John 18  The Commanding Presence of Jesus

WHEN Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him,  went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none." 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" 12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. 19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 "Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if swell, why do you strike Me?" 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

 

As we have surveyed John's gospel together, we have noticed that John identifies several significant themes in the prologue (John 1:1-18) that allow him to portray the Lord Jesus in His glory. Several of these themes intersect in this 18^th chapter.  Those themes are the glory of Jesus' person (John 1:16-18), the rejection by the Jewish leaders (John 1:10-12),  the analogy of Jesus being the true light and true truth (John 1:4-6), and a new theme is introduced. The majestic glory of Jesus' Kingship (again foreshadowed in John 1:10-18). 

The Kingship of Jesus occurs a number of times in John's Gospel.

John 7: 45 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" 46 The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!" 47 The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed." 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" 52 They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee."

 

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.   55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for6  Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

 

John 14: 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

 

There is a war between the King and one who is called the prince of this world.  Princes might think they are kings, but the King has all the real power.

Throughout this passage there is something kingly about the King, and about how people respond to the King.

You wouldn't expect God and the devil to be working toward the same goal.  Two forces worked at the same time toward the same destination.  Both were working to bringing Jesus to the cross.

Acts 2:22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23"Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

The devil wanted to destroy the Prince of Life.  So did God! It was God's intent that through the death of His Son He would save countless millions, as the Saviour died at the cross to give you and I eternal life.

The devil drew Judas along to draw together a mob. The Betrayer had a signal. The one he should kiss was the One they were to arrest. Their intent was to bring Jesus to the Jewish leaders to be killed.

2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went  forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and  fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,

Respond with me to:

The King's Commanding Presence

"Whom are you seeking?" 5They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He."

I am!  I Am I.  it was the title the Lord Jesus used throughout the Gospel of John. The I AM!  The One who appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush.  Yahweh. I am that I am! The self-existent  One. The eternal One, who was eternal without beginning and without end. The Infinite One: The Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient One.  God.

6Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and  fell to the ground. 7Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He.

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

 

Matthew 26:50 "Friend," Jesus asked him, "why have you come?" Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. 51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? "

One angel destroyed an army in Isaiah's time!

Isa 36:13 Then the royal spokesman stood and called out loudly in Hebrew: Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 This is what the king says: "Don't let Hezekiah deceive you, for he cannot rescue you. 15 Don't let Hezekiah persuade you to rely on the Lord, saying, 'The Lord will certainly rescue us! This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.' "

Isaiah 37. 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning — there were all the dead bodies!

 

But the Lord Jesus has twelve legions of angels waiting, ready, prepared, all set to sweep in. It would be the greatest aerial bombardment ever experienced!  12 legions of angels!  A legion is approximately 6,000 soldiers. A minimum of 72,000 angels. But Jesus said the Father would give Him more than twelve legions of angels; therefore, you can conclude that there were potentially many additional thousands of angels available to Jesus the night He was arrested!

6,000 angels would be enough to destroy 1,110,000,000 men (that is, one billion, one hundred ten million men) — and that's just the combined power in one legion of angels! Now let's multiply this same number 185,000 by twelve legions, or at least 72,000 angels, which was the number of angels Jesus said was available to Him on the night of His arrest. When we do, we find that there was enough combined strength at Jesus' disposal to have annihilated at least 13,320,000,000 men (that is, thirteen billion, three hundred twenty million men) — which is more than twice the number of people living on the earth right now!

Jesus didn't need Peter's little sword that night. Had He chosen to do so, Jesus could have summoned 72,000 magnificent, mighty, dazzling, glorious, overwhelmingly powerful angels to the Garden to obliterate the Roman soldiers and the temple police who had come to arrest Him. In fact, the combined strength in twelve legions of angels could have wiped out the entire human race! But Jesus didn't call on the supernatural help that was available to Him.

He who with a word created the heavens and earth didn't need the angels to obliterate these people.  He sure didn't need Peter's sword.

10  Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?

"Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"

This was the plan from before the foundation of the earth!

The cup.. Metaphor for Christ's death, used already in reply to request of James and John (Mark 10:39; Matt 20:22) and in the agony in Gethsemane before Judas came (Mark 14:36; Matt 26:39; Luke 22:42), which is not given by John.

