that special. Appreciate most
of all the truth. No one ever cared for me or you like Jesus. If you will, let's open our Bibles
tonight to John chapter 18. Lord willing, I want us to look
at the first 11 verses in this chapter. There are so many truths, so
many truths for God's children in these few verses, the difficulty
is limiting ourselves to the time that we have to mention
those things that I believe would be for our most good. And it seems to me that the truth
that runs through these verses that would be the greatest blessing
to all of God's children here tonight is the willingness of
Christ to die for his people. the willingness of Christ to
die for his people. The willingness, if you please,
for Christ to meet death head on to redeem his people from
their sins. Three parts to the message. First,
he goes willingly to the place where his betrayer would know
he would find him. Verses 1 through 3. He goes willingly
to the place where his betrayer, that is Judas, would know where
to find him. When Jesus had spoken these words,
that is, the prayer that we had in chapter 17, and the message
that he preached in chapters 14, 15, and 16. When Jesus had spoken these words,
he went forth with his disciples over the brook Sidron, where
was a garden, into the which he entered and his disciples.
And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place for Jesus
oft times resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then having
received a band of men and officers from the chief priest and Pharisees
cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. The Lord Jesus Christ goes willingly
to the place where his betrayer would know where to find him. He crossed over this brook into
a garden, which we know is the garden of Gethsemane. He led
his 11 disciples with him into this garden. All four of the
gospel writers speak of this that took place in the garden,
but John, writing, we believe, last of all, tells us things
that Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not include in their gospel. But first of all, notice that he crossed the brook
Cedron. This is the same brook that is
named Kidron in the Old Testament, and we see it many times. It
was a brook which ran close to Jerusalem, and it was the same
brook centuries before centuries before the Lord Jesus Christ
crossed this brook this night, that his father, David, had passed
over weeping with a company of people. In that case, it was a father. It was a father, David, fleeing
from an unthankful rebellious son determined to put his father
to death and to take the throne. In this case, it is a thankful,
obedient son fleeing to the place to suffer and die to please his
father. The scripture says it pleased
the Lord to bruise him and he said in prophecy, lo, I come
in the volume of the book, it is written of me, to do thy will. I delight to do thy will, O God. There's a verse in Psalm 110.
That psalm begins, the Lord said unto my Lord. There's one verse,
I believe it's the last verse, which says, he shall drink of
the brook in the way. Therefore shall he lift up his
head. Now this brook was a, if it was
running the night the Lord Jesus Christ crossed over, it was actually
a brook that the offerings, the refuge from the offerings at
the temple was fed into and washed away. It was a black, this word
I believe means black. And it was a dark brook. When we read in that psalm, he
shall drink of the brook in the way, we know that doesn't mean
he literally drank from the brook. But many have thought that this
is an allusion, an allusion to the eagerness of a general pursuing
a routed army and pushing on in his conquest to though almost
choked with thirst, yet would not stop to refresh himself.
But meeting with a brook or rivulet of water by the way, takes a
drop of it and hastens his pursuit of the enemy. And so this is
expressive of the eagerness, the willingness of Christ to
finish the great work of man's salvation and the conquest of
all his and their enemies. We cannot but help to think of
the fact that our fall, man's fall, was in a garden. So man's
recovery begins this night in a garden. And one lesson for
you and I to take from this is that we too should have a place. Those of us who know the Lord
Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we too should have a
place. Like we see that our Lord had
a place when he spent time in Jerusalem, he was sure to go.
We know many nights he spent the entire evening in prayer. He had his place, a place where
he would often resort for prayer and meditation. Judas knew that. Judas knew the place. So you
and I, as God's children, we too should have our place. We should have our place where
we resort for prayer and for meditation. I've read the biography of John
Taton, I believe twice. And the most moving Part of that
book, to me, he was a missionary, of course, to the New Herbertese
Islands. Remember, he's the man his uncle
told him, John, if you go there, the cannibals will eat you. And no doubt, it was an island
of cannibals. And he responded back, if I stay
here in Scotland and die, the worms will eat me. The most moving part of that
book that I remember is the last time he and his father saw each
other on this earth. When he was leaving on his journey
that would take him by ship to that island, His father accompanied
him part of the way, and they had to part, and he looked back
at his father. And the thing that I remember
that's always been so moving to me is he was from a large
family. I forget how many children were
in the family. They lived in a three-room house.
