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Study notes from our study of John 18 in the Bible study room.
John 18
Compassion and courage to drink the Father's cup.
1. Which geographical location do we see in verse 1?
Kidron Valley
*Means dusky and gloomy.
*David crossed it when he fled Jerusalem to escape Absalom 2 Sam 15:23
*Solomon warned Shimei not to cross it or he would die. 1 Kings 2:37
*Some kings of Judah destroyed idols removed from the temple area here. 1 Kings 15:13 2Kings 23:4,6,12
What do you think is significant about John mentioning Jesus crossing of the Kidron Valley?
*Jesus entering a dark time.
*King Jesus fleeing Jerusalem.
*Idols soon to be destroyed.
2. Contrast how Judas and the accusers approached the situation and how Jesus approached it. Verses 2-7
Judas came armed with many people.
Jesus willingly gave Himself up.
Points us to the loving truth that Jesus was willingly giving himself for us.
3. To who and what does Jesus direct attention too when addressing both Peter and those sent to arrest Jesus? Why is this significant? Verses 8-14
He directs attention to Himself and to His mission here.
It's significant again because he's drawing attention to his sacrificial mission of love and not toward harming his accusers or establishing a kingdom on Earth right there and then.
4. How would you describe the courage of Jesus and the courage of Peter? Verses 15-26
It takes real courage to give of yourself and very little to protect yourself.
5. What festival were they celebrating and why didn't they enter the palace? How is this ironic given the fact they're desiring to murder Jesus? Verses 28-29
Passover.
They're so pedantic with their festivals, but so blind to their Savior.
6. Describe… The Jewish leaders desires: The attitude of Pilate: The claims of Jesus. Verses 28-40.
*Jewish leaders
-To murder Jesus by any means necessary. Called him a criminal. Would rather have the rebel Barabbas than their Savior Jesus.
*Pilate
-Told the Jews to judge Jesus themselves.
-Wondered if Jesus was really king of the Jews.
-Found no guilt in Jesus, but gave the crowd what they wanted anyways.
*Jesus
-Wondered how Pilate got the idea he was a King.
-Told Pilate where his real kingdom was from.
-Claimed he came in the world to testify to truth.
We see here that accusers will go to any means necessary at times to muddy their victim.
We see that pressure can cause some not to make a right decision.
Jesus continued to fulfill his mission.
Conclusion
*Jesus with compassion and courage, openly fulfilled the mission he came to do.
*He was denied by his most loyal of followers. He was falsely accused by many. Yet he stuck to his mission.
*From Jesus we can learn to follow God's will with courage and compassion.
*We can learn the darkness of the human heart by looking at the passion of Jesus' accusers. Humans are capable of going to any means to accomplish their own dark will.
*From Pilate we can learn the difficulty of making decisions when under vast pressure.
*Above all we learn that Jesus came with courage and compassion, to do God's will, even though the entire world was against him. As everyone was denying and accusing Him and finding ways to murder Him, he was finding ways to give of Himself, so we could have life.
John 18
Compassion and courage to drink the Father's cup.
1. Which geographical location do we see in verse 1?
Kidron Valley
*Means dusky and gloomy.
*David crossed it when he fled Jerusalem to escape Absalom 2 Sam 15:23
*Solomon warned Shimei not to cross it or he would die. 1 Kings 2:37
*Some kings of Judah destroyed idols removed from the temple area here. 1 Kings 15:13 2Kings 23:4,6,12
What do you think is significant about John mentioning Jesus crossing of the Kidron Valley?
*Jesus entering a dark time.
*King Jesus fleeing Jerusalem.
*Idols soon to be destroyed.
2. Contrast how Judas and the accusers approached the situation and how Jesus approached it. Verses 2-7
Judas came armed with many people.
Jesus willingly gave Himself up.
Points us to the loving truth that Jesus was willingly giving himself for us.
3. To who and what does Jesus direct attention too when addressing both Peter and those sent to arrest Jesus? Why is this significant? Verses 8-14
He directs attention to Himself and to His mission here.
It's significant again because he's drawing attention to his sacrificial mission of love and not toward harming his accusers or establishing a kingdom on Earth right there and then.
4. How would you describe the courage of Jesus and the courage of Peter? Verses 15-26
It takes real courage to give of yourself and very little to protect yourself.
5. What festival were they celebrating and why didn't they enter the palace? How is this ironic given the fact they're desiring to murder Jesus? Verses 28-29
Passover.
They're so pedantic with their festivals, but so blind to their Savior.
6. Describe… The Jewish leaders desires: The attitude of Pilate: The claims of Jesus. Verses 28-40.
*Jewish leaders
-To murder Jesus by any means necessary. Called him a criminal. Would rather have the rebel Barabbas than their Savior Jesus.
*Pilate
-Told the Jews to judge Jesus themselves.
-Wondered if Jesus was really king of the Jews.
-Found no guilt in Jesus, but gave the crowd what they wanted anyways.
*Jesus
-Wondered how Pilate got the idea he was a King.
-Told Pilate where his real kingdom was from.
-Claimed he came in the world to testify to truth.
We see here that accusers will go to any means necessary at times to muddy their victim.
We see that pressure can cause some not to make a right decision.
Jesus continued to fulfill his mission.
Conclusion
*Jesus with compassion and courage, openly fulfilled the mission he came to do.
*He was denied by his most loyal of followers. He was falsely accused by many. Yet he stuck to his mission.
*From Jesus we can learn to follow God's will with courage and compassion.
*We can learn the darkness of the human heart by looking at the passion of Jesus' accusers. Humans are capable of going to any means to accomplish their own dark will.
*From Pilate we can learn the difficulty of making decisions when under vast pressure.
*Above all we learn that Jesus came with courage and compassion, to do God's will, even though the entire world was against him. As everyone was denying and accusing Him and finding ways to murder Him, he was finding ways to give of Himself, so we could have life.