Watch God Accomplish Your Redemption

By God's grace, on August 14th, a year and a half ago, we started with John chapter 1.

John 1 · chapter mention

And before the summer, we're going to be wrapping up this wonderful little gospel.

It was the last gospel to be written by an eyewitness.

We're going to read today as our sermon text, John chapter 18, verse 1, all the way through verse 24.

John 18:1

As I read this, remember that this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient word.

It's God's very own word for you, his people.

So if you receive it that way, after I'm done reading it, you follow along, then I'll say this is the word of the Lord and we'll respond, thanks be to God.

John 18, verse 1.

John 18:1

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.

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 him, 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 none.

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.

So Jesus said to Peter, put your sword into its sheath.

Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.

First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year.

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

Verse 15.

Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple.

Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.

But Peter stood outside at the door.

So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl, who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, you also are not one of his disciples, are you?

He said, I am not.

Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold.

And they were standing and warming themselves.

And Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world.

I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all Jews come together.

I have said nothing in secret.

Why do you ask me?

Ask those who have heard me what I said to them.

They know what I said.

When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying,

Is that how you answer the high priest?

Jesus answered him, If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong.

But if what I said is right, why do you strike me?

Annas then sent him back to Caiaphas, the high priest.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

You may be seated.

The Bible says that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

O Lord, your word is the sword of your spirit.

We ask that by the power of your spirit, you will use your word.

How Jesus Christ is revealed in this passage to pierce us, Lord.

Strike us down to the heart so that you will be glorified more and more in our private lives and in the life of this congregation.

And we ask this for the sake of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I simply want to watch with you as God accomplishes your redemption in mine.

I want us to walk through these verses and watch God himself accomplish your redemption.

There's nothing more practical or applicable that we could do.

If you are a Christian, then you want to be more holy than you are now.

If you're like me, it is a battle, that sanctification marathon.

And the more you're in God's presence, the more you behold his holiness, the more you want to be holy,

and the more aware you are of your sinfulness.

Do you feel that too?

The energy for our sanctification comes from God.

And it's the love of God for you that elicits a response of love in you for God.

And that simple truth, that's the secret to our sanctification.

So, do you want to be more holy?

Do you want to grow in your sanctification?

And God's people say, yes and amen, till the last day I have breath, right?

Then be reminded again today of how much God loves you in his son.

And let that stir up in your heart a greater love for God.

That's the key.

That's it.

In John 17, verse 4, Jesus had prayed to his father, and the apostle John is within earshot.

John 17:4

Jesus prayed, Father, I have glorified you on earth.

I have accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

So, let's watch how God accomplishes our redemption.

Here's the first word picture.

God the Son entered the valley to drink from the brook in the garden.

Watch God accomplish your redemption.

God the Son entered the valley to drink from the brook in the garden.

Look at verse 1.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron,

where there was a garden.

The brook Kidron runs north-south.

The valley Kidron follows that between the mountains.

It is in between the eastern wall of the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives.

So, in ancient Israel, this would have been the easternmost border of the city of Jerusalem.

When the Jews would hear that phrase, the Kidron Valley,

they would have recalled 2 Samuel 15, 24 and 23,

when David, the great king from Jerusalem, was betrayed.

And he crosses the Kidron with the people following behind,

weeping for their king.

The Kidron Brook is about three feet wide,

and it wides in between these mountains.

We know this in Colorado.

When the sun is setting behind the mountains,

it gets very dark quickly in the valley.

And for a barren countryside that's much like Colorado,

with very few trees here and there,

this was an area by a brook where vegetation would grow very abundantly,

making it a natural garden.

And this garden was called the Garden of Gethsemane.

What's more, we read in 2 Chronicles 29, 16,

that this was a common dumping ground and a common graveyard.

When the Levites found unclean things in the temple,

in the time of Reformation,

they threw it into the Kidron Valley to get rid of it.

One commentator said that there was a canal

that connected the temple itself.

So all of those thousands of lambs that would be brought into the temple,

they would be slit at the throat,

and their blood would drain into this canal.

And guess where that canal dumps?

It's into the Kidron Brook.

Are you getting this scene,

this word picture that John is painting for us?

And because that canal is passing through the city,

people would throw their waste,

their personal dung,

they would throw all those pieces of trash and common waste

into this canal as it flowed into the brook,

making that water turn darker and darker,

more and more polluted.

Here's the word picture.

Adam's sin made the garden a valley of death.

Jesus Christ prays Psalm 23,

which is so familiar.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you, Father, are with me.