The Garden of Gethsemane was one of the Lord's favourite places for communion with His Father and with His disciples. He had visited here often. In Luke 22:44, we read, "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  In the Gospel of Luke, it says tells us that an angel was sent to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43).
When Jesus said, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me," what did He mean? What did the cup represent?
The Cup Represented Sin

The Cup Represented Separation

The Cup Represented Suffering.

The Lord chose the cup. He was in communion with His Father.

The Lord chose the cup. He was in conflict with the devil.

The Lord chose the cup. He was in conformity with the will of the Godhead and the purpose of saving us.

Have you experienced His Commanding Presence?

Respond with me to:

The King's Challenging Presence

12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they led him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.

15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" "I am not." he said. 18 Now the servants and the officials had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before Annas

19 The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

20 "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus answered him. "I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven't spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said." 22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" 23 "If I have spoken wrongly," Jesus answered him, "give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me? " 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "You aren't one of his disciples too, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." 26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you with him in the garden?" 27 Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.

Never was it more clearly seen that there was a war between the Prince of this world and the true King, the Lord Jesus Christ. The enemies troops had taken the King to Annas and Caiaphas. The High Priest was to anoint the King to be King. Jesus the Messiah was the true King. The High Priest was supposed to anoint Jesus. But no, they were under the control of the Prince of this world.

The friends of Jesus were supposed to stand with their King. But the closest of the King's friends denied Him.  Perhaps we have forgotten that the Christian Life is war and that you will never live successfully if you live with a peace-time mentality.  We have forgotten that  our fundamental battle is not with the shifting values of the surrounding culture, It is not with resistant people who don't seem to esteem the gospel. It is not the fight to be successful in church work. And it isn't the constant struggle for resources to do the work. No the war in the Christian life is that deeply personal war of the human heart.  It is a war of allegiances, values and motivations.  It is the war between the Kingdom of self and the Kingdom of God fought on the field of your heart. My wants my needs and my feelings become more important than the Kingdom of God.

2 Cor 5:14,15 says 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

We no longer live for ourselves. Peter understood that. Just a few hours beforehand Peter had sworn.

John 13: 37 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Things like appreciation, reputation, success, power, comfort, and control become all too important to us. They became too important to Peter. Lest we be too quick to condemn Peter, look at our own lives. We may not have been put under the microscope that Peter was put under, butmany times we have been more interested in preserving our own life in its comforts and controls, rather than venturing all for the Lord Jesus Christ our King.  My wants, My needs, My feelings have taken first place, and are we living for our King?

Peter was challenged about sin in his life. Have you experienced His Challenging Presence?

We seek the situations, relationships and fulfilment from other areas of life, that should only be found in Christ alone.

His Kingly Presence

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring against this man?" 30 They answered him, "If this man weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you." 31 Pilate told them, "You take him and judge him according to your law." "It's not legal for us to put anyone to death," the Jews declared. 32 They said this so that Jesus's words might be fulfilled indicating what kind of death he was going to die.

33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?" 35 "I'm not a Jew, am I?" Pilate replied. "Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36 "My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus. "If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37 "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." 38 "What is truth?" said Pilate. After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 40 They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

What shall I do with the King of the Jews?

Matthew 27: 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" 23 And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

Pontius Pilate was the governor of Judea at the time of the Lord Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus stood before Pilate, and Pilate had to make a decision regarding Jesus.  There is no greater question than the one posed in this Scripture: what shall I do with Jesus?

Pilate tried to ignore Jesus. John 18:31 He tried not to make a decision about Jesus. Even today, some think that simply ignoring Jesus is the solution. One day in the judgment, we will stand before the very Jesus we try to ignore today.

Pilate tried to shift the decision to someone else. Luke 23:6-7 Pilate thought he would let Herod decide what to do with Jesus, but Herod sent Jesus right back to Pilate. No one can decide for us what to do with Jesus.

Pilate sought simply to admire Jesus. Luke 23:14-15 Pilate thought that he could avoid the decision by saying nice things about Jesus. Pilate, who by his own words could have released Jesus, said that he found no fault in Jesus; and, yet, allowed Jesus to be crucified. Many today say "nice" things about Jesus. Many say that He was a great teacher. Many say that He was a great man. It is not enough to "tip the hat" to Jesus; we must bow the knee to Jesus.

