John 18:1-14: Summary:So begins the final crises of Christ. Let us not be unaffected. Having prepared and prayed for His disciples in view of His departure, He now takes to the Garden of His distress. Being often frequented, a place of sweetest assembly becomes a place of sinfullest arrest. Proving ignorance of Christ, the betrayer comes to Him with a weaponized hoard. To display His authority over the situation, and to give a manifestation of His guardianship, Jesus unsheathes the divinity of His Word. Something of Him is revealed in His self-identification. His enemies reflexively bow. His disciples, in contrast, safely stand. One disciple, Peter, however, continues to misunderstand. Perhaps enemies of Christ approach Him on-guard, not because of Christ, but because of disciples who, sadly, fail to appropriate the heart of Christ and the true character of His mission. To that end, Jesus is arrested and 'bound,' and the process of unjust examination begins, whereby one Man will die for the people---whereby Jesus will justify, free, and arrest the hearts of all who believe.

Sermon Outline:

Coming to Jesus---in the dark. (18:1-3)

Jesus stepping forward---to give Light. (18:4-11)

The Word in charge. (18:4-6)

The Lord our Shepherd. (18:7-9)

The Lamb of God. (18:10-11)

Jesus arrested---to be arresting. (18:12-14)