The Betrayal
Sermon Notes
Intro:
Hey everybody my name’s Louis, I’m the lead pastor here at City Awakening, it’s great to gather with you both onsite and online. Before we jump into today’s message I want to remind you to take the Christmas Eve invite cards on your seats and invite a friend to our Christmas eve service. For those of you watching online, make sure you invite your friends online. I’m gonna be talking about how to have peace for our lives, which is something we can all use as we face the uncertainty of 2021. So invite your friends, and pray that your inviation would lead to their transformation. It’s invitations that lead to transformations...So invite and pray for your friends.
Now today we’re continuing our teaching series called Visible God, which is about seeing God through the life of Jesus. We’re studying a book of the bible called the gospel of John which records the life and words of Jesus as it was written by an original source, an original follower of Jesus, and today we’re studying the time in history when Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Romans. It’s a time when Jesus shows incredible restraint and grace. Some of you are like “I could use some of that for my life. I could use some restraint and grace with my kids, my co-workers, especially when driving in traffic.” I’m sure we could all use a little more restraint and grace in our lives, but today we’re looking at the incredible restraint and grace Jesus showed at his betrayal, and why it’s important for us today. Let’s turn to John 18 and get into it. Open your bible to the middle, turn a few books to the right, you’ll find John. It’s John 18:1-14. The title of today’s message is The Betrayal and here’s the big idea. Jesus restrained his power, to release his grace...During the betrayal Jesus stepped forward and restrained his power, to release his grace.
Context:
Here’s your context. By the time we get to ch. 18, Jesus has already celebrated The Last Supper with his disciples, he’s shared a final few words with them, and prays a very encouraging prayer for them which we studied last week in John 17. But the hour has finally come for him to be betrayed by Judas, arrested by the Romans, and eventually crucified. Jesus knows all this is about to happen, so he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. You can read his Gethsemane prayer in Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s Gospel, but our focus will be on his betrayal and arrest. I’ve broken the text down into the following 3 sections: Jesus stepped forward voluntarily (vs 1-4), Jesus stepped forward with power (vs 5-6), and Jesus stepped forward with grace (vs 7-14). So it’s Jesus stepped forward voluntarily, with power, and with grace. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
John 18:1-14 states, “After Jesus had said these things, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2
Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.” The implication is that this is pre-meditated, because Judas knew exactly where Jesus would be. He often spent time with Jesus in this very garden, that he’s about to betray Jesus in.
Vs. 3, “So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.” The Jewish chief priests and Pharisees knew Jesus had a lot of followers, so they’re ready for a fight, they’re ready for a riot to break out when they go to arrest Jesus. Apparently the Romans expected that too because they sent a company of soldiers to go with the Jewish officials. The Greek word for company means it was a cohort of soldiers, and a cohort consisted of roughly 200-600 Roman soldiers. They were tough, elite, imperial soldiers who’ve been through some wars and were battle tested. It’s a very tense moment in the garden. It’s an adrenalin pumping, heart beating, getting ready for a fight moment. The soldiers are carefully entering the garden with Judas and the Jewish officials, they have their lanterns and torches lighting up the garden so they don’t get ambushed in the dark, and their hands are on their weapons ready to draw and strike if needed. They’re ready for a fight.
Vs. 4, “Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out...” Jesus ‘went out,’ he stepped forward voluntarily. He stepped forward voluntarily, meaning they didn’t have to search for him or drag him out of the bushes. He stepped forward voluntarily, even despite knowing the dangers in front of him. The text says he knew everything that was about to happen, meaning his arrest and the tremendous suffering he’d face on the cross. He envisioned the arrest, the Romans spitting on him, slapping him, beating him beyond recognition with Roman floggings. He envisioned his hands and feet being outstretched to the point of dislocation, being crucified on the cross, and pierced for our transgressions. He knew everything that was about to happen and was in such distress over it, that Dr. Luke reports in Luke 22 that Jesus began sweating drops of blood. He suffered hematidrosis, which is where your body’s under such distress, that your capillaries bust open sweating drops of blood. Jesus was very aware of the suffering he was about to go through, yet he still stepped forward voluntarily. In John 10:18 Jesus states, “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down on my own.” He stepped forward to lay his life down voluntarily for our sins. He knew if he didn’t step forward into death, we couldn’t step forward into eternal life. So Jesus stepped forward, voluntarily.
Again vs 4, “Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to him, went out and said to them, ‘Who is it that you’re seeking?’” Jesus knows they’re seeking him, but he asks this question to get them to openly declare their sinful intentions against him, and to keep their eyes on him rather than his disciples. He’s saying “Hey don’t worry about them, keep your eyes on me. Remember who you came for, you came for me.” He asks them, “Who are you seeking?”
