When He finished praying, Jesus took His disciples to a garden they had been to many times. Jesus chooses to go there knowing that is where Judas would bring the officials and soldiers to arrest Him. The next few hours Jesus would see His friends turn against Him and desert Him.
18:3 says, “So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Jesus knows what is coming, but the disciples must have been in shock. What were John and the others thinking when they saw Judas leading the arresting party? They had been friends for three years. What is he doing bringing this group to arrest Jesus?
Verses 4-6 records the initial confrontation.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am He,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
When Jesus said “I am He” they fell to the ground. Armed soldiers in a large group coming to arrest Jesus fell backwards at His words. Continue to imagine being John at this scene. What amazement he must have felt at the power of Jesus words.
Verses 10-11 start the story of a miracle I have never heard anyone talk about.
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Luke 22:50-51 adds to the story a miracle that seems glossed over.
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
What were the disciples thinking? What were the officials and soldiers thinking? How about Malchus who was a servant of the high priest? He was totally healed. Did he become a believer in Jesus? Was the guard binding Jesus afraid of what might happen to him?
The armed party lead Jesus to the courtyard of the high priest. Peter and John follow them. Verses 15-17 tell us about Peter’s first denial of knowing Jesus.
15 Simon Peter and another disciple (how historians tell us was John) were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
Here is another part of this story I have never heard discussed. The word that seems to be skipped over is “too”. The key to this is “this disciple was known to the high priest”. John’s father’s fishing business supplied fish to the high priest’s house. The servant knew John from his many deliveries. They also knew John was a disciple of Jesus. What amazes me is Peter would deny he was a disciple seemingly out of fear and yet the servants welcomed John in with no question. Why was Peter afraid?
Peter’s second and third denial are in verse 25-27.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So, they asked him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Luke 22:61-62 add what must have caused deep grief for Jesus and Peter.
61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Imagine Peter’s deep pain and, yet as only God can, Jesus uses it later to strength Peter for his calling in the future.
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