Arresting The King

Verse 11, see how far we get today. When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron,! where there was a garden, that's the garden of Gethsemane, which he and his disciples entered.

Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers, that's actually a cohort of soldiers, and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, whom do you seek? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus said to them, I am he. Judas, who betrayed him, was standing there with them. When Jesus said to them, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground.

So he asked them again, whom do you seek? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he.

So if you seek me, let these men go. This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken. Of those whom you have given me, I have lost not one.

Then 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. So Jesus said to Peter, put your sword into its sheath.

Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me? That is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please be seated. When an arrest is made of someone on the most wanted list, there's a moment of great achievement.

A moment of relief. And I can imagine in the places of law enforcement, it's a moment of celebration. Here's a dangerous criminal finally taken off the streets.

Likely there had been an extensive manhunt over time for this person. But now he or she is being brought to justice. This is how the forces of darkness felt the night that Jesus was arrested.

He was Israel's most wanted. The Pharisees had his picture up in their post offices and in their synagogues. And now thanks to an inside man, they are going to get him.

The trap is set. But they didn't realize they were arresting the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They didn't realize they were the ones about to be put on trial.

You see, the arrest of Jesus puts the world on trial. Even as he went on trial. I guess I could ask this question.

This came to me. Have you ever been arrested? Anybody? I'm just curious.

Have you? Don't raise your hand. Our Lord has just finished the high priesthood prayer in John 17.

We spent many weeks looking at the greatest prayer ever prayed. And now he's left.

They were on their way, it seems, from, if we read the text, understand it correctly, they were on their way from the upper room to this place right here, the Garden of Gethsemane.

John doesn't name the Garden, he just says it's a garden, but the other Gospels tell us it's the Garden of Gethsemane. He's come there. And the text notes something.

It says he crossed the Kidron. You see that? The Brook Kidron. Strange reference, right? Not so strange.

You see, there was a lesser king who also crossed the Kidron. His name was David. David crossed the Kidron back in 2 Samuel.

It was a time of great sadness for David. For his son Absalom had risen up against him and formed a coup and taken over the political establishment of the kingdom.

On top of that, one of David's best counselors, a man named Ahithophel, sided with Absalom, betraying David.

So when David crosses the Kidron, his head is down. He's very sad. But now another king is crossing the Kidron. Hmm.

When David crossed the Kidron, 2 Samuel says this, 15, 23. And all the lamb wept aloud as all the people passed by. And the king crossed the Brook Kidron. And all the people passed on toward the wilderness.

All this sadness. Because this king was being deposed. And now another king. The son of David.

The great king. Has just crossed that same Kidron. But there's a difference. The king faces his foes.

He's not running away. He's going right at him. Jesus is the greater king. A greater king than David.

He does not retreat. He does not hide. He does not run. Though he too was betrayed by one he loved and claimed to love him.

Judas knew about this garden. Because our Lord would take his disciples there when they were in Jerusalem. It was a, you get the impression it was somewhat secluded.

It was a good place to be alone with them. A time of teaching and certainly prayer. But just like they did with the prophet Daniel. Judas uses personal knowledge of the Lord's devotion to God.

To his father. To trap him. Now I had to stop there for a minute. Now I'm going to let you into my pain. Because I felt a little bit convicted. And I don't want to be here by myself.

Can an enemy find any place. Any special place in our lives. Where we go to be alone with God. And if they wanted to find us.

They could find us. Is there a place? Is there a time or a moment in your life. Where you meet with God. That if the force of the darkness said.

We want to prove this guy's a Christian. Would they know where to find you? Could they come to church? To find you?

Or do you show up once in a while. So it's hit or miss? Now if you're working. Amen. So I'm not talking about you. But I'm just saying.

So many people today. Are treating worship. Corporate worship. As if it's optional. People are opting out. I met people in. I met people from my old church.

As I was there. And some of them have. They left that particular church. And they're still looking for you. How many years are you looking for a church? What we know to find you there.

Or is there a particular ministry? Are you involved in kingdom work in some way. Of serving others other than yourself. Right? You know. Are you involved in some way.

