John 18:1-18 -- The Don’t make waves strategy
1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Wow. Judas a traitor is leading soldiers to arrest Jesus for being a “traitor”. This is called “projection”. We are seeing this today, everything they accuse others of is what they themselves are guilty of. Think about January 6th. They were outraged at this “insurrection”. Trump was accused of “inciting a riot”. However, Trump began his speech about 30 minutes later than it was originally planned and as a result those who rioted started the riot a mile away about the same time Trump began to speak so it was obvious he hadn’t incited them. But worse, those that were so “outraged” at Trump had been inciting riots for the last year. You have Schumer inciting a riot outside the Supreme court, Maxine Waters inciting riots for the last twenty years, and on and on. Now we see BLM’s list of demands and it is abundantly clear that what they want is Trump. They want him prohibited from running for office, they want him charged with crimes, they want him silenced to never appear again.
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Please pay attention! Peter, the same guy who denies the Lord three times cuts off the ear. Do not allow the traitors and evil workers to get you unbalanced. Regardless of what happens we stand on righteousness and see that all things that happen are under God’s sovereignty.
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Why is the father in law the first one they bring him to? This is how elites work, you marry for position and power.
Peter’s First Denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”
Prepare yourself. Make the Lord your testimony to the point that you can no longer deny it. You have two choices as a Christian kind of like the two choices that a heavy weight fighter has when he enters the ring. First, throw so many punches that your opponent is overwhelmed. This is what the Lord did, speaking all the time, from every angle, to every person. Every time they turned around someone was being raised from the dead, or healed, or released from demon possession. He was coming at them fast and furious, they couldn’t respond quickly enough. The other option is to do what Peter does which is to say if I act real nice and don’t say anything to offend my opponent maybe he won’t punch me. It has to be the dumbest, stupidest strategy you can imagine and yet how many Christians opt for the “don’t make waves” strategy?
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The “don’t make waves” strategy includes the tactics of trying to blend in and become a wall flower. If you choose this path you will loose all self respect. Will you be able to live with yourself?
Ezekiel 21:15 In order that the heart may melt, and the stumbling-blocks be multiplied, I have set the threatening sword against all their gates: ah! it is made glittering, it is whetted for the slaughter.