John 18

2. The year was 1779. He was a loyal patriot, a prosperous businessman, a natural leader and an obvious choice to be captain of the Connecticut State Militia. He proved to be a good military • leader. He received much praise • and acclaim, but when • Congress created five new • generalships he was passed • over for political reasons. It was only the urging of his good • friend, General George Washington • that kept him from resigning his • commission. And though he stayed • on in his role, he was never able to • recover from this slight against him.

3. In time he would become commander of West Point. But still resentful and seeing an opportunity he made a deal with the British. He would deliver West Point into their hands. The price for his betrayal was 20,000 pounds sterling • (1 million today). Half if he • failed. And fail, he did. His • British contact was captured • by the Americans, who then • discovered the plot. He • however, escaped aboard a • British ship named the • Vulture.

4. His name was Benedict Arnold. When Benedict Arnold made his betrayal, it not only struck at the heart of the American forces, but it struck even deeper at the heart of his close friend, George Washington, whom he • betrayed. Taking only his • confidant Lafayette with him, • he left the room, and out of • sight and earshot of others • he wept.

5. I’m sure that Arnold felt justified in selling out his country. People always feel justified and have an excuse for their betrayal. • And while we can’t control what people do, what they say, how they betray us. We can control our response, and our emotions, and our anger and our willingness to forgive and restore. • Let’s look at Christ’s example.

6. John 18 • 1 When Jesus finished praying, He began a brief journey with His disciples to the other side of the Kidron Valley, a deep ravine that floods in the winter rains, then farther on to a garden where He gathered His disciples.

7. It had been Jesus' custom throughout the years of His ministry to spend His evenings on the Mount of Olives in this Garden. These gardens belonged to the rich people of the city because the dwellings in the city were situated very close together -- there wasn't any room for gardens. Evidently, • Jesus had known • an individual who • perhaps had given • Him the key • to the gate of this • garden, where He • could be alone • With the Father.

8. It was Passover season, so Jerusalem was bulging with people, and they were all there to offer sacrifices in the Temple. Lambs were being slain continuously during those days. In fact, thirty years after Christ, historians tell us that there were 256 thousand lambs slain at the Passover in Jerusalem. You can imagine the mess • that slaughtering • that many • lambs on one altar • in the Temple • would create – • blood running • everywhere.

9. Well, the Jews had provided for this problem. They had built a channel which ran from the Temple ground, which ran down into the brook Kidron. Undoubtedly, as Jesus was leaving the city of Jerusalem on that last night, He stepped across the brook that ran red with the blood of all the lambs that • were being slain for • the sins of the people. • His own coming • sacrifice must have • become very vivid • in His mind.

10. John 18 • 2-3 Judas Iscariot (who had already set his betrayal in motion and knew that Jesus often met with the disciples in this olive grove) entered the garden with an entourage of Roman soldiers and officials sent by the chief priests and Pharisees. They brandished their weapons under the light of torches and lamps.

11. Jesus continued up the other side of the valley and came to the little Garden called Gethsemane. Jesus and His disciples gathered in this place many times before, and Judas was well aware of this gathering place.

12. The main reason Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane was to make it easy for Judas and the soldiers to arrest Him. The leaders of Israel had wanted to get Jesus many times, but they feared the people. If Jesus had allowed Himself to be arrested in the middle of Jerusalem, there would have been an insurrection and a revolution that would have • torn apart the city • and may have ended • in the killing of the • disciples. Jesus also • took His eleven • along so they • could witness His • voluntary surrender.

13. Judas had been sent out of the upper room because he didn't belong with the disciples. And the Bible tells us that when Judas left, Satan entered into him (John 13:27).So Judas went to the chief priests and elders and contracted his betrayal for what amounted to about twenty dollars.

14. Tell a little lie today, and tomorrow it will be easier to tell two lies. Cheat a few pennies today, and tomorrow it will be easier to lift a couple of dollars. The day after that it will be just the ordinary thing to walk off with anything that strikes your fancy. Sin gets to us by compromising in small things and then letting them grow and grow. Who knows how small the • sin of Judas was when • it began? But it was so • ordinary, so common, • and he just let it grow • and grow.

15. The Romans soldiers (600) and the Jewish Temple police (100-200) had been gathered with the elders to be the diabolical force which went to the Garden. Matthew 26:47 says that they were "a great multitude with swords and clubs." They were ready for action. As best we can • tell, the Temple police • used the clubs and the • soldiers of Rome used • the swords.

