Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. What does verse 4 (printed below) tell us about Jesus?
Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to him, went forward and asked them, For whom are you looking? (John 18:4)
According to verse 4, Jesus, knowing all the things that were about to happen to Him, went forward to meet His captors and surrender Himself to them. Take note of Jesus’ absolute commitment to His Father’s will. On a previous occasion, when the multitude sought to seize Him in order to make Him king, Jesus withdrew into the hills (John 6:14-15). But now, when an armed band comes to seize Him in order to crucify Him, He boldly steps forward to meet them and surrender Himself to them, knowing this to be His Father’s will.
2. How does Jesus identify Himself to the hostile mob? See John 18:4-5 (printed below) Note, also, Exodus 3:14 (printed below)
Jesus, knowing all that was about to happen to him, went forward and asked them, For whom are you looking? (5) They replied, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am he. Now Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. (John 18:4-5)
God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and he said, This is what you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14)
According to verses 4-5, Jesus went forward and identified Himself to the hostile mob. He inquired, For whom are you looking? They replied, Jesus of Nazareth. In response, Jesus declared, “I AM he.” In His reply Jesus was doing far more than merely identifying Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. He was saying, I am the LORD—Jehovah! I am none other than the God who appeared to Moses when, on that occasion, I identified Myself as the great I AM (Exodus 3:14). In His response to the multitude that came out to seize Him, Jesus was in effect saying to them, “You say that you are seeking Jesus of Nazareth. Do you realize the true identify of Jesus of Nazareth? Do you know with whom you are dealing? I am Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus of Nazareth is none other than the Lord God incarnate!”
3. Contrast Jesus’ action (verse 4 printed under question #1 above) with the response of the mob (verse 6 printed below)
When he said to them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground. (John 18:6)
We read that Jesus went “forward” and identified Himself to the hostile mob; and they went “backward,” falling to the ground (verse 6). When the Lord God asserts Himself and reveals Himself, His enemies are scattered (note Numbers 10:35; Isaiah 33:2a,3b). Note the words of Isaiah 33:2-3, “O Jehovah… when you lift yourself up the nations are scattered.”
4. What does Peter do at this point? How does Jesus react to him? See John 18:10-11a (printed below)
Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus. (11) But Jesus commanded Peter, Put the sword back into its sheath. (John 18:10-11a)
At this point Simon Peter was emboldened to draw his sword to rout this hapless band of soldiers (verse 10). But Jesus restrained him (verse 11), cp. Matthew 26:52-54. On the one hand, if Jesus had desired to save His own life He could easily have done so: all that was about to happen to Him was preventable (in the sense that it was within His power to prevent it). But, on the other hand, if Jesus was to fulfill the purpose for which the Father sent Him into the world, all that was about to happen to Him was unavoidable—it was absolutely necessary (note Matthew 26:39,42,52-54).
5. What does Jesus explain to Peter in verse 11b (printed below?)
Jesus commanded Peter, Put the sword back into its sheath. This is the cup that the Father has given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11)
Jesus explains to Peter that He shall surrender Himself to His captors and undergo all that lies before Him because this is the cup the Father has given Him to drink (verse 11). Jesus will surrender Himself to all that lies before Him because it comes from the Father’s hand—because it is the Father’s will—as such, He cannot and will not refuse it.
