By God's grace, on August 14th, a year and a half ago, we started with John chapter 1.
And before the summer, we're going to be wrapping up this wonderful little gospel.
It was the last gospel to be written by an eyewitness.
We're going to read today as our sermon text, John chapter 18, verse 1, all the way through verse 24.
As I read this, remember that this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word.
It's God's very own word for you, his people.
So if you receive it that way, after I'm done reading it, you follow along, then I'll say this is the word of the Lord and we'll respond, thanks be to God.
John 18, verse 1.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.
So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to him, whom do you seek?
They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus said to them, I am he.
Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground.
So he asked them again, whom do you seek?
And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jesus answered, I told you that I am he.
So if you seek me, let these men go.
This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken.
Of those whom you gave me, I have lost none.
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.
So Jesus said to Peter, put your sword into its sheath.
Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?
So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.
First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year.
It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Verse 15.
Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple.
Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
But Peter stood outside at the door.
So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl, who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, you also are not one of his disciples, are you?
He said, I am not.
Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold.
And they were standing and warming themselves.
And Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world.
I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all Jews come together.
I have said nothing in secret.
Why do you ask me?
Ask those who have heard me what I said to them.
They know what I said.
When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying,
Is that how you answer the high priest?
Jesus answered him, If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong.
But if what I said is right, why do you strike me?
Annas then sent him back to Caiaphas, the high priest.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
You may be seated.
The Bible says that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Let's pray.
O Lord, your word is the sword of your spirit.
We ask that by the power of your spirit, you will use your word.
How Jesus Christ is revealed in this passage to pierce us, Lord.
Strike us down to the heart so that you will be glorified more and more in our private lives and in the life of this congregation.
And we ask this for the sake of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Well, beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, I simply want to watch with you as God accomplishes your redemption in mine.
I want us to walk through these verses and watch God himself accomplish your redemption.
There's nothing more practical or applicable that we could do.
If you are a Christian, then you want to be more holy than you are now.
If you're like me, it is a battle, that sanctification marathon.
And the more you're in God's presence, the more you behold his holiness, the more you want to be holy,
and the more aware you are of your sinfulness.
Do you feel that too?
The energy for our sanctification comes from God.
And it's the love of God for you that elicits a response of love in you for God.
And that simple truth, that's the secret to our sanctification.
So, do you want to be more holy?
Do you want to grow in your sanctification?
And God's people say, yes and amen, till the last day I have breath, right?
Then be reminded again today of how much God loves you in his son.
And let that stir up in your heart a greater love for God.
That's the key.
That's it.
In John 17, verse 4, Jesus had prayed to his father, and the apostle John is within earshot.
Jesus prayed, Father, I have glorified you on earth.
I have accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
So, let's watch how God accomplishes our redemption.
Here's the first word picture.
God the Son entered the valley to drink from the brook in the garden.
Watch God accomplish your redemption.
God the Son entered the valley to drink from the brook in the garden.
Look at verse 1.
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron,
where there was a garden.
The brook Kidron runs north-south.
The valley Kidron follows that between the mountains.
It is in between the eastern wall of the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.
So, in ancient Israel, this would have been the easternmost border of the city of Jerusalem.
When the Jews would hear that phrase, the Kidron Valley,
they would have recalled 2 Samuel 15, 24 and 23,
when David, the great king from Jerusalem, was betrayed.
And he crosses the Kidron with the people following behind,
weeping for their king.
The Kidron Brook is about three feet wide,
and it wides in between these mountains.
We know this in Colorado.
When the sun is setting behind the mountains,
it gets very dark quickly in the valley.
And for a barren countryside that's much like Colorado,
with very few trees here and there,
this was an area by a brook where vegetation would grow very abundantly,
making it a natural garden.
And this garden was called the Garden of Gethsemane.
What's more, we read in 2 Chronicles 29, 16,
that this was a common dumping ground and a common graveyard.
When the Levites found unclean things in the temple,
in the time of Reformation,
they threw it into the Kidron Valley to get rid of it.
One commentator said that there was a canal
that connected the temple itself.
So all of those thousands of lambs that would be brought into the temple,
they would be slit at the throat,
and their blood would drain into this canal.
And guess where that canal dumps?
It's into the Kidron Brook.
Are you getting this scene,
this word picture that John is painting for us?
And because that canal is passing through the city,
people would throw their waste,
their personal dung,
they would throw all those pieces of trash and common waste
into this canal as it flowed into the brook,
making that water turn darker and darker,
more and more polluted.
Here's the word picture.
Adam's sin made the garden a valley of death.
