Day 4

John 18:1-11

¹When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³So 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. ⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" ⁵They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." ⁸Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go." ⁹This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one." ¹⁰Then 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.) ¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

The Reason why John wrote this Gospel (John 18:1-11)

John's Gospel was written with the express purpose that we might be helped to 'believe that Jesus is the Christ' and have 'life in his name' (20:31). John takes care to draw out the significance of the events of Jesus' life so that his readers will understand who he is and what his character is like.

At the beginning of chapter eighteen, John takes up the account recorded by the other gospel writers, but he gives us his own perspective on these events. As armed guards are led to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus and his progress towards suffering and crucifixion picks up pace, John highlights one of Jesus' key attributes:

Jesus is in control
Jesus is in charge of everything that happens and master of every situation; although he ceases to dominate events by his actions and submits to the demands of his enemies, he is still in charge. As the guards shrink from him (verse 6) and Peter is reprimanded, Jesus is clearly portrayed as master here.

Think: Where else in John’s account of the trial, death and resurrection of Jesus do we see him as ‘master’?