Betrayal and Arrest
TRANSLATION
(1) After speaking these words, Jesus departed with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. There he entered a garden (Gethsemane) with his disciples. (2) Now Judas who betrayed him knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. (3) So Judas, with a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came with lanterns and torches and weapons. (4) Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” (5) They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas who betrayed him was also standing among them. (6) When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground.
(7) So he again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” Again, they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” (8) Jesus responded, “I told you that I am he. So if you have come for me, let these others go.” (9) This took place to fulfill the words that he had spoken, “Of those whom you gave me, I have not lost one.” (10) Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus. (11) Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath. Should I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?”
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane should always shock us with its injustice. Repetitions in this troubling segment included nine occurrences of “Jesus” (in vss. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, & 9), twice with the accompanying words “of Nazareth” (vss. 5 & 7), “disciples” (three times in vss. 1 & 2), “Judas” (three times in vss. 2, 3, & 5), twice modified by the words, “who betrayed him” (vss. 2 & 5), three uses of the phrase, “I am he” (in vss. 5 & 8), and two instances each of “whom do you seek” (vss. 7 & 8), “sword” (vss. 10 & 11), and “servant” (both in vs. 10).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus surrendered to those who came with Judas to arrest him. (1-6)
II. Peter tried to defend his master while Jesus requested that his disciples be released. (7-11)
IDEA STATEMENT
Despite Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s futile attempt to defend him, Jesus calmly and willingly surrendered to those who had come to arrest him.
APPLICATION
John, in his account of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, drew our attention to two disciples: Judas, who betrayed him, and Peter, who tried to defend him. What motivated Judas to betray the one whom he had followed as a disciple for many months will forever puzzle all who study the Gospel accounts. Was it greed for money, frustration with Jesus’ refusal to lead a Jewish rebellion against the Romans, demon possession, or a combination of all these factors that led him to sell out his Lord? Whatever the cause, Jesus rendered his betrayal unnecessary when he willingly identified himself and surrendered to the band of soldiers that had come to arrest him.
Peter’s attempt to defend Jesus by swinging wildly with his sword seems almost ludicrous in the futility of the moment. According to Luke’s Gospel, Jesus graciously healed the servant’s ear after Peter had lopped it off (Lk. 22:51). What should impress us most about these events was Jesus’ request to let the disciples go (vs. 8). John explained that this actually served as an answer to the prayer he had offered to the Father for his followers’ safety just moments before in the Upper Room (Jn. 17:11).