Jesus Christ prays Psalm 23,
which is so familiar.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you, Father, are with me.
Remember in Psalm 110, verse 7,
the covenant of redemption,
the last image we're left with of this coming Messiah
is that he shall drink from the brook by the way.
And so our Lord Jesus,
the King leaving Jerusalem,
crossing over this black water of the brook, Kidron,
he's prepared.
And he prays,
Father, not my will according to my human nature,
but your will be done through me.
John Gill commented,
so Jesus Christ went forth over on his own account,
willingly, cheerfully,
not forced or compelled by any.
Verse 1 says,
Jesus himself went forth,
and his disciples followed behind.
Now the disciples were following along,
not to be partakers of his suffering,
but as eyewitnesses of everything our Lord would accomplish,
so that now you and I can sit here by the power of the Spirit
and watch God accomplish our redemption.
The first Adam cursed all mankind by his sin,
and so he was banished from God's garden of light,
and now Jesus Christ,
the second, final Adam,
he enters man's garden of darkness
to break the curse of man's sin.
God the Son entered the valley
to drink from the brook in the garden.
The second word picture John gives us is this.
Soldiers of darkness seek the light of the world,
though he is never hidden.
Soldiers of darkness seek the light of the world,
though he is never hidden.
In verse 3 we read that Judas,
with a band,
which was at least 500 men plus officers
from the chief priests and Pharisees,
what Matthew 27, 47 calls a great multitude.
They approached Jesus with lanterns and torches.
Descriptive language for light.
These lanterns were Greek vessels
in which you would put a candle,
and it had holes that would allow
the light of the candle to shine out.
The torches would have been like a handle,
and you would take rags,
dip those rags in oil,
stuff them inside that handle,
and then light that on fire.
Can you picture this scene?
On top of that,
we're told they were bearing weapons.
So here they march into the dark of the valley,
bearing weapons with lanterns and torches.
In Psalm 3,
we get a glimpse,
a prophetic glimpse of what this would have been.
And David wrote,
How many are my foes?
Many are rising against me.
Many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God.
And in verse 4,
Jesus,
knowing all things that should come upon him,
receives them.
Jesus knew all the sufferings he would endure
were determined by God.
There would be nothing that would happen to Jesus
that was not God's will.
Jesus, on top of that,
agreed to this in the covenant of redemption.
Jesus, according to his human nature,
had studied all of the Old Testament
to see how the Messiah would fulfill God's plan
in God's perfect time
to accomplish your redemption.
We read again in verse 4,
Knowing this,
Jesus went forth of his own accord.
Someone pointed out,
Jesus did not hide himself in the garden like Adam did.
He was willingly apprehended by them.
He was voluntarily surrendering himself to suffer.
Why?
To accomplish your redemption.
We read in verse 5,
that Judas,
who betrayed Jesus,
stood now with those soldiers of darkness.
Judas had dipped the bread with Jesus.
They had eaten the meal together.
Now that same man is the head of this mob.
It's possible, dear friend,
to be so close to the light of God
in the person of Jesus.
It's possible to be that close
and yet to remain cold,
unrepentant,
distant from God.
Don't fall into that trap like Judas.
Instead,
watch God himself accomplish your redemption.
In this scene,
these were soldiers of darkness
seeking the light of the world
and he was never hidden.
The third word picture
is the long-suffering Savior
surrenders himself
that his disciples might be free.
The long-suffering Savior
surrenders himself
that you could be free.
In verse 4,
Jesus asks this mob
that's approaching him,
whom do you seek?
They say,
Jesus of Nazareth.
We see while it's going through
the mind of our Lord
in verse 20,
his argument is,
I have taught openly
for the whole world to hear.
Always in public,
at the synagogue
and in the temple,
where you men always were,
I have said nothing in secret.
So he's asking,
who do you seek
for their sake?
This is his gracious ministry to them.
They could have said,
we seek the great rabbi,
the one who proclaimed
God's word with authority.
They could have said,
we seek the great comforter.
who said,
blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
To be meek is to be long-suffering,
not easily irritated,
gentle,
yielding,
forbearing under injury.
Jesus is the blessed one.
Jesus is meek.
Jesus will inherit the earth.
Jesus is the Messiah.
They could have said,
we seek the one
who the people believe
is the Messiah,
the one they were saying,
Hosanna.
But instead,
they say,
we seek Yeshua
of that podunk town,
Nazareth,
a common man,
a carpenter by trade.
Jesus looks at them,
and in the original language,
what Jesus says is,
I am.
He declares,
he is God.
