3^rd Midweek Lenten Service – March 3, 2010

John 18:1-18, 25-27When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 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. ⁷ Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ⁹ This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 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?” ¹² Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him ¹³ and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. ¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple 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 girl on duty there and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” ¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself… ²⁵ As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, 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 olive grove?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

“Facing The Enemy”

We refer to it as the Garden of Gethsemane, but on that fateful night so long ago it more accurately could be called a battlefield. Here the Son of God pours out his heart to his Father in prayer. Here he pleads for the cup of suffering to be taken away. But it is here where he also conquers the temptation to disobey, to shun the cross and the grave, as he triumphantly adds, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

There were other battles raging here, too. Here is the final battle for the heart of Judas, the last chance for this fallen disciple to call the whole thing off. Here is the battle of Peter who had insisted earlier, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you"(Matthew 26:35). He takes his sword to prove he meant what he said, and yet only a few hours later he will face the enemy again – and lose. Yes, there is much for us to learn from this familiar account, much that we can use in our own struggles. For the enemy is the same, his plan just as deadly. We need to know how to Face The Enemy, not like Judas or Peter, but like our Lord Jesus did.

It was about the midnight hour. The city of Jerusalem was sound asleep. Only a few lights flickered in the high-priest's palace, where Annas and Caiaphas and a handful of other religious leaders were anxiously awaiting the return of a band of soldiers they had sent to capture Jesus. Would they bring this man back with them, or would he escape once again? Time was of the utmost importance. If anything was to be done, it had to be done quickly.

Meanwhile, the band of soldiers were about a mile east of the city, completely in the power of Jesus. There they were, helpless, hurled to the ground by his words. And if the disciples had any thought of their Master now escaping or taking vengeance on this mob, they were mistaken, as Jesus again does the unexpected. He repeats the question: “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”

These words were not a weak wish, a request for the soldiers to leave the disciples out of it. This was an order, and the soldiers had to obey. Jesus would not at this time allow his disciples to be captured, so he tied the hands of the soldiers who came to tie his hands. He was willing to surrender himself. That was why he had come to the Garden. He knew Judas was on his way with his new-found friends. He knew that he would be betrayed into the hands of sinners. But he did not for that reason stay away from the garden.

No, now was the time appointed by his Father. Now was the time for the Prince of Darkness to have his devilish way with him. The promise he had made, that promise to do his Father's will, he would now keep when his enemies surrounded him. Although he had a perfect knowledge of every detail of his sufferings, though he knew all about the scorn, the mockery, the whip, the cross, yet he was determined to complete his Father's plan and drink the cup of suffering. Jesus faced his enemies with boldness and confidence in God. And so Jesus, the sinless Son of God, allowed himself to be seized and crucified that we, the sinful ones, might go free.

Even now, when our enemies come to torment us, our Savior repeats what he said to his enemies in the garden, "Let these men go." When our conscience condemns us because of our sins, Jesus says, "Let these men go. I have paid for their sins." When Satan wants to claim us as his own, our Savior demands, "Let these men go, they are mine. I've purchased them with my blood." When the grim reaper comes to terrorize us, Jesus repels him, "Let these men go. I have risen from the dead and destroyed your power." So we can face our enemies with the same boldness and confidence of Christ, for we know that we don't stand alone. Christ stands with us. He gives us the strength to overcome. But it's important that we remain standing with him, that we don't try to go it alone or join the ranks of those who secretly or openly oppose him.

It's at this point that John inserts one of the saddest sentences in Scripture: "And Judas the traitor was standing there with them." Instead of being with Jesus and his faithful disciples, Judas was with the enemies of Christ. He stood side by side with these Christ-haters. Since that time there have been other disciples of Christ who deserted their Savior and took their stand with the enemies of Christ. How must Paul have felt when he wrote these words to Timothy: "Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me" (2 Timothy 4:10)? Think of the men and women also in this community, who have been raised in Christian homes, have had parents who set the proper Christian example, who folded their little hands in prayer, but who today never enter the house of God, never open their Bibles, never say their prayers, never take communion. Are they not standing on dangerous ground? Does not our Savior himself warn, "He who is not with me is against me" (Matthew 12:30)? Let us never be so arrogant to think that can’t happen to us! But at the same time, let us not throw our hands up in despair, thinking all is lost.

