Day 6
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?”
Judas (John 18: 1-11)
Judas is often referred to as ‘Judas, who betrayed him’ (e.g. verse 2). It is interesting that the writers of the New Testament don’t go out of their way to blame him, or to blacken his character in the way a writer of fiction might. The gospel writers just state the facts.
The party accompanying Judas included ‘officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees’ and ‘a band of soldiers’ – likely a ‘detachment’, describing a tenth part of a legion (a legion was 6,000 soldiers, so a detachment was 600 armed men). John is simply saying that there were enough soldiers to make the arrest.
Note that the master of the situation knew ‘all that would happen to him’ (verse 4). Jesus wasn’t taken by surprise. The soldiers identify him by name and the place he comes from. Three times Jesus uses the solemn and emphatic ‘I-I am’ in answer.
Think: It has been said that Jesus’ command of the situation ceased to be active at this point (making things happen) but passive (allowing things to happen to him). How does the narrative suggest this? Does it help us to understand what Jesus was doing?