Giving of yourselves. To reach out to people with the gospel. Could we find you there? Where? I don't know. Where would we.

Is there a way. That you could be. Sought out. And arrested. For being a follower of Jesus. Jesus.

They were setting a trap for Jesus. But I want to know. I want to curious. Who's really trapped here? Because our Lord goes to a place. Where he knew Judas could find him.

Jesus didn't hide someplace. He didn't go to a new spot. If it had been Kevin Smith. I would have went someplace. Judas would never have known. Not Jesus. He goes to the very place.

That he knows Judas will come to look for him. He wanted to be found. Judas brings a posse of soldiers.

That he got from the religious leaders. He got from the chief priests and Pharisees. Here's what happened. Evidently they went to the Romans. And told we need some soldiers.

Because this is a cohort. The word band there. Is the word cohort. It's a cohort with 600 soldiers. Now we don't know if all 600 soldiers came.

But one thing is for sure. A lot of them came. They were ready for trouble. They came with overwhelming force.

They came with shock and awe. Remember Passover comes around a full moon. So it's lit up already. And they come with lanterns and torches.

And all these bodies and weapons. Shock and awe. If those crazy Jews try something. If they even think about trying something. They're going to think again.

They came with torches. Under a full moon. Why? Because they thought Jesus was going to hide from them. You got to shine them. Where'd he go?

Where'd he go? Keep looking guys. You know. I'm surprised they didn't bring dogs. Because they just knew Jesus. And his disciples would try to run away. Our Lord is outnumbered.

And those against him have weapons. Look at this. Jew and Gentile. The world has come to arrest Jesus. The Jewish religious leaders.

And Judas. And the Gentile soldiers. The world. That's the world. The world. Has come out now. To lay hold.

On the Lord of glory. But verse 4 says. Then Jesus knowing all that would happen to him. Came forward. And said to them. Whom do you seek?

Again. For whom is the trap set? Jesus. John is showing us. That Jesus is in full control. Knowing what would happen.

He is controlling the situation. Hold it. The guy being arrested.

Is in control? Have you ever seen that? In America. Where the person being arrested. Is calling the shots? Maybe it's the politician. But no. No.

Jesus knew the illegal trial. And miscarriages justice. Was coming. He knew the brutal torture.

Was coming. He knew the agonizing. And shameful death. Ahead of him. In a matter of hours. Was coming. His knowledge. Is the knowledge of God. But I suggest to you.

He's still human too. Right. His bravery. In my opinion. Is off the charts. Because bravery. Is not the absence of fear. In the face of great danger.

I would call that sickness. Because it is right to be afraid. When there's reason to be afraid. But bravery. Is going forward.

In spite of the fear. Jesus is the bravest man. Who's ever lived. And not the bravest king. He steps forward.

Away from his disciples. And asks the great question. Of the ages. What's that question? Whom do you seek? Are you feeling me?

Do you hear it? Whom do you seek? That's the question. That every human being. And that includes all of you.

Has to answer. Whom. Or what do you seek? Our Lord spoke about seeking. Recorded through the gospel of John.

But now. The question is. What are we seeking? Many people are seeking prosperity and wealth. And a great name for themselves. Many are seeking inner peace.

As their hearts are full of anxiety and fear. Many are seeking love. And will give anything. To feel it. To have it.

To hold on to it. Many are seeking power. So they do not feel helpless. But in full control of their own destiny. Many are seeking immortality.

Through religion. And some even through science. I was reminded of what God said to Baruch. You know Baruch. Let's call him Barry. Easy for me to say actually.

Barry was the prophet Jeremiah's secretary. He not only wrote down the prophecies of Jeremiah. But he also delivered them. Reading them publicly.

He became public enemy number two. Behind his boss. Jeremiah. And so it seems. He seems to have become. Very depressed and disillusioned at one point.

He was worn out. Ministry had worn him out. Always being disliked. Or having to. You know stand up for Jeremiah.

It was getting on his nerves. It was wearing him. He wanted something better it seems. Something for himself. For all that he had suffered. And was suffering. Baruch.