Remember in Psalm 110, verse 7,

Psalms 110:7

the covenant of redemption,

the last image we're left with of this coming Messiah

is that he shall drink from the brook by the way.

And so our Lord Jesus,

the King leaving Jerusalem,

crossing over this black water of the brook, Kidron,

he's prepared.

And he prays,

Father, not my will according to my human nature,

but your will be done through me.

John Gill commented,

so Jesus Christ went forth over on his own account,

willingly, cheerfully,

not forced or compelled by any.

Verse 1 says,

Jesus himself went forth,

and his disciples followed behind.

Now the disciples were following along,

not to be partakers of his suffering,

but as eyewitnesses of everything our Lord would accomplish,

so that now you and I can sit here by the power of the Spirit

and watch God accomplish our redemption.

The first Adam cursed all mankind by his sin,

and so he was banished from God's garden of light,

and now Jesus Christ,

the second, final Adam,

he enters man's garden of darkness

to break the curse of man's sin.

God the Son entered the valley

to drink from the brook in the garden.

The second word picture John gives us is this.

Soldiers of darkness seek the light of the world,

though he is never hidden.

Soldiers of darkness seek the light of the world,

though he is never hidden.

In verse 3 we read that Judas,

with a band,

which was at least 500 men plus officers

from the chief priests and Pharisees,

what Matthew 27, 47 calls a great multitude.

They approached Jesus with lanterns and torches.

Descriptive language for light.

These lanterns were Greek vessels

in which you would put a candle,

and it had holes that would allow

the light of the candle to shine out.

The torches would have been like a handle,

and you would take rags,

dip those rags in oil,

stuff them inside that handle,

and then light that on fire.

Can you picture this scene?

On top of that,

we're told they were bearing weapons.

So here they march into the dark of the valley,

bearing weapons with lanterns and torches.

In Psalm 3,

we get a glimpse,

a prophetic glimpse of what this would have been.

And David wrote,

How many are my foes?

Many are rising against me.

Many are saying of my soul,

there is no salvation for him in God.

And in verse 4,

Jesus,

knowing all things that should come upon him,

receives them.

Jesus knew all the sufferings he would endure

were determined by God.

There would be nothing that would happen to Jesus

that was not God's will.

Jesus, on top of that,

agreed to this in the covenant of redemption.

Jesus, according to his human nature,

had studied all of the Old Testament

to see how the Messiah would fulfill God's plan

in God's perfect time

to accomplish your redemption.

We read again in verse 4,

Knowing this,

Jesus went forth of his own accord.

Someone pointed out,

Jesus did not hide himself in the garden like Adam did.

He was willingly apprehended by them.

He was voluntarily surrendering himself to suffer.

Why?

To accomplish your redemption.

We read in verse 5,

that Judas,

who betrayed Jesus,

stood now with those soldiers of darkness.

Judas had dipped the bread with Jesus.

They had eaten the meal together.

Now that same man is the head of this mob.

It's possible, dear friend,

to be so close to the light of God

in the person of Jesus.

It's possible to be that close

and yet to remain cold,

unrepentant,

distant from God.

Don't fall into that trap like Judas.

Instead,

watch God himself accomplish your redemption.

In this scene,

these were soldiers of darkness

seeking the light of the world

and he was never hidden.

The third word picture

is the long-suffering Savior

surrenders himself

that his disciples might be free.

The long-suffering Savior

surrenders himself

that you could be free.

In verse 4,

Jesus asks this mob

that's approaching him,

whom do you seek?

They say,

Jesus of Nazareth.

We see while it's going through

the mind of our Lord

in verse 20,

his argument is,

I have taught openly

for the whole world to hear.

Always in public,

at the synagogue

and in the temple,

where you men always were,

I have said nothing in secret.

So he's asking,

who do you seek

for their sake?

This is his gracious ministry to them.

They could have said,

we seek the great rabbi,

the one who proclaimed

God's word with authority.

They could have said,

we seek the great comforter.

who said,

blessed are the meek,

for they shall inherit the earth.

To be meek is to be long-suffering,

not easily irritated,

gentle,

yielding,

forbearing under injury.

Jesus is the blessed one.

Jesus is meek.

Jesus will inherit the earth.

Jesus is the Messiah.

They could have said,

we seek the one

who the people believe

is the Messiah,

the one they were saying,

Hosanna.

But instead,

they say,

we seek Yeshua

of that podunk town,

Nazareth,

a common man,

a carpenter by trade.

Jesus looks at them,

and in the original language,

what Jesus says is,

I am.

He declares,

he is God.

And when he says,

I am.

