Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? (5) They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. (6) As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (7) Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye ? and they said, Jesus of Nazareth. (8) Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he, if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: (9) That the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none, (10) Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. (11) Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (12) Then the band, and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
It is not wonderful that the Roman soldiers should have been ignorant of Christ's person, for they little regarded the Great Redeemer of mankind, unconscious of their need of one. But that the chief priests and Pharisees, and especially Judas, should not instantly have recognized Christ, is astonishing. Some have thought that the Lord for the moment struck the whole party with blindness, as the angels at Lot's house struck the sodomites, before that the Lord struck them to the ground. Genesis 19:11. But be this as it may, certain it is that somewhat overawed the whole company, and probably it was a large one, if, as some suppose that the Chiliarch (who in John 18:12 is so called) commanded not less than five hundred men.
But I pass over this, and indeed every other consideration, to call the Reader's attention to two grand points here presented to our contemplation. First, the promptness of Jesus to meet his enemies, in going to them unasked. And, Secondly, the miracle which he wrought in smiting them to the ground. Of the first, I shall have occasion to speak more particularly in the succeeding verses. And of the second, I will only beg to observe, that, according to my apprehension of things, this was the greatest miracle that we have upon record, produced by apparently the slightest exertion of Christ's power. Reader! figure to yourself an army of soldiers, with weapons, falling backward to the earth only at the simple words of Jesus, I am! And then ask your own heart, Who but God could have wrought such a miracle! How was that prophecy of the Psalmist concerning Christ fulfilled, When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Psalms 27:2. And how blessedly also was that prophecy of Isaiah accomplished, which he spake concerning this stem of Jesse, and the Branch which should grow out of his roots, when it was said of him, that he should smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he should slay the wicked. Isaiah 11:1-4. Oh! how easily might the same breath which cast them to the ground, have cast them into hell! And, Reader! do not overlook how graciously the same words of Jesus which minister comfort to his people, prove destructive to his enemies. See Isaiah 58:9; Matthew 14:25-33. For when at any time the Lord speaks graciously to his own, it is for the most part in making himself known unto them. I, even I, am he that comforteth you. Then thou shalt call, and the Lord shall answer: thou shalt cry, and He shall say, here I am. It is I, be not afraid. See Isaiah 58:9; Isaiah 58:9; Mark 6:49-50. So that the very presence of the Lord, and the manifestation of that presence, which confounds the Lord's enemies, comforts his friends; yea, the very same words, according to the manner in which the Lord speaks them, give life, or destroy.
When the Reader hath duly pondered these things, I would beg to call his attention to what I before glanced at in these words and actions of Christ, in the promptness of Jesus, in going forth to meet his enemies, and voluntarily surrendering himself into their hands. Jesus knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said unto them, whom seek ye? Now the voluntary surrender of himself as a sacrifice for the redemption of his Church and people, is among the grand events of the whole business, and therefore I more earnestly request the Reader's attention to it.
And for the proper apprehension of it, we must look back, according to the scriptural account of these transactions, to the everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure, in which the Almighty Covenanters engaged before the foundation of the world. We are too apt to begin the subject of Christ and his Church, at that part of it which concerns the redemption of the Church; whereas, in truth, this is but the consequence of things, and not the first chapter in this wonderful volume of God! Christ, and his Church, were set up from everlasting. And for the time-state of the Church, the Lord Jesus, as the Head and Husband of his Church, volunteered from all eternity to come and deliver her from the ruin of the fall, which in the Adam-nature, in which she was to be born, in common with the whole Adam-race, it was foreseen she would be involved. And hence we hear Christ, by the Spirit of prophecy, ages before his incarnation, saying, Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire: mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required; then said I, Lo! I come! In the volume of the book it is written of me. I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalms 40:6-8. Now the freewill offering of Christ as a sacrifice, constituted the principal feature in the merit of it. So that we find, no sooner doth scripture open to the Church the subject of redemption, and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ as the High Priest, the Altar, and the Sacrifice, but we discover also, in the same Scriptures, the voluntary will and freeness of the Lord Jesus, in giving himself a sacrifice.
