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The Hour Has Come

Wayne Galloway
03/08/20 - Sunday Evening Worship

The Hour Has Come

Jn. 18:1-11

 

Introduction:

 

1.  In John 2 at the wedding in Cana Jesus’ mother appealed to Him as the wine ran out.  Jesus responded, “My hour has not yet come” (v. 4).

2.  In John 7 while Jesus taught at the feast some sought to seize Him.  John observes, “No man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come” (v. 30).

3.  In John 8 John makes the same observation as the opposition challenged Him.  “As He taught in the temple no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come” (v. 20).

4.  In John 12:23 when the Greeks sought Jesus, He said, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.”

5.  In John 17:1 Jesus said, “Father the hour has come; glorify Your Son.”

6.  All of this indicates that Jesus is no mere victim of circumstances.  He is moving toward a chosen goal.  Purposefully He moves, voluntarily, deliberately, into a circumstance that He controls.

7.  This is clearly evident in what John says in 18:1-11.  I think this is a point he wants us to recognize.

 

Discussion:

 

I.  He controlled the meeting place (1-3).

 

    A.  The Garden of Gethsemane is east of the city of Jerusalem. 

          1.  On the Mount of Olives.

          2.  A garden of olive trees to this day.

    B.  Across the Kidron Valley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      C.  Judas knew the place.

            1.  How did he know the place?

            2.  Jesus was a regular visitor to this place.

            3.  Jesus was not trying to “slip away,” or make Himself obscure, as He had done

                  many times before.

            4.  Judas knew where to find him.

            5.  They came with lanterns and torches and weapons.  Notice the expectations

                 implied.  We may have to find Him in the dark.  We will have to take Him by force.

            6.  Jesus “went forth.”  He came to them.

 

II.  He knew what was coming (4-9).

 

      A.  Having gone forth to them He said, “Whom do you seek?”

           1.  The NASB says that a Roman cohort was normally 600 men.  I find it hard to believe

                that they would bring that many. 

           2.  Also there were officers from the chief priests.

      B.  Apparently they did not recognize him.

           1.  When they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

           2.  He answered, “I am He.”

      C.  They drew back and fell to the ground.

            1.  They are struck at an emotional level so drastic that they fall to the ground.

            2.  They expected to take Him by force and He has volunteered.

This verse does not describe unruly soldiers backing away and stumbling (Carson), nor is it about the psychological effect of Jesus' personality on the mob (Morris). Rather, John creates another of his many ironic scenes: Jesus' words provoke a response that even those who hear it likely do not understand. This is the biblical response of holy fear before the Lord (Ezek. 1:28; Dan. 10:9; Acts 9:4; 22:7; 26:14; Rev. 1:17). This is a theophany in which God has been revealed before mortals and the only response is to fall prostrate (Barrett, Brown, Beasley-Murray; see Ezek. 1:28; Isa. 6:5).

NIV Application Commentary, The - NIV Application Commentary, The – John: From biblical text...to contemporary life.

 

      D.  He pursues it further.

            1.  “Whom do you seek?”  They answer, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

            2.  “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way.”

            3.  He is requesting that the 11 be free, but implying that they can take Him. 

 

III.  Jesus objected to Peter’s defensive act (10-11).

 

      A.  Peter is an “open carry” person.

           1.  He is armed.

           2.  He is of the disposition to defend Jesus.

           3.  This is not a bad thing.  God delivers the innocent.  Moses delivered the innocent

                (Gen. 2:12-14, 17).  God designed the government to defend the innocent (Rom.

                13:1ff; 1 Pet. 2:13ff).

           4.  Jesus did not reprimand Peter for defending the innocent, but for interfering in the

                purpose of God.

      B.  Jesus sees the plan of God and how Peter’s actions are counter to that plan.

            1.  God intends for His Son to be taken captive.  Jesus is in control.  He is volunteering

                 to be taken captive.  Peter just does not understand.

            2.  “The cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” Jesus asks.

            3.  Later Peter understands.  He said on Pentecost, “This man (was) delivered over by

                 the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23).

        C.  John describes Peter’s actions.

              1.  He had a sword.  He drew it.  And he used it to cut off Malchus’ right ear.

              2.  Some have suggested he intended to take his head.  And a little more and he

                   would have.

         D.  Only Luke, the physician, mentions that Jesus touched his ear and healed him

              (22:51).

              1.  What am impact this must have made on Malchus.

              2.  And all those who witnessed it.

 

IV.  The events that transpire here are dramatic.  What do they mean?

 

       A.  Acts 2:23 says that by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God He was

            delivered up.

            1.  Jesus acted in a way consistent with the acknowledgement of this plan.  He said, “I

                 have come to do the will of Him who sent Me.”

            2.  That is where we should be (cf. Rev. 2:10).

      B.  He said His kingdom was not of this world.  Therefore it does not use force to achieve

           its goals.

           1.  Too many still seem to think in terms of worldly force.  They are looking for Christ to

                return and His action to involve military force to take control of physical territory.

           2.  This is not the nature of His kingdom.

           3.  God’s plan is not accomplished by force, but by grace and self-sacrifice.

           4.  We would do well to acknowledge this in our lives.  Christ’s work involves persuasion

                by softening hearts through His own self-sacrifice.  Is this not what He is teaching

                us?  Cf. Matt. 5:38-48.

           5.  No, He does not intend the innocent be taken advantage of.  He does not intend the

                innocent to rise up and respond as the wicked do.  But He does intend to change

                hearts by means of grace.  Sometimes people are confused by this dynamic.  See

                Matt. 5:38-48. 

      C.  He voluntarily sacrificed Himself. 

           1.  Paul says He died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6).

           2.  Peter preached that he was delivered over by the predetermined plan and

                foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23).  He said, “Repent and be baptized in the name of

                Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38).

           3.  There is a theological and logical reason for His doing what He did.

           4.  This is what they went everywhere preaching.

           5.  That’s why we observe that what He did He did purposefully and willingly.  Even

                though He could have called down 12 legions of angels (72,000) to deliver Himself

                (Matt. 26:52-53).

Conclusion:

 

1.  He came to die for you.

2.  What will your answer be?