How exciting it is to receive status updates of what we have ordered through the vendors of our choice! We have a need, Amazon has it! The price might be high but if it is exactly what we need to repair, restore, or gain access to what we are trying to fix or enter; we will pay the price. And who doesn’t smile when our package moves past fulfillment to “your full order is on its way” status? Admit it, we love the ability to track the path our package takes along with the time it takes to get to from there to our house or place of business. Humans do not like waiting, so the invention of status updates somehow console us and brings us into the process of the fulfillment of our need.
There is a distinctly divine process going on as Jesus fulfills God’s mission to save the world of our sin problem. John, known as the beloved disciple, writes from his heart as he tells us how our need for a Savior is fulfilled through Jesus, God’s Son. Jesus is The Package that contains all we need to restore, repair, and gain access to God, originated with God.
In this next passage of John, The Package is now in the process of “fulfillment” and will soon be delivered to His accusers. The Package will be bound tightly and then delivered to religious accusers in a divine process meant to ultimately deliver us!
Here are the status updates…
John 18, The Message
Seized in the Garden at Night
Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.
2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was imploding on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”
They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.
7 Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”
They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)
10 Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.
11 Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”
12-14 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.
15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.
17 The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”
He said, “No, I’m not.”
18 The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
The divine process begins with Jesus’ prayer to God. (See John 17) Jesus divine conversation with His Father is said out loud in front of His disciples as a status update of God’s divine care for them. Jesus asks for God’s help to fulfill the mission, protection for his followers, and then asks for God to protect believers to come who will benefit from what He is about to do to redeem us from sin.
Delivery Status Updates:
God answered Jesus’ prayer with readiness of mind with resolute peace as Jesus fulfills what God has sent His One and Only Son to do.
Judas leads the way for Package pick up so He can be delivered to the Accusers. NOTICE the line up: Judas—Roman soldiers—Jewish police—last came the Pharisees who followed in the shadows and who placed the order for the Package to be destroyed!
Interruption of delivery service update:
Human will gets in the way of God’s Plan. John, appalled at Peter’s never-ending impetuousness, is the gospel writer who relates the “ear incident.” Peter interrupts the Divine process with his actions of trying to stop what God has ordered. Peter’s sword symbolizes rebellion against the will of God. Peter should have known that Jesus would be arrested and that He would willingly surrender to His enemies Jesus heals the ear and the divine process is back on track.
Jesus willingly confirms who He is and obeys their commands to go with them. The Package is on his way…
Stops made along the way: Jesus is delivered first to the chief priest who prophesied earlier that “one man die for the people”, unknowing fulfilling the words of the prophets who foretold Jesus’ mission. The mind of Caiaphas has already decided Jesus must die.
Peter and “another disciples” attempt to follow The Package as if… We do not know who the other disciple was who went with Peter into the courtyard of the home of the high priest. It was probably John, though it is difficult to understand how a fisherman could be acquainted with the high priest and his household. Was this “other disciple” possibly Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea? They would certainly have access to this home. We don’t know. But we do know there is nothing they can do to stop what God has planned for the divine deliverance from sin.
Tomorrow we will follow The Package to His destined finish of what God gave Him to do on earth. The Package will be placed on a cross, willingly sacrificing His life once and for all. Jesus delivered us in this divine process to redeem us from sin. Believe and be set free! ALL who believe and follow Jesus have full access to God—the place of fulfillment of all we need. So, we ask…
What are you in need of most?
To whom do you place your order for need and help?
Who do you trust to deliver exactly what you need when you need it most?
Lord,
The Divine process of our deliverance from sin reminds us again how much you compassionately love and care for us. Through it all, above all, while we were yet sinners, you died for our sins. You set us free from being tied up in sins that serve to destroy us. You knew from Creation exactly what we needed most—a Savior and Lord to live life to the full. Thank you, thank you, thank you. There are not enough words to express my gratitude so may my life reflect what is in my heart.
In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 