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Jn_18_1-14_I_am_He.docx

Jn_18_1-14_I_am_He

I Am He

Key Verse 4-5: 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

V1-3

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. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 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.

Where did Jesus go? What was significant about this place? How did Judas know where to go to betray and capture Jesus? Why did the people want to arrest and capture Jesus?

Where did Jesus go?

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V.1 “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.”

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What was significant about this place?

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The garden was where Jesus often met his disciples.

“² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.” (v.2). This is the place where Judas was familiar with. If Jesus wanted to run away, he would not go there since Judas already knew. Jesus knew Judas betrayed him.

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How did Judas know where to go to betray and capture Jesus?

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He could guess it very easily because it was Jesus’ usual place to meet his disciples.

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Why did the people want to arrest and capture Jesus?

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They thought Jesus blasphemed God.

V4-6

⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” ⁵ They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

How was Jesus able to approach his captors confidently? Why do you think he asked the question “Whom do you seek”? Why do you think Jesus answered their response by saying “I am he”? What does the crowd drawing back and falling to the ground reveal?

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How was Jesus able to approach his captors confidently?

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He was ready. According to other gospels, he prepared himself through prayer. He prayed until the strength and confidence came to him from the Lord.

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Why do you think he asked the question “Whom do you seek”?

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He wanted to protect his disciples. He could not tell them to run away. If he had told them so they would be more confused. Also, seeing how Jesus was arrested was what they needed to see as the witnesses about Jesus.

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Why do you think Jesus answered their response by saying “I am he”?

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To protect his disciples.

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What does the crowd drawing back and falling to the ground reveal?

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They were shocked to see Jesus’ confidence and boldness. They never imagined that Jesus was waiting to be arrested. Most of criminals run away as much as possible in such a situation.

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Additional notes from 4-6

⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward

Although he knew he could be killed, he came forward. In the past, he avoided unnecessary conflict with religious leaders because his time (God’s time) did not come. Now his time came. He did not avoid or turn away from his suffering. He was ready to accept it.

and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

Many people were seeking Jesus so earnestly. And Jesus exposed himself. It shows Jesus was arrested not because he was powerless or for some political reasons, but because it was God’s will. He was arrested voluntarily. He was not the victim of unrighteous people.

⁵ They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

They specified who they were seeking. At that time, Jesus was identified as “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am he.”

He identified himself as the one they were looking for.

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

Probably it was the time when Judas kissed Jesus and confirmed him as “Jesus of Nazareth”.

⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Why did they fall to the ground? It is because of Jesus’ power.

Jesus’ power: Jesus was not arrested because of his powerlessness or being overwhelmed by his enemies’ power. He was arrested with full strength and power. But to sacrifice himself and save sinners, he was willing to accept his suffering. He was even going through suffering with full strength and power.

This happens first when Jesus accepted God’s will, and when he was ready to accept it. And through prayer, God gave him strength. What kind of attitude should we have toward the sufferings God gives us?

Jesus was powerful because he was willing to accept his suffering. Then he prayed. That is why we do not see any powerlessness and weaknesses in Jesus. God wants us to go through suffering through a willing spirit and power. But if we try to avoid suffering suddenly, we become very weak and powerless, as we see in Peter’s case.

Once we accept that certain suffering comes from God, we’d better welcome it and be willing to accept it and pray. Then we can deal with it very powerfully and boldly.

“They fell to the ground”. It happened because of the divine power of Jesus.

They thought that Jesus could hide himself. That was why they came with a lot of numbers

. They also brought torches and lanterns in order to seek Jesus at night.

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V7-11

⁷ So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” ⁹ This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” ¹⁰ 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.) ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

How did Jesus satisfy what he said in John 17:12? Why is this important? Why do you think Peter attacked Malchus? What did Jesus' statement in V11 reveal about what was happening?

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How did Jesus satisfy what he said in John 17:12?

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“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.” (John 17:12)

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Why is this important?

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It was to fulfill the Scripture. I do not know what Scripture.

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Why do you think Peter attacked Malchus?

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Out of fear. He was fearful of losing Jesus. He wanted to protect Jesus. He was bold enough that he did not think about his own security. So in this sense, he was very bold.

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What did Jesus' statement in V11 reveal about what was happening?

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“¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (v.11)

What was happening was the cup, the cup of suffering and death from the Father of Jesus, was given to Jesus. He was willing to drink it.

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Additional notes from V7-11

Peter did what he could do. It was bold because he was ready to take result of his action. He could have killed the man. Then he could be a murderer. But his behavior did not help. To surrender to God and suffering is more challenging.

Peter did not understand God’s will and Jesus’ will. God’s will is to save people through Jesus’ suffering. But Peter was holding his own idea: “You are the Messiah. You have to destroy this enemy, and you must rule as the king”. Instead of holding to God’s will he was holding his will. Peter might have thought that Jesus would fight following his example.

He tried to solve the situation according to his own way, which is sword. Sometimes we try to solve our problems in our own ways or on our own. We want to solve easily. Instead of being accused, we can to accuse others. But the problem cannot be solved in this human way, such as with our swords.

¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus trusted God and surrendered himself to the suffering and death.

Jesus was willing to take the cup theFather gave him. Sometimes God’s way demands us to go through sufferings, and we could be hurt. But it’s better for us to accept the will of God.

It is better for us to drink the cup God gave us, and to do the right things instead of all human things.

In Jesus’ case, instead of saving his life, he wants to save others. In our human life, we want to save ourselves first.

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V12-14

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Who did they bring Jesus to first after capturing him? Who was Annas and Caiaphas? (John 11:49-52) Why do you think they brought Jesus to the high priests first?

Who did they bring Jesus to first after capturing him?

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“¹³ First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.” Not the high priest of that year but Annas who was the father in law of the high priest, Caiaphas. He was a real power even over Caiaphas.

Who was Annas and Caiaphas? (John 11:49-52)

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“49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” (John 11:49-52)

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Caiaphas was the high priest. But he was not spiritual. He was ready to murder Jesus to protect his power and position.

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Why do you think they brought Jesus to the high priests first?

To find excuses to execute him before Pilate.

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Additional notes from V12-14

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain

The captain refers to the captain who has 1,000 soldiers. It shows how much religious leaders were seriously seeking to arrest Jesus without fail.

and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

They treated Jesus as a criminal.

¹³ First they led him to Annas,

He was a former high priest.

for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

Caiaphas was the high priest. Annas has 5 sons who are all priests. Caiaphas was his son-in-law. So he has a strong voice. That was why they led him to Anna.

¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

He said it with the evil intention: it would be better for one man to die than many people. God used Caiaphas to prophecy what would happen to Jesus.

Jesus would die as the lamb of God. When the Jews sacrificed the lamb, they took it to the high priest. So even though the high priest was evil, God still led Jesus to the high priest. Jesus died according to the accusation and condemnation of the high priest. (The high priest laid his hands on the sacrificial lamb). God used what Caiaphas said to let Jesus die as the lamb of God.

Today’s passage teaches us how to deal with the suffering from God. Instead of avoiding it we need to pray to God and take it with God’s power and strength.

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Application: How was Jesus’ behavior in this event different from Peter’s?

Jesus was not afraid. He knew what was going on.

Why should we not resist or fight against the cup given to us by the Father?

Because we know that God works for the good of us who love him in all things.

The end.