Message

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God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. At the conference God’s love story was so beautiful to hear. But it was a very painful event to God and his Son, for it involves God’s sacrifice and his Son Jesus’ suffering. This is the way God gave his one and only Son for us. From today we will think about Christ Jesus’ suffering and death according to John’s gospel. In today’s passage Jesus was going to be arrested. Humanly speaking, he would be disheartened and dreadful. But he was not. Rather, he was in control though the enemies encircled him. Furthermore, he did not fight a physical battle at all. He showed his resolution to take the cup of suffering and death in accordance with the will of God. We can see who Jesus is at the time of his arrest. May we trace the footsteps of our Lord Jesus and put our faith in him and follow him. First, Jesus who was in control (1-9). This chapter starts with the words, “When he had finished praying….” Before the night when he was going to be arrested, Jesus prayed to God. According to John’s description Jesus offered the high priestly prayer to God. He prayed for himself, “Father…Glorify your Son that your Son may glorify you.” He prayed for his disciples that God might protect them from the evil one. And he prayed for all future believers to be where he is and see his glory. After finishing the high priestly prayer, Jesus left the place with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. They say that a drain ran from the temple altar down to the Kidron ravine to drain away the blood of sacrifices. At this time of year more than 200,000 lambs were slain. So when Jesus and his band crossed the Kidron, it was red with the blood of sacrifice. On the other side was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. In the olive grove was a garden. In other gospels it was called the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus chose this place to be arrested. Since Jesus had often met there with his disciples, Judas knew this place and came to it. Judas who betrayed Jesus was not alone. He guided a detachment of soldiers (more than 200) and some officials (Jewish temple police) from the chief priest and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. They probably thought Jesus was hiding somewhere and they had to search him. They looked like an army force to be ready to engage in a war in a worst case. They were fully armed while Jesus and his disciples had no armament at all. The only thing Jesus did was prayer. To them it was a physical fight, but to Jesus it was a spiritual fight. They saw only Jesus and his disciples with their physical eyes as their fighting partners. But Jesus saw the invisible forces behind them. It is what is written in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Let’s see how the battle goes on. Look at verse 4. “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’” It was not the enemies who spoke first but Jesus. They should have asked, “Who are you? Show me your ID.” They were silent until Jesus spoke to them, “Who is it you want?” According to the author’s comment, Jesus said this, “Knowing all that was going to happen to him.” Who can know all that is going to happen to himself or herself? No one can predict what will happen to him tomorrow. Yet, Jesus knew all. He knew that he would be arrested that night and knew even what kind of death was waiting for him. He knew all about himself and also all about his disciples and knows all about all people, all about the past and the present and the future. Jesus knew Nathanael before anyone else knew him, and said that he was a true Israelite when he came to Jesus through Philip. Then Nathanael was overwhelmed by Jesus’ transcendental knowledge of himself and confessed, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus knew Simon Peter when he came to Jesus through Andrew, and said about his future, “You will be called Cephas.” Jesus also knew the nameless Samaritan woman at the well of Syca, her past and helped her to repent and become a heavenly princess. Jesus knew the 38 year invalid man, how long he had been in that condition, and helped him to get up and walk. When Jesus asked, “Who is it you want?”, they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth?” They knew Jesus only as Jesus of Nazareth. They did not know that Jesus knew all including what they were going to do. That’s why they came to arrest him. Jesus said, “I am he.” In John’s gospel “I am He” means the Messiah, whom all mankind has been waiting for (Jn 4:26; 13:19, “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.”) But here “I am he” just means “I am the one you want to arrest.” Still Jesus wished that they might know who Jesus really is. Jesus had no hint of fear of being arrested. The author wrote in parenthesis, (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) Judas probably had not expected Jesus’ reaction to be so solemn and serene. Judas was witnessing all these details. When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. What kind of reaction it was! These are not the words of rebuke or thunderous words like “Woe to you who arrest me.” But at these three words of Jesus the detachment of soldiers drew back and fell to the ground. All their armament was useless counting to nothing (Zech 9:10; Rev 16:16). Why such a response? Probably it was because Jesus’ answer was totally unexpected and surprising one. Yet, their response was more than surprising. They fell back to the ground. To the author John this event was not an ordinary one. It was a historical and earth-shaking event (ref: Ex 19:18; Hag 2:6). He is Mighty God as Isaiah prophesied (Isa 9:6). He could have dispersed the detachment of the soldiers with one breath of his mouth and let them flee away. But what did he do? Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” Jesus really wanted them to know who he is so that their destiny might be changed, not that he might escape the situation. However, they who had fallen to the ground gave the same reply, saying, “Jesus of Nazareth,” instead of surrendering to him. “I told you I am he,” Jesus answered. Jesus was willing to surrender to their arrest despite his tremendous power. And of course Jesus had power to protect his disciples from them. In his humble surrendering Jesus requested them of one thing, that was, letting his disciples go, not doing any harm to them. Jesus cared for his disciples more than himself. Verse 9 says, “This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: ‘I have not lost one of those you gave me.’” His words are trustworthy words. In this part we really see who Jesus is. He is more than Jesus of Nazareth. He is the one who said, “I am He.” He is the one promised to come. He is Mighty God. He was in control but chose to be arrested in humble surrendering. In our times still people only see Jesus of Nazareth and treat him randomly and despise him in their sinfulness. But Jesus’ people must know who he is and serve him courageously. Second, Jesus who decided to drink the cup (10-11). When Jesus chose to be arrested, what happened next? Look at verse 10. “Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)” Here we don’t know how Peter could have the sword. But when we refer to Luke’s gospel, Jesus said to them at the Last Supper, “…now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.” When the disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords,” he replied, “That is enough” (Lk 22:36,38). Of course Jesus did not need the sword. But Jesus allowed them to have the swords, because the disciples wanted them. Anyway, thus Peter prepared a sword to fight this battle. He wielded his sword first, probably to take initiative in the fight, when he saw that they drew back and fell to the ground at the words of Jesus. This was Peter’s human courage that could be recommended in the physical fight. Peter had human loyalty and courage to follow and serve Jesus. But how did Jesus respond at this Peter’s seemingly courageous act? He commanded Peter, “Put your sword away!” Jesus stopped him from fighting such a physical battle. In Matthew’s gospel (Mt 26:52) Jesus said, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” What a truth! This word of Jesus well reveals the blood-shedding cycle of history. According to Jesus drawing the sword is not the way of battle. So he said, “Put your sword away!” It means, “Never, never physical fighting!” Then Jesus said, “Shall I not drink the cup that Father has given me?” Here are all the reasons why Jesus surrendered to the enemies’ arrest and why he commanded Peter to put his sword away. Jesus knew the cup the Father had given him and determined to drink the cup in obedience to God’s will of world salvation. The cup was the cup of suffering and death on the cross. This cup was not suddenly prepared and given to Jesus. From the beginning of Jesus’ earthly messianic ministry God had a clear purpose for the Son Jesus. He would be the Lamb of God for the sin of the world. Because of this will of God Jesus had to die on the cross. The world did not know it. Even his disciples did not know this will of God for Jesus and hindered him from carrying the will of God. But Jesus knew it through his personal relationship with God. He was so determined that even the whole world would not stop him. As for Jesus there was no deviating from this decision. Let's think more about Jesus’ words, “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” No father wants to give his son the cup of suffering. If possible, all parents want to give some good things to their children. (although they are evil.) They want to give their children the sweet cup, not the bitter cup. Some parents give their child good things (good to their eyes) until the children are spoiled. But the Father God has given the Son the cup of suffering that leads to death, and the Son was willing to take it, knowing the deep meaning of it. What a relationship! This relationship is loving and true. So many relationships turn out to be false and broken, when a bitter cup is offered. It is so even between husbands and wives and between parents and children. However, here we see the exemplary relationship among all relationships, the relationship of giving the cup of suffering and taking it willingly. What is Christian life? It can be described in many ways. We can say that in a sense it is to drink the cup the Father has given us personally. Once Jesus said to those who followed him, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” When a Christian knows the cup the Father God has given and drinks it willingly, then his or her love relationship with God is maintained and grows. When the cup is rejected knowingly or unknowingly, the relationship becomes goes nowhere. Each and every Christian has the cup the Father has given. In this there is no exception. The cup can come through health problem, children problem, spouse problem, company problem, church problem, etc. Sometimes we question, “Why is my cup so different from everyone else’s?” In fact everyone’s cup is different. My cup is unique and very personal and so is your cup. We should not compare my cup with others’ cup. What matters is not which cup is less bitter, but how to drink it. We heard Dr. Samuel Yoo speak about his personal cup the Father has given him when his daughter was sick to the point of death. Later on, Peter embraced the cup the Father had given him and died on the cross upside down. Thank Jesus who decided to drink the cup the Father has given him for us. May we follow him and drink our personal cup willingly to serve the will of God the Father.

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