I am Yahweh,

the God of the covenant,

the God who is the creator of all.

I am.

They fall down backward.

A commentator observed,

his voice,

though delivered by human lung and lips,

it would have been filled with the majesty

and the spiritual authority

of heaven itself.

I am.

Full of divine power.

And our Lord Jesus Christ

displayed in these two words,

he's capable not only

of knocking any creature down on their butt,

he's capable of slaying his enemies

with his word.

He could have as easily struck them dead

as to cause them to fall to the ground.

But yet he's fulfilling the promise of God

in Psalm 147, verse 6.

Psalms 147:6

Listen to this.

The Lord lifts up the meek.

He casts down the wicked to the ground.

In verse 7,

then Jesus asked them again,

whom do you seek?

They had just felt

in their ears,

in their souls,

on their backsides,

the power of God.

They had just felt it.

They had just felt it.

And yet they remained so darkened

by their own pride.

See how merciful our Lord is.

See his long-suffering

to be their Savior.

Their answer is simply,

we seek Jesus of Nazareth.

In verse 8,

Jesus answered,

I have told you that I am he.

Therefore,

let these go their way.

Jesus Christ knew that he had come

to be the good shepherd

who would lay down his life

on behalf of his sheep.

I am the one you need to tie up

so that my disciples

can go free.

He surrenders himself

so that you

can be free.

John the baptizer

had been proclaiming that.

Behold,

the Lamb of God

who has come

to take away

the sin of the world.

He himself

would take it away

as your substitute,

as the Lamb

who would die

in your place.

R.C. Sproul commented

that at the center

of Jesus Christ's teaching

was the assertion

that he was doing

all of this

not for himself

but for us

to redeem us,

to ransom us,

to save us.

And the Apostle John

learned this lesson

as the eyewitness.

See what he writes

in verse 8.

The Son of God

loses none of those

the Father gave him.

And what Jesus spoke

in respect

to his disciples,

those 12,

now 11 men

who were with him,

it is true spiritually

of all God's elect.

All who are given

to Christ,

none shall be lost.

So Christian,

if Jesus Christ

gave himself

to be the Lamb of God

for your sin,

you cannot be lost.

You belong to him,

body and soul.

Your soul is united

to God now

by the work of Jesus.

And your body

will be glorified

with him one day

when he comes in glory.

Don't you long

for that day.

This is possible

because the long-suffering

Savior surrendered himself

so that you and I

might be free.

All glory be to God.

Watch God accomplish

your redemption.

The fourth word picture

is this.

God the Son

eager

to drink

the poison cup

of God's wrath

for you.

God the Son

was eager

to drink

that cup

of God's wrath

though it would kill him.

And he did that

that you would live.

Now in verse 10

Peter

had a sword.

Maybe Peter

was one of those

concealed carry guys

always had it with him.

We know the Galileans

lived up north

and they had to travel south

and there were bandits

and robbers

and others

that would be known

to attack them

and so it was common

for travelers

to carry a dagger.

There will also be

wild beasts

on these trails

in a valley like that

in the dark of the night

by the brook.

It was smart

to keep a weapon nearby.

The disciples

had asked Jesus

we have two swords

and Jesus said

that's enough.

In other words

I'm not looking

for an armed rebellion

against the ruling powers.

We read that

Peter drew his sword

most likely aiming

to chop off

the head of the man

or slit him

across the throat

and cut off

his ear instead.

The other three gospels

tell us

that this happened

but not that

the man's name

was Malchus.

Remember the gospel

of John

was written

much later.

By the time

John wrote

this gospel

Peter was dead

he had been

crucified upside down

for denouncing

the name of Jesus.

John is the only one

who gives us

the name Malchus.

Commentators think

that perhaps

this is because

Malchus continued

to live

and he was

related to the high priest

he was in that

upper echelon

that could have

easily taken out

revenge

on whoever it was

that did that

to him in the dark.

But now John

wants everyone

to know

it was Malchus.

Malchus might have

been one

who continued

to persecute

the church

and now John

needs the church

to know.

In verse 11

Jesus said to Peter

Peter

put away your sword

put it back

in the sheath.

God has given me

this cup

shall I not

drink it?

Peter it's not

these men

doing this

to me.

This is how

God

the Son

accomplishes

your redemption.

Jesus is eager

to drink it.

John Gill's comment

is that this cup

it means the wrath

of God

and the punishment

of a holy

just God

that is due

to sin

and it was

endured by Christ

in his sufferings

and he eagerly

receives it

from the Father.

Jesus says

my Father

gave this to me

shall I not

drink it?

