The Surrendering Savior
From Gethsemane to the Grave - The Johannine View of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.
From this text I’d like to use for a topic.....
The Surrendering Savior
As we begin this new sermon series.....we will take a look at The Fourth Gospel.....the Gospel of John and three of the main events that take place in the life of Jesus Christ which will lead us into Resurrection Sunday.
As we look at the life of Jesus’ through the lens of the writer John, we will see some distinct difference in the Gospel of John as compared to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).
The Gospel of John gives a Theological view of Jesus ......and a High Christology..... portrayal of Jesus.....
Unlike Mark’s Gospel, which begins its story of Jesus with the ministry of John the Baptist, or the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which begin their accounts with the story of Jesus’ birth.....The Forth Gospel begins with a Cosmic setting and speaks of Jesus as being with God.....and that Jesus was God......that All thing came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being......
So there is a unique vocabulary that we see in The Fourth Gospel......
One of my NT professors ....Dr. Larry George calls it The Maverick Gospel.......in that the writer John gives a unique account of the ministry of Jesus........92% of the material that w e read in the Gospel of John is unique to this Gospel.....and we only find 8% that is also in the other three.......
There are several accounts that we don’t find in the Gospel of John.....which I believe gives us a high christological portrayal of Jesus
......one of them that we don’t see is the agonizing struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane........ as we see in the other Gospels......
In Matthew, Mark and Luke.....Jesus asks the Father..... if it be possible that the cup be passed from Him......
but in the Gospel of John.....a few chapters earlier.....we see that Jesus says in
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.
Even though His soul was troubled......Jesus knew that He had come to earth for the very purpose of being a surrendering savior......
It is in Jesus’ surrender that we see His devotion to God the Father......and His sacrifice and love for all of humanity.......
The text of this 18th Chapter begins with Jesus and His disciples going out through the Kidron Valley......just after Jesus had spent time with His disciples encouraging them and teaching them...... giving them His farewell discourse.......
And as they went over the Brook of Kidron......they come to a place that they are familiar with because they had spent time there before......it was a garden.........the garden of Gethsemane .....
which is located at the base of the Mount of Olives, on a slope directly across the Kidron Valley on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
This was a very familiar place to Jesus and His disciples, including Judas....
And in the dark of the evening.......Jesus is with His disciples.....in the garden.......when we see Judas leading a detachment of soldiers and some officials......
So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.....
So there was an indication that someone was coming....
Jesus is out of the city, in the dark, able to flee, with a good head-start.
There is only one reason why Judas finds Jesus on that night … it is because Jesus is allowing Himself to be found.
Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples ......
What does this tell us?
Our Good Shepherd was in control.....
He was In complete control. He knew of the coming arrest........
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: John and Acts A. The Arrest in Gethsemane (18:1–11)
He was not taken unwillingly or by surprise
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: John and Acts A. The Arrest in Gethsemane (18:1–11)
On at least two previous occasions he had withdrawn from the danger zone: once when he retreated beyond the Jordan into Perea (John 10:40) and again after the raising of Lazarus, when he moved into the desert region (11:54). Now “the time” had come (cf. 17:1). He did not wait to be apprehended but voluntarily confronted his enemies.
Jesus did not begrudge the fact that He was going to the cross.
Rather He chose the path...... knowing that this was the only way for us to come into the family of God.
Jesus did this because He knows us. He knew He must Surrender......so that we could be saved.......
He knows how we think and the truths we hide.
He knows how our minds think and the difference between what we say and what we do.
The short-comings of your life. The sin you allow to determine your actions. The failings you desperately try and cover-up. He knows it all.
But even in this situation.......Our Good Shepherd in complete control.
Which brings us to the confrontation.....
The Greek word used to describe the detachment of soldiers that we see in verse 3.......means, as a minimum, 200 men and possibly up to 600 men.
That was a lot of soldiers coming to arrest Jesus.....
The Romans always made sure to have the strength of numbers in every situation, especially when the possibility of a riot could occur.
So let us look at how Jesus responds to the crowd of people coming his way.......
The text tells us in
Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Not only was Jesus in complete control of this situation......... I believe we see the courage of Jesus in this text.......
He said.........Whom are you looking for......They answered...... Jesus of Nazareth........and Jesus said “I am he”
Jesus goes on to say.....
Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”
He says.....Whom are you looking for?
We want Jesus of Nazareth.
Then Jesus steps forward and says:- I am He.
The literal translation says I am.
We see the Ego eimi........or the “I am” statements in John’s gospel.....that we don’t find in the other Gospels.........
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35).
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9).
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).
Jesus said to (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25).
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
I am the total answer to the needs of humanity.
I am your life, hope, security, direction, support, foundation, confidence, refuge, guide, light, peace, love, acceptance, forgiveness, focus, provider, enabler, beginning and end.
Yes my Brothers and Sisters..... He is our Surrendering Savior.....
Not only is Jesus in control of His arrest........Does he show courage in His arrest.......
But we find His commitment to doing God’s will....
Look at verses 9-12.....
This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.
Jesus said to Peter.....Put your sword back into its sheath ........Am I not to drink the cup that the Father had given me?
Jesus knew that His purpose and God’s plan for His life was to give His life........... He had to suffer.....He had to commit to the fulfillment of the Father’s purpose.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 9: John and Acts A. The Arrest in Gethsemane (18:1–11)
The word “cup” connects this statement with the prayer in Gethsemane, which only the Synoptics record (Matt 26:42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42). Though the writer must have known of Jesus’ struggle, he recorded only the outcome. Jesus accepted the Father’s will and calmly moved on to its fulfillment.
Jesus was determined not to fear nor escape from death........
He was in control.......had courage and commitment to doing God’s will......
Jesus wasn’t trying to escape the betrayal from Judas.....the beatings and humiliation of the cross......
He knew He was to die from the very beginning.....He had been preparing His disciples......in His farewell discourse for what was to come........
He was to be the sacrificial Lamb of God........
And Because Jesus drank the cup of suffering and wrath for us.....
We can take the cup of salvation......and call upon the name of the Lord.......
Still, it’s what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God’s plan will deeply prosper through him.
Yes my Brothers and Sisters......He is our Surrendering Savior......
This is what Jesus would drink on the cross in order to provide the sacrifice for sin which NO human being can ever accomplish. The promise of Jesus is that whoever believes, follows, and obeys His Words will not perish but have eternal life.
He was in control.........showed courage........and was committed to doing God’s will......