John 18:1-11

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

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 servantc 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?”

😇 One thing stands out to me concerning the arrest of Jesus; it is possible to interrupt the plans Jesus has for us and, that never works to our benefit. Jesus knew He had come for one purpose; restore sinners to a proper relationship with God the Father. Peter did everything in his power to stop that from happening…by use of violence. Where would we be today if Peter had succeeded? That sword is a metaphor for our stubborn insistence on having our own way. Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Most of humanity has thwarted the efficacy of what Jesus did for us on Calvary by refusing to listen to him and taking matters into their own hands.

 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…Thank you for your Son’s insistence in following your plan regardless of the cost. Forgive me when I believe I have a better way. Give me the grace to listen when you speak, and like Peter, put away my personal ideas for how you should work in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

 John 17:26

“I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

😇 Once Jesus finished his work on Easter, He wasn’t done…His work simply changed. Instead of paying our debt for sin, He is now constantly teaching us about God through His Spirit. It means we get wiser every day…if we listen and study.

 

🙏🏼 Father God, I want to know more about you so my life will bring you pleasure. Thank you that your Son constantly teaches me, and help me listen. Amen. 

 John 17:15-20

Jesus prays for us…

“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself,cthat they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”

😇 I used to wonder why God didn’t just take us to Heaven as soon as we believed in Jesus. Life would be so much easier in Heaven…with God and Jesus. Now we know why; because we are supposed to be sharing our faith so others become believers just like us. And…Jesus is praying for all those who will believe because  of us. So, here’s a question; how many people is Jesus praying for that I am responsible for?

🙏🏼 Father, God…I confess I haven’t been paying much attention to the people you want me to share my faith with. Help me recognize who they are and love them enough to make God manifest (obvious) to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 John 17:9-11

Jesus prays for us…

“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”

😇 It’s interesting that Jesus says He is praying for us, but not for the world. Hebrews 7:25 reminds us he is still praying (interceding) for us, constantly. And, what is He asking God for? That we believers would all be united with one another just as God and Jesus are united. It’s possible because every believer has the Holy Spirit of Jesus living in them. 

🙏🏼 Lord, I confess, I don’t always remember that every Christian is literally my spiritual brother or sister. Forgive me when I don’t love them like family. Help me show more concern and patience for them. I pray for every believer, that we would join our hearts and hands to make your name  manifest (obvious) to the world. Amen. 

 John 17:6-8

Jesus prays for us…

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me."

😇 “manifest” means to make obvious. It explains why the reality of God is so obvious to believers but, not to unbelievers; it requires believing what Jesus says…something the world has little interest in. And…Jesus says we now know everything we need to know. This should be a great comfort to us. 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…thank you for giving me your Son. There is so much I wouldn’t believe, or even understand I didn’t have the benefit of Christ living in me and teaching me. Give me the discipline to listen carefully every day. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

 John 17:1-5

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed."

😇 Jesus makes three important points…

God has given Jesus authority over all flesh. Jesus isn’t doing this on His own. 

Jesus’ definition of eternal life is  “knowing God.” We know God when we know that Jesus died and rose from the grave to satisfy the penalty for our sin. 

Jesus fully accomplished everything that God sent Him to do. There is nothing left to do.

🙏🏼 Thank you, God, for offering a way out of a problem I could never solve…my sin. I believe your Son Jesus has sealed my relationship with you forever. I praise you and your Son, Amen. 

The Volition of Faith

 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” James 2:26

Involuntary actions of the human body are processes that occur automatically without conscious control, such as heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and reflexes. These actions are primarily regulated by the autonomic nervous system and the brainstem, ensuring vital functions continue without our awareness.

Heartbeat	- The heart pumps blood throughout the body without conscious effort.
Breathing	- The process of inhaling and exhaling occurs automatically, although it can be consciously controlled to some extent.
Digestion	The breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients is managed by involuntary! muscle contractions.
Reflexes	Quick, automatic responses to stimuli, such as pulling your hand away from a hot surface.

We don’t get credit for any of it…it’s what a living body does. It breathes, thinks and feels…often independent of my intention. If it does none of those things…I’m dead.

The thing we don’t understand about faith is…it isn’t a “thing.” It’s actually proof that we are spiritually alive. And, faith has certain activities that give “Proof of Life,” just like our physical bodies. Moreover, just as with our human bodies, we don’t consciously initiate any of it…we can only respond accordingly. If our faith doesn’t involuntarily produce these things, it’s dead.

The involuntary activities of  faith are activities initiated by the Holy Spirit that God placed in us when we became believers. We get no credit for them. But we should be very concerned if they aren’t evident as “proof of life.” They are listed in Galatians 5:22–23…Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self‑control. 

There are two very real consequences to this. First, it is impossible to be careless of the need around us if our faith is alive; we will naturally respond appropriately because it is what faith does. Second, the world around us will always misunderstand us because they think acts of mercy and grace are volitional; they will interpret what we do from their human perspective rather than God’s perspective.

But, there are some things that cannot be misunderstood; if we believers ignore the hungry and the homeless we are suffocating the involuntary impulses of the Holy Spirit and, that’s a problem. We need to let God be God in our lives naturally and we can sort out our misunderstandings later. “What ifs” are not the fruit of  faith; they are the fruit of the lawless one. 

So, here’s the question; what is our faith doing about the needs around us? We can’t quibble over the source of those needs (bad behavior or bad attitude); faith is involuntary. If I don’t see it, I really need to ask myself…is it dead?

Live boldly out there today…

 John 16:26-28

“In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

😇 The reality; without a relationship with Christ, you and I have no access to God. The incredible news; Jesus has provided direct access to God. This is the constant theme of scripture; “Know Jesus, know God: No Jesus, no God.” This is the line that separates Christians from non-Christian’s; they have no standing to have any conversation with Almighty God. 

🙏🏼 Father, God…thank you for offering me a relationship with you, not because of anything I have done to deserve it but because of what Christ has done to erase my sin. Give me the conviction to share this information with my friends, Amen.