1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. 6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
Commentary
Vs. 1 “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.”
The Lord Jesus then having prayed His Priestly Prayer and thus given His Words to His disciples now leads them out over the Book Kidron to the garden of Gethsemane which was located on the Mount of Olives.
Vs. 2 “And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.”
Now Judas who had already gone out from the disciples to betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities also knew of this place, for Jesus often came to this quaint peaceful little garden to be with His disciples away from the crowds.
Vs. 3 “Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.”
Judas then anticipating Jesus’ going there with the disciples, and having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Thus, in a sickening act of demonically inspired and directed betrayal, Judas being backed up by troops and Jewish temple officers now brings them to Jesus to arrest Him.
Vs. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”
Now when they arrived there Jesus knowing all the things would now come upon Him (and having already prayed to the Father to strengthen Him) now went forward to them, and I would add went boldly forward to them, and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” Thus, Jesus is no more “hiding” Himself from them, for His hour has now come!
Vs. 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
Now when Jesus asked them who they were seeking and they replied Jesus of Nazareth, it is clear that none of them recognized Him, except one and that was Judas who remains cowardly silent as he is betraying Jesus to them. And so, when they said they were seeking Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus did not delay to respond to them but replied by saying that “I am He”. Now as noted by others, Jesus’ response was that He said to them, I AM, thus employing the Name of God! With the Pronoun He being added for clarity in English.
Vs. 6 “Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”
As soon as Jesus said that He was I AM they all drew back and fell to the ground, now this was not a voluntary act on their part, but happened because God must always be acknowledged as God even when He is allowing Himself to be betrayed and arrested by those whom He has created!
Vs. 7-9 7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
And so, when the men had regained themselves and their footing Jesus once again asks them who they are seeking, to which they respond once again saying, Jesus of Nazareth (vs. 7). This time though Jesus does not display however briefly His Person and Power, but instead tells them again that He is whom they are seeking, and thus having told them that He is whom they are looking for, Jesus now tells them to let the disciples go their way, so that the saying which He spoke would be fulfilled of which He said, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” Thus, preserving their persons and lives while He was about to lose His own life.
Vs. 10 “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.”
Peter then realizing that they were about to seize Jesus, drew his sword and in one ill guided attempt to save his Lord and friend struck the high priests servant and cut off his right ear, now the servants name was Malchus, and Peters cutting of his right ear was not intentionally done, rather it was Peter in the darkness missing his target which would have been to strike Malchus; who must have laid his hands on Jesus; in the head with a lethal sword blow!
Vs. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
Now when Peter did that Jesus rebuked Peter saying to him, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” Jesus then in rebuking Peter recalls to him His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He had already settled in His heart and mind to drink the cup that His Father had placed in His Hand. Now of course, in the other Gospels we read that Jesus also healed Malchus’ ear, but here it was only pertinent to record what Jesus said to Peter after Peter in his haste had struck Malchus in seeking to keep Jesus from being taken by him.
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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