Jesus was

displeased

with Peter's

attempt here

to thwart

God's redemption.

Jesus had

wrestled in prayer

in the Garden

of Gethsemane

right before this

and in Mark

we read that

it was a deep

agony in his soul

but now

according to

his human nature

Jesus was

perfectly willing

resolved

and even eager

to drink

this bitter potion.

It's the only way

to satisfy

the wrath

of an eternal

holy God.

We're watching

God accomplish

our redemption.

I ask you

at the beginning

do you want

to be more holy?

Horatius Benar

Scottish pastor

in the 1800s

he commented

like this

he said

it's only

the free

pardon

of the cross

that has the power

to uproot

your sin

and wither

its branches.

It's only

the certainty

of God's

love for you

his forgiving

love

that can replace

the lust

we have

for sin

remaining

in our flesh.

It needs

to be replaced

with an even

greater response

of love

and gratitude

for God.

So watch God

accomplish

your redemption.

Here's the fifth

word picture.

The Lamb of God

was bound

and carried off

to be sacrificed

as your substitute.

The Lamb of God

we're told

he was bound

and he was carried off.

Why?

He's presented

to the priest

next

and that's

so that he would

be a substitutionary

sacrifice

for your sin.

In verse 12

we're told

that this band

plus the captain

and officers

of the Jews

they took Jesus

they bound him.

Old Testament

shadows

and types

are being fulfilled.

You recall

Isaac being

bound up

to be offered

as a sacrifice

of his father

Abraham

in obedience

to the Lord.

When a sacrifice

was brought

and put on top

of the altar

it was bound up

and tied

to the altar.

And even when

the farmers

were out in the fields

and they would

gather their grain

they would bind them

up in sheaths

and present them

to God

at the temple.

And so now

God the Son

himself

is bound

with cords

and carried

to the high priest.

This is God

accomplishing

your redemption.

Jesus Christ

was bound

in order

to unbind

the cords

of sin

that hold on

to your sinful

nature.

Jesus Christ

was bound

to deliver you

from the captivity

of Satan.

Jesus Christ

was bound

to free you

from the bondage

of the law

that accuses

and condemns you.

In verse 13

we read that they

led him away

next to Annas.

Annas was

father-in-law

to Caiaphas

who was the chief

priest that year.

And at the end

of our passage

in verse 24

we're told then

after seeing Annas

Annas

had sent him

bound

to Caiaphas

the high priest.

in Luke 3

2

we're told

that both

Annas

and Caiaphas

were the high priest

which is

not possible.

It shows

the corruption

of this system.

By this point

in the history

of Israel

the office

of high priest

with all the money

changers

and temple collectors

it had become

a giant scam.

The glory of God

had never re-entered

the temple.

Scholars

have every reason

to believe

the Ark of the Covenant

was not even

in the Holy of Holies

it was empty

of the presence

of God

until Jesus Christ

steps into the temple.

Annas

had been

the high priest

after him

he had had

five sons

that served

as high priests

now it's the turn

of his son-in-law

so Annas

the big mafia

boss

the grandfather figure

that's making

everything run

so they know

to check in first

with the one

who really calls

the shots

and that's Annas.

So Jesus Christ

was bound

carried away

and then presented

to these corrupt

leaders

these fake

high priests

in a great twist

of irony

the perfect

unblemished

Lamb of God

is presented

as the once

for all

substitutionary

sacrifice.

and even

that corrupt

high priest

spoke the truth

he says

it is

good

that one

man

die

in the place

of the people

God even

used this corrupt

man

filling an office

as a shadow

to show

the declaration

of the righteous

God

this will be

my substitutionary

Lamb

it's through

his death

that a great

multitude

will live

without compromising

my justice

as God

the creator

the Lamb

of God

bound

and carried

off

to be sacrificed

as your substitute

to.

