Jesus Yielded to His
Father's Will
Book of John Chapter
18
One thing we should
be very clear on is that, Jesus Christ was never a victim of
circumstances. Jesus led His life in direct obedience to His heavenly
Father and He is our example that we are to do the same!
Another truth we
must realize is that God has a plan for every life!
Eph 2:10 For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Eph 2:11 Wherefore
remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are
called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the
flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at
that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no
hope, and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in
Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ.
We already know that
God the Father sent God the Son to this earth to die for our sins and
reconcile us back to God.
It is also written,
that God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is to be our example as One
who was completely obedient to our Heavenly Father.
Jesus Christ is our
example of absolute surrender to Our Heavenly Father.
*****Joh 18:1 When
Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over
the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and
his disciples.
Since that last
supper and all those lessons we have learned in between, Jesus and
those 11 disciples had finally arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus knew exactly
what He was doing and exactly what time to do these things.
We know for a fact
the Jesus is never late for He is always on time even in His death!
We should understand
that the Kedron Brook was a black, foul smelling brook or creek that
carried all the filth of Jerusalem into the Dead Sea including all
the blood sacrifices from the Temple.
This is the same
brook that the prophet said Jesus was to drink thereof, meaning He
carried all the sin for the filth of this world and nailed it to His
cross.
Psa 110:7 He shall
drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
This place is also
called the Valley of Jehoshaphat by the Prophets.
Joe 3:1 For,
behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the
captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
Joe 3:2 I will also
gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of
Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my
heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and
parted my land.
None of these men
understood these prophecies but Jesus knew that Judas the Betrayer
was very familiar with this Garden.
*****Joh 18:2 And
Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes
resorted thither with his disciples.
Joh 18:3 Judas
then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief
priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and
weapons.
This was the hour
that His Father had called Him, and the hour of His death was
approaching rapidly.
Jesus also knew that
His Father would have to forsake Him for a moment in time, because He
would carry all the filth of the world upon His own shoulders.
In order for all
these things to take place, Jesus needed His Father's help.
All the "Gospels"
but John, showed the agony that the Lord went through during this
time. John teaches us that Jesus was totally devoted to the will of
His Father.
*****Joh 18:4 Jesus
therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth,
and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
Joh 18:5 They
answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And
Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Joh 18:6 As soon
then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell
to the ground.
The Passover takes
place when the moon is full, but we see that Jesus made no attempt to
hide from these men.
A band of the Roman
guard could be from 200 to 600 men but there were also the Temple
police and Judas, and they had torches, lanterns, and weapons
expecting Jesus to flee from them, but they were wrong in this. Jesus
stepped forward in full view!
They may have
anticipated that Jesus was gathering together men to defend His
kingdom but that is a whole other time.
Jesus knew
everything that was about to happen to Him.
Jesus was ready,
willing, and able to die for our sins!
When they called for
Yeshua, Jesus stepped forward and said, "I Am" He!
John could not help
but to tell us that Judas the traitor was also there with these men!
Just at the
authority of these words of Christ this entire group of men fell to
their knees.
Psa 27:2 When the
wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my
flesh, they stumbled and fell.
There should be no
doubt to anyone that the Lord Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be
taken prisoner also becoming the focus of attention allowing His
disciples the opportunity to escape. This was at least as important,
or the church could not have begun had these men been captured at
this time.
It is very possible
that this was to Judas, his last chance to repent!
Also there was
probably some confusion amongst these men.
So Jesus asked them
again.
*****Joh 18:7 Then
asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Joh 18:8 Jesus
answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let
these go their way:
Joh 18:9 That the
saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest
me have I lost none.
They had been sent
to arrest Jesus the Nazarene and so Jesus made certain that they knew
it was He that they had come for.
1) The first thing
we notice is that without understanding, this mob began to obey the
things Jesus said to do.
2) The second thing
we notice is, that Jesus will never lose any of His disciples, we are
all secure in Christ Jesus.
We should understand
that it was Christ alone who suffered and died for our sins. Had any
of His disciples had to suffer and die at this time then it could not
be said that Jesus was the only one who suffered and died for our
sins.