Barry wanted. Just wanted some peace. And just give me a little spot. I'm exaggerating now. It's Kevin Smith talking. Just give me a little cottage over here.

Out of the way. I'm tired of ministry. I'm tired of dealing with people who don't believe what I'm saying. I can see. I can see them. But God spoke to him through Jeremiah.

Here's what he said. Jeremiah 4 45 5. He says to him. And do not seek great things for yourself. Seek them not. For behold I am bringing disaster upon all flesh declares the Lord.

But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go. Now I just gave you background so you'll know why God says that to him.

But understand what God is saying. And God warned him about his self-centeredness. What's in it for me? When do I get some glory?

When do I get, you know, when do I get a break in a good sense in the word? Baruch is that guy. But God speaks to him and warns him about this inward looking, this desire for greatness for himself.

He wants his. Give me mine. Man, this speaks to our culture. But also God gave him a great promise too. God would save Baruch.

No matter what happened around him because Jerusalem was going to be destroyed. The enemies were coming. And Jeremiah told the people, don't fight.

Surrender. So he was labeled public enemy number one and a traitor. But he was only telling them what God was telling them. And they didn't want to hear it. And so they went after Jeremiah.

If you read the story, he was persecuted. Baruch was persecuted. And so, but God says to Barry, I'm going to save you. In the midst of all those situations you're going to go through as you're serving me, don't worry.

Your life will be a prize. And God kept his promise to save him. Even more, this is God's promise to those of us who seek his son.

Whom or what are you seeking? If you're seeking Christ, yes, it will be hard. Yes, it will be a battle and a fight.

Yes. Yes, you'll be worn out. And yes, you may even ask yourself, man, can I get a, what's in it for me here?

You know, what's, am I my neighbor? My neighbor and their kids and my classmates and progress, they got, they got a job. And they use AI to write their exams.

What's in it for me? When do I get mine? What about parents? Are you seeking great things for your children?

I had a lady told me one day that she and her husband were raising up leaders for the next generation. I said, okay.

Can we have aspirations for our children? Yes, but be careful what they are. We train our children to be self-centered and ego-centered by telling them, you're going to be great.

And they believe it. And sometimes it leads them to being obnoxious. And they're not walking with the Lord.

They're walking for greatness. Because they believed you. Be careful. What are your aspirations? Are you seeking great things?

Do you think you deserve something for all your years of service to God and for all you suffered in Christ's name? Does God owe you something?

Baruch, seek not. Do not seek great things for yourself. Then what should we seek? The great one.

The great one. That's when we should seek. The great one and great things in his name. Listen, he'll handle your greatness. Don't worry about your greatness. Seek his greatness.

And he'll do whatever he wants to do with you. No one may ever know your name. I love. I tell you. Forgive me, ladies. I love the movie Troy.

Brad Pitt played Achilles. The battle scenes, the choreography of the fight scenes was magical. It was smooth. Smooth. I said, go Pitt.

He buffed up a little bit, but not too much. He's not a big guy. But man. But in that movie, if you haven't seen it, I do recommend it for adults and maybe older teens.

At one point, Achilles was consumed with greatness. And a little boy said to him, sir, you're such a great warrior.

I could never be like you. He said to him, that's why no one will ever know your name. What did he say to a kid? His mother warned him. She had a vision, a dream, that if he went to fight at Troy, he would not come back.

But he knew that would be the greatest battle of his age. And he went knowing he was going to die. Why? For greatness.

People will give their soul to be great. What a parable in that movie. We will give our lives to be known.

Sometimes we will even be known for negative stuff. But we just want to be known. I'm not making this up. This is true, y'all.

We've seen it in young people on social media. We've seen it in all kinds of people acting, doing things that you can't believe. Why did they do that? Even if it was negative, but they know my name.

And then, of course, to know your name for good stuff, too. People will give themselves. I think it was Napoleon said, men will give their lives for trinkets. He meant ribbons and medals.

There's a desire in us for greatness. But it must be his way. It must be greatness in Christ. The greatest of us are those who are servants of Christ.

It is finding his greatness enough for you. Because in his greatness we find our life. Whom do you seek? Maybe you're waiting to do something great for God.