16. As Judas approaches Jesus leading this huge mob, he feels secure. After all, he didn't believe that Jesus was God. And when Judas arrives in the Garden, the Bible tells us in the other Gospels that Judas • went up to Jesus and • kissed Him repeatedly • (Mt. 26:49; Mk. 14:45; • Lk. 22:47-48).

17. The saddest part of Jesus' betrayal is not that He endured only one Judas kiss, but He has endured a million since then. People who exalt Him to the skies won't live for Him. People who talk about • all of His greatness • never receive Him as • their Savior. What is • that but a Judas kiss.

18. Judas played his part so well that no one but Jesus Himself knew that Judas was a fraud. Judas didn’t stand out. He was a false follower and no one ever noticed! • Judas was numbered with the other disciples. He had traveled • with them… • talked with them … • lived with them! • People recognized • him as one of • Christ’s followers.

19. Today there are men and women who: • Are members of churches • Have made professions of faith • Have been baptized • Teach classes • Serve on committees • Stand in pulpits • Have multi-million dollar ministriesThere are many who walk • and SERVE alongside true • Disciples. They are numbered • with the followers of Christ, • but they do not truly know • Him!

20. What’s a betrayal worth these days? • If somebody offered you a ten million dollars to never come to church again. Would you do it?

21. Application: • Jesus did not send Judas away even though He realized that Judas was going to betray Him. He knew that he had to forgive him and love him to the end. • Should we do less?

22. A Sunday School teacher was teaching a group of teenagers one Sunday about Christ’s disciples; about their abilities, their attributes, and why Jesus might have chosen them. At one point in the lesson a teen-aged boy asked, “Why did Jesus choose Judas?” The Sunday school teacher replied, “Son, I don’t know. But I • have a harder question: • Why did Jesus choose • me?” We are just as • guilty of rebellion and • hardness as Judas, yet • God through Christ has • chosen us.

23. Think of a time when a friend betrayed your trust, how did you respond? How can Jesus’ response to betrayal help you cope with future experiences of betrayal?

24. John 18 • 15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed behind Jesus. When they arrived, Peter waited in the doorway while the other disciple was granted access because of his relationship with the high priest. That disciple spoke to the woman at the door, and Peter was allowed inside. • Servant Girl(to Peter):17 You are one of this man’s disciples, aren’t you? • Peter:I am not. • 18 All the servants and officers gathered around a charcoal fire to keep warm. It was a cold day, and Peter made his way into the circle to warm himself… • 25 As this was happening, Peter was still warming himself by the fire. • Servants and Officers:You, too, are one of His disciples, aren’t you? • 26 One of the high priest’s servants who was related to Malchus—the person Peter attacked and cut off his ear—recognized Peter. • High Priest’s Servant:Didn’t I see you in the garden with Him? • 27 Peter denied it again, and instantly a rooster crowed.

25. Peter denied Jesus, not once but three times. • Peter would never have believed that he could come to such a place in his life. What happened to bring him to this place? • Let’s look at six • things that may • have caused • Peter’s downfall.

26. Self-confidence –Pride • Mark 14: • Peter (protesting): 29 It doesn’t matter who else turns his back on You. I will never desert You. • Peter believed that he had reached a place in his spiritual life where failure was an impossibility!

28. There is a story of three guys that were hiking in the woods. They came to a raging river. Not sure what to do next the first guy looked to the heavens and said, “God please make me strong enough to get across this river.” Poof he had big strong • arms and legs and he • jumped in and began • swimming. Two hours • later after a fierce • struggle he made it to • the other shore.

29. The second guy seeing that looked to the heavens and said, “Dear God give me enough tools to cross this river.” Poof he was given a rowboat. An hour later after nearly capsizing he made it to the other shore. The third guy said, “Dear God please make me smart enough to cross • this river.” Poof • God made him a • woman…..and then he • looked at the map, • walked five minutes • upstream and crossed • the bridge.”

30. Well men have been accused of letting their pride keep them from looking at directions, but really all of us have pride that keeps us from admitting our faults or failures.

31. Defiance • Mark 14 • Jesus:30 Peter, mark My words. This very night before the cock crows twice, you will have denied Me three times. • Peter (insisting):31 No, Teacher. Even if it means that I have to die with You, I’ll never deny You. • Even though Peter was told very clearly by the Lord what would happen, Peter rejected the Word of the Lord. He was defiant in that he stood in open opposition to the clear Word of God. It was like picking up a Bible and saying, “I don’t care what this book says, it will never happen to me!”

32. During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this • was unwise and perhaps he • ought to duck while passing • the parapet. "Nonsense," • snapped the general. "They • couldn't hit an elephant at • this dist--." A moment later • Sedgwick fell to the ground, • fatally wounded.

