John 18:4 “So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"
Did you notice the words “went forth” in this verse? Jesus didn’t walk into the garden and then become passive, waiting to be taken into custody. He went on the offensive. When He saw Judas and the crowd with torches and weapons, instead of running, hiding, and protecting Himself, He went forth. What gave Him such confidence when He knew it was the hour of darkness and that they would take Him into custody, strip Him, abuse Him, whip Him, shame Him publicly, and crucify Him naked on the side of a busy thoroughfare? This is not left for us to guess at the answer for Heb. 12:2 informs us where His heart was focused. We read that Jesus, “for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” What joy was set before Him? I think it was the joy and pleasure of His Father as He obeyed and glorified Him by laying down His life for those the Father gave to Him. He had just expressed this joy in the prayer in John 17.
What a stunning greeting Jesus gave this crowd. “Whom do you seek?” He was setting them up for an even more stunning display of who He is, which we will consider tomorrow. But today, these words inform us that these men really didn’t know who they were seeking. I mean they didn’t know who He really was. That is also true today. Many people think Jesus is like a common man. They think He is like they are. And furthermore, when they seek Him, they aren’t seeking Him to become a follower, they are seeking Him to find something wrong with Him. Looking for a reason not to believe in Him. People with that attitude rarely respond to the love of God revealed in Christ. These will view true followers of Christ as threats to their earthly kingdom and desires. May God give us discernment today as we live to love with Jesus.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