And when he says,
I am.
I am Yahweh,
the God of the covenant,
the God who is the creator of all.
I am.
They fall down backward.
A commentator observed,
his voice,
though delivered by human lung and lips,
it would have been filled with the majesty
and the spiritual authority
of heaven itself.
I am.
Full of divine power.
And our Lord Jesus Christ
displayed in these two words,
he's capable not only
of knocking any creature down on their butt,
he's capable of slaying his enemies
with his word.
He could have as easily struck them dead
as to cause them to fall to the ground.
But yet he's fulfilling the promise of God
in Psalm 147, verse 6.
Listen to this.
The Lord lifts up the meek.
He casts down the wicked to the ground.
In verse 7,
then Jesus asked them again,
whom do you seek?
They had just felt
in their ears,
in their souls,
on their backsides,
the power of God.
They had just felt it.
And yet they remained so darkened
by their own pride.
See how merciful our Lord is.
See his long-suffering
to be their Savior.
Their answer is simply,
we seek Jesus of Nazareth.
In verse 8,
Jesus answered,
I have told you that I am he.
Therefore,
let these go their way.
Jesus Christ knew that he had come
to be the good shepherd
who would lay down his life
on behalf of his sheep.
I am the one you need to tie up
so that my disciples
can go free.
He surrenders himself
so that you
can be free.
John the baptizer
had been proclaiming that.
Behold,
the Lamb of God
who has come
to take away
the sin of the world.
He himself
would take it away
as your substitute,
as the Lamb
who would die
in your place.
R.C. Sproul commented
that at the center
of Jesus Christ's teaching
was the assertion
that he was doing
all of this
not for himself
but for us
to redeem us,
to ransom us,
to save us.
And the Apostle John
learned this lesson
as the eyewitness.
See what he writes
in verse 8.
The Son of God
loses none of those
the Father gave him.
And what Jesus spoke
in respect
to his disciples,
those 12,
now 11 men
who were with him,
it is true spiritually
of all God's elect.
All who are given
to Christ,
none shall be lost.
So Christian,
if Jesus Christ
gave himself
to be the Lamb of God
for your sin,
you cannot be lost.
You belong to him,
body and soul.
Your soul is united
to God now
by the work of Jesus.
And your body
will be glorified
with him one day
when he comes in glory.
Don't you long
for that day.
This is possible
because the long-suffering
Savior surrendered himself
so that you and I
might be free.
All glory be to God.
Watch God accomplish
your redemption.
The fourth word picture
is this.
God the Son
eager
to drink
the poison cup
of God's wrath
for you.
God the Son
was eager
to drink
that cup
of God's wrath
though it would kill him.
And he did that
that you would live.
Now in verse 10
Peter
had a sword.
Maybe Peter
was one of those
concealed carry guys
always had it with him.
We know the Galileans
lived up north
and they had to travel south
and there were bandits
and robbers
and others
that would be known
to attack them
and so it was common
for travelers
to carry a dagger.
There will also be
wild beasts
on these trails
in a valley like that
in the dark of the night
by the brook.
It was smart
to keep a weapon nearby.
The disciples
had asked Jesus
we have two swords
and Jesus said
that's enough.
In other words
I'm not looking
for an armed rebellion
against the ruling powers.
We read that
Peter drew his sword
most likely aiming
to chop off
the head of the man
or slit him
across the throat
and cut off
his ear instead.
The other three gospels
tell us
that this happened
but not that
the man's name
was Malchus.
Remember the gospel
of John
was written
much later.
By the time
John wrote
this gospel
Peter was dead
he had been
crucified upside down
for denouncing
the name of Jesus.
John is the only one
who gives us
the name Malchus.
Commentators think
that perhaps
this is because
Malchus continued
to live
and he was
related to the high priest
he was in that
upper echelon
that could have
easily taken out
revenge
on whoever it was
that did that
to him in the dark.
But now John
wants everyone
to know
it was Malchus.
Malchus might have
been one
who continued
to persecute
the church
and now John
needs the church
to know.
In verse 11
Jesus said to Peter
Peter
put away your sword
put it back
in the sheath.
God has given me
this cup
shall I not
drink it?
Peter it's not
these men
doing this
to me.
This is how
God
the Son
accomplishes
your redemption.
Jesus is eager
to drink it.
John Gill's comment
is that this cup
it means the wrath
of God
and the punishment
of a holy
just God
that is due
to sin
and it was
endured by Christ
in his sufferings
and he eagerly
receives it
from the Father.
Jesus says
my Father
gave this to me
shall I not
drink it?
