The King and the Lamb, John 18

ByMatt Fitzwater

We are on day 86 in reading the Bible through in a year, and today’s reading is John 18. Jesus finds himself in an olive grove, surrounded by a mob of Roman soldiers and Temple guards, with blazing torches and weapons.

Jesus steps forward to meet them and asks, Who are you looking for? The reply “Jesus the Nazarene.” I love how Jesus fearlessly meets the mob head-on here.

When Jesus responds with “I Am He,” the mob drew back and fell to the ground. We aren’t sure of the psychological reasoning of the mob hitting the ground. I’m assuming the power of Jesus voice saying “I AM” had something to do with it. Then Peter takes his sword and hacks off the high priest’s slave’s right ear. But Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away, and ask him, shall I not from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?

‘10Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” ‘
John 18:10-11

Peter was ready to fight then; he thought it was go time. He knew Christ was the Messiah, and it was time to bring on the new Kingdom. But we learn in verse 36 that Jesus’s Kingdom is not of this world.

“My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom.”

‘Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom.” If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” ‘
John 18:36

I wonder if that’s one of the reasons Peter denied knowing Christ? Did he think that Jesus was going to usher in a full-scale war and defeat the Roman oppressors? He was ready to battle for the King, but not a lamb? Peter learned that God’s plan was far larger than we could imagine. We now know that God planned to defeat darkness and bring everyone who believes in Jesus into His Kingdom.

‘For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”’
Revelation 7:17

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