I must not, in a work of this kind, amplify pages in bringing a selection of scriptures to this point, in proof at large. But I earnestly request the Reader to consult those I refer to. They may be classed under their several heads. First, what the Scriptures relate of these things, in Christ's willingness to offer himself a sacrifice for his Church, before the foundation of the world. See, in confirmation, Psalms 89:19-29; Proverbs 8:22 to the end. Romans 16:25-26. Secondly. The further relation of those things from the first dawn of revelation, and before Christ openly tabernacled in substance of our flesh. Every service under the law ministered to this one end, and every type and shadow had no other object but in allusion to the one offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. Hebrews 10:10. In proof of this the whole Jewish dispensation might be brought forward, and the whole code of prophecy also. See Psalms 22:1 and Psalms 69:1; Isaiah 53:1; Zechariah 9:11. Thirdly. When the Son of God appeared, and came to accomplish the full purposes of the covenant, every act of Christ, before the time arrived for his sufferings and death, most fully proved that his entire consent was in it. My meat is to do the will of him that, sent me, said Jesus, and to finish his work, John 4:34. Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business, Luke 2:49. Yea, the zeal of the Lord's house is said to have eaten him up. John 2:17. So that everything indicated how exceedingly his heart was engaged in this work. Jeremiah 30:21. And perhaps as striking an instance in proof, as ever could be given, was the reproof he gave to Peter, who, from his love to Jesus, when the Lord was foretelling his disciples of his sufferings, cried out, Lord, be it far from thee! Get thee behind me, Satan, (said Jesus), thou art an offence unto me; for thou savorest not the things which be of God, but those that be of men! Matthew 16:21-23. See the Commentary there. From all which appears the earnestness with which the Lord looked forward to this great event of his sacrifice and death, as the delight of his heart. He engaged in it from all eternity. And in time, no sooner had his Almighty hands, in common with the Father and the Holy Ghost, created the world, than he began to shew forth, in types and sacrifices, his redemption of the world; yea, he is said to have been the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, because every offering shadowed forth the offering of his body once for all. Revelation 13:8; Hebrews 10:10. And, lastly, to mention no more: the freeness and willingness with which Christ here came forward from the garden, to give himself up to the band of men and officers, become a full confirmation of the whole. He who struck to the ground the whole band, could have delivered himself from them forever; but, as he himself said, how then would the Scriptures have been fulfilled, that thus it must be. See Matthew 26:50-54. If the Reader wishes to consult more scriptures in proof of the voluntary offering of Christ, and the Lord's delight in the prospect of his death, he may turn to Luke 9:18-22 and Luke 9:51; Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 12:49-50; John 13:27-32; John 13:27-32
I beg the Reader's particular notice to the wonderful authority of Christ, expressed in these words, in the very moment of surrendering himself: If, therefore, ye seek me, let these (meaning his disciples) go their way. I humbly conceive, that Jesus spake not as a matter of request, as though he begged it as a favor for his disciples to be at freedom to depart; but a command, they shall go their way. Touch not mine anointed, and do my Prophets no harm. Psalms 105:15. And, surely, if his overruling power had such sway in the safety of others, how much more, had it pleased the Lord, might he have exercised it for himself. I mention this as an additional testimony of the free-will offering of Christ, in which, beyond all doubt, consisted the infinite value of his sacrifice. And what a very sweet and comfortable thought ariseth out of this view of Jesus, thus giving his disciples a safe deliverance through the midst of their enemies. Surely he standeth round about his people now, as much as then. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation. 2 Peter 2:9. When the Prophet's servant in the Mount, found himself surrounded with the horses and chariots, even a very great host, sent by the king of Syria to take prisoners, the Prophet and his servant, the poor distressed follower of Elisha, cried out, Alas! my master, how shall we do? But how different did he view things, when, at the Prophet's prayer, the Lord opened his eyes, he saw a mountain full of horses of fire, and chariots of fire, encircling them both around for protection? 2 Kings 6:14, etc. So was it with the disciples of Jesus, in the hour here described. The presence of Jesus was a wall of fire round about. Zechariah 2:5. So is it now, and ever hath been, and will be in all ages of the Church. There is a suited grace, a suited strength in Christ, for every occasion. And when faith is in lively exercise, a child of God finds himself enabled to fetch all from Christ, and to live wholly upon Christ. I can do all things, said Paul, (and so may every child of God say the same, when the Lord the Holy Ghost quickens to the act of faith), through Christ which strengtheneth me. Php 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
If I detain the Reader one moment longer on this very interesting passage, it shall be only to remark to him the very great preciousness in the accomplishment of our Lord's prayer, respecting the safety of his people. The Lord Jesus had just before declared to his Father in that prayer, (see John 17:12.) that he had lost none of all that the Father had given him. And here the Evangelist records a blessed instance of it, so immediately upon accomplishment. Surely so sweet a proof, and so graciously handed down to the Church by God the Holy Ghost, ought to be had in everlasting remembrance. For what is here said of the Apostles, holds equally good to all the Church of Christ. Not one of them whom the Father hath given to the Son can be lost, either in time or eternity, either body or soul, for both are equally the Father's gift, and equally united to Christ, and equally beloved by God the Holy Ghost. And it would be well if every child of God, from so remarkable an instance as this before us, would take comfort from it against all the exercises he may meet with in his own life. And though Peter seemed for the moment to have made it doubtful, by cutting off the ear of one of the party, yet even this act of violence on the Apostle's side called forth no resentment from them on their's. A plain proof of the restraint Jesus had over the minds of all that came against him, and, by the way, no small proof also of his divine nature in the act. So that the whole forms a very blessed instruction, and of comfort to all the children of God, in all ages of the Church, and I venture to hope that my Reader will not lose sight of it. John 6:39
Of the binding of Christ, which as a sacrifice became highly proper, I have already dwelt upon, Matthew 26:57. But, in addition to what was there offered, I would request the Reader to connect with it the wonderful coincidence of circumstances, which arise from the view of Christ, as a free-will offering. To bind Him, who by the breath of his mouth cast to the ground the whole party of soldiers, and who could have commanded a legion of angels to attend his divine person, how mysterious it appears! And yet, so it must be. His divine nature is proved from the omnipotency he manifested; and the binding him, as another Isaac, as fully demonstrated that he was crucified through weakness, 2 Corinthians 13:4 and both together confirm. the wonders of his person; Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto them that are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God, 1 Corinthians 1:23-24.