Your life seems boring or too common. You want to be in the middle of great things for God. Or as he said in Hamilton, you want to be in the room where it happens. Because that's greatness.

I got some great advice from my friend Phil Reichen. He wrote this.

Do not wait around for God to give you something great to do. Too many Christians put life on hold waiting for some great tasks to come along. If you're waiting to do something great, you may be wasting God's time.

Quote, unquote. Most Christians will never do anything great. The way to seek the glory of God is in the little things of the Christian life. Hudson Taylor, missionary.

Was it China? A little thing is just a little thing. But faithfulness in the little thing is a great thing. Not a great thing for your glory, understand.

But a great thing for God's name. God is glorified greatly by the little things done for his glory. Can I encourage you?

Attempt small things for God. Things the world called small. How about being a faithful mom or wife? How about being a faithful great husband or dad?

How about being a faithful accountant or clerk? How about being a faithful police officer or teacher? How about being a faithful student? Now by faithful, I mean to Jesus.

Faithful to Jesus is doing good work. It's doing the little things the best you can in the name of Jesus. It's doing the things that nobody will see you doing.

But you're blessing somebody else. It's doing that service work. It's going to someone's home and cleaning their house because they're too sick to do it. And leaving. And nobody even knew you were there but the person who was sick.

It's cleaning somebody's toilet. Because they can't do it. We were at... I know I've told this story but you don't remember so it's okay.

We were church planting in Maryland and we were looking for a space. And I found this office park in that area. Maybe it happens around here too. But you can get in an office park and build it out.

Get about 5,000, 6,000 square feet of office space. And they'll build it out for you and turn it into something usable as a church. And I remember we were meeting in this old school. 100-year-old school.

It wasn't quite updated but it was nice enough for us. And so I'm desperate to get us out of this school. Really. Kathy, I wanted out of that school.

I felt horrible. I was like, come on. We can move out of this school. And so the school, we had a custodian. Took everything. So we get to... So me and my boy, we're in there.

We're talking about... And they say, yeah, we can give you some bathrooms. How many stalls, whatever. Oh, great, great. And then it hit me. We wouldn't have a custodian anymore. I looked at Leon.

That was my boy. I said, Leon, who's going to clean the bathrooms? He looked at me. I looked at him. I looked at him. None of a setting thing.

I went home and told my wife. You know what she said? Me and you, fool. What do you think we're going to clean the bathrooms? We didn't get that space.

Not because of that. We just couldn't afford it. But that's the thing. Who's going to do the dirty work that nobody else wants to do? Who's going to serve?

That's how we... If you want to seek Christ, if we're seeking Christ, Jesus came among us as a servant. I am among you as one who serves. He's the one that washed the dirty feet of his disciples.

Come on, somebody help me. He's the one who was willing to take the shameful death on the cross. He was the one who came among us not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.

Servanthood in the name of Jesus. Faithfulness in Jesus. As Colossians 3.17 tells us, whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So everything in his name. Not to make your name great. Not to make your name glorious. Not to make your children's name glorious.

Not to exalt your dog. But to exalt him. And if he wants you to be great, he'll let you know.

But I'll tell you one thing. If you do get your name in lights, make sure you give him the glory. And by the way, who determines what is great anyway?

Who determines what is great? Have you ever asked that question? Who says what is great? Is it the world? Yep. Us?

Or is it God? Jesus is the great that we're called to seek. And so I ask you the question again, whom do you seek? Second thing I want you to notice.

And we're going to stop here. I think. The king overpowers his foes. He faces his foes, but then he overpowers his foes.

Jesus says, whom do you seek? And they pulled out the arrest warrant. We seek Jesus of Nazareth.

Now, it's just there were many people named Jesus. They had to include his hometown to make sure they got the right one. They didn't come to worship him. But they came to bring him in.

They came to bring him harm. How ridiculous this is. That human beings would think that they can truly harm the son of God. The other gospels make the point that Judas identifies Jesus by giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Right? That Judas kiss, we call it. That kiss of death. John doesn't record that. He records that Jesus identified himself.

