Let's take our Bibles once again
and turn to the book of John, chapter 18. John 18. I'd like
to actually look at two verses, verse 10 and 11. I'll take a
few minutes to kind of recap. Verse 10 and 11 of John 18 says
this, Then Simon Peter, having a sword,
drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, put up thy sword into the sheath,
the cup which my father hath given me. Shall I not drink it? Years before, our Lord crossed
over the book Sidron. King David crossed over that
same brook. When David crossed over the brook,
in the Old Testament, it's the same brook. It's written Chidron,
same brook. But at that crossing, he was
fleeing from the wrath of his son, Absalom. And now, hundreds
of years later, the Lord Jesus Christ is crossing over that
same brook, obediently, coming to lay down his life a ransom. for all those that the Father
had given Him in electing grace. He must bear their sins, the
sins of His sheep, the sins of the bride. And it was His Father
that bruised Him. I want you to look at Isaiah
50. Hold your finger right there.
Isaiah 50. Isaiah 50, here is the obedient sacrifice
of His people. Isaiah 50 verse 5, The Lord God
hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned
away back. I gave my back to the smiters,
and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face
from shame and spitting, for the Lord God will help me. Therefore
shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face
like a flint. I know that I shall not be ashamed."
Look at Isaiah 53.10. Who bruised the Lord Jesus Christ?
The Roman government. It pleased the Lord to bruise
him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong
his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his
hand." Back in John 18, Judas and a
band of men, a band of soldiers, officers, chief priests, has come to take the Lord Jesus
Christ doing exactly what they wanted to do, all according to
the determinate counsel of Almighty God who has ordered all these
things according to His good pleasure. Psalm 41 9, the Lord
Jesus speaking prophetically of Himself, saying, Yea, my own
familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread that
lifted up his heel against me." Judas, four or five hundred soldiers,
all the dignitaries, got staves and lanterns and swords and they're
going to come take the Lord. John 18 says, the Lord asked
him twice, who do you seek? In verse 4, John 18, Jesus therefore,
knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and
said unto them, Whom seek ye? Verse 7, Then asked he them again,
Whom seek ye? They said, Jesus of Nazareth.
Not that he needed to know, he knew why they were there. but that they would be without
excuse, who do you want? Who do you want to crucify? Who
do you want to take? Who do you want to take prisoner?
Who do you want to exhibit your wickedness before? And that's what it is. All men,
all men, there's not a good man, a good woman ever born in this
earth. Psalm 14, 2 and 3, the Lord looked
down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any
that did understand and seek God. They're all gone aside,
they're all together become filthy. There's none that doeth good,
no not one. First time the Lord asked, who
do you want? Jesus of Nazareth. The Lord said,
I am. I told you, you look in your
Bible, He is in italics. I am. That's not the first time
that was quoted, that was said. That's what he told Moses. Who shall I say sent me? He said,
you tell them I am sent you. I am that I am. The self-existent
one. God Almighty. Sovereign. Sovereign in absolute salvation. Sovereign in providence. Sovereign
in creation. Sovereign. God does as He will
in the army of heaven. First time they asked him, he
said, who seek you? He said, Jesus of Nazareth. I
am. They all fell backwards and didn't hear a thing. All they
heard was the natural ear. He asked them again. Asked them
the same thing. They said the same thing. Jesus
of Nazareth. You know, except the Lord give
a man a new heart. except almighty God rebirth him
from above. There is no submission whatsoever.
The heart is dead. Unless God gives life, unless
God does something for somebody, they're going to perish. Nobody
was recorded, not in thought, not in deed. No record is given
that they thought or said anything differently. Here's the thing
that just jumps out at me. Verse 5 of John 18. They answered
him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am. And
Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. Stood with them. Obviously, men can sit under
the sound of the gospel and not know Him. Obviously. Judas was one of the apostles.
They followed the Lord. Surely, Judas outwardly admitted
his allegiance to the Lord, just like the others. Obviously, he
had given an outward speech, an outward confession. I'm with
you. You're the Lord. I'm with you.
I'm your servant. But the cares of this world had
his heart. 30 pieces of silver sold him out. But after he asked
them twice, who do you seek? They said, Jesus of Nazareth.
He said then in verse 8, he said, I told you that I am. If therefore
you seek me, you let these go their way. The scripture says
in verse 9 that the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake
of them which thou gavest me. That's his elect. That's his
bride. He said, I've lost none. Judas
died, the scripture says, and went to his place. Was he one
of God's elect? Obviously not. But even to the end, the Lord
loved and cared for his own. He did not leave them. He did
not forsake them. Here he was, the king himself,
speaking with absolute authority. You seek me, you let these go
their way. I said last week, he wasn't asking
them. That wasn't a request. That wasn't a hope. He told them. He said, you want me, you leave
these alone. Christ himself submits only to the Father. even in his
submission to be taken by this band of officers, chief priests,
soldiers, even being taken by them, he submitted himself unto
his father. He said, I do always those things
that please Him. Do we think that he whose word
caused these to fall backwards, could he not have spoken them
into hell immediately? He did to Korah and to his band. Right now his meat was to do
the will of the Father. Well, verse 10. Then Simon Peter,
having a sword, drew it and smote the high priest's servant, cut
off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Here was Peter, flip back to
John 13 for a second, John 13 to 36. I don't doubt for one
second, I don't doubt for one second Peter's energy, His desire
to prove his faithfulness to the Lord. John 13, 36-38, Simon
Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him,
Whither I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow
me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why
cannot I follow thee? I will lay down my life for thee.
