John 18:1-11
Jesus Surrenders
Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts
S – What verse stands out to me today?
O – What is God revealing about Jesus?
A – How should this change my life today?
P – What is my prayer in response?
Scripture
(John 18:1-11, NLT) After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. 2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. 3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. 4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. 5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” 9 He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” 10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”
Observation
We are given the general location of the arrest.
There were both Roman soldiers and Temple guards accompanying Judas to arrest Jesus.
Jesus knew what was going to happen and he positively identifies himself three times by saying, “I am he.”
I notice that they all drew back and fell to the ground after Jesus identifies himself.
“Who are you looking for?” is used two different times in the discourse.
Jesus volunteers himself and protects his disciples from being arrested.
Simon Peter draws his sword and cuts off the ear of Malchus.
Jesus commands Peter to put his sword away because this is a part of the suffering that Jesus must go through in order to save the world from its sin.
Application
I can totally relate to Peter’s desire to protect his Lord. My impulse is often to protect, but I have to be careful that I don’t stand in the way of God’s plans that often involve difficulty. We grow best in the challenge.
Prayer
Dear Lord, you are so brave. When they came for you, you volunteered to suffer. Your example inspires me. Help me to volunteer to serve even if it means suffering. I desire for my actions to be glorifying to you. Help me to stand up for others when appropriate. Help me to know when to stand down when your plan calls for it. Discerning this is hard, but with your Holy Spirit I know I can tell the difference. In Jesus' name, amen!
Have questions about today’s S.O.A.P. study? Comment below.
