TEXT: John 18:1-11
INTRO: Often, a moment that seems to be a moment of great failure, is in fact, a moment of victory of immense worth.
I. THE BATTLEFIELD (18:1-2)
Vs. 1: Jesus has prepared His disciples through both instruction an sprayer and now they move forward to what they think is a time of calm, but what Jesus knows is a battle.
Vs. 2: We see Jesus’ awareness in this verse.
II.THE ATTACK (18:3-5)
Vs. 3: Judas was afraid, as was demonstrated by the group hw brought with him to get Jesus.
There was little question they were more afraid of Jesus than he was of them!!
Vs. 4: Now, note the bravery of the Lord.
Vs. 5: “Jesus the Nazarene,” that’s who they called for – which tells us something about the heart of Judas as well as the others. Judas saw Jesus more as a man who rose to power among the people, not as the Son of God who rose by the will of God. Here is a great lesson: a common feature in all people who betray Jesus is the hesitancy to trust Him. That is for another lesson, but it is seen here.
III. A SHOW OF STRENGTH. (18:6-7)
Vs.6:There was something in Jesus that attracted people, something that sent forth an aura of strength and authority. When He spoke, He did so with that authority.
IV.CONSIDERATION AND COURAGE. (18:7-11)
Vs. 7-8: Jesus shows another strength of His character: He asks that those with Him be dismissed. When we stand with Jesus, He will never forsake us. Rom. 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither life nor death, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things ot come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
V. A DIFFERENT KIND OF FIGHT. (18:10-11)
Vs. 10: Peter was ready to fight!! But Jesus rebukes him and tells him to put away the sword, because what was happening was the will of the Father. Certainly this startled Peter and made him realize he did not understand the Lord in many things. We will study next time about Petr’s willingness to kill for Jesus, but his uncertainty at dying for Him
CONCLUSION
Jesus is not foolish in His behavior. He knows exactly what He is doing. He is not fearful, but trusts fully in the nearcy of His Father. He is not a failure. He isn’t in this position because He has done wrong, but because He has done everything right. Jesus is faithful, He meets His problem with the courage of a champion who knows he cannot fail.