God gives us the weapons we need to face this enemy of faith. He gives us the power we need to remain standing on the right side, with Christ and not against him. He gives us his Word and his Sacraments. And when we listen to God’s Word devoutly, believe it sincerely and live it daily, when you receive the Lord's Supper often as he has commanded, when our trust is placed squarely on Jesus and his works, you can rest assured that on Judgment Day you will not be found with Judas on the side of the Lord's enemies.

The enemy we face is not an impossible foe. He can be defeated…and he will be defeated if we arm ourselves with the weapons we need for this spiritual battle, if we arm ourselves with the Word of God. But apart from this weapon, we stand no chance, as Peter himself soon learned.

You remember the night in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago – the night of the Passover feast. There, in that upper room Jesus gave them the living memorial of his everlasting presence: "Take eat, this is my body. Take, drink, this is my blood." Then there was the Mount of Olives and Jesus telling Peter, “This very night…you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26:34). “Never,” is Peter’s response, “Not even if I have to die.” But now, all that seems so far away! Now he is among the fires of the world! Now this big strong fisherman cowers in fear before servant girls and before the truth. He calls down curses! Again and again he denies even knowing this man – this one to whom he had pledged his undying loyalty only hours before. How can this be?

This is the one who confessed with his own words: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). This is one whom Christ had drawn into the inner circle of disciples. He is one who saw the face of Jesus outshining the sun and his garments whiter than snow on the Mount of Transfiguration. This is the one who had been warned, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times" (Matthew 26:34). Peter the bold confessor! Peter the fearless fisherman – who can explain him in his denials and fears?

We can, can’t we, because we have stood with Peter? We've seen all the things he saw, heard the same gracious words, and still we have forgotten Jesus just as Peter forgot. We are so terribly concerned about the things of this world, so concerned about our standing and the opinion of our friends, so concerned about ourselves that we forget and deny him too.

If I were to ask you to stand up now and confess your Lord, to witness to his truth and love; if I ask you to tell what he means to you and what he's done for you, surely you would have no problem. But put you out in that world, in the middle of hostile unbelievers, amongst friends whom you don’t want to offend, in the midst of people you’re trying to impress, surrounded by relatives you know are living in sin, and ask you then to witness to His truth and love, and you will blush as I have blushed a thousand times, and you will look for some other things to talk about: the weather or your children's school, or the cars you drive. It's so much easier that way. It makes no sharp demand on us. O Peter, how we must admit we understand what you’re going through!

But there is glory in this story, and it lies in its end. When Peter forgot and swore that he never knew his Lord, who was it that remembered? When Peter got caught at the fires of the world, who was it that could hear his fuming and his cursing? You know the answer. You know because right here you find yourself caught by his eyes, too. "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him" (Luke 22:61).

Yes, the Lord turns and looks at us today, looks at us with that same sorrowful, knowing glance. There is no need to hear a rooster crowing. Just let your eyes meet his, and you will know –– know how foolish you have been, how deeply you have hurt him. His glance says everything: “You should be ashamed, you know better.” “Why do you doubt my words and protection?” “Why do you seek the favor of the world that can offer you nothing?” For this we must hang our heads. We must repent. We must admit our sin and sorrow over our guilt. If there is need for tears, let them come. But then we must wipe our eyes so we can once again see clearly. Why was he able to see Peter in the courtyard that night? Because he was going to court. Why was he going to court? Because he was going to be condemned for your guilt, to suffer your punishment, to pay for your sins. He was going because he hadn’t forgotten you. Jesus was being led away to face far worse tortures and death, precisely because he had not forgotten that we need forgiveness.

Yes, this is the way we must face the enemy. With repentant hearts, trusting Jesus Christ, built up with the forgiveness he won, armed with the weapon of God’s Word, knowing that we can’t stand alone, and we don’t stand alone. Amen.