I should please turn this evening to John, the 18th chapter, Gospel of John, the 18th chapter. We will read the first 12 verses of John 18. Let us give our attention to the Word of God. When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side, there was an olive grove. And his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, Who is it you want? Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. I am he, Jesus said. Judas, the traitor, was standing there with them. When Jesus said, I am he, they drew back and fell to the ground. He asked them, Who is it you want? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth, I told you that I am he. Jesus answered, if you are looking for me, then let these men go. This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled. I have not lost one of those you gave me. Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servants, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus commanded Peter, put your sword away. shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. And therein ends the reading of God's Word. Well, tonight we gather together anticipating the great benefit and privilege of partaking the Lord's Supper. And although for us we can look back upon this and realize how utterly good our Lord has been to us in laying down His life, for Him, the situation wasn't so good. The previous chapter, we have recorded Jesus' high priestly prayer where His eyes were lifted up to heaven and He prayed with full passion. His prayer was full of earnest zeal. and yet seasoned with concern over his own. Father, said Jesus, the hour has come. Glorify your Son that your Son may also glorify you as you have given Him authority over all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as you have given Him. Now it was this that drove our Lord. That His Father had given Him His sheep to save. That He had come to this earth to complete their salvation. He had walked the straight course, determined to accomplish what He had set out to do. There was nothing that could frustrate His purposes. Nothing could stop Him from relentlessly finishing the way marked out before Him before time was. And here was that hour that forgiveness would be fully accomplished for His sheep. That hour that Jesus had spoken of from the beginning of His ministry And it had finally arrived. That hour that everything had pointed to. He continues in his prayer. I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me together with Yourself. With the glory which I had with You before the world was. And so there was one last thing to accomplish. He had completed the work. He had walked perfectly. His act of obedience so beautifully lived out and there was one more thing. Now the hour of trial had come. Now it was time to be delivered into the hands of sinners. Now it was time to fulfill all that the law and the prophets had spoke. That He would be wounded for our transgressions. That He would be bruised for our iniquities. That His soul would be poured out unto death. So he finishes his prayer. And now it was time. Look at verse 1 of chapter 18. When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden. Obviously, you're noticing this is a different translation. I would like to hone in on it tonight. Which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Now the first thing that needs to be emphasized here is that Jesus is making an advancement towards His enemies. He's not merely the passive one. We should never have the idea that this whole thing caught Him off guard. This is what He had come to do. He is the one taking the steps toward the cross. He is the one willingly laying down His life. And the passage tells us so much about our Lord and His mission. Two things that immediately jump out when we look at the text. First thing is that they went over the brook Kidron. It's easy to read right over something like this. But immediately we're reminded of King David. Listen to 2 Samuel 15, verse 23. And the context of this is his flee from Absalom. And all the country wept with a loud voice. And all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the brook Kidron. And all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness. And do you see the parallel? Here the great king David, fleeing for his life, had to cross over Kidron to the wilderness. And now the greater than David has come. Now the king, the true king, who would sit on David's throne forever, has arrived and now he is crossing over Kidron. But not in the way of the wilderness in flight. Not fleeing in panic, but in determination. Strong desire to accomplish everything his father has given him to do. To turn himself over to sinners. He is to be given into their hands so that they might crucify him. Here is the almighty king of kings heading as a sheep to the slaughter and would not look back. What is absolutely intriguing is where he went. The other Gospels tell us that he went to Gethsemane, but John is silent about the name and says in verse 1 that he went over the brook Kidron where there was a garden. And when you read that, what immediately comes to your mind? Well, the first man, Adam, fell in a garden. The first man gave in to temptation in a garden, and here is the second. That he and his disciples entered into this garden. Think about the picture presented to you. There was a garden and Jesus entered as if to say