Betrayal and Arrest of the Sinless One

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 18:1-11

 

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

(NKJV)

 

For those of us who know Jesus as our savior, it is difficult to understand why everyone does not accept the gift of God’s grace. The reason is that just as in the time of Christ, there is much misunderstanding over why Jesus came. Some believe it is important to renounce sin and begin living a sinless life before receiving salvation, while others believe one can continue in sin with God’s grace excusing them. We can find the truth of the Gospel in a balance between these two extremes.

 

After having dinner with the disciples and praying for them, Jesus takes His disciples with Him to a garden (John 18:1). Knowing this garden was where Jesus usually took His disciples, Judas receives a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees and takes them to Jesus with lanterns, torches, and weapons (John 18:2-3). Jesus knows all things and knows why these men are there with Judas and asks them who they are seeking (John 18:4). They tell Jesus they seek Jesus of Nazareth to which Jesus replies “I am He.” (John 18:5). When Jesus answered with “I am He”, the men drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6).

 

Jesus asks the men again who they seek, and they answer Jesus of Nazareth (John 18:7). Jesus tells them He already told them he was Jesus of Nazareth and tells the men to let the others go in fulfillment of the prophesy that Jesus would lose none of those given to Him by the Father (John 18:8-9). Peter reacts by taking his sword and cutting off the servant of the High Priest’s ear (John 18:10). Jesus reprimands Peter, telling him to put His sword away, reminding him that He must drink the cup the Father has given Him (John 18:11).

 

To complete God’s plan of redemption for fallen humanity foretold in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15), Jesus is betrayed and arrested in another garden. Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21) yet willingly offered Himself up as the spotless Lamb of God to cleanse humanity of sin. The entirety of Scripture from Genesis till now has been building up to this point with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Messiah, about to complete the mission given to Him by God the Father. While the death of an innocent person is normally not a happy ending, this story has a happy ending with Jesus resurrecting from the dead (John 20:11-18). Some did not understand the significance of what was occurring, like Peter, who reacted by cutting off a servant of the High Priest’s ear (John 18:10-11). Later, an angry mob will call for the crucifixion of Jesus, many of whom might have been present when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. These individuals had nonbiblical expectations, believing Jesus as Messiah would march in and throw out their Roman oppressors, only to have Jesus go into the temple and throw out those desecrating His Father’s house (Matthew 21:1-17).

 

Those of us living today may observe Passover, but it does not come with the requirement that we travel to Jerusalem because we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who has paid the price once and for all for our sins (Hebrews 4:14-15). However, just as it was in the time of Christ, many do not understand the significance of what Jesus did on the cross. Some adhere to legalism, believing one must straighten out the sin in their lives before finding salvation, while others, adopting cheap grace, believe they can continue in sin to demonstrate God’s grace. The truth is, we are saved by grace, not our works (Ephesians 2:8-9), with cheap grace condemned by Paul (Romans 6:1-2). The truth is a balance between these two extremes that the father demonstrates in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The father gladly accepted back his wayward son, who repented of his sin and reprimanded his older son, who did not extend grace to his brother and instead touted his righteousness.

 

The truth of the Gospel is that salvation comes by the grace of God and not our works, with one accepting God’s grace finding salvation and seeking to please God for the rest of their lives out of love for what Jesus did for them. A believer lives to please God, not to find salvation, but out of love for God who extended grace to them through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If you are reading this and have never confessed your belief in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage anyone who has just prayed to find a church that is obedient to the word of God and teaches truth from the Bible. This way, you can grow in your knowledge and obedience to God. May God convict, challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.