The sixth

word picture

that I see

in this passage

for today

is this

the true

vine

was struck

so that you

would be

grafted in

Jesus

had said

I am

the true

vine

apart from me

you can bear

no fruit

and we read

that Jesus

was struck

in verse 22

so there's a

picture of the

true vine

the only one

with eternal

life

the only one

with power

to bear

good fruit

being struck

so that you

and I

could be

grafted in

well in the

garden

all of the

disciples

had fled

away from

Jesus

but now

we're told

that two

follow him

to the

high priest

Peter is

named

the other

disciple

is not

which is a

pattern for

most likely

John the

apostle

the author

of this

book

in Matthew

26

58

we read

that they

followed him

afar off

unto the

high priest's

palace

so Peter

is not

following him

like a

close

disciple

instead

he's

curious

and he's

not wanting

to be

discovered

but he does

need to see

what will

happen

if you

are a

disciple

if you

are a

sheep

you will

follow the

voice of

your good

shepherd

and at

times we

can feel

like Peter

I'm your

disciple but

I need to

stay behind

a little bit

I have too

much to lose

by following

you too

closely

praise God

for Peter's

example here

it's a

comfort for

sinners like

you and

me

some have

speculated that

maybe John

was known

by the

high priest

and that's

why he was

let in

perhaps because

their business

John Peter and

Andrew was

fishermen and

a lot of

people want to

buy fresh

fish from

the market

verse 16

we read that

Peter for

whatever reason

was not allowed

inside though

even though

John did

get inside

so Peter

stayed back

at the

door

and the

slave girl

asks him

are you not

one of

this man's

disciples

are you not

one of

this man's

disciples

if she only

knew what

she was

saying

Jesus is

not just

a mere

man

and her

tone is

implying that

he's a

worthless

man

a criminal

Peter says

in verse

16

I am

not

the

powerful

words of

the

Savior

were

I am

with

Jesus

Peter

this

disciple

was a

rock

he'd

said

I will

never

abandon

you

apart

from

Jesus

Peter

cowers

and bows

before

a mean

girl

in verse

19

we read

that the

high priest

then asked

Jesus

about his

disciples

and of

his teaching

or his

doctrine

and Jesus

had taught

Peter

and John

I am the

true vine

apart from

me

you can

do

nothing

for

for today

oh

follower

of

Christ

hold

on to

those

words

of

Jesus

he says

unless

you abide

in me

you cannot

bear

fruit

but

Jesus

promises

to

Peter

to

John

and to

all of

his

followers

I

will

build

my

church

through

you

I

will

storm

the

gates

of

hell

Satan

and his

army

of

demons

cannot

withstand

the

advance

of my

kingdom

oh

disciple

when I

fill you

with the

Holy

Spirit

you will

joyfully

follow me

to the

ends

of the

earth

you

will

toil

as my

laborer

Paul

could testify

of this

Colossians

129

129

it's

with

all

of

Christ's

energy

that I

powerfully

work

because

he

works

within

me

Jesus

calls

us

to

abide

in

him

if

you've

been

grafted

in

you

rest

in

the

energy

and

the

power

of

Jesus

Christ

from

heaven

Jesus

says

you

will

do

this

joyfully

my

troops

will

be

willing

on

the

day

of

war

you

will

follow

me

you

will

take

up

your

cross

like

John

the

Baptist

though

you

will

die

beheaded

with

your

head

served

on

a

platter

the

more

you

decrease

the

more

I

will

increase

see

Christians

we belong

to this

God

who

accomplished

our

redemption

you

may

feel

like

you're

just

as

weak

as

Peter

and

we

are

apart

from

him

you

might

feel

like

one

of

those

traitors

you

might

feel

like

Judas

himself

Jesus

says

I

am

I

am

God

and

I

accomplished

your

redemption

you

belong

to

the

kingdom

of

the

great

I

am

and

your

redemption

is

completed

it

is

finished

our

sin

deserves

everlasting

punishment

because

we've

offended

an

immortal

God

and

what

would

have

taken

us

the

rest

of

eternity

future

to

pay

off

Jesus

Christ

drank

down

in a

few

hours

only

Jesus

Christ

very

God

very

man

could

accomplish

this

redemption

so if

you desire

to be

more

holy

don't

let

the

enemy

deceive

you

Horatius

Benar again

he wrote

terror

accomplishes

no

real

obedience

suspense

brings

forth

no

fruit

unto

holiness

no

gloomy

uncertainty

as to

God's

favor

can

subdue

even

one

lust

in

your

heart

or

correct

any

crookedness

of

your

will

it's

only

the

certainty

of

love

forgiving

love

perfect

love

displayed

in

Jesus

Christ

that

can

replace

in

your

heart

and

mind

that

lust

for

sin

with

a

greater

love

for

God

behold

how

God

accomplished

your

redemption

your

free

pardon

let

his

work

uproot

and

wither

away

the

weeds

of

sin

in

your

life

now

let's

pray

from

Jeremiah

50

34

father

we

declare

that

you

are

our

redeemer

and

you

are

strong

the

lord

of

hosts

is

your

name

we

praise

you

that

now

Jesus

Christ

thoroughly

pleads

our

cause

and

he

gives

his

people

rest

all

glory

be

to

the

God

of

our

redemption

Jesus

Christ

our

savior

amen