that the second Adam has come to make right what the first Adam has lost. The garden is where Adam had succumbed to temptation, where his death first occurred, where sin entered into the human race, corrupting it. And isn't it just fitting that our Lord would enter the garden and there overcome temptation, unlike the first Adam? Was it not in the garden that Jesus said to His disciples, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death. Stay here and watch with Me. Was it not in the garden where He cried out to His Father, O My Father, if it is Your will, let this cup pass from Me. Was it not in the garden, being in deep agony, that the sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. Surely, surely if there was a place or time that temptation faced Him to thwart His mission, here it was. Jesus was horrified, of course. The fact that He would have to endure His own Father's wrath. He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. If there was any time He was vulnerable, it was here. Remember when Jesus had overcome Satan's temptations in the wilderness at the beginning of His ministry, we read that Satan left Him for an opportune time. Well, here it was. If we could only get the second Adam to fall, it would have been over. The greatest of times, this opportunity. As Jesus was facing the greatest sorrow and misery in the garden, as His Father's wrath was being poured out upon Him, we read in verse 3, Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. And we know that Jesus, of course, had often met there with his disciples, and so Judas knows exactly where Jesus would be. So he leads this whole host of army to arrest the king. And the first thing we read is that Judas received a detachment of troops. The Greek word here is speron, which tells us that these were actually part of the Roman legion. The other Gospels leave out this fact, but it's an important thing to consider because the word speron is the tenth part of a Roman legion. Now, a Roman legion was 6,000 men, and a speron was a tenth of a legion. In other words, 600 armed military men. Now, this band of Roman military men were often stationed at Caesarea. But when the feast times came, they would station themselves around the temple. Keep in mind that at this time, the great Passover feast was going on in Jerusalem. People from all over that world would come to this feast, and the populations would swell in Jerusalem at this time, enough to make the Romans very nervous. So what would happen is that this cohort of Roman soldiers would basically guard the temple during the Passover. The Romans hated mobs and uprisings, the things to which the Jews were very prone. During this highly religious time, with all of the crowds, they were doing all in their power to stop any rebellion before it happens. So when it came to Jesus, who was obviously very popular with the people, The entire Roman Sparron went. 600 men. The risk of mob response was simply too high for a few to go. Now on top of this cohort of soldiers came what John calls the officers. These were the temple priests. The primary arresting officers who were charged with watching the temple at night. And they were probably under the oversight of the chief priests and Pharisees. Now, all of these temple priests, we read, had torches, lanterns, and weapons. We can only imagine what the Romans had. These were weapons, of course, more literally, were tools used in battle. What a terrible, terrible and sad commentary on the human race, isn't it? Here they come, armed to take away the Prince of Peace. Here they come ready to kill the one who never lifted a finger to hurt anyone. Here they come with weapons to arrest the Lord of glory who during His entire life only did good. Came here for the sole purpose to save. And they want to kill Him. Son of man said Jesus came eating and drinking. They say, look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners, the one who only spoke kindly. never reviled healed the sick saved the lost brought comfort to the afflicted and here come hundreds of armed men to kill him to take him away how utterly corrupt the human race is that when the Savior came to this earth the world wanted nothing to do with him to this day the world hates and continually rejects this Savior Jesus Christ what a picture the worst of scenarios Sinners coming to murder the one who had the power to give life. And here's the picture. Hundreds of men coming to the garden to arrest Jesus. And look at verse 4. Jesus, therefore, knowing all these things, would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, Whom are you seeking? Knowing these things. Again, I can't emphasize the horror that was falling upon our Lord during this whole time. The heaviest wrath of the Father is falling upon Him. And He is alone to endure this. He is abandoned and left to endure this fire by Himself. And as He's enduring it, He knows that at that very moment, all of these armed men are coming for Him. Surely now would have been time to call down the ten legions of angels to consume these men? Surely it was time to abandon the task for it was too much. We can't fathom, begin to fathom, what it was like to have the heaviest wrath of God poured out upon Him. We can't imagine the sort of pain that He endured to cry out, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto death. What was it that made