They made hosiery. That's how the father supported
the family and the children worked in the business with him. But
John Payton said every day at 12 o'clock work stopped and his
father shut those two doors and he was alone in that middle room
and he spent that time in prayer. He also said he could only remember
two times in his life that his father did not attend the worship
service. And that was because he was in
his bed and unable to go. But the point I think of is that
room, three rooms, first room, second room, third room, I imagine
that's the way people used to build their houses. They'd get
married and they just had a Need for one room, right? Then they'd
have a child or two and they'd add on, have another child or
two and add more on. But the middle room in his house
was where they manufactured or worked sewing, I believe, making
holes, H-O-S-E. His father, we think of John
Payton, mighty man of God. God used him greatly. as a missionary,
but I tell you, it began with his father. His father was a
man of God, a man of prayer, and they knew at 12 o'clock every
day, except the Lord's Day, where you would see or find his father.
He would be alone in that room on his knees in prayer. The Lord
Jesus had a place like that, and I say each one of us We're
able, as our circumstances allow, we too should have a place where
we can get along and seek the Lord in prayer and meditation. But the point I want us to see
also, the willingness, the willingness of Christ. He went to this place
knowing that his betrayer, Judas, would know exactly where to lead
this mob of soldiers to arrest him. Second, he goes willingly
to meet those who came to arrest him. In verses four through nine,
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon
him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. Judas also, which betrayed him,
stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto
them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground. Then
ask ye them again, whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you
that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let
these go their way, that the same might be fulfilled which
he spake of them which thou hast given me. Have I lost none? As the eternal son of God, he
knew all things. The scripture here says, all
things that should come upon him The reason the Lord Jesus
Christ knew all things that should come upon Him is because He,
along with the Father, ordained all things that came upon Him. And He knew, at this time, He
knew that the sins of His people would be imputed to Him in such
a way that they would become His sins. Now, I understand this
is a great mystery. One of the many great mysteries,
right, about our Lord. Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. And this too, to me, is a great
mystery. How that the Lord, God Almighty,
might take the sins of His people, those whom He had chosen and
given unto His Son, might take their sins and cause them to
meet upon Christ, lay them upon Christ, impute them to Christ. That's what the Scripture says.
He hath made to meet on Him the iniquity of us all. and do it
in such a way that those sins became His sins, and yet He remained
the holy, harmless Son of God. That's the mystery, isn't it?
And they did become His sins. Your sins, if you're one of His
children, became His sins. This is what we read in the Psalms.
