Wholehearted
John 18:10-11
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 its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
We’ve now passed the farewell discourse and High Priestly Prayer and are here in the Garden awaiting the mob to come get Jesus. So you’re familiar with this passage and story of the betrayal and arrest of Jesus. You hear it every year at Easter and often throughout the year. I want to challenge us to pause and look a bit closer. It’s not that we’re looking for some hidden meaning, it’s just when you take some time you tend to see more and more to the story. I think that’s what you’ll see today and even what it shows us to do.
Three types of people in this passage
Wholehearted
Half Hearted
No Heart
Or maybe you can say
Purposeful
Conflicted
Confused
We have several main characters in this passage.
Jesus
Peter
Pilate
Along with John (the author of this gospel) & Annas and Caiaphas (High Priests)
Let’s read John 18
John 18
[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. [3] So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. [4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” [9] This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” [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 its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
[12] So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. [13] First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. [14] It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, [16] but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. [17] The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” [18] Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
[19] The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. [20] Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. [21] Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” [22] When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” [24] Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
[25] Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” [26] One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” [27] Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
[28] Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. [29] So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” [30] They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” [31] Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” [32] This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
[33] So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” [35] Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” [36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. [39] But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” [40] They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
——————
So back to our wholehearted, half hearted, no hearted point.
- Let’s start with no hearted (or confused)
Pilate is the Roman in charge.
Pilate was appointed by the emperor Tiberius and served as governor of Judea
Pilate here represents the rulers, those in charge. Rome ruled the world at this point so it’s appropriate to say – the world. So let’s look at how the world reacts when things go awry. NOTE: this is a lesson in how to NOT act
Put responsibility on others (pass the buck) – John 18:31
[31] Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
Look for escape without dealing with the issue – John 18:39
[39] But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Compromises principles in hopes that the problem will go away– John 19:1
[1] Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him.
Make a deal – John 19:15-16
[15] They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” [16] So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
NOTE: Pilate knows Jesus is innocent – John 19:6
[6] When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”
As Christians we are called to not be like the world. We are to have character integrity, honor. Temptation will lead you to do these things in a pinch. Do not be this way. The world doesn’t have a heart, it only serves itself. I think of confusion when I think of worldly wisdom. It doesn’t know up from down, right from wrong, boy from girl. Pilate is like this.
- Half Hearted (or conflicted)
Peter is one of Jesus’ closest friends (along with John). He’s with him on the mount of transfiguration, he’s with him on healings that the others aren’t there for. He’s close to Jesus. He has walked on the water and confessed Jesus as the Christ, so he believes…..He just struggles with letting go of his own will and letting God be in control. Peter represents many of us, we know the Lord, but we don’t always want to do it His way. He’s conflicted.
Peter is brave, but impetuous – John 18:10
[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 is working a plan, but not always God’s plan – John 18:15-18
[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, [16] but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. [17] The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” [18] Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
*remember Jesus has warned Peter to not get in the way of the Lord’s work (get thee behind me Satan)
Peter doesn’t listen to the Lord – John 18:25-27
[25] Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” [26] One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” [27] Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
*remember Jesus has told Peter he would deny Him when he had already said that he would die for Jesus
As followers of Christ. Let’s not be conflicted or impetuous, let’s trust the Lord. Peter doesn’t listen well. Let’s listen to the Lord. Let’s work His plan, not ours. Sometimes we’re conflicted between our will and the Lord’s will. When confused, let’s go back to what we know (scripture) and it will work us from confused and work us through our conflict …before we get too down on Peter, remember he is a wonderful example to us all. We will talk more about him another day.
- Lastly, wholehearted (purposeful)
Jesus this is His story and as we’ve been seeing in John he is indeed the Messiah, God with us, God in the flesh. He’s not just a kind man, nor great teacher. He is “I Am”
He doesn’t run when it gets bad or tough. He stands His ground. – John 18:4-6
[4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Isaiah 43:25
[25] “I, I am he
who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
He does the hard things when it comes time to do it. – John 18:11
[11] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
He stands behind what he says (he’s not scared) – John 18:20-21
[20] Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. [21] Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”
He doesn’t speak evil even when treated wrongly – John 18:22-23
[22] When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” [23] Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
He tells the truth – John 18:37
[37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
Interestingly the following verse really tells the difference in Jesus and the world.
John 18:38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
Isn’t that sad? So confused they don’t know truth or recognize it when they see it.
Jesus is our model on how to act & be. (He’s already told us to love the Lord your God with all your heart). Purposeful wholehearted devotion to God helps us not run when it gets going rough, it helps us do the hard thing, stand behind what we say, not to speak evil or idle chatter about others, even when we are treated wrongly. We’re not conflicted nor confused, we are purposeful. We know the truth. And the truth will set you free.