Both of those things happened. The kids say. But Jesus also steps forward and says, I am he. Now, you know what this is.

In the original language, it's I am. They go, Amy. I am. It's the same I am statements from I am the bread of life. I am the door. I am the good shepherd.

I am the light of the world. He says, I am. John pointed out that was a statement of Christ's deity. He's the I am of the burning bush.

So John records those sayings for us that we would know who Jesus is. That the God of heaven is responding to our need. That we need a good shepherd.

We need the light of the world. We need the door. Huh? How God condescends to meet our needs and reveal himself to us in doing so.

But here, he just simply says, I am. The text says they drew back and fell on the ground.

Now, I don't know how many soldiers there were there. It could have been up. It was up to 600. We don't think it was 600. But I guess I don't think it was 50. I think it was a whole number of shock and awe.

The whole bunch of them boys are there. Judas is standing there. Because it says Judas is with them, right? It says he's with them. Not with us. He's with them. A few scribes, a few Pharisees from the Sanhedrin.

And they're standing there. I am. Poof. Poof. Poof. A moment of the divine glory shone forth.

Here's the thing. They came out with lanterns and torches. What they met was the burning bush. They met the light and the fire of the burning bush.

The I am spoke. I am that I am. Boom. Boom. They fall down. Clash. Boom. Jesus just flexed his glory.

That's all he did. They were in the presence of the Holy One. The iron had spoken. They thought they could lay sinful hands on the glory of heaven.

Instead, they found that Jesus had shock and awe. They're humbled into the dirt for their insolence. In a real sense, Rome was humbled at the feet of Jesus.

These were Roman soldiers. A Roman cohort. At least part of a Roman cohort. The world. Rome was humbled. The religious Jewish leaders. All the world was humbled when Jesus said, I am.

The power of the living God. They didn't bring enough men. Nor could they ever. If Jesus didn't want to go.

Who's in control here? Who's in control of this moment? This moment of the forces of darkness. When they have their moment of glory for themselves. This moment where the devil is going.

That's my boy Judas. At that very moment. When they think they're in control. God speaks. Overpowering them.

Showing them. He's really in control. They came to arrest Jesus. But Jesus arrested them with his judgment. But listen.

But here. Do you see it though? Here you see this spiritual blindness of the world. Today too. They got up.

Dust themselves off. Picked up their lanterns. Hey, here's your sword, man. And they still arrested him.

Right, right. Do you? Somebody help me. How do? You see it. Thank you. How in the world do you do that?

How do you experience that kind of power from one individual? And still think up. We got orders. We got to figure it. We got order. Got to follow orders. We got to get this thing done. What was that?

Spiritual blindness. When the world can see the power of God and still deny God.

That wasn't just then. That's where we are now. Unless God in his mercy illuminates our hearts by his spirit, we are blind to the reality and the power of God.

Salvation is by grace. It's not something we earn or do or intellectually work our way into. We're blind.

They got up.

They went to lay hands on Jesus. He's no victim here.

I'm going to wrap it up. He's no victim. The king is not a victim. Let these go. I am he. Let these go. What is Jesus doing?

Protecting his disciples. He promised them. Not one of them. Text says, not one of them will be lost. He protects his disciples. He protects his people. He steps forward and says, I'll take the hit. You go. Peter says, I got your back, Jesus.

No, you ain't taking my boy. He was a horrible swordsman. An ear. He didn't mean to cut off his ear, y'all.

That's a glancing blow. Probably hit the guy's helmet and slid down. He didn't get a good hit. It was a glancing blow. Maybe the guy moved. I don't know. He's trying to protect Jesus.

And some of us do the same thing today. We think we're going to protect Jesus. We get all upset. Man, people. Whoa.

Whoa, Kimo Sabe. Whoa, slow, slow down. Whoa, whoa. Jesus does not need you to protect him or me. Spurgeon said it best.

How do you protect the lion? Let it out of his cage. It will handle his business. Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah. Get out of his way.

We don't have to protect him. That doesn't mean we don't defend the faith. We don't give a reason for the hope that we have. Amen. But we give him reasons. We're not defending Jesus. He's defending us.