In Psalm 40 and verse 12, The Scripture says, ìFor innumerable
evils have come past me about,î this is speaking of Christ, this
is Christ speaking, ìmine,î now listen, ìmine iniquities.î Well,
He had no sin of His own. You know that. I know that. He had no sin of His own, and
yet He refers to my iniquities. How did your iniquities? My iniquities, the iniquities
of all of his children were laid upon him. And yet at the same
time, he personally was as holy as he was when he came forth
from his mother's womb. My iniquities have taken hold
upon me so that I am not able to look up. They are more than
the hairs of my head, therefore my heart faileth me." When he
was charged before Pilate, he answered him not a word. How
could he? How could he answer a word in
his defense once he had taken the sins of his people and become
guilty before God? Does the Lord Jesus this night
hide like our Father Adam? among the trees? You remember
when he's saying he went and tried to hide among the trees,
tried to cover his nakedness with those fig leaves. Does the
second Adam, the God-man, Does he try to hide this night when
they came out? Why they came out with lanterns,
it was a full moon. We know that. Passover, it was
bright. Did they think they needed lanterns
to seek him out and find him hiding in the valleys or in a
cluster of trees? If they did, they were greatly
mistaken. They didn't have the power to
take Him. He asked them that question, Whom seek ye? And they answered, Jesus of Nazareth. And He responded, I am He. We look at this, and I believe
we rightly should look at this as another miracle. another miracle
of our Lord. That when He said, I am He, along
with His word went power. Power that overcame His enemies,
those who came to arrest Him that night. So that they all
went backward. A miracle was wrought here. And
isn't that the way in God calling His people? When that man who
was in the synagogue had a withered hand. He couldn't move it. He
had no use, no power, no strength. And the Lord said, stretch forth
thine hand. And he stretched it forth. Along
with the command came the power. And when we go forth, and I do
this tonight, believe. on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
along with that word, the power goes forth for those that he
calls to believe. Couldn't believe before, but
along with his word, there's power. And this night, when they
came to arrest him, His word was simply, I am he. And along with that word went
power. And John tells us a power that
caused all of these to fall to the ground. How can anyone read this and
doubt his willingness to give his life a ransom for many? They
didn't have the power to take him. He said at one time in John
chapter 10, no man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down
of myself. This commandment have I received
of my father, both to lay it down and to take it again. He laid down his life. He willingly gave his life a
ransom for many. When he asked them a second time,
Whom seek ye? They responded the same, and
he answered the same, I am he. But he also said this, in verse
eight, Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he. If therefore
you seek me, let these go their way. Here are the 11 disciples
who were with him. Let them go their way. And there
was fire that went along with that word, too. It was not a
request, necessarily. It was a request, but it was
a command. Let these, let these go their
way. And then John tells us, as he
does so many times in this gospel, he explains that the same might
be fulfilled which he spake of them which thou gavest me have
I lost none. Now we recognize the truth that
God preserved these 11 disciples that night when the Lord said,
let these go. They were not taken with him.
They were not taken and crucified as he was. We recognize the miracle
in that, but we see something much greater, don't we? We see
substitution in that verse, in that passage. We see that Christ
said the same for you and I, the same truth, that he keeps
his people. He will not lose one of his sheep. Not one. Isn't that wonderful? Not one. We're in His hand and
no man is greater than His Father who gave us unto Him. He will
not lose one of His sheep. He will not lose one of the members
of His mystical body that is the church. He will not lose
one of those who were given to make up His bride. Let these
go, that the saying might be fulfilled,
of them which thou gavest me, have I lost none. It would be shameful. It's not going to happen. It's
not going to happen. But it would be shameful if the
Lord Jesus Christ lost one that the father gave to him. On his
part, it would be shameful. He would have failed. But the
scripture tells us he shall not fail or be discouraged. and he
shall not lose one. He shall see of the travail of
his soul. And what? Be satisfied. Each and every one for whom he
travailed, he shall see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. You know, I say a couple of other
truths here. First of all, I say that he must
suffer alone. Let these go. He must suffer
alone. There could not be any to share
in his sufferings. The scripture says in Isaiah
63 in verse three, I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the
people there was none with me. Suppose some of these disciples
had been arrested that night and taken with him and judged
and put to death, then what would people have said? They would
have said that our redemption was partly due to him and partly
due to these martyrs, as they would be called. No, he had to
trod the winepress alone, the winepress of God's wrath alone. And you know, I see something
else here that I think is a blessing to me, and I know it will be
to you as well. He will not. He will not suffer His people
to be tempted above that they are able. Now that's a promise. That's His word. 1 Corinthians
10 and verse 13. There hath no temptation taken
you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful. who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that you are able, but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear it. Do any of us here tonight think
that the disciples at this point were ready to go with him through
what our Lord went through this night? Do any of us believe that
when we know that Peter eventually denied the Lord Jesus Christ? They were not prepared. They
were not ready. So the temptation, they're delivered
from, as the scripture says. Now, we have a responsibility,
you and I. There's two truths that go through
the word of God. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. And we will never be able to
explain how these two things go together. But the Word of
God is very clear that God is absolutely responsible, no doubt
about it, and that men are absolutely responsible. Someone explained it one time
like two rails, like the train runs on the track, two rails.
