JOHN 18:1-14 Lesson # 37

THE ARREST:? HIDDEN AND PURPOSEFUL POWER

I.? Introduction:

Note:? Chapter 18 begins a new section in the book of John, it starts the “passion of Jesus”, we now move on to the culmination of Jesus’ ministry.? It begins with His arrest.? It begins with Jesus being put in stress….

Q? What are the greatest stresses faced today?

Q? Is facing illness, serious illness, a cause of stress?

Q? How do people normally react to stress today?? What are some of the symptoms or some of the signs that they are under stress?

An = Get someone to write these down.

Q? How do people treat experiencing stress treat those around them, especially those closest to them?

Note:? Jesus is going to show us by His action, not so much by His words how to face and deal with stress.? Stress often reveals character and what someone really cares about.

Let us watch our Lord….

II.? The Arrest:? Who is on the Offense??? John 18:1-11.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:1-3.

Q? Where is this taking place?

An = The other Gospels let us know that Jesus has come from the city of Jerusalem and has crossed over to the Kidron valley to a place called the Mt. of Olives and to a garden called:? Gethsemane.

Q? Who does Judas have with him?

An = officers from the chief priests and Pharisees and the Roman cohort.? This could have been hundreds of soldiers (200-600).? Many speculate that Pilate offered the troops because he feared armed response from Jesus’ followers.

RQ? Is this a threatening situation?

Q? Would you feel threatened if you were Jesus?? If so, how would you respond?

Q? Do you think the solders might have been a bit tense, if so why?

An = Notice they are caring lanterns, torches and weapons.? It was hard to see, and they do not know how many of Jesus’ followers are about, ?????????and if they are armed, and what they will do.? They might have been expecting a fight and one that would take place in the dark.? Also, they must have heard that this rabbi had “powers”.

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:4-5.

Q? Who makes the first move?? Who is the aggressor?

An = It is Jesus.? He initiates the conversation.

Q? Is He trying to hide?? Does He seem afraid?? Is He cooperative?

An = Jesus seems calm, very cooperative and seemingly not afraid.? “I am He” is pretty direct.? If they worried about determining which one was Jesus, Jesus made that quite easy for them.? Something curious happens though in the next verse….

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:6.

Q? What is happening here?? How do you picture this happening?? What does it mean?

>>>> Have someone read John 18:7-9.

Q? Is there repetition here?? Why?

Q? What does Jesus add to this second go-around in verse 8?

An = He makes a request that it is Him they want and to let his disciples go free.? He has aggressively surrendered, given Himself up.

Q? Why was no one knocked down the second time?

Q? What does verse 9 mean and how does it relate to verse 8?

An = It seems Jesus takes control of the situation and orders it so that His disciples can get away.? The narrator is quoting John 17:12 but in that context it seems to refer to being spiritually lost.

Have someone read John 17:12.? Perhaps, if the disciples had been arrested before the Resurrection and the day of Pentecost they would have been lost spiritually (Bultmann, p. 640).? They might not have been ready for the brutal treatment Jesus was to endure.?

I believe He knows what we can handle!

Q? Again, why did Jesus’ words knock them all down?? What connection does their being knocked down the first time have to do with the request in verse 8?

An = Perhaps, Jesus did the whole “knocking them down” thing to let them know He does have power.? The display of power was not to gain respect for Himself but to help His disciples get away.? He used power, gently, sufficiently, to spare others.?

Note:? I am sure being knocked down with just a word, made them open to His request of letting the disciples go.

Note:? Jesus had the power to kill them all with a word.? With words He healed, with words He could have done others things, than knock them down.? He could have knocked them down all night if He wanted to!!

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:10-11

Q? What is Simon Peter about to ruin?

An = All Jesus’ efforts to keep from being killed or captured.? First of all, Peter is a bad swordsman, he misses and cuts the man’s ear off.? Had Jesus not stopped him he would have soon been killed.? Jesus wants them to get away, not die right then to prove their loyalty.? Good leaders want the best for us.? Jesus is the consummate good leader.

Also, notice what Jesus says in verse 11.? Jesus is to drink the “cup”, the cup of suffering.? Peter efforts do not understand the plan of salvation.? Had Peter succeeded in stopping the arrest and the crucifixion, then he would have stopped our hope of salvation.? Jesus knew He had to suffer.

Q? So what have we learned about how Jesus handles threat and stress?

1) Jesus is the initiator, He is not a victim.? He goes out to meet, to confront those sent to arrest Him.? He initiates the dialogue.? You cannot be a victim if you are the aggressor.? Perhaps, we take the initiative when we accept the pain than must come our way, knowing that the end will be good because it is in God’s hands.

2)? Jesus is other centered.? He expends His energy making sure others are OK.? Nothing helps release one from stress from our own problems when we think of others needs.

3)? He is not afraid, but rather confident, in charge and with His eyes on the goal.? He stops Peter from continuing with the sword because He knows His goal is to save the disciples and He refuses to stop the arrest because He knows His goal is to suffer and therefore to redeem.? He is in charge of what happens to the disciples (and to what happens to those arresting Him).? He lets them arrest Him but He is not passive.

III.? Traveling to the Court Scenes:? John 18:12-14.

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:12-14.

Q? Where did they take Him first?

An = To a religious court.? The secular authorities were used, but Jesus is first taken to a priestly court.

Q? What does verse 14 mean?? Why does the author mention this?

An = >>> Have everyone turn to John 11:47-52 and have someone read it to the group.

Note:? It appears in verses 12 and 13 that the evil plotting of man is in charge, but verse 14 reminds us that even the evil, self-serving thoughts of Jesus’ enemies are being used by the sovereign power of God.? God is never out of control, even when things look their worst.