Let them go. And then he goes over to the guy. He picks up the man's ear. Let me come on, guys. This is just crazy.

He picks the guy's ear up, and they're all standing there. Why does John tell us his name? The Bible is based upon history and real people, real results.

He tells us the guy's name because when John wrote this, they could go find Malchus. You could ask, hey, you ever hear a guy named Malchus? Oh, yeah. He lives over there.

They could ask. They could actually examine the evidence for themselves. Did he really cut off your ear? I don't want to talk about it. It was a bad night.

He heals him and says, the Father has given me a cup. I prayed. He prayed in Gethsemane. Father, if this cup can pass from me, let it pass.

And God said, you got to drink it. You got to go to the cross and be estranged from me for a moment. Take it on the sins of your people. You got to do it.

And Jesus says, okay, I'm doing it. I'm gone. I'm gone. I'm going to drink the cup. Peter, I'm drinking the cup. Put your sword up and let me handle this. And the disciples were able to get away.

Do you see this scenario? Arresting Jesus was the beginning of the greatest miscarriage of justice the world has ever seen. But it was divinely planned.

God used evil to accomplish his greater good. Who's in control? Who's in control of your life? Who's really in control?

Are you fighting God for control? Are you submitting to the fact that Jesus, the one who speaks the word and things happen, he's in control? Trust him.

And I began my message asking you a question. Have you ever been arrested? Of course, I wasn't speaking of being arrested by human law enforcement, but by divine law enforcement.

Has the divine sheriff, the Holy Spirit arrested your heart so that you entered into God's courtroom? If you did, if he did, then you had Jesus as your defense attorney.

He's never lost a case. He's still before God and said to the father, he's mine. I've arrested him. He belongs to me.

In that divine courtroom, the father said, but why should I let him go? As it were. And Jesus said, because I paid for his sins with my own blood.

I died in his place. I took his punishment. The sentence for him was carried out on me. Let him go free.

You see, if you've been arrested by God already, you're free. You're free. You're a life, and now you can live for something greater than yourself.

Now you can live for him who is truly great. You're free now to enjoy all that he would give you and to not make that what he gives you, a God. See, idolatry usually comes about by making good things ultimate things.

God's gifts become greater than the giver or more important to us than the giver. We hold on to the gifts, and we hold them tight, and we think that that's where our happiness is.

But our happiness is not the physical gifts that God gives us. Our happiness is in the gift of God who is Jesus. So I can lose the gifts. Now, I cherish the gifts.

I thank God for the gifts. I don't want to lose the gifts. But if it comes down to it, I can lose the gift as long as I got the giver. Amen. Amen. Amen. Because the giver is everything.

He's everything. Have you been arrested by Jesus so that you understand what true greatness is? Him.

And you're giving yourself to Him. You're seeking His greatness. You're seeking to know Him and to make Him known. The most important thing in your life is Jesus and His glory.

Jesus being all that you can be. Being more like Jesus. Coming before Him. Lord, change me. Deal with my stuff. Deal with the sin in my life. So I can walk more worthy of You.

That's true greatness. That's true greatness. The world's power over you is broken.

You have a choice now. But listen, if you remain a fugitive from divine justice, then you are lost.

It may seem like freedom, but it's not because you're on the run. You're on the run from God. Surrender now.

There is no witness protection that can protect you from Him or can hide you from Him. Surrender now. And find out what greatness really is and find out what real joy and life really is.

There is no greater gift than the true great one. Our Lord Jesus.

Whom do you seek? Father, bless your word to your people and to all of our hearts. May we see Jesus in all of His matchless glory here in this passage.

And may we revere Him and love Him and submit to Him even all the more. And may we not be afraid because He's able to protect us as long as we are following You, doing Your will.

We can know that we are protected by His grace. And Father, when we fail, and we do, thank You that You don't take Your hands off of us and leave us. You're still protecting us.

Oh, how many times have I, I know You've protected me from my own sins. Thank You. Thank You that You will never let Your people go. We're no longer of the world.

We're in Your kingdom now. And You will never forsake us in Jesus. Thank You, Father. In Christ's name, amen. Thank you.