We know that not
even Peter was seized when he had cut off the ear of Malchus.
It seems like none
of these men were willing to defy the commands of the Lord. He was
not pleading with them, He was commanding them to leave His disciples
alone and take only Him.
It is certain that
these disciples were in imminent danger that ended with the Words of
our Lord Jesus!
Then John gives us
one more reason none of the disciples were captured:
Joh 17:12 While I
was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou
gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of
perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
We can readily see
that we need to pay attention to the Words of the Lord!
Jesus was taken by
this mob first to Annas and then to the High Priest
*****Joh 18:19 The
high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
Joh 18:20 Jesus
answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the
synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in
secret have I said nothing.
Annas, who had been
the High Priest, was the father-in-law to Caiaphas the High Priest at
this time. Annas had somehow been able to hold on to the power of the
High Priest through his son-in-law and then three other sons and at
least one grandson, for many years.
Luk 3:2 Annas and
Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the
son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
Act 4:5 And it came
to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
Act 4:6 And Annas
the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many
as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at
Jerusalem.
Anything or anyone
who could affect this relationship with Rome was truly an enemy of
these evil men.
Annas held a great
authority in Israel at this time, even though he was detested by the
people.
We could say that
this evil man was another one who was used to fulfill the Word of God
just as it was written!
It was Annas who
owned the Bazaars that were set up on Temple grounds that sold
animals for sacrifice and stalls for money changers.
Annas first
questioned Jesus about His disciples, but Jesus would not respond.
Annas then
questioned Jesus about His doctrine.
The Lord Jesus
responded by saying, He had no secret doctrine. Everything He had
taught His disciples, He had also preached in public.
No doubt Jesus
recognized the spies that had been sent to keep an eye on Him and
Jesus simply said, "ask them".
*****Joh 18:21 Why
askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them:
behold, they know what I said.
The Lord Jesus
Christ refused to answer foolish questions that had no meaning.
Have you noticed
that the Lord refuses to respond at all, if we are too ignorant to
believe what He has said.
Psalms 66:18 If I
regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Isa 53:7 He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her
shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Psa 22:24 For he
hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he
heard.
One of the most
foolish things we can do is pray without "Faith"!
When we reject the
truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have crossed a line that many will
never cross to return to the truth!
The one sin that
cannot be forgiven is the sin of unbelief!
When we ask of the
Doctrine of Jesus Christ, we will get an answer, faith must be in the
answer!
When we do not allow
Jesus to prove He is who He says He is, we have already rejected His
proof.
When we do not allow
Jesus to justify His claims, we have rejected God!
When we do not
believe that Jesus has the answers to life and abundant life, then we
deserve Hell!
Joh 12:48 He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day.
Joh 12:49 For I
have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a
commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
Joh 12:50 And I
know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak
therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
When the world
rejects the truth it causes hatred to the truth!
When the sin of the
world is pointed out the world answers with hatred and much more
evil!
*****Joh 18:22 And
when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck
Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high
priest so?
Joh 18:23 Jesus
answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if
well, why smitest thou me?
We should also
understand that under Jewish Law a person never had to admit their
guilt. That burden was entirely in the hands of those who were trying
to bring some one, to justice.
This trial of the
Lord Jesus Christ was a mockery to Jewish Law!
It was also illegal
to have a night court. All criminals were to be tried during the
daylight hours in full view of the public.
They had first met
in the living quarters of Annas, also breaking the law. All cases
were to be tried in the courtroom of the Sanhedrin.
It was also so
Passover week and no trials were to take place during this time of
festivities.
The truth is these
leaders were only trying to devise charges that would condemn Jesus
to death.
To these hard-line
Jew, Jesus was guilty of blasphemy, because He said He was equal with
God. In Jewish Law, he would be stoned to death.
Under Roman Law
Jesus would go to the Cross for insurrection against the government
of Rome because He was the King of the Jews and this brought the
death penalty by crucifixion.