Vs. 5, “‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they answered. ‘I am he,’ Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with them. 6 When Jesus told them, ‘I am he,’ they stepped back and fell to the ground.” So Jesus stepped forward voluntarily, but he’s also stepping forward with power. As he stepped forward the text says they stepped back, and fell to the ground. Why? Why would these battle tested soldiers and Jewish officials suddenly step back and fall to the ground? It’s because Jesus is God, and when God speaks it causes graves to rattle and people to tremble...When Jesus speaks Lazarus is raised from the dead. When Jesus speaks the little girl who died is raised to life. When Jesus speaks saying I am he, the soldiers and Jewish officials stepped back and fell to the ground. Only God has that kind of power! Only God has the power to speak causing graves to rattle and people to tremble...In fact when Jesus says I am he it’s an affirmation that the powerful presence of God is standing in front of them. The word ‘he’ isn’t in the original Greek manuscripts, but translators include it simply for readability. So when the Romans and Jewish officials say they’re searching for Jesus, his response isn’t I am he, it’s I AM, which is the Hebrew name for God. In Exodus 3 God revealed His name to Moses as I AM. He says “Tell Pharaoh I AM sent you.” Everybody receives their name from somebody, but God doesn’t receive His name from anybody. He’s saying to Moses “Nobody gives me a name, I just AM!...I have no beginning, I have no end, I don’t depend on anyone or anything. I just AM!” It’s a staggering statement, and throughout John’s Gospel Jesus repeatedly takes this divine name for himself like he is now. He’s repeatedly saying I am God! It’s the only possible explanation as to why these battle tested soldiers and Jewish officials would’ve lost their footing. It’s because everybody loses their footing in the powerful presence of God. We see this all throughout the bible.
In Ezekiel 1 Ezekiel is knocked off his feet when God appears and speaks. In 2nd Chronicles 5 the Jewish priests can’t are knocked off their feet when God’s glory fills the temple. In Luke 5 Peter has a miraculous catch of fish, realizes who Jesus is, and falls to his feet saying “Depart from me, for I’m a sinful man!” What the bible repeatedly shows is nobody keeps their footing in the powerful presence of God. Our culture, even many Christians have lost this infinite view of God. It’s a view of God being so infinitely greater, more powerful, more holy than us that we aren’t worthy or able to stand in His presence, unless He allows us. We like to view God as always being all warm and cozy, but that isn’t true. I mean if you believe there’s a God then you have to believe there’s a judgment day where God deals with sin and those who reject Him. There has to be a day where God brings justice to all the sinful injustices harming our world. If He doesn’t then He isn’t a loving, holy God, and there’s no hope in making right what sinful humanity’s made wrong. For God to be a loving, holy, just God, there has to be a judgement day where every knee bows and is held accountable for their sinful injustices. When that day comes nobody will be able to remain standing in His powerful presence, unless God allows them to stand. Jesus restrained his power in the garden, he barely flexes, and it knocks an entire Roman cohort off their feet. He stepped forward voluntarily, and he stepped forward with power as God.
Vs. 7, “Then he asked them again, ‘Who is it that you’re seeking?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they said. 8 ‘I told you I am he,’ Jesus replied. ‘So if you’re looking for me, let these men go.’ 9 This was to fulfill the words he had said: ‘I have not lost one of those you have given me.’” Now we’re seeing Jesus stepping forward with grace. He steps forward voluntarily, with power, and now with grace. He’s already proven he has the power to crush the soldiers with a spoken word, but instead of knocking them down with a Jedi hadouken, he restrains his power to release his grace. He releases his grace on the soldiers by allowing them to live, and releases his grace on his disciples by substituting himself in their place. When the soldiers arrive the disciples lives are at risk, because Roman protocol was to eliminate movements and leaders that were potential threats to Roman power. So the disciples lives are at risk, but Jesus steps in saying “Take me. Let these men go and take me.” It’s substitution like the scene in The Chronicles of Narnia where Aslan lays his life down for those he loves. In this case Jesus is laying his life down for those he loves. In fact the phrase let them go in the original Greek means to forgive them or release them. Jesus is saying “Forgive them, release them, take me instead of them! Let them go and take me instead.” It’s substitution. He’s stepping forward with grace to substitute himself in their place, which is the primary message of the gospel! The gospel isn’t about improving morality or being a better person, it’s about substitution. It’s about Jesus dying the death we deserve to die for our sins, so we can live an eternally joyful life we don’t deserve with him. He steps forward with grace, to substitute himself in our place, just like he’s doing for the disciples.
