The details of the agony in the garden are not given in the fourth gospel, but are in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32 ). In the garden of Eden man fell. In the garden of Gethsemane the Man Christ Jesus took the cup of suffering.

John 18:1 "... over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered."

It was man's fall in the garden that made the passion of Jesus necessary.

John 18:2 "And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: ..."

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Religious Authorities And State Force Can Unite To Arrest God's Purposes

John 18:3 "Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, ..."

In actuality the arrest of Jesus was part of the determined purpose of God (Acts 2:23 ), to which Jesus said "but as you will" (Matthew 26:39 NKJV). We can be sure, should humanistic, religious, and civil forces unite to frustrate God's purposes, they will ultimately fail.

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Wrongly Assumed Importance And Position Can End In Remorse.

Heading up the soldiers and temple police, lit up by the lanterns and torches, with the muffled sound of weapons (John 18:3 ), would induce a sense of unreal authority and power in the betrayer, that would soon dissipate into bitter, suicidal remorse (Acts 1:18-19 ).

Nothing that happened took Him by surprise nor was unknown to Him.

John 18:4 "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, 'Whom are you seeking?'"

Neither did His foreknowledge hinder His full compliance to the Father's will. The display of power that accompanied the "I am He" (Jesus the Nazarene), puts beyond doubt that the military band could not accomplish their mission without His consent.

John 18:6 "Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground."

Judas was in the action of betraying Him and was standing with them (John 18:5 ), also fell with them. Chapter 13:27 says "Satan entered him", so Satan also fell before Jesus, showing that no man could take His life from Him, nor the powers of darkness. He truly gave Himself for us.

The Lord's preservation of His own usually has some great spiritual purpose.

John 18:8,9 "... let these go their way," ⁹ ... Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."

That these disciples, who were so readily scattered should be spared, was for the purposes of the kingdom.

In striking out with the sword (John 18:10 ), Peter was proving his love, zeal and desire to defend Jesus. In his good intention he was going contrary to the commitment of Jesus to drink the cup of suffering (John 18:11 ). The act of healing Malchus (Luke 22:51 ) saved Peter from arrest, and further condemned the betrayer.

Jesus, submits to arrest, but they humiliate Him by binding Him (John 18:24 ), they take Him to Annas first (John 18:13 ). Annas had been deposed at this time. His son-in-law was appointed in his place. In these verses both are called the high priest (Luke 3:2; John 18:19,24 ). It would appear that Annas and Caiaphas had planned a preliminary investigation to provide the necessary validity to request the death sentence to the sanhedrin who later, under legal chairmanship of Caiaphas would be assembled. What is clear, these men of high office used their privileges and knowledge in a controlled way to rid themselves of Jesus, whom they were convinced was a threat to their personal office and privilege. Such men occupy positions of leadership today.

John 18:19 "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine."

Love is careful not to give answers that would endanger others - about His disciples Jesus said nothing. His teaching was taught publicly (John 18:20 ). What He said to His disciples when alone, they had His command to proclaim (Matthew 10:27 ).

John 18:21 "... ask them which heard me, ..."

This challenged the unlawful form of trial - to which one of the officers responded with violence (John 18:22 ).

It is right to defend one's innocence and good name.

John 18:23 "Jesus answered him, 'If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?'"

Jesus did not return injury for injury, but He did not keep silent about wrong.

Peter, to his credit, returned to witness his Lord's trials. John could not stay away either, and gives eyewitness account (John 18:15 ). It is through John's speaking for Peter to the doorkeeper that Peter is admitted (John 18:16 ).

While not excusing Peter's denials, we can learn from how he set himself up to fall.

	He walked in among Christ's enemies, still under shock from the garden events - particularly his treatment at the hands of Jesus who rebuked his attempt to fight for Him (John 18:11 ).
	He walked where he was recognised by those who were present at the arrest.
	He walked in, forgetting his Galilean accent marked him out.
	He walked in being the only one recognisable as having used his sword.

Unprepared, his presence was in fear, not faith, and in presumption that he could hide himself - fall was inevitable. John came openly, and known to the high priest and had nothing to deny (John 18:16 ).

Even Peter, called and a confidant of Jesus, who had confessed Him as the Christ, putting himself in a wrong position did wrong and fell. Three times he denied his Lord (John 18:17, 25, 26 ).

John 18:27 "Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed."

John leaves the account there with the fulfilment of the prediction (John 13:38 ). We know that upon remembering his Lord's words,

Matthew 26:75 "... And he went out, and wept bitterly."

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. What significance does it have for you that Christ Jesus took the cup of suffering in a garden? (John 18:1 ).
2. How was the power of Jesus over all His foes demonstrated? (John 18:6 ).
3. Are you surprised that men of high office used their privileged office for entrapment of Jesus? (John 18:12-14 ).
4. Why did Jesus answer nothing about His disciples? (John 18:19 ).
5. Who were the two disciples present at the trial? (John 18:15 ).
6. Why was Peter so exposed and vulnerable to a fall (John 18:16,25,26 ), and what was the effect of the fulfilment of the Lord's predication upon him? (John 18:26,27; Matthew 26:75 ).