One is God's sovereignty and one is human responsibility.
And they said they'll bring them, they'll come together somewhere
in eternity. Man, all men are free moral agents,
all men. If that were not true, Men could
not be judged. Now there's a difference between
being a free moral agent and having a free will. But all men
are free moral agents and all men, all of us, are responsible
for our actions. God has promised. There is There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man,
but God is faithful. We must look to him. We must
look to him for strength, for grace. He will make a way of
escape that we may be able to bear it. Third, he receives willingly
the cup which his father gave him. So he goes willingly to
the place where he knew the betrayer would find him. He goes willingly
to meet these men, this mob that came out to arrest him. And last,
he receives willingly the cup which his father gave him. Verse
10 and 11, then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest's servant,
cut off his right ear. Now he cut off his ear because
he missed his head. No doubt, Simon thought he was
responsible to protect the Lord Jesus Christ. And he drew out
his sword and he smote. And you know, John is the only
one who tells us that it was Peter who did this. And he's
the only one who also, who named the servant, Malchus. The other gospels tell us this
happened, but they don't name Peter as John does, and Malchus,
the servant. Many believe this is because
these two men were now dead when John wrote his gospel. And so
he put this in, and it was verifiable at that time. He receives willingly the cup. Then said Jesus unto Peter, put
up thy sword under the sheath. Here's another miracle, isn't
it? The Lord healed this man. He cut off his ear. I don't know
if it fell all the way to the ground or if it was hanging on
by the skin or what, but the Lord healed him. Touched him,
I assume, and healed him. healed him. And then he said, put up thy
sword into thy sheath, the cup which my father hath given me,
shall I not drink it? You know, in Matthew's gospel,
we know that when he went into the garden, he prayed the first
time, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will,
but as thou wilt. And then he prayed a second time,
if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy
will be done. Now, we're told, he said, It
is the cup that my father hath given me, shall I not drink it? What we see in these three words
of our Lord is complete and absolute submission to the Father's will. Let me close with this thought.
What a blessing. Now the cup was a cup of suffering,
wasn't it? The cup which my father giveth
me, shall I not drink it? A cup of suffering. What a blessing
if you and I, when we too are called to suffer, and all of
God's children in one way or another, go through this world,
a world of suffering. No one, no child of God escapes
the suffering that God has ordained. But what a blessing if when we
are called to suffer, we might look upon it in this light. First of all, my Heavenly Father
gives me this cup to drink. Whatever the suffering is, You
see, the Lord Jesus didn't look at the second causes, and the
third causes, and the fourth causes. He went to the first
cause, His Father. His Father, my Heavenly Father,
gives me this cup to drink. And secondly, my Heavenly Father
gives me this cup, this cup. When we think of a cup, or at
least I do, we have several different sizes of cups at our house. My wife has one cup, it's about
that tall. And I don't care for it myself
because your coffee gets cold before you finish. Most of the
cups about that size, some of that size. We've got two little
old cups, I think, about that size. But what I'm saying is
cups, we usually think of cups as being smaller than glasses. This cup, which my father hath
given me, the apostle Paul, he was able to speak of his sufferings
as light, these light afflictions. And certainly, he had some afflictions,
didn't he? He had some suffering that he
went through. God help us. Some of you are
going through suffering tonight, and if you're not, you will be
soon, if you're one of God's children. To receive that suffering,
to recognize it comes from your father, who loves you. You know,
when we say our children's suffering, those of us who are parents,
we just do anything and everything, I suppose, take their suffering,
but we can't. We can't always do that. We try
sometimes. We try to, but we can't. And so when we see our children
suffering, I always think of this. Their father, their heavenly
father, loves them much, much more. I love them, and I would do what
I could to take away their suffering, but their Father, their Heavenly
Father, loves them much more, and He knows what is best. He knows, and He gives what is
best. Okay, David, let's sing a hymn.