Pilate attempted to remain neutral. Matthew 27:22-24 Not to decide is to decide not to decide. Matthew 12:30 When Pilate allowed Jesus to be condemned, Pilate was condemned.

The trial of Jesus Christ was a mockery. If Jesus were on trial today and you were the jury, what would you do with Jesus? Throughout history, witnesses (including His enemies) have proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

What Shall I Do With Jesus? Have you bowed to His Kingly Presence?

At that particular time, Jesus stood before Pilate to be judged by Pilate. There's coming a time when Pilate will stand before Jesus to be judged by Jesus. In a very real sense, Pilate represents each of us who is asked the same question: what shall I do with Jesus?

As Jesus was before Pilate, Jesus is before us today. As Pilate will one day stand before Jesus, we too will stand before Jesus. What will you do with Jesus?

This is a present question.   You will answer this question today.

This is a personal question.  You must decide personally what you will do with Jesus.

This is a pertinent question.  Your destiny depends upon your answer to this question.

This is a pressing question.  You will answer one way or the other.  If you choose not to decide, that in itself is a decision.

This is an inescapable and unavoidable question.  Each person who has ever lived, or who ever will live, will either accept Jesus or reject Him. We will either crown Him or crucify Him.  We will either confess Him or deny Him.  No one can remain neutral.

John 19: 1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him." 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the man!" 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him." 7 The Jews1  answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God." 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" 11 Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin." 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic2  Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.3  He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!" 15 They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

 

Pilate crucified the King because of his fear of Public opinion Matthew 27:20 Pilate was a politician, and he wanted to please the crowds. Mark 15:15 We, too, are concerned about what others think. Sometimes we crucify Jesus in order to please the crowd.

Pilate crucified the King because of his Pride John 19:9-10 Pilate believed that he held the power in his own hands. John 19:11 All of our giftings, abilities and any power that we have are given to us from God the Father.

Pilate crucified the King because of his fear of losing position and possessions John 19:12 If Pilate did not make the politically correct decision, he could lose his job. We too are often concerned about what it may cost us to make a decision for Christ. Could it cost us a promotion? Could it cost us materially or financially?

Will you have this King to reign over you today?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Over the past years, the Chinese government has promoted the construction of a harmonious society in China, by advocating 'harmony without uniformity' as a guiding principle and a prerequisite for it. According to Premier Wen Jiabao, 'harmony without uniformity' is a vital feature of Chinese traditional culture.908" "The expression hexie ("harmony") first appeared in The Book of Guoyu909 , the state/quality of being "compatible" and "well-coordinated". Confucius said, "The exemplary man seeks harmony without uniformity."

Committee for the Forum of Leaders of Six Religions.(2003). Special issue of twenty-fifth anniversary of forum of six religious leaders(Chinese text). Hong Kong: the Editing Committee for the Forum of Leaders of Six Religions, 25th Anniversary Publication.

Peter Ng notes "In Hong Kong, religions play a significant role in promoting social harmony too. Since 1978, a Correspondence Secretariat of Six Religious Leaders was formed. Initiated by the six religious leaders who take turn as chair each year, the Secretariat stated its goals as follows:"

"In dialoguing, religions should be faithful to their beliefs and doctrine but at the same time remain open-minded in order to be informed of one another's beliefs. They should show mutual consideration, appreciation, and respect because each religion has its own truth that would not be denied by the others. It follows that in any such exchange no religion should try to preach its own faith to the other, and by no means should any one religion deprecate the other. On the contrary, religions need to manifest open-heartedness to one another and give up prejudices and intransigence. They should instead stand for benevolence, fraternity, patience, and tolerance. In the course of dialogue, they should also learn to share one another's religious experiences, be aware of one another's religious doctrine, and appreciate one another's religious practices".(Committee for the Forum of Leaders of Six Religions, 2003, p.16. in Ng, P.T.M. (2009). 'Religion and Social Harmony' p.74,75 

"Premier Wen developed the same idea in another speech entitled Respecting Diverse Cultures and Building a Harmonious World. Hence, it was affirmed that religions would have a part to play in the construction of a socialist harmonious society in China." p. 71, 72, 73,79 

Article 36 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China of 1982 specifies that:

Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of religious belief. No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion. The state protects normal religious activities. No one may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the state. Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination