example of his great love for his people. At a time when we might expect him to be thinking about himself, instead he is thinking about them. The display of love is not merely that they would escape arrest and punishment from the authorities, but that they will be free to experience and enjoy the liberty that he would provide for all of them.

Jesus’ mission paramount

We are used to seeing Peter say the inappropriate words or do the unnecessary activity. Despite the overwhelming odds he was determined not to go down without a fight. And in typical Peter style he swings wildly and almost kills one of the servants of the high priest. From one point of view, we can say that Peter’s action was likely to ensure that he would be arrested. How often did he do what seemed to negate his Master’s desire!

Yet we should not be too hard on Peter. It looks as if he was the only one of the disciples who was prepared to do anything about the situation. The inactivity of the other disciples was not a sign of faith that Jesus was in charge, but a sign of fear that their end had come. Peter at least had some courage. Moreover we can also deduce that his action was an expression of love for Jesus. Perhaps Malchus had tried to take hold of Jesus – he was certainly close enough for Jesus to touch his ear and heal it (Luke 22:51) – and that was why Peter attacked him. Whatever the reason, his action was a display of love. Love sometimes does the wrong thing, but it is better than sitting on the fence and doing nothing.

Jesus reminds Peter that the Father has given a cup to be drunk. This statement reveals that John knew about the matters that Jesus had prayed about in Gethsemane although he does not mention the agony that Jesus experienced in connection with accepting the cup. What Jesus is saying to Peter here is that he needs to get a proper perspective on events. He should recognise that Jesus has taken the Father's cup in order to drink it. The soldiers with their swords, and Peter with his sword, cannot prevent him doing so. So what we see in this incident is the determination of Jesus to go to the cross.

Some lessons

The first detail to recall from this incident is the person of Jesus. He is both God and man, and he can choose to reveal his deity whenever and however he wishes. It is solemn to realise that seeing the deity of Jesus does not in itself convert anyone. As far as we know, no one was converted through being present on this occasion, even although they all bowed down in front of him. We know so much more about him, but the question is not what we know about him but what we do with that knowledge.

A second detail concerns the question, ‘What weapons can be used to defeat Jesus?’ It has been pointed out that the term used to describe the number of soldiers was used in an official way to describe six hundred of them. Moreover they were armed and prepared. Were they a match for Jesus? Of course not! He could have banished them to hell in a second of time. What would the wise and powerful of today use to get rid of Jesus? One soldier today is more capable than the six hundred of long ago. Would our military power defeat Jesus? The question is absurd. Other weapons are used as well such as denying the existence of God or the accuracy of the Bible. Do these silly suggestions defeat Jesus? Of course not! They may seem powerful, but as far as the intentions of Jesus are concerned they cannot hinder his progress. In fact, like the soldiers and statesmen and leaders of long ago, all they do in their opposition is fulfil his purposes.

The third detail is that disciples should rejoice that there are some stages in the forming of the kingdom in which they are not required to make any contribution. The cross was for Jesus alone, and not even Peter could go there with him. There are some things that the best of disciples cannot achieve. If we venture into that which is forbidden we will find ourselves being rebuked by the Saviour. We can see easily how that was the case with regard to Jesus and the cross and how Peter could play no part in it. There are still some things that disciples are forbidden to do, but the best response is to do what we are commanded to do and leave alone the issues that Jesus forbids us to do in his Word.