Introduction:

You can't make God do anything. It would be foolish to try. He knows everything. He has all the power. He is everywhere. What could you make God do? Nothing.

That may seem like a very obvious point to make in a sermon. You can't make God do anything. But I want you to connect that thought with Jesus. Jesus is God and thus nobody could make Jesus do anything. If Jesus were to do something, he would do it of his own choosing. No one can twist the arm of the Savior.

That may seem like an obvious point to make also. But now I want you to apply this to the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested. In John 10:18 Jesus said, "No one takes (my life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." No one could make Jesus do anything - not the Roman soldiers, not the Jewish leaders, and certainly not Judas.

And so Jesus - Betrayed and Arrested shows us that Jesus willingly went to toward the menacing band of soldiers and policeman in Gethsemane. Jesus willingly allowed Judas to betray him. Jesus willingly handed himself over to be arrested so that he could willingly die on the cross for us.

Jesus' willingness humiliates and humbles us as sinners. It also comforts and encourages us as saints. Let's walk through the Gospel lesson this morning and witness Jesus' willingness to be our Savior.

V. 1-3

Jesus and the disciples were in Gethsemane, an olive grove. They knew this place. They had been meeting there at night all week long. If Jesus were unwilling to drink the cup the Father had given him, he would never have gone to this obvious place. Judas knew where they would be. Jesus was counting on it.

So Judas came to the olive grove with soldiers and some of the Jewish officials. From all accounts this very well could have been a very large group. The Roman soldiers were stationed in Jerusalem to keep the peace because the Jews were known to be a rebellious people. They would have been fully armed with swords.

Also in this group with Judas were some officials, who were otherwise known as the temple guard. Picture these guys like the Barney Fife's of the group. In my mind these were the weasely guys who never had the guts to arrest Jesus in the Temple when he was teaching out in the open. But now that they were standing next the Roman soldiers, who were the real heavy hitters, they could become a little bolder. The Roman soldier's would be like Navy Seals. The Temple guard would be more like mall security with Billy clubs.

Now don't think that this was just a few men. There could have been as many as 600 Roman soldiers in the group for that is what a detachment was. Even if they cut the detachment of soldiers in half it would still be 300 men with weapons - a small army. The distance from their barracks to the Garden of Gethsemane was probably less than ½ a mile. The Roman soldiers most likely would have met up with Judas and the Temple guard near the Temple and walked straight out the Golden Gate to the Garden of Gethsemane. The distance from the Temple to Gethsemane was about the distance from here to Adrian College. Certainly Jesus and his disciples would have heard this large company of thugs approaching from such a short distance and probably have seen their torches light up the night sky.

Why such a big group though? Remember Palm Sunday. Jesus rode into Jerusalem amid the shouts and praises of the people. What if Jesus' followers began to riot? Nobody was taking any chances. Everyone was on high alert. They probably hoped that just the sight of this small army would be enough squelch any thought of insurrection.

V. 4-9

But even more than the thought of putting down a riot, the large group signified that Jesus' time had finally come, and Jesus knew it. He would hand himself over to this mob. Verse 4 tells us this. "Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?'" Jesus was not going to avoid them. He would not run and cower behind the olive trees. Jesus willingly went out to this ugly troupe. Jesus showed his perfect willingness to suffer and die.

Here is where Jesus and Judas would come face to face. This would add insult to injury. On Wednesday we heard that ultimate injury levied upon Jesus was not whipping, not the beating, the nails, or the death, but it was that God the Father would forsake Jesus. Being forsaken by God is hell, literally. Jesus struggled with that as he looked into the cup of suffering and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. That was the worst injury inflicted on Christ.

Now Judas was adding insult to that injury by betraying Jesus. Later the disciples would all pour salt in the wound by deserting Jesus in his most desperate in hour of trial. Even Peter would disown Jesus. How deep the pain must have been to have everyone turn their back on Christ, even the heavenly Father. And Judas was the worst. His name rings with revulsion in the New Testament. To this day, that name is scorned because he betrayed the Son of God.

But Judas was not in control of the situation; nor were the Roman soldiers, nor the Temple rent-a-cops. Jesus made sure everyone knew that he was laying down his life of his own free will. The Savior asked the group who they were looking for and they replied, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am he." Those three words carried so much weight that all these men drew back and fell to the ground. It may have been several hundred soldiers and guards. How humiliating that must have been! Can you imagine? I wonder what the disciples were thinking as these powerful soldiers were sprawled on the ground as if they were paying homage to the King of Jews. Jesus showed them who was in charge here. He would willingly go with them, but Jesus was not at their mercy.

This moment had to strike some fear in Jesus' enemies at this point. It may have even added comfort to Jesus' disciples. Definitely later they would understand that Jesus had to go of his own accord. He would lay down his life for the sheep because he loved them. He laid down his life for us because he loves us. We can be so much like Judas in our lives. Every sin we commit is like a betrayal of the Son of God. We are just like Judas. We deserve nothing good from God. We deserve only scorn, shame, and hell.

But Jesus loved us so much he willingly suffered the injuries and the insults for us. He endured a life of temptations without ever sinning. He paid the ultimate price by freely giving his lifeblood on the cross. He rose triumphantly from the grave on Easter Sunday. He did this to show us his love for us. He did this to take away our sins. He did this to give us heaven. He did this to comfort us in most dire struggles in life. Jesus' love motivated him to do all of this for his disciples, for us, and for the whole world.

Jesus asked again who the soldiers were looking for. They replied the same and Jesus said he was the one. His tone almost seemed like he was commanding this group to do what they came for. They were at his mercy. So were Jesus' disciples, for Jesus told the soldiers and Temple guard to leave them alone and let them go. Jesus, as he was enduring this struggle for mankind, does not think of himself; but shows concern for his disciples. And thus the promise was kept that he would not lose of those God gave to him.

V.10-11

And then - Oh rash Peter! He was not a dumb guy, but he just didn't listen. He didn't listen to all the signs that revealed that Jesus would willingly lay down his life. I think that Peter was probably made a little bolder when he saw the crowd of soldiers fall down before Jesus. And Peter was the one who promised to give his life for Jesus. He must have thought this was the time, for he drew his sword and cut off Malchus' ear. He must have just missed splitting the guy's head wide open.

But Jesus did not need Peter's help. The Father could have sent 70,000 angels to his rescue in a heartbeat. Jesus went willingly. He rebuked Peter because he was ready. He would suffer the punishment that we deserved. Jesus then healed the ear of Malchus out of love and compassion. Later on he would heal the heart of Peter and make him understand what this was all for.

V.12

Jesus offered no resistance. They arrested him and his disciples fled. He went willingly so that he could save the world from its sin. He went willingly to drink the cup the Father had given him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5) AMEN.