Daily Devotionals

Trouble Maker Week 9: Wednesday

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?” John 18:11

Have you ever been falsely accused of something you did not do? It is not a good feeling at all. I get defensive when this happens to me, regardless of how serious the accusation is. I fight to prove my innocence. You would expect Jesus to do the same when He was arrested, even though He was innocent. He remained calm. He dealt with accusation after accusation and endured it all for you and me to rescue us from our sins. 

John 18 records what happened the night Jesus was arrested, and the stakes were high. Judas enacted the plan he had hatched with the religious leaders, leading them right to Jesus. When they arrived with lanterns, torches, and weapons, Jesus knew what they had come to do (verses 3-4). Seeing them, Jesus walked up to them and asked, “Who are you looking for?” They told Him they were looking for “Jesus the Nazarene” (verse 7). He confirmed several times that He was Jesus. He allowed them to arrest Him and did not fight the arrest. As they were trying to arrest Jesus, Peter tried to stop them. He cut off the right ear of one of the men trying to arrest Jesus (verse 10). 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?” (verse 11). Jesus willingly walked into this arrest and the suffering that lay ahead of Him. Next, they arrested Him, and He was brought on to be tested and tried.

 Now, we know that Jesus was all-powerful. After all, He was God. He could have instantly shut down all who had gathered to arrest Him. Why didn’t He do this? He endured everything for you and me. He endured all of this hardship so that we could be rescued. Without His arrest and death, there would have been no hope for salvation.

Pause for a moment to think about just how much Jesus loves you. He loved you enough to endure accusation, pain, suffering, and ultimately death so that you and I could have eternal life with Him one day. May you feel and rest in His love today.

Moving toward action

We cannot keep this news to ourselves that Jesus came to rescue us. Who is someone you can share your faith with today? Take a moment to share your two-minute story of how Christ changed your life. Tell them that He wants to change their lives too. May we consistently share the love of God with the people around us.

Going Deeper

 John 18:1-14 (NLT)

" When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, 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 garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the 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?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. 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 Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people."