JESUS SURRENDERS HIMSELF FOR THE CROSS
John 18:1-13
Jesus had
finished praying for the protection of His disciples. In his final hours, Jesus
focus was on
The mission
had to continue once He ascended back into Heaven. With the Fathers intervention
The Disciples
would be strengthened to endure the loss of their leader.
MONEY IS
THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL
V:1 When he
had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron
Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples
went into it.
2 Now Judas,
who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his
disciples. 3 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and
some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying
torches, lanterns and weapons.
A. Being in the garden was Jesus's
submission to the Father’s plan of the
cross.
1. Before this time and on several
occasions, the leading Jews had planned
To kill Jesus, but He
slipped through the crowd unnoticed.
2. This proves that Jesus was in control
of all situations.
3. Nothing would happen before the time
set by Him.
B. Jesus planted Judas with His selected
disciples so he would know Him intimately
And could easily identify Him.
1. Not only that, Judas was given a love
of money and put in charge of the money
Bag to develop his appetite
for thievery.
2. Judas knew this was the place to find
Jesus because he was familiar
With His place of prayer.
3. Judas sought out the Chief Priest to
betray Jesus.
4. He was paid 30 Pieces of silver to lead
the two groups, the leading Jews and Roman
Soldiers to the place where
Jesus would be and to identify Him.
5. While it looked like the forces of
evil were in control. Jesus was fulfilling His
Scripture.
Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend,
whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.
6. When you stand on the Word of God,
people fear you.
A band of soldiers came
armed to take on man, Jesus.
JESUS
IDENTIFIES HIMSELF BEFORE MEN
V:4 Jesus,
knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who
is it you want?"
5
"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.
"I am
he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6
When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
A. There is power in the name of Jesus.
1. When Jesus identified Himself, the
Chief Priest and the band of soldiers fell to the ground.
2. At the name of Jesus, every knee
shall bow.
3. This event showed that Jesus was in
control, not the armed Roman soldiers.
4. While the Chief Priest was the civil
authority, Jesus was the authority overall.
B. Jesus did not run away from trouble,
He controlled the trouble.
1. Jesus did not fear trouble, He welcomed
it with joy.
JESUS
TOOK CHARGE OF THE INTERROGATION
V:7 Again he
asked them, "Who is it you want?"
And they
said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
8 "I
told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me,
then let these men go." 9 This
happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not
lost one of those you gave me."
A. Jesus readily identified Himself so
that His disciple would not be interrogated.
1. He did not want His disciples to get
involved in the trial that He planned.
2. The start of the Church would rest on
the shoulders of the 11 apostles.
B. Jesus asked that His disciples be
released so that the focus could be on Him and
Him alone so that the work of the Father could be completed in Him.
1. Judas's purpose in life was to betray
Jesus.
Matthew 26:48-50
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with
them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to
Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
50 Jesus replied,
"Friend, do what you came for."
2. Jesus used Satan to place Himself in
the hands of the enemy to carry out the Father’s will.
3. God does not need us, but He uses us
in His divine plan.
LISTEN TO
THE WORD BEFORE YOU ACT
V:10 Then
Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant,
cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus
commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the
Father has given me?"
A. While Jesus need no protection, Peter
was armed to protect Him.
1. Peter missed the boat because He did
not understand the purpose of the coming
Persecution.
John 18:10
Peter's sword symbolizes
rebellion against the will of God. Peter should have known that Jesus would be
arrested and that He would willingly surrender to His enemies (Matthew 16:21
ff, 17:22-23; 20:17-19). Peter made every mistake possible! He fought the wrong
enemy, used the wrong weapon, had the wrong motive, and accomplished the wrong
result! He was openly resisting the will of God and hindering the work that
Jesus came to accomplish! While we admire his courage and sincerity, it was
certainly a demonstration of zeal without knowledge.
Why did Peter fail so
miserably? For one thing, he had argued with the Lord when Jesus warned him
that he would deny his Master that very night. Peter had slept when he should
have been praying, and he talked when he should have been listening. He
imitated the very enemies who came to arrest Jesus, for they too were armed
with swords. Peter would discover that the sword of the Spirit is the weapon
God's servants use in fighting their spiritual battles (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians
6:17). He would use that sword at Pentecost and "slay" 3,000 souls!
(from The Bible
Exposition Commentary. Copyright © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing, and
imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by
permission.)
2. We should meditate on the Word before
we act on our emotions,
3. It should be our objective to follow
the example Jesus gives.
4. Jesus showed humbleness, Peter showed
pride.
5. Jesus showed submission, Peter showed
rebellion.
B. Peter’s anger led him to attack an
innocent servant.
1. The chief enemy was Satan who
influenced the Chief Priest.
2. We cannot wrestle with Satan with man-made
weapons.
Ephesians 6:12-13
For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms.
C. Jesus understood the cross to be the
cup the Father prepared for Him.
1. Jesus rebuked Peter for his ignorance
of God’s purpose.
2. Jesus had given His disciples the plan
of His persecution but
They refused to believe
John 12:32-33
32 But I, when I am
lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33 He said this to show the kind of death he
was going to die.
3. The Word of God is given to each of
us.
4. It is up to you to believe that it
applies to you.
D. We all have a cup that has been
prepared for us that is designed to
Test our faith and draw us closer to God.
JESUS
ALLOWS EVIL FOR OUR GOOD
V:12 Then
the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested
Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the
father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.
A. Jesus allowed The Roman authority and
the Chief Jewish civil authority to arrest Him.
1. There is power in what Jesus allows
to happen.
2. There is purpose in what Jesus allows
to happen.
3. There is glory in what Jesus allows
to happen.
B. The Action of the Jewish leaders was
illegal according to the Church of the Latter Day Saints
1. “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the
council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death.”h Whether “all the council” means a legal
quorum, which would be twenty-three or more, or a full attendance of the
seventy-two Sanhedrists, is of small importance. Any sitting of the Sanhedrin
at night, and more particularly for the consideration of a capital charge, was
directly in violation of Jewish law. Likewise was it unlawful for the council
to consider such a charge on a Sabbath, a feast day, or on the eve on any such
day. In the Sanhedrin, every member was a judge; the judicial body was to hear
the testimony, and, according to that testimony and nought else, render a
decision on every case duly presented. The accusers were required to appear in
person, and they were to receive a preliminary warning against bearing false
witness. Every defendant was to be regarded and treated as innocent until
convicted in due course.”
2. Jesus allowed Himself to be falsely accused so He
could be lifted up on the cross
For our redemption.
3. Hebrews 12:2-3
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.
THANK GOD FOR
JESUS SUBMISSION TO THE CROSS
Rev. M. Mitchell
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