33. Another sign that a believer is headed for trouble is when they refuse to listen to the Word of God.

34. Following, but “afar off” (Mark 14:54) • John 18:15 • “Simon Peter and another disciple followed behind Jesus.” • Mark 14:54 • “Peter followed, at a safe distance,” • When Peter was near Jesus, he was filled with confidence and faith. When he was separated from Jesus, he was filled with fear and doubt.

35. There is a species of ant in Africa that builds its colonies and nests in deep underground tunnels. It is here that their young and their queen live. Even though these ants may be a great distance from the nest foraging for food, they can sense when their queen in being attacked and they all become extremely nervous and uncoordinated. If she is killed, they become • frantic and rush around • aimlessly until they die. • What a perfect • illustration of the person • who has allowed distance • to come between himself • and God.

36. Years ago a family was moving across the state from one small town to another, and it was necessary to travel through a large city on the way. The mother drove a separate car following behind the father, who carried the only map. She worked hard to keep up, but she lost sight of him in the city’s congested traffic and the two got separated. Not accustomed to driving on streets with lines painted on them, the • mother • found herself • driving aimlessly • through an • unfamiliar city • looking • for the right • direction.

37. When traveling through unfamiliar territory, it is wise to follow closely behind the one who leads us. If too much distance is permitted between ourselves and the one who knows the way, we may wind up drifting off course. • We claim to be followers of Jesus. Like Peter, we may • be following the right Person at the wrong • distance. • Distance makes • us vulnerable. It • can leave room • for sin and • disrupt our • fellowship with • God.

38. Here are some common factors that create distance between us and God: • Sinconstructs a natural barrier between us and God, and the weight of unconfessed sin prevents us from keeping pace with Jesus.

39. Disappointment – We may have wanted God to • do something for us or give us something and • we didn’t get what we wanted. • Discouragement – Some circumstance has come upon us and we feel God should have protected us from (death in the family, sickness, etc…) 

40. Busyness and distractions in everyday life can cause us to lose our focus and drift far behind Him, robbing us of intimacy.

41. Time. The initial excitement in any relationship can foster nearness, but as the journey turns into a lifelong marathon it is easy to drift apart. • Remaining close • over time requires • diligent work from • both parties.

42. During a recent trip to the grocery store a five-year-old was distracted by every item on every eye-level shelf. The father felt it was a good time for a lesson and allowed her to fall a little behind without her noticing. Then came the moment when she suddenly realized the dangerous distance that had grown between she and her father. She quickly ran to join him. • Likewise, when we become aware of distance between us • and our Lord, we should hurry to join Him. Following closely after • Him will enable us to • navigate this difficult • world and prevent us from • drifting off course. He is, • after all, the One who • knows the way.

43. Bad Company • 18 All the servants and officers gathered around a charcoal fire to keep warm. It was a cold day, and Peter made his way into the circle to warm himself…

44. While Jesus was being tried, spit upon, and beaten, the chief of His disciples was warming himself at the enemies fire. Peter’s downfall was accelerated because he found himself in the company of people who had no love for Jesus.

45. When we surround ourselves with people who do not honor the Lord, we are headed for trouble. When you find yourself spending more time with lost people than you do with the Lord’s people, you are headed for a fall. The company you keep reveals where your heart is. • Wrong company will result in wrong living, wrong loving and brutal falls. 1 Cor. 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Cor. 5:6, “...Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” Pro. 13:2, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

46. Far too often, we underestimate the importance and influence of our associations, peer pressure. • Without a doubt God warns us to be careful about those with whom we associate. Those who are • around us • will and • are • influencing • us.

47. The whole point in recognizing the influence that our associations will have upon us and our children is not that we never get around lost people. The point is that we understand how they might affect us and our children and we decidedly resolve not to allow them to influence us • in ways that • would cause • us to sin or • deny our • Lord.

48. Fear • Peter denied because he was fearful for his own life and lied to give himself an escape from danger.

49. Do we abandon Jesus and try to save our own necks out of fear? When it comes time to take a stand for our faith, do we turn and run? • How many times do we neglect to voice our Christian commitment because we are afraid we might offend someone or turn them off? Someone swears or • gossips or puts • someone else down, • and we don’t say • anything because we • are afraid of what • others may think of us.

50. If you were told to renounce the name of Christ or face certain death, would you turn on him? If God tested you by taking everything from you, would you still remain faithful? • We really don’t know until we’re there. Peter had all the confidence in the world before the situation arose. But when he was in it, the preservation of self became most important.