If the Romans could
be convinced that Jesus was trying to become King of the Jews, then
insurrection would bring the death penalty!
Jesus was innocent
of all charges!
No matter what the
Jews thought, they knew that this evil world would never accept Jesus
as God nor King of the World.
The world stood up
and slapped Jesus in the face and are still doing this today!
The Jews in the
general public, again denied their own prophets and listened to men
who were hypocrites.
The truth is
religion allows mankind to continue in his own ways and pretty much
do as they please and reject that any god should interfere in their
lives.
This world has never
gotten better it has gotten worse than this picture of the world at
the trial of Jesus.
2Ti_3:13 But evil
men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
When we expect more
from our world, we are deceiving our own selves!
Just today I read
where the head of the Catholic Church in California said that there
was more than one way to get to Heaven. He showed his foolishness!
Religion will take
you to Hell!
Today far too many
are willing to sacrifice the truth, just so they are not seen as the
enemy of the world.
The world has been
on trial since this trial of Jesus and the world continues to come up
short, because the world rejects the truth!
Rom 12:1 I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.
Jesus continues to
tell the world if He is a liar then the world is right but if Jesus
is the truth then why beat on our Savior.
Before there could
be any discussion, Annas sent Jesus bound as a criminal to Caiaphas
the High Priest of that day who obeyed his father-in-law rather than
God!
Peter was a witness,
but Peter was denying our Savior.
Jesus was then led
into the "Judgment Hall" of Pilate but they would not enter
because they would not be able to partake in the Passover Meal if
they defiled themselves with these Gentiles.
You see the Passover
meal could not be eaten until the Passover Lamb was killed.
This was the only
law of Moses that they had tried to keep on this day.
We already know that
if you choose the Law then you have to follow all the Law.
Pilate went out to
them.
*****Joh 18:29
Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye
against this man?
Joh 18:30 They
answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not
have delivered him up unto thee.
Pilate was the Roman
procurator which meant that he was directly responsible to the
Emperor for the administration and the financial management of all
Judea.
The Jews despised
Pilate and Pilate despised the Jews!
One of the many
reasons Pilate was so hated was that he had started a new water
project, but he had stolen the funds for it from the Temple.
Annas and his sons
had gotten riches from the Temple themselves. No love lost between
these men.
One crook robbing
another crook!
These also had the
same hatred for Jesus, and they insisted to Pilate that if, Jesus was
not guilty then they would not have brought Jesus to him.
We might want to
understand that these hard-line Jews, had threatened to report Pilate
to Caesar many times but up to now they had not done so and to do
this could cost Pilate his job. They held this over the head of
Pilate.
The truth we can
understand as Christians, no one has the right to "judge"
God!
The story of Jesus
was one and it was simple.
God had sent His Son
into this world to save the world from itself!
God has the only
right to "judge" this world.
Joh 8:23 And he
said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this
world; I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24 I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe
not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Joh 8:25 Then said
they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same
that I said unto you from the beginning.
Joh 8:26 I have
many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true;
and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
Malefactor means a
criminal. Jesus had been tried in an illegal court, under illegal
conditions, and sentenced to death for being innocent of all charges.
Pilate first wanted
nothing to do with this travesty of justice.
*****Joh 18:31 Then
said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your
law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put
any man to death:
Joh 18:32 That the
saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what
death he should die.
Just that very year,
Rome had taken away the power of these Jews to carry out capitol,
punishment or Jesus would never have reached this point. These Jews
would have already murdered Him!
It is amazing how
God the Father stays in silent control of this world!
And the real truth
is that these Jews had to force Rome to crucify Jesus with lies and
threats!
The Jews were not
allowed to execute anyone on the Sabbath, but this also included all
"feast days".
The Lord had already
said "If I be lifted up":
Joh_12:32 And I, if
I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he
said, signifying what death he should die.
We should all be
able to see that in all these steps to the cross, the Lord knew all
along how these things would happen and Jesus did not need to speak
at all!
We should also be
able to see that the Roman domination of our world at this particular
time was used to fulfill the promises of God!
We should not wonder
if our Heavenly Father is in control of our world or at least that He
knows what is going to happen before it happens!
Luk 9:22 Saying,
The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders
and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third
day.
Luk 9:23 And he
said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For
whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose
his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Then Pilate wanted
to hear what Jesus had to say:
*****Joh 18:33 Then
Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and
said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
Joh 18:34 Jesus
answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell
it thee of me?
We must all
understand that at the words of Jesus, we must all make a choice.
We will be held
accountable for every decision we make about Jesus!
You see it is in our
own heart that we must decide, if Jesus is who He says He is. We
cannot just depend on what others have said!
Rom 10:9 That if
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved.
Rom 10:10 For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the
scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom 10:12 For there
is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord
over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
We can be led to the
Lord but only the Lord can save us! He will not unless He looks into
our heart for the truth!
The Jews had already
rejected the Lord Jesus, some even thinking He was the true Messiah.
Who does the world
usually listen to? The man who is in power, or fame, and wealth.
This is still the
truth of our world today.
I feel as if God is
giving us one more chance to stand up for the truth in our world
today. As Christians we have the power of influencing our government
in the right way, but Christians will not vote the truth of the
Scriptures or they will not vote at all.
They seem to forget
that we will all stand before the Lord Jesus Christ one day, and He
will judge only by the Word of God and not some butchered up version
many use today!
Is Jesus the King of
the Jews?
When the Lord Jesus
Christ returns to this earth, after the rapture of the Church, He
will set up His Kingdom and He will rule for 1000 years upon this
earth.
Isa 9:6 For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the
increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the
throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish
it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The
zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Zec 14:10 All the
land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of
Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place,
from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the
corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's
winepresses.
Zec 14:11 And men
shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but
Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
Zec 8:3 Thus saith
the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of
Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the
mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
Pilate knew that
Jesus was innocent of all charges brought against Him by these Jews!
*****Joh 18:35
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests
have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36 Jesus
answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this
world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered
to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Remember Pilate had
no interest in Jewish questions because he despised the Jews.
Pilate did ask "what
had Jesus done to turn these evil men against Him"?
Pilate had no
understanding of Biblical things.
Pilate had no
knowledge of a Messiah.
As far as Pilate was
concerned, Caesar was the God of this world and in a sense, Pilate
was right because Caesar was of the family of Satan.
As far as Pilate was
concerned, he held the power of his master!
As far as Pilate was
concerned, the Jews were the scum of the earth.
As far as Pilate was
concerned, Jesus had to be guilty of something, but Jesus was
innocent of all charges!
Jesus answered that
He was not from this world!
There was no greater
answer that could have been given!
Jesus had first come
to this world to destroy the works of Satan, therefore providing
salvation to each believer.
Jesus had come in
peace and He could not be moved from His calling!
Zec 9:9 Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold,
thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly,
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Pilate then asked,
are you a king?
You see if Jesus
declared to be a king then Pilate knew he could kill Jesus!
*****Joh 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered,
Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this
cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the
truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Joh 18:38 Pilate
saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out
again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at
all.
The fact remains
that the flesh side of our Savior was a descendant of David and
therefore, He was the true King of the Jews.
We also know because
of a curse of God, Jesus would never sit on the throne, for Joseph
was in the line of Solomon.
Jesus would be king
because Mary was a descendant Nathan another son of David and
therefore fulfill prophecy!
Jesus had not come
into the world to take this position at this time.
Jesus had come to
tell the world the truth of God!
All those who wanted
to know the truth need only to listen to the Words of Jesus Christ!
The world is full of
people searching for power and fame, wealth and possessions.
There is no path to
peace that can also deliver these goals!
The only path to
peace is to surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace!
By definition the
truth is anything that is not false.
The truth is that
Jesus Christ was our substitute who was nailed to the Cross and no
one could take His place.
He came to die for
me!
Jesus came to die
for you!
Jesus Christ did
everything His Father commanded Him to do, just as we are to do
today!
Amen
Let's Pray!