1. The Familiar Garden (verses 1-2)
2. The Overwhelming Mob (verse 3)
3. The Easy Search (verses 4-8a)
4. The Protective Care (verses 8b-11)

I invite you to open in your Bibles to John, chapter 18. For the past 18 months, we have been slowly working our way through this great gospel, which tells us of the wonderful life of Jesus. Chapter 18 begins a new section in this gospel, which calls us to review what we have seen so far.

With the broadest stroke, the gospel of John can be broken down into three parts. The first part covers the first 12 chapters of the book, which cover the "Public ministry of Jesus." That is, Jesus with the people, speaking with individuals, speaking to the crowds, performing signs and wonders, showing the world who he was.

Then, in chapter 13, a change in scene takes place. No longer does John deal with the "Public ministry of Jesus." He tells us of the "Private ministry of Jesus." That is, the ministry that Jesus had with his closest disciples. In the past few months, we have been looking at these chapters, and seeing the love of Jesus, as he prepares his disciples for his departure. Then, as we have looked in the last three weeks, we have seen how Jesus prays for his disciples.

Now, this week, we come to the final section of the book, which can be thought of as the "Passion of Jesus." Technically, the "passion of Jesus" refers only to his sufferings. That is, his arrest, and trial and crucifixion and burial. But, in the broadest sense, it can also refer to his resurrection, as the completion of his sufferings. For the next few months, we will be looking at these chapters in the gospel of John that tell of his arrest and crucifixion and burial and resurrection and appearances.

Today, we begin with his arrest. The title of my message this morning is "The Arrest of Jesus." But before we get into the text, I want to remind us again of the purpose of John's writing and what he includes in his writing. John tells us why he wrote his gospel in John 20:30-31. We have said this before, but let's say it again.

John 20:30-31
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

So, John tells us here that in his gospel, he wrote about the signs of Jesus. Remember, there are seven signs that Jesus did. He turned the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He healed the official's son, by saying a word from 20 miles away, "Go, your son will live." Jesus healed a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." Jesus fed the 5,000 from 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Jesus walked on the water, several miles out to his disciples who were struggling in the storm. Jesus gave sight to the man who had been blind from birth. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. These are the seven signs that John records for us in his gospel. John wrote them to convince you that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that you might believe in him, and have life in the name of Jesus. Those are the signs that Jesus wrote about in his gospel.

But John also includes some sayings of Jesus. These are the "I am" statements in the gospel of John. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Jesus said, "I am the door of the sheep. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:7, 9). Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). Jesus said, "I am the true vine. You are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

All of these pictures give us a sense of the saving work of Jesus. It's through Jesus (the door) that we are able to encounter the Good Shepherd, who feeds us the bread of life, who guides us in his light, who shows us in his truth, who leads us in the way to everlasting life, providing all that we need as we abide in him, the true vine.

But these pictures are more than that, they are also allusions to the deity of Jesus. The LORD revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush as the great, "I am." This the name of God, "Yahweh," which means, "I am." These seven "I am" statements hint at the identity of Jesus, which is made clear throughout the gospel of John, beginning with the very first verse.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Verse 14 tells us that this "Word" became flesh and dwelt among us. Throughout the gospel of John, we see the divinity of Jesus, who can feed the multitudes, who walk on water, who gives sight to the blind, who raises the dead.

There are points in the gospel when Jesus simply says, "I am," hinting to us of his divinity. To the woman at the well, who tells Jesus, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things" (John 4:25), Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he" (John 4:26). Literally, Jesus says, "I am. The one speaking to you." When walking across the water and getting into the boat, he says to the disciples, "It is I; do not be afraid" (John 6:20). Literally, Jesus said, "I am; do not be afraid."

To the Pharisees, Jesus said, "Unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins" (John 8:24), which is true. Life comes through him, the only way to escape the judgment that your sins deserve is to believe in him. But more literally, Jesus said, "Unless you believe that I am you will die in your sins." When talking about Abraham, Jesus said to these Jews, "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). That is, before Abraham even came into existence, in 2,000 B.C. not only was Jesus before him. Jesus was eternally before him. "I am" The name of God. This is a clear claim to his deity. "Before Abraham was, I am."

We will see the power of this in our text this morning. So, finally, after that long review, let's read our text. John 18:1-11. This is "The Arrest of Jesus." (By the way, here is the picture of chapter 18, that we have shown before. You can picture the shackles right there in the "8")

John 18:1-11
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, 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 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 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 gave 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?"