Him feel this way? the heaviest weight of your sins and the curses attached to them. Cried out to His disciples. Can't help Him. They sleep. Yes, see Him, beloved, in His terrible agony. Falling on His knees, praying once again and a third time until He's overwhelmed within His soul as the fire penetrated. And what do you read in verse 4? That He went forward. He went forward. See, John wants to make it very clear that it was not really in the soldier's power alone to take and arrest the Christ. But that Jesus, in great determination and advancement, went towards this end Himself. He had come to do this. And He was not backing away. He knew He had to do this for those standing there with Him. His sheep whom He had come to save. And He steps forward. Love? What sort of love is this? That He would go forward for you. How many times in our walks do we go back? How many times do we go back in our sins like a dog returns to His vomit? How many times have we abused God's patience? How many times have we trampled His love? How many times have we slighted His call? How many times have we despised His Word? And undervalued the promises? How often do we come to His house without any real preparation? Any real adoration of Him? The One whom we're worshiping and knowing all along that that's the sort of gratitude that He would receive Knowing all of this, Jesus went forward. Does that kindle something in you? It must. Are you not going up to His holy mountain this evening to feed upon this Christ? Partaking of His supper? And will you not be at least bit affected before you go? And what John brings out here, in light of all of this, is the single question by Jesus. Whom are you seeking? That single question is the question that must be impressed upon every single one of us this day. Whom are you seeking? I want you to see what happens here. Undoubtedly a strong picture. Jesus asked, Whom are you seeking? And look in verse 5. They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am He. Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, I am He, they drew back and fell to the ground. Notice the response of the soldiers who were led by Judas. There was no regard for who He was. There was no sort of respect. This was only Jesus from despised Nazareth. How many seek this Jesus of Nazareth? How many seek a Jesus of their own imagination? How many seek Jesus as a mere man and not Jesus the Christ? The true God and true man. See, many will seek a Jesus who is at their beckoning call. Many want a Jesus from Nazareth. One in whom they do not have to take seriously. One in whom they do not have to have rule over their lives. One in whom they do not have to surrender their sinful ways. But rather, they try to take Him captive by their own wants and by living how they desire. The same lingering question is asked in our day. The past holiday months, just who is Jesus? Everyone seems to be asking that lately. And the only response that will come back is that Jesus was from Nazareth. But you will never hear that this One is truly God. The Son of God from Heaven who is the great and eternal King to whom all men must answer, this is the King of Zion. Oh, you don't hear about this Jesus. And notice how John pictures the entire thing. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. One of His own. Who walked with Him and had sought Jesus of Nazareth to betray Him. Whom are you seeking this day? See, the text presents to us something that should make us all fall on our knees in humble worship of this King. Jesus said to them, I am He. Now when He said to them, I am He, they drew back and fell to the ground. What happened? Well, if you look carefully at the text, you will notice that the He, and of course the NIV gives an entirely different translation. What Jesus said here is, I am. I am. That was the name, of course, that had been revealed to Moses from the burning bush. And Jesus, knowing that they were coming for Jesus of Nazareth, someone whom they had little regard for, is expressing here that they had no power in and of themselves to take Him by force. The entirety of the Roman army, as great as it was, if they should come with all of their weapons and all of their torches, could do nothing unless Jesus had not went forward Himself. How our Savior went forward for you. What does that say to you to this day? I ask you, can you really doubt, as a believer, His love for you? Knowing that every last one of your sins lay upon him at this hour and as he's shouldering the curse and he goes forward, who would dare to doubt? Who would dare? Just picture this. 600 foot soldiers plus all the temple police, the Pharisees, the chief priests, and at their head, Judas. As if Satan himself was leading the world against the Christ. And here with the almighty disclosure, I am with almighty and powerful name simply spoken, we read they literally went backwards and fell to the ground. The text doesn't bring out the force here given. The word for fell to the ground means much more than a simple stumble. It means to be thrown to the ground as in devotion, even to bow the knees in worship. The idea here, that Jesus spoke His name and they flew backwards onto the ground to bow their knees before this King. Beloved, that's the reality. If there's any picture of what the end will look like, here it is. On that day, we read every knee will bow and every