Jesus was
displeased
with Peter's
attempt here
to thwart
God's redemption.
Jesus had
wrestled in prayer
in the Garden
of Gethsemane
right before this
and in Mark
we read that
it was a deep
agony in his soul
but now
according to
his human nature
Jesus was
perfectly willing
resolved
and even eager
to drink
this bitter potion.
It's the only way
to satisfy
the wrath
of an eternal
holy God.
We're watching
God accomplish
our redemption.
I ask you
at the beginning
do you want
to be more holy?
Horatius Benar
Scottish pastor
in the 1800s
he commented
like this
he said
it's only
the free
pardon
of the cross
that has the power
to uproot
your sin
and wither
its branches.
It's only
the certainty
of God's
love for you
his forgiving
love
that can replace
the lust
we have
for sin
remaining
in our flesh.
It needs
to be replaced
with an even
greater response
of love
and gratitude
for God.
So watch God
accomplish
your redemption.
Here's the fifth
word picture.
The Lamb of God
was bound
and carried off
to be sacrificed
as your substitute.
The Lamb of God
we're told
he was bound
and he was carried off.
Why?
He's presented
to the priest
next
and that's
so that he would
be a substitutionary
sacrifice
for your sin.
In verse 12
we're told
that this band
plus the captain
and officers
of the Jews
they took Jesus
they bound him.
Old Testament
shadows
and types
are being fulfilled.
You recall
Isaac being
bound up
to be offered
as a sacrifice
of his father
Abraham
in obedience
to the Lord.
When a sacrifice
was brought
and put on top
of the altar
it was bound up
and tied
to the altar.
And even when
the farmers
were out in the fields
and they would
gather their grain
they would bind them
up in sheaths
and present them
to God
at the temple.
And so now
God the Son
himself
is bound
with cords
and carried
to the high priest.
This is God
accomplishing
your redemption.
Jesus Christ
was bound
in order
to unbind
the cords
of sin
that hold on
to your sinful
nature.
Jesus Christ
was bound
to deliver you
from the captivity
of Satan.
Jesus Christ
was bound
to free you
from the bondage
of the law
that accuses
and condemns you.
In verse 13
we read that they
led him away
next to Annas.
Annas was
father-in-law
to Caiaphas
who was the chief
priest that year.
And at the end
of our passage
in verse 24
we're told then
after seeing Annas
Annas
had sent him
bound
to Caiaphas
the high priest.
in Luke 3
2
we're told
that both
Annas
and Caiaphas
were the high priest
which is
not possible.
It shows
the corruption
of this system.
By this point
in the history
of Israel
the office
of high priest
with all the money
changers
and temple collectors
it had become
a giant scam.
The glory of God
had never re-entered
the temple.
Scholars
have every reason
to believe
the Ark of the Covenant
was not even
in the Holy of Holies
it was empty
of the presence
of God
until Jesus Christ
steps into the temple.
Annas
had been
the high priest
after him
he had had
five sons
that served
as high priests
now it's the turn
of his son-in-law
so Annas
the big mafia
boss
the grandfather figure
that's making
everything run
so they know
to check in first
with the one
who really calls
the shots
and that's Annas.
So Jesus Christ
was bound
carried away
and then presented
to these corrupt
leaders
these fake
high priests
in a great twist
of irony
the perfect
unblemished
Lamb of God
is presented
as the once
for all
substitutionary
sacrifice.
and even
that corrupt
high priest
spoke the truth
he says
it is
good
that one
man
die
in the place
of the people
God even
used this corrupt
man
filling an office
as a shadow
to show
the declaration
of the righteous
God
this will be
my substitutionary
Lamb
it's through
his death
that a great
multitude
will live
without compromising
my justice
as God
the creator
the Lamb
of God
bound
and carried
off
to be sacrificed
as your substitute
to.
