Gospel of John - The Darkness Before The Dawn

 

The Darkness Before The Dawn

John 18:1-11

Jesus’ words to the disciples at the table of the last supper should resonate in our hearts and ears as they resounded in the disciples, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” (Jn. 14:1) Jesus told all who heard or read his words in the dark times of their lives, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn.16:33) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27) We have peace in the midst of the darkness because of our faith, trust, and love in Christ.

The arrest and trial of Jesus is truly spread over all four gospels. Each writer of the gospels expounds on similar and different elements of that Thursday night. It was the prayer vigil that is captured in the first three gospels, and it was the betrayal that John propounds in his gospel account. So I will endeavor to include the pieces of these events to draw the fullness of this mosaic. 

Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.” 

Upon leaving the upper room, Jesus ascended to a garden called Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives just north of the Kidron Valley. This was one of Jesus’ favored places to pray. Jesus’ heart ached with sorrow knowing the events that will transpire very soon. “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” (Matt.26:38) For he knew this was his time. Jesus asked only for Peter and John to join him personally, the rest of the disciples he left a stone's throw away on the Mount. Jesus gave instruction to all to pray so that they would not be overcome by temptation and sorrow. “On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” (Luke 22:40) 

During this time of prayer, Jesus’ prayer was so earnest and intense that a web of small blood vessels in his body literally bursted and mingled with his sweat because of the stress (Lk. 22:44). Jesus asked his Father,  “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matt. 26:39b) 

Overcoming the situation by obedience to the Father’s will, the Father sent an angel to comfort Jesus (Lk. 22:43). Jesus earnestly continued in his prayer, when he finished he looked around and found the disciples asleep twice from grief and sorrow instead of praying. Jesus admonished the disciples for their lack of ability to stay awake. (Lk. 22:44-45) and giving into the flesh, for Jesus had warned them “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41) 

Application: There are moments of sorrow and calamity that cannot be overlooked in life, and they can only be conquered by faith, trust, obedience, and love. Jesus used all four in overcoming the desire to succumb to the flesh. We know the Father and Jesus are faithful, we should always trust the Father and Jesus whose providence it is to perpetually work good out of evil. Third, if it is the Father’s will, we should obey him regardless of our perception of the situation. Last, the Father is love, and it is revealed to us through Jesus and in the Word of God, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,  neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:31-39)

It is the nature of the flesh to give into trials, to believe into despair instead of hope. For in the flesh, we only see the here and now, but God has already prepared the way for us to be victorious even though we might experience inconceivable pain. All of our faith, trust, obedience, and love is in Jesus Christ, for we are more than conquerors in him. We have the powerful life-giving Spirit of God living in us to be overcomers.

Next, Jesus knew all that was going to transpire in the garden, he might have sensed the similarity of the satanic deception in another garden long passed. Jesus was probably still pondering the loss of one of his disciples to Satan’s prowess in deception. Judas’ choice to betray Jesus was in fulfillment of prophecy, yet Jesus knew the love he had for this lost sheep he still called “friend”. Let’s look at the next portion of the text, “Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Judas was familiar with the preferred places of prayer that Jesus and the disciples frequented, for he had prayed with them in this sanctified garden. It was still in the late evening moonlight, Jesus had awakened the sleeping disciples to the approaching deception and betrayal. Jesus stood firm against the squad of soldiers and accusers, “Who is it you want?”  At Jesus’ words, “I am he.”, the whole detachment of soldiers and the religious mob quailed at the name of God, “I am” and they faltered and fell to the ground. Jesus again demanded, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. 

For it was foretold in scripture (Prov.27:6) that Judas would expose Jesus to an enemy with a kiss as a sign to the cohort of soldiers. “Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” (Matt. 26:48-50a)

Jesus' last words in that garden were fulfillment of prophecy that he would not lose any more that the Father had given him.

Application - Betrayal will be more common as these last days wane into loss of love for God and for one another increases. Jesus said even our own family will turn against us because of our love and salvation in him. “Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.” (Luke 21:16-19) 

We must stand firm in our faith. Just as Jesus stood firm in the power of God’s name, so too we are called to stand firm several times in God’s Word. “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58) “Be alert. Be firm in the Christian faith.” (1 Cor. 16:13) “Be courageous and strong. Stand firm, and you will win life.” (Luke 21:19). “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matt. 10:22) “A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) “So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7) “Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore ….” (Eph. 6:10-14) “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you to stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Cor. 1:20-22)

Last, after Judas’ betrayal kiss, the soldiers approached to take hold of Jesus and place him in bonds. Let’s look at the last portion of the text, “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.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Peter in his bravado, drew one of the two swords Jesus said to bring along (Lk. 22:36-38). Peter's mind was still reeling from Jesus’ words of his denial of Jesus that very night and of the disciples falling away. He grasps the sword and with a brandish swing misses the high priest servant's head, but lops off his ear. Jesus’ response to this act of violence was met with prophetic exhortation, “…For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” (Matt. 26:52)

Jesus took the severed ear and healed the high priest’s servant ear anew. Then Jesus again mentioned his Father’s cup, the cup that represents the wrath against our sinful lives. For Jesus had to partake of the cup of suffering of God’s wrath. This is the will of the Father for his Son.

Application - How easy it is to take vengeance at the very moment of trial. Without a thought, to use words or swords, they both are aimed at killing, to harm those who have assailed us. This is not the way of God. Jesus knew he would face death, and he was ready, but he wouldn’t resort to the reactions of the flesh, but to the will of God. He would turn the other cheek, and would submit to the will of God in order to have it rule in his life. The disciples heard Jesus’ warnings and knew this hour was approaching, yet the weakness of the flesh took over, to fight or flee. Jesus had asked the soldiers to let the disciples go unharmed so as to protect them from the enemy’s harm. So it should be for us as well, we are not to be reactive in the flesh, but proactive in the Spirit of God.

The cup of God’s wrath, literally death. Death has a stench unlike any other. For it represents the fury of God against all the filth and stench of our sins before holy God. It was Jesus’ accusation to the Pharisee’s in Matt. 23, their cup was filled with pride, arrogance, and selfishness. All of these sins are deadly and stinks greatly.

But Jesus was to drink of this cup, the fury of God against the iniquities and sins of all mankind, in order to be the propitiation for our sins. “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:4-6

Now Jesus has given us a cup, the cup of his redemption, and forgiveness. A cup that is filled with the soul cleansing blood for our sins. It is a cup that represents our redeemed lives, lives filled with righteousness and the Holy Spirit, cleansed on the inside and the outside.

 I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com