John 18:1-14 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden… This incident is narrated by John only, and well fits in with his purpose, viz., to supplement the other gospels with facts which set forth Christ's glory. Consider — I. THE MOMENTARY MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST'S GLORY. "I am He." When they were doubly assured by the traitor's kiss and His own confession, why did they not arrest Him? Instead of that they fell in a huddled heap before Him. 1. Things of the same sort, though much less in degree, have been often enough seen when some innocent victim has paralyzed for a moment the hands of his captors, and made them feel "how awful goodness is." There must have been many who had heard Him, and others who had heard of Him, and suspected that they were laying hands on a prophet, and those whose conscience only needed a touch to be roused to action. And His calmness, dignity, and fearlessness would tend to deepen the strange thoughts which began to stir in their hearts. 2. But there was evidently something more here, viz., an emission of some flash of the brightness that always tabernacled within, and which shone so fully at the Transfiguration; and the incident is one of many in which Christ's glory is most conspicuously seen in moments of deepest humiliation. 3. We may well look on the incident as a prophecy of what shall be. What will He do coming to reign, when He did this going to die? What will be His manifestation as Judge when this was the effect of His manifestation going to be judged? II. A MANIFESTATION OF THE VOLUNTARINESS OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING. When that terrified mob recoiled from Him, why did He stand there so patiently? The time was propitious for flight. It was not their power but His own pity which drew Him to the judgment hall. 1. The whole gospel story is conducted on the principle that our Lord's life and death was a voluntary surrender of Himself for man's sin. He willed to be born, and now He dies not because He must, but because He would. "I have power to lay down My life," &c. At that last moment, He was Lord and Master of death when He bowed His head to death. 2. If this be true, why was it that Christ would die? There are but two answers — (1) "I must do the will of My Father." (2) "I must save the world." III. A SYMBOL, OF AN INSTANCE ON A SMALL SCALE OF CHRIST'S SELF-SACRIFICING CARE FOR US. "If ye seek Me," &c., sounds more like the command of a prince than the intercession of a prisoner. 1. It was a small matter that He secured. These men would have to die for Him some day, but they were not ready for it yet. So He casts the shield of His protection round them for a moment, in order that their weakness may have a little more time to grow strong. And though it was wrong and cowardly for them to forsake Him, yet the text more than half gave them permission. 2. John did not think that this small deliverance was all that Christ meant by ver. 9. He saw that this trifling case was ruled by the same principles which are at work in that higher region to which the words properly refer. Of course the words will not be fulfilled in the highest sense till all who have loved Christ are presented faultless before the Father. But the little incident is the result of the same cause as the final deliverance. A dew drop is shaped by the same laws which mould the mightiest of the planets. 3. Let us learn from such a use of such an event to look upon all common and transcient circumstances as ruled by the same loving hands, and working to the same ends, as the most purely spiritual. The redeeming love of Jesus is proclaimed by every mercy which perishes in the using, and all things should tell us of His self-sacrificing care. 4. Thus, then, we may here see an emblem of what He does for us in regard to our foes. He stands between us and them, receives their arrows into His own bosom, and says, "Let these go their way." God's law comes with its terrors and its penalties; the consciousness of sin threatens us; the weariness of the world, the "ills that flesh is heir to," and the last grim enemy, Death, ring you round. What are you going to do in order to escape them? I preach a Saviour who has endured all for us. As a mother might fling herself out of the sledge that her child might escape the wolves, here is One that comes and fronts all your foes, and says to them, "Let these go their way — take Me." "On Him was laid the iniquity of us all." (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. |
    |