Vs. 10, “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.” So Peter comes in hot, he comes in swinging, and he’s going for the head not the ear! Scholars say the sword he used was a gladius, which is a short Roman sword you could hide under your garments. It was used for stabbing not slicing, which is why they believe Peter was trying to stab the guy in the head. But Malchus was able to evade Peter’s death blow suffering only the loss of his ear. Dr. Luke gives a little more detail in his account stating Jesus picked up the guy’s ear and healed him. Luke 22:51, “Jesus responded, ‘No more of this!’ And touching his ear, he healed him.” Jesus is stepping forward with another act of grace, but this time towards his enemy. Now if this was me I might’ve been with Peter, I might’ve been trying to shank some people. I’m the idiot thinking let’s soldier up to protect Jesus, as if Jesus needs protection. Peter’s thinking I need to soldier up to protect, but Jesus is thinking I need give myself up as a substitutional death. Peter strikes Malchus, but Jesus heals him. Jesus restrains his power to release his grace, even on his enemy.
Vs. 11, “At that, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?’” The phrase ‘drink the cup’ was a metaphor for death and symbolized God’s wrath. In this case it’s the death and wrath Jesus would endure on the cross for our sins. So what Jesus is saying is “Put your sword away Peter. You want to protect me, but it’s me who needs to protect you! You need protection from the wrath of God you deserve for your sins. I’ve come to drink the cup of God’s wrath on the cross, so you don’t have to drink it on Judgement day.” It’s because nobody can live a good enough life that allows them to stand in the infinitely holy presence of God. But the good news of the gospel is Jesus stands in our place on the cross to drink the cup of God’s wrath so we don’t have to. He stands in our place to substitute his life, for our life, so we can enjoy eternal life in heaven with him. If you believe that gospel message today, you’ll be able to stand with him on judgement day, without losing your footing.
But the way Jesus handles Peter is so encouraging, because Peter’s walked with Jesus for 3 yrs now, yet he keeps stumbling. Before Judas and the soldiers arrived he was supposed to be praying with Jesus in the garden, but he falls asleep. Jesus repeatedly taught Peter he didn’t come to take the sword, he came to lay down his life, but Peter takes the sword to take someone’s life. Next week we’ll study the rest of this chapter where Peter denies he even knows Jesus 3 times! Peter wants to follow Jesus, but he keeps stumbling in his walk with Jesus just like us. And what’s so incredibly encouraging, is Jesus doesn’t turn to the soldiers saying “I’ve changed my mind...Take him instead, because I’ve changed my mind.” He could’ve easily said that, he could’ve easily said “That’s it! I’m done with Peter. He’s messed up way too many times. Take him instead.” He could’ve said that but instead he says, “Peter put down the sword. Let’s go over this again. Let me remind you of the gospel again. I have to drink the cup so you don’t have to.” City Awakening that’s the kind of loving Savior Jesus is, the kind of loving God he is. He’s a loving Savior, a loving God who steps forward voluntarily, with power, with grace repeatedly.
Vs. 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.” Jesus could’ve stopped them, instead he allows them to arrest him. Why? Because he’s the one man, the only man, who could die for the sins of the world.
The Big Idea:
The big idea is Jesus restrained his power, to release his grace...During the betrayal Jesus stepped forward voluntarily, with power, with grace to save those whom he loves, including you! The gospel’s an invitation for those of you who aren’t Christians, to be saved from having to drink the cup of God’s wrath. If you believe the gospel today, believe Jesus died for your sins on the cross, you’ll be forgiven of your sins and able to stand before God without losing your footing.
The gospel’s an invitation for those who aren’t Christians, and a comfort for those who are Christians. It’s a comfort because we’ve all stumbled in our walk with Christ. There isn’t a single Christian in here who perfectly lived out the faith this week. Some of you lied, gossiped, cursed, said hurtful things to your spouse, snapped at your kids, mouthed off to your parents, wished you could do a Jedi hadouken on a snarky employee at work. We’ve all stumbled in our walk with Christ this week like Peter. But just like Peter we can find comfort, hope, assurance in the gospel knowing even though we’ve stumbled in our walk with Christ, we haven’t lost our footing with Christ. Find comfort in knowing that Jesus stood in your place, so you don’t have to keep hiding in your shame and disgrace. Find comfort in knowing that Jesus stepped forward voluntarily, with power, with grace repeatedly, and he’ll do it again for you today.