What a sad story. That one of the disciples of Jesus would betray him in such a manner. Here's my first point this morning:

1. The Familiar Garden (verses 1-2)

John 18:1-2
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

This is the setting of the arrest of Jesus. Verse 1 tells us that the arrest of Jesus took place in "a garden." There is no doubt about where this garden was. It was the garden across from the brook Kidron. For those who lived in those days, they knew right where this was. The temple mount is upon a little hill. You go east, and immediately you walk down, cross the Kidron valley, which has a little brook that is easily crossed, then you walk up the other side to the Mount of Olives. There was a garden there.

Judas knew the place well. "Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples" (verse 2). Jesus, if you remember, was a traveling Rabbi with his students. He didn't own any property. He didn't have a school building. He taught his disciples as they traveled around. A garden was a free public place. It made a nice classroom from time to time. Judas knew that Jesus would be there after the celebration of the Passover.

Now, John chooses not to name the garden, although the other four gospels do name the garden. It's the garden of Gethsemane. We know what happened in this garden. It's where Jesus agonized in his spirit about his upcoming death. He prayed to the Father, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39). But John mentions none of this. He simply says that there was a garden there.

Now, in not naming the garden, I believe that he is winking at us to think of another garden. Mickey Klink calls this "purposeful anonymity."^[1] Because, it draws our minds back that first garden in the Bible, the garden of Eden. In fact, John mentions two gardens in this story. There is the garden here. There is the garden in John 19:41, which is identified as being near the place where Jesus was crucified. This is where he appeared to Mary after the crucifixion.

Listen to Mickey Klink explain what's going on. He says,

With "garden" being mentioned both before and after the resurrection, it "effectively frames the story of Jesus's passion." This anonymous "garden" therefore is introduced here to prepare the reader for the eventual and full-orbed contrast between the first and second gardens related to the first and second Adams, a theme to be established shortly. As we will soon understand, both gardens saw the production of life and death, but the second reversed the order of the first. The first garden was the place where death was born out of life; the second garden was the place where life was born out of death.^[2]

We see this death coming in verse 3, as Judas shows up with an armed band of soldiers.

2. The Overwhelming Mob (verse 3)

John 18:3
So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Here, we see the mob that Judas brought with him. A large group of people, who came with "lanterns and torches and weapons." There is a uniqueness in the way that John tells this story that we will highlight. John says that Judas brought to the garden "a band of soldiers." This is a reference to the Roman army. In the original language, the word translated "band" is the Greek word "speira," from which we get our English word "spiral." At full strength, a Roman cohort numbered 600 soldiers. But they rarely traveled at full strength, but most often consisted of 200 soldiers. One scholar has calculated that the full guard on duty in Jerusalem during the Passover was approximately 600 men. So, perhaps half of them were brought to the garden to arrest Jesus.

By the way, this wouldn't be unusual, because Passover was one of the peak times in the year for unrest in Jerusalem. The memory of the exodus, when God brought his people out of the bondage of Egypt was a time when the Jewish people longed to be free of their current oppression. It was a time of unrest. So, there were more soldiers around at the time of the Passover, helping to maintain the peace. Pilate, the governor, didn't have a residence in Jerusalem. But at the time of Passover, he would come to Jerusalem with a few hundred soldiers to help keep the peace. So, perhaps it was the soldiers from Pilate who came to the garden of Gethsemane.

This is an overwhelming mob. That's the title of my point. And here's the question we have to ask: "Was this really necessary?" Matthew 26:47 identifies the mob as "a great crowd" from "the chief priests and the elders of the people." That is, a significant portion of the Sanhedrin came themselves. Luke tells us in Luke 22:52 that "the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders" all came out to arrest Jesus. So, you have the Romans involved. You have the Sanhedrin involved. This is a great throng of people.

You have to wonder, "Did Judas not trust the Jewish leaders to arrest Jesus? Did he have to bring along Roman soldiers? Why so many people? Were they expecting a fight?" And really, these soldiers were vastly overkill for the work at hand. It doesn't matter how many soldiers came, because Jesus was in control.

3. The Easy Search (verses 4-8a)

John 18:4-8a
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 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."

The search of Jesus was easy because he gave himself up. Jesus walked up to them and said, "Whom do you seek?" (verse 4). Literally, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he" (verse 5). Literally, Jesus said, "I am." When he said, "I am," it says here in verse 6, "they drew back and fell to the ground."