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, the cocks shall not crow till
thou hast denied me thrice. The scripture does not say that
that was Peter's intent. Very well could have been. But
I'll tell you this, he drew out a sword and there were four or
five hundred soldiers there. He took out a sword and he took
on that group. He'd start with one. Weapons of our warfare are not
carnal. Scripture says, back in John 18 verse 11, it said,
Jesus said unto Peter, put up thy sword into the sheath. Peter was zealous, but who was
in control? Four or five hundred guys and
a few other dignitaries. Who was in control? Hold your
hand there. Matthew 26. Matthew 26 verse
47. Matthew 26 verse 47. While he yet spake, Lo, Judas,
one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude, with
swords and staves, the chief priests, elders of the people.
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever
I shall kiss, that same is he. Hold him fast. And forthwith
he came to Jesus and said, Hail, master, and kissed him. And Jesus
said unto him, friend, wherefore art thou come? Here's what he's
asking. Why are you here? Why are you
here? Then came they, and laid hands
on Jesus, and took him. And behold, one of them, which
was with Jesus, stretched out his hand, drew his sword, struck
a servant of the high priest, smote off his ear. Then said
Jesus unto him, put up again thy sword into his place, for
all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall
presently give me more than 12 legions of angels? Put your sword
up. Do you think I couldn't ask my
Father to send myriads of angels? If it was His will that I be
delivered, Peter did what he did, and God Almighty was in charge, exhibiting
His power. Look at Luke, Luke 22. Luke 22. Verse 47, Luke 22, 47. And while he yet spake, behold,
a multitude, he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went
before him and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus
said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said
unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them
smote the servant of the high priest, cut off his right ear.
Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. He touched his ear
and healed him." Here was the Lord performing
the last recorded miracle. before laying down his life. Still exhibiting his deity and
leaving men to the blindness of their own heart. Here is God
Almighty, Sovereign, who could speak. These guys are gone. Who could speak and they're dead. Who could speak and be delivered.
And He submitted Himself unto His Father and to the eternal
counsels of God Almighty. It had eternally been ordained. He was going to come into this
life and He was going to suffer and die for the salvation of
all that the Father had given Him from before the foundation
of the world. He's going to redeem them. He's
going to redeem them. And here they are, they come
and he speaks to them and they fall backwards and they get back
up. And he speaks to them again and they say, we want Jesus of
Nazareth. And Peter takes out a sword and
cuts off the high priest's servant right here. The Lord tells him,
put your sword up. Our father could send 12 legions
of angels if I was to be delivered. He touched his ear and healed
it. And after the display, of his power and his glory and his
majesty. Back in John 18 verse 12 it says,
then the band and the captain, the officers of the Jews, took
Jesus and bound him and led him away to Annas first. He was father-in-law
to Caiaphas, which was a high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas
was he which gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient
that one man should die for the people. After the display of
all They took him. They took him. I'm telling you,
man, as he's born in Adam, is blind spiritually. He's dead. He's dead. He will not seek after
God. He doesn't know God. He cannot
know God. He must be born again. God Almighty must birth him and
do something for a sinner that a sinner can't do for himself.
Last part of verse 11. He said unto Peter, Put up the
sword and the sheep, the cup which my father hath given me. Shall I not drink it? He must be taken by cruel and
wicked hands. He has eternally stood as the
surety and the redeemer of his sheep The Father has given Him
a people. They're His. They were chosen
in Him. And the Father has eternally
looked at the surety. I've told you before, you go
down and co-sign a note for somebody at the bank. And when the bank finally figures
out that you can't pay, whoever had the note signed for them.
Who do you think the bank's coming after? They're coming after the
surety. Do you think that there was ever
a time that the father ever thought that the sheep could have salvation
without a redeemer? He gave to his son a people out
of every nation, and kindred, and tribe, and tongue, and elect,
His chosen, His people, the bride of Christ, and gave them to the
Lord Jesus Christ, and He, as the surety, has eternally stood
for them. And the Father, who eternally
knew, they could not save themselves. Look to the surety. And here's
the surety right here. And here's a band of fellas,
and they're all tough, and they're big, big guys. They've got the
sticks. And Peter takes his sword and cuts
off one of them's ear. The cup. The cup. which my father hath given me,
he gave me this cup. The Lord Jesus Christ willingly
received it. Shall I not drink it? that cup to redeem His wine. That was His Father's will. This, John 6, verse 39, is the
Father's will which has sent Me. Here's the reason for the
cup that He must drink. Here's the Father's will. That
of all which He has given Me, I should lose nothing, but should
raise it up again at the last day. His cup. was to be made sin. He who knew no sin made sin for
us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. Shall I not drink this cup? Yes,
the serpent is going to bruise his heel. But I'll tell you this,
Satan's head is going to be crushed. He's going to put away the debt
of sin for his people. The elect are going to be delivered
from the curse of the law. The law is going to be honored.
The soul that sinneth is going to die. He who knew no sin was
made sin. We're going to be mocked and ridiculed,
crucified by the Romans. But let us never forget who rules
in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.
And nobody stays His hand. Nobody has the right to question
Him, calling to question. He does not owe an explanation
to anybody. He's God. He's God. Last verse of Scripture, Romans
11, Romans 11 verse 33. Romans 11, 33 to 36. Oh, the depth, the depth of the riches, both
of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are
His judgments. You know what that means? You
can't find them out. You're not going to find them
out. How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways are past
finding out. Who has known? Who knows the
way of the Lord? For who hath known the mind of
the Lord, or who hath been his counselor, or who hath first
given to him? And it shall be recompensed unto
him again. For of him, and through him,
and to him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen. Lord bless our hearts to
behold him afresh who is God. for Christ's sake and for our
good.