The sixth
word picture
that I see
in this passage
for today
is this
the true
vine
was struck
so that you
would be
grafted in
Jesus
had said
I am
the true
vine
apart from me
you can bear
no fruit
and we read
that Jesus
was struck
in verse 22
so there's a
picture of the
true vine
the only one
with eternal
life
the only one
with power
to bear
good fruit
being struck
so that you
and I
could be
grafted in
well in the
garden
all of the
disciples
had fled
away from
Jesus
but now
we're told
that two
follow him
to the
high priest
Peter is
named
the other
disciple
is not
which is a
pattern for
most likely
John the
apostle
the author
of this
book
in Matthew
26
58
we read
that they
followed him
afar off
unto the
high priest's
palace
so Peter
is not
following him
like a
close
disciple
instead
he's
curious
and he's
not wanting
to be
discovered
but he does
need to see
what will
happen
if you
are a
disciple
if you
are a
sheep
you will
follow the
voice of
your good
shepherd
and at
times we
can feel
like Peter
I'm your
disciple but
I need to
stay behind
a little bit
I have too
much to lose
by following
you too
closely
praise God
for Peter's
example here
it's a
comfort for
sinners like
you and
me
some have
speculated that
maybe John
was known
by the
high priest
and that's
why he was
let in
perhaps because
their business
John Peter and
Andrew was
fishermen and
a lot of
people want to
buy fresh
fish from
the market
verse 16
we read that
Peter for
whatever reason
was not allowed
inside though
even though
John did
get inside
so Peter
stayed back
at the
door
and the
slave girl
asks him
are you not
one of
this man's
disciples
are you not
one of
this man's
disciples
if she only
knew what
she was
saying
Jesus is
not just
a mere
man
and her
tone is
implying that
he's a
worthless
man
a criminal
Peter says
in verse
16
I am
not
the
powerful
words of
the
Savior
were
I am
with
Jesus
Peter
this
disciple
was a
rock
he'd
said
I will
never
abandon
you
apart
from
Jesus
Peter
cowers
and bows
before
a mean
girl
in verse
19
we read
that the
high priest
then asked
Jesus
about his
disciples
and of
his teaching
or his
doctrine
and Jesus
had taught
Peter
and John
I am the
true vine
apart from
me
you can
do
nothing
for
for today
oh
follower
of
Christ
hold
on to
those
words
of
Jesus
he says
unless
you abide
in me
you cannot
bear
fruit
but
Jesus
promises
to
Peter
to
John
and to
all of
his
followers
I
will
build
my
church
through
you
I
will
storm
the
gates
of
hell
Satan
and his
army
of
demons
cannot
withstand
the
advance
of my
kingdom
oh
disciple
when I
fill you
with the
Holy
Spirit
you will
joyfully
follow me
to the
ends
of the
earth
you
will
toil
as my
laborer
Paul
could testify
of this
Colossians
129
it's
with
all
of
Christ's
energy
that I
powerfully
work
because
he
works
within
me
Jesus
calls
us
to
abide
in
him
if
you've
been
grafted
in
you
rest
in
the
energy
and
the
power
of
Jesus
Christ
from
heaven
Jesus
says
you
will
do
this
joyfully
my
troops
will
be
willing
on
the
day
of
war
you
will
follow
me
you
will
take
up
your
cross
like
John
the
Baptist
though
you
will
die
beheaded
with
your
head
served
on
a
platter
the
more
you
decrease
the
more
I
will
increase
see
Christians
we belong
to this
God
who
accomplished
our
redemption
you
may
feel
like
you're
just
as
weak
as
Peter
and
we
are
apart
from
him
you
might
feel
like
one
of
those
traitors
you
might
feel
like
Judas
himself
Jesus
says
I
am
I
am
God
and
I
accomplished
your
redemption
you
belong
to
the
kingdom
of
the
great
I
am
and
your
redemption
is
completed
it
is
finished
our
sin
deserves
everlasting
punishment
because
we've
offended
an
immortal
God
and
what
would
have
taken
us
the
rest
of
eternity
future
to
pay
off
Jesus
Christ
drank
down
in a
few
hours
only
Jesus
Christ
very
God
very
man
could
accomplish
this
redemption
so if
you desire
to be
more
holy
don't
let
the
enemy
deceive
you
Horatius
Benar again
he wrote
terror
accomplishes
no
real
obedience
suspense
brings
forth
no
fruit
unto
holiness
no
gloomy
uncertainty
as to
God's
favor
can
subdue
even
one
lust
in
your
heart
or
correct
any
crookedness
of
your
will
it's
only
the
certainty
of
love
forgiving
love
perfect
love
displayed
in
Jesus
Christ
that
can
replace
in
your
heart
and
mind
that
lust
for
sin
with
a
greater
love
for
God
behold
how
God
accomplished
your
redemption
your
free
pardon
let
his
work
uproot
and
wither
away
the
weeds
of
sin
in
your
life
now
let's
pray
from
Jeremiah
50
34
father
we
declare
that
you
are
our
redeemer
and
you
are
strong
the
lord
of
hosts
is
your
name
we
praise
you
that
now
Jesus
Christ
thoroughly
pleads
our
cause
and
he
gives
his
people
rest
all
glory
be
to
the
God
of
our
redemption
Jesus
Christ
our
savior
amen