This is a stunning statement, because it reflects the power of God that is in Jesus. When Jesus simply says the words, "I am," the entire crowd falls backwards to the ground. They were overwhelmed. This is a reflection of the power and glory of the risen Christ. Now, they are not yet ready to arrest Jesus, but they are ready to fall to the ground. So, Jesus asks the question again. "Whom do you seek?" (verse 7). Again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he" (verse 8). Again, Jesus said, "I told you, 'I am.'"

Here's the point: The arrest of Jesus was easy, not because the soldiers were skilled. It was easy because Jesus gave himself up. He says in John 10:18, "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." Jesus laid down his life. He gave himself up. He was in control. My next point:

4. The Protective Care (verses 8b-11)

John 18:8b-11
"So, if you seek me, let these men go." This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave 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?"

Jesus negotiates on behalf of his disciples. "You want me. Take me. Let these go free" (verse 8). Jesus was concerned about his disciples. In the other gospels, we see the disciples scattering. "Then all the disciples left him and fled" (Matthew 26:56). But here in John, we see Jesus protecting them. He says, "Let these men go" (verse 8). Jesus was protecting them from arrest. Jesus knew that his disciples were not ready to die. They were not ready to face the trial that he would face. They were not ready to face the cross that he would face. They needed more time. They needed to see the resurrection. They needed to receive the Holy Spirit. They needed to be strengthened. They needed to be prepared. So, Jesus protected them. "Let these men go" (verse 8).

Peter had said that he was willing to die with Jesus. "Simon Peter said to him, 'Lord, where are you going?' Jesus answered him, 'Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.' Peter said to him, 'Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.' Jesus answered, 'Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times'" (John 13:36-38). Peter had a willing spirit, but a weak flesh. Indeed, we will see this come true next week, as we look to the next section in John. Peter denied Jesus. His denials, as terrible as they were, kept Peter from suffering the same fate.

Here, Jesus is standing up for his disciples. "You want me. Take me. Let these go free." What a picture of the gospel! This is the reality of what Jesus did on the cross for us. He suffered. He died. He says now to his Father, "Let these go free." This is how Jesus gives us life, by dying in our place, by pleading with the Father that we go free. Jesus is our mediator. In saying, "Let these go free," Jesus was protecting them, showing care to them around.

This shows the courage, the boldness, and the confidence of Jesus. He wasn't taken by some accident. It was in the sovereign plan of God (see John 10:18). But what a reversal of roles! The one who should be in distress, the one who should be comforted, he's the one who's standing out front, seeking to care for the disciples.

John tells us why he stood up for his disciples in this way. "This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: 'Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one'" (verse 9). Jesus had prayed these words in John 17:12. "While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled." Jesus was able to keep them all. But Psalm 41:9 was fulfilled, "Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me."

Peter had other plans. "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?'" (verses 10-11). Peter had a sword. It was like the concealed carry of the day. It was a small dagger, no longer than his femur.

Think of how foolish this is. There were hundreds of soldiers coming out with clubs and swords. And Peter said, "I got this. I'm going to take them on." These guys were like a SWAT team coming to arrest Jesus with big rifles. Can you imagine if someone pulls out just a little pistol and says, "I'm going to take on them." He had no chance. But it's the irrationality of Peter. Jesus was rational one at this moment, saying, "Take me," not them.

Anyway, Peter took a swing. He lopped off the servant's ear. Malchus was a servant of the high priest. I don't think that Peter was going to go for the ear. Like, I don't think he took his right sword and then went, I'm going to lock the ear off. Nope. I think he was going for the head. Maybe he had a helmet and it slid down the helmet or something. I'm not exactly sure. The sword may have slid down on the side and merely cut off his ear. Luke the doctor records how Jesus just touched his ear and he was healed.

In the other Gospel accounts, Jesus said, "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword" (See Matthew 26:52). Jesus also said, "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:52). We know that one angel struck down 185,000 Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35). So certainly, twelve legions of angels could have taken out this crowd. Jesus had the power to escape. But he didn't, as his course was set.

Instead, Jesus diffused the situation. Luke, the doctor, records how Jesus touched his ear and healed him (Luke 22:51). He told Peter to put the sword away. Jesus knew that it was time for him to die, not the disciples. Jesus then said,

John 18:11
"Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

This is the cup of wrath that Jesus prayed about in the garden. He said, "Let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." This is the cup of wrath that Jesus was to suffer. He knew that he had to suffer to to take the wrath of God upon myself so that it wouldn't fall upon us.

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on February 1, 2026 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.

[1] Edward W. Klink III, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 732.

[2] Ibid., 733.