tongue will confess and here these come to the Christ clothed in human dress in His utter humiliation and with the simple words of who He is, they fly backwards and bow the knee. He was in His humbled state. It was not yet time for the judgment. It was time for mercy. But imagine all of those who have not bowed the knee to this King. Imagine when He comes in glory, not on a donkey, but riding on a white horse with His glory from heaven. The flying backwards will not be so merciful then. The falling down on the knees then will occur, but it will be too late. Too late. See, if you have not bowed your knees to this King this day, in the day of mercy, if you have not come to this King of heaven and earth now, you will bow that knee falling down backwards into hell. that's the picture here given. I must proclaim it. Whom are you seeking? This is merely Jesus of Nazareth. So many seek Jesus of Nazareth. They have heard a lot about Jesus of Nazareth. What good can come out of Nazareth, they said. They've heard many teachings about Him, but they've never taken Him seriously. They've never become His subjects bowing before Him as their King. Have you subjected your life to Him? It must be now in the day of salvation. Imagine, imagine the disciples watching this. Verse 7, He asked them again, Who are you seeking? We wonder how horrified and scared they must have replied at this point. What would come next? As they replied, Jesus of Nazareth, And yet Jesus determined to finish this way for His sheep. Look at verse 8. I have told you that I am. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way. See, not only does Jesus have the power to lay down His life, not only does the I am have the power to send men flying backwards on their backsides, but the great I am has the power to release His own. This is the Gospel. Jesus is taken bound, away as a lamb, sent to the slaughter while his owner let go. The word for let go here is the same word for forgiveness. Forgive them. Let them go their way. There goes the I Am, sent to the slaughter while his own are released. All of the curses of the law, all of your personal sins, All the sin of Adam, everything that you have done to offend his father, he took on his shoulder and was led away. While this was going on, all that he cared about was you. All that he cared about was you. Have you been released this night? look at the love of your Lord to do everything in His power to free you so that all those His Father has given to Him He would lose none there's nothing more assuring of His grace and mercy to you this night and as we are about to approach this table head up to the holy Mount Zion meditate upon all that He's done for you I usually don't do this but I'm I'm giving you a lengthy quote because it's so powerful. Listen to John Willison. He's a pastor. Take a view of his willingness to suffer all these things for us. He quickens Judas to do his work. And he goes out to meet his persecutors. And he boldly tells them that he is the man they sought. He will not allow Peter or the angels to do anything for his rescue because of his desire to drink the cup which his father had given to him. And God knows how bitter that cup was, being all mingled with guilt, wrath, and curses, heaped up and running over. A cup which if men and angels had tasted, they would have all staggered and fallen backward headlong into hell. Yes, how cheerfully did He drink it for us? What affections should the consideration of these things stir up in the souls of communicants? Are you going up to Mount Calvary to see Christ crucified? Will you not think on His sufferings and not be affected before you go? Can you look on Him whom you've pierced and not mourn bitterly for the sin that did it? That it is the most ugly thing in the world. Well, the great God has taken His only Son, sacrificed Him to justice, that we might thereby be persuaded to leave off fighting against heaven. And may that so overwhelm your heart with love and fear that you never offend this God anymore. You see, I quote that because that's the kind of heart that must approach this table. If you've not bowed, if you've not believed, if you have rejected this King and only treat Him as Jesus of Nazareth and not as the King of heaven and earth don't come. See, true faith believes in what Jesus has accomplished and that's life changing. but if Jesus the Christ is the King of your life, if you've placed your hope and your trust in Him and realize that it is only through His blood that you are set free and forgiven, come. It's for you. We need it as struggling sinners to be reassured that He has fully taken upon Himself the cup of God's wrath for you and promised that you can never be lost. Amen. Our Father in Heaven, as we approach this table, we are humbled. We are humbled, sorrowful for our sins against You and looking at what it actually took to free us from such misery and yet we are joyful. It is a celebration. We are joyful because we are able to approach with full confidence knowing that the sacrifice of Christ is for us and knowing that we will be renewed and knowing that we are taken by the Spirit into heaven to feed upon this marvelous Savior by true faith. Thank You, O Lord, for such a text. Impress it upon us. We give You the praise and the honor and the glory for such a Savior as this. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.