Can't Deny Him

This morning, the girls and I studied John 18:1-11 and we discussed any questions they had about verses that stood out to them. Elizabeth asked about verse 6, “Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” Savannah asked about verse 3, “Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.” In both cases, we discussed what the verses meant and the picture of the magnitude of the situation. This wasn’t a quiet arrest of a lawless man. This was 600+ armed soldiers who showed up in a garden, at night, to arrest one sinless Man.

 

As we saw in verse 6, when Jesus responded to them, “I am He,” the men all fell to the ground. Their falling wasn’t because they tripped, but as a response to the power of the name I AM. No man, nor spirit, can deny the power of the Name. In His power, Jesus could have struck them dead, or escaped. Rather, by His power and of His will, He allowed Himself to be arrested and crucified.

 

It’s interesting that while the soldiers and Pharisees, and many others, refused to accept Jesus, they couldn’t deny Him. They couldn’t deny the miracles or His power—that’s what made them show up in a garden at night with over 600 armed soldiers. They didn’t want to believe, they refused to repent, but they couldn’t deny Him, either.

 

As we closed our study this morning, I asked the girls the same as I will ask you: to pray for those you know who have not, yet, repented and made Jesus their Lord and Savior. “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life,” (John 3:16 AMPC). On this Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday and weekend, let’s not just celebrate what we have in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, but pray deeply and desperately for those who don’t, yet.

 

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” … So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. ~ John 19:28-30 NKJV

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LASyD0ASRfI

Scandal of Grace ~ Hillsong United

 

©Heather Potts 2022

Why Were They Afraid?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D1A0Kf-cRU

Above All ~ Michael W. Smith

 

Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ~ John 18:3 NKJV

 

Have you ever been so quick to read, that you missed things, which you later realized made a HUGE difference? After hearing a teacher read to her class the events that led up to Jesus’ crucifixion, Holy Spirit perked my ears at the fact that Judas brought men with weapons to arrest Jesus. If you’ve read any of the stories, Jesus was not a violent man. That begs the question, why did they need weapons. After doing some digging, the bigger question became: why did they need so many men, and weapons?

 

According to the different Bible commentaries, Judas brought with him between 600 and 1,000 men to arrest Jesus. They all agreed that the “detachment” included at least 240 cavalry men and at least 200 infantry. Judas didn’t gather all the drunks in a bar one night to go capture Jesus. No, these were trained, armed military men. Why so many men? Why were Judas and the Pharisees so afraid?

 

David Guzik said, “A sinless Man in an appointed garden was about to do battle with Satan’s representative. The first time this happened, the sinless man failed. The Second Adam would not fail,” (Blueletterbible.com, Study Guide for John 18). Satan knew what was at stake. He also knew the power and authority of Jesus, as did Judas and the Pharisees, and that made them afraid. But they didn’t expect Jesus. Because Satan knew of Jesus’ power and authority, he expected a battle, which was why there were so many men and weapons. What Satan failed to realize was that God’s battle plan included Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.

 

As you go about your activities today and this weekend, whether your life is filled with family and fun, or loneliness and struggles, take some time to focus on Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s battle plan, remembering they did it for you, because they love you!

©Heather Potts 2022