Jesus’ Free Ticket                                                                                                                 B - 2

 

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, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)  When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 

Again He asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he.  If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”  This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him. 

John 18: 3-13 (NIV)

 

I’ve heard sermons and have read about The Last Supper, and afterwards about Jesus in the Garden going through mental anguish, and of course all the events on Good Friday.  But the one little part of this whole story that is often overlooked is when Judas, the Temple soldiers and other officials actually came to find and arrest Jesus in the Garden. And in a sense, this part may indeed mean the most to you and me.

Let’s set the stage first.  The band of followers that Jesus chose was, to our human minds, questionable at best.  Not only was there a traitor, but also there was a political Zealot, a former tax collector, a few ignorant fishermen, a few who were maneuvering for a prominent position in Jesus’ kingdom, etc.  Even at The Last Supper, Jesus had to explain who he was, what was going to happen and how they should treat each other.  And what happened?  They fell asleep as Jesus sweat blood in the Garden.

When the people came to finally arrest him, Jesus had to repeat a few times: “I am he.”  Finally, “If you are looking for me…” and then there are these four little words: “Let these men go.”

Wait.  Jesus was in this situation precisely because of his followers’ sins (and the sins you and I commit so frequently today).  He was the only innocent person in that Garden.  It was injustice to the extreme for Jesus to be harmed and killed.  But we hear: “Let these men go.” 

Did you know that even today as you read this, Jesus is telling his Father: “Let these men go.”  But He is referring now to you and me.  He earned a get-out-of jail card for us, a free hall-pass for us, and a free ticket for us to be with him one day in heaven.  Jesus still says: “Let these men go.” 

If you, like I, ever struggle with guilt, embarrassment, anger from our past; if ever we feel worthless; if ever we feel a harsh judgment is coming on us, remember He is still speaking these words today on our behalf: “Let these men go.”

 

1) How might Jesus have felt, as He shed blood in the garden while His followers slept? 

2) What would motivate Jesus to care so much for His followers? 

3) Might this little story tell us the whole reason Jesus came to earth? 

4) What must He have seen in His followers, and today in us, and to you specifically, to so desperately want His friends to be safe? 

5) In one of the Gospels, we read that when Judas and the others came to the garden, Jesus called Judas “friend”.  Why?  How does that make any sense to you?

6) Is it really possible that these words are also meant for us, today, even though most of us have our fair share of “baggage”?

 

Starting this moment, you can be free, really free!