John - Week 50

The Mount of Olives 

READ 

John 18:1-3 

1 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. 2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. 3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. 

Jesus left Jerusalem and went east toward the Mount of Olives. On the way was the grove of olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas knew he would find Jesus in His place of prayer. As someone has said, with soldiers and blazing torches they came looking for the Light of the World, Jesus. Notice that the military and Temple guards were given to Judas by the “leading priests and Pharisees.” When a Christ-follower speaks out for Jesus, the ones most against his message can be religious authorities who are unbelievers, as Judas was.  

REFLECT 

Have there been times when some “religious” people have been in opposition to what you believe? Remember that Jesus died for them just as He died for you. Their need is to trust in Him as Savior as you have done. If someone were looking for you, would the individual know where you usually pray? 

RESPOND 

When you see a religious person who gives evidence, by behavior or dress, that the individual does not believe in Jesus for salvation, use the opportunity to pray for that person. Ask God to send some individual into the person’s life who can win their confidence and talk to them about Jesus who is the only way of salvation.  

The Betrayal 

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John 18:4-7 

4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. 

5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. 

“I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” 

And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 

In spite of the armed soldiers who came to arrest Him, Jesus boldly stepped forward and after asking who they were looking for said, “I am he.” In the original language there is no word for “he.” Just saying “I am” to the Jewish unbelievers present would mean He was claiming to be Jehovah (see Exodus 3:13-15). This would not mean the same to the Roman soldiers, but perhaps they were struck by His boldness being one against so many. But the entire opposing crowd (including Judas) would only claim they were looking for “Jesus the Nazarene.” 

REFLECT 

How do you refer to Jesus? Is He the Son of God to you or just a person who grew up in Nazareth? To focus only on His physical location is to miss the main point that He is God and came from the Father to earth to give His life a sacrifice for mankind. How you think of Him will determine how you live for Him.  

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 16:13-16 that tells of the time when Jesus asked His disciples about who they thought He really was. That is a good question for anyone today when talking about spiritual matters: Who do you think Jesus was? It really does not matter what one’s church or group thinks, ask what the person thinks. Ask God to give you the courage to ask this question. 

Not a Single One 

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John 18:8-11 

8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” 9 He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” 

10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” 

In saying that He did not lose any the Father had given Him, Jesus was also reminding Judas that he was not one who had been given to Him. At this point Peter sliced off the right ear of the high priest’s slave. The disciples wanted to fight with swords but Jesus refused and the Gospel of  Luke records Jesus healed the ear of Malchus (see Luke 22:51). Jesus knew His hour had come to suffer and He was willing to accept it. The betrayal and arrest of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospels. 

REFLECT 

It’s hard to imagine what it would have been like to be one of the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane when the group came to arrest Jesus, their beloved leader. Try to picture yourself there and what you would have thought.  

RESPOND 

Take some extra time to read passages in the Gospels that tell about the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. Perhaps read just one of the gospel reports each day. See Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:2-12. Read the passages with a friend so you will both benefit. 

Under Arrest 

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John 18:12-14 

12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.” 

Think of it. The Son of God who had spoken everything into existence (see John 1:1-3) and could speak armies and nations out of existence (see Revelation 19:15) allowed Himself to be tied up. The Jewish crowd wanted Jesus to be found worthy of capital punishment. The Jews, however, were not able to carry out capital punishment so everything before the Jewish system was an attempt to collect evidence to present to the Roman legal system. The comment of Caiaphas, “It’s better that one man should die for the people” is recorded in John 11:49-50.  

REFLECT 

Ponder how the Son of God allowed Himself to be arrested and tied up as He sought to fulfill the Father’s will—and He did this for you. Thank Him that He loved you so much He was willing to do that. And live in such a way that shows your appreciation for what He has done for you.  

RESPOND 

Think and pray about whom you will tell this week about God’s love for you and yours for Him. Ask your disciple to do the same and to pray with you about opportunities.  

Are You a Disciple? 

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John 18:15-18 

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” 

“No,” he said, “I am not.” 

18 Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself. 

It is thought that the disciple who knew the high priest was actually the apostle John himself who is writing this inspired account. Through John’s influence Peter was allowed to come into the high priest’s courtyard. There he was asked by a woman if he was a follower of Jesus and he said he was not. Jesus had said Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. This was Peter’s first denial. Peter stood around the fire obviously trying to conceal himself so others would not know he was a follower of Jesus. 

REFLECT 

Is this not a reminder of how believers often deny Jesus by not speaking out for Him when they should? When was the last time this happened to you? 

RESPOND 

Do not labor under guilt if you feel you have denied Jesus when you should have said something. Read, apply and believe 1 John 1:9 in your situation. Pray for courage and wisdom the next time such an occasion occurs.