John 18 Verses 1-11

John 18:1 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. 10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”         

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.”  John does not cover what took place in the garden concerning the prayers of Jesus and the three that Jesus took with him to the garden. 

“And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.”  From this we gather that Jesus and the disciples going to this garden was a common occurrence.   

“Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.”  Judas had covenanted with the chief priests and Pharisees for 30 pieces of silver to bring them to Jesus and thus betrayed the Lord.  They were expecting a fight as they came with weapons. 

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”  The Lord demonstrated by his power that no man could take him unless he allowed it.  That they all fell backward when Jesus said, “I am he,” shows forth that he had far greater power than a band of men with weapons.   

“Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.”   

“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.”  Peter had previously boasted that he would die for the Lord and at this point he was trying to prove it.  When Peter cut off the ear of the servant, he wasn’t aiming for the ear, but for the head.  Apparently the man ducked and as a result Peter only cut off his ear.  The Lord, as we read elsewhere, immediately healed the servant’s ear.  The Lord also told Peter: “Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”  The fact that the band of men did not immediately kill Peter is a testament to the Lord’s sustaining power.  Also, the Lord was not going to let Peter be lost because of his brazen action.  Moreover, the Lord had a cup to drink that the Father had given him and He was going to drink it.