Day 2

Scripture to Read: John 18:2–4

We know the garden of Gethsemane was a place that Jesus and His disciples had gone to regularly during Jesus’ three years of ministry with His disciples. We read today in John 18:2–4, “Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “Whom do you seek?’” Jesus’ time had finally arrived, and though He did not look forward to what He was about to face, He willingly submitted to the Father’s perfect will. We know that Judas had departed from the upper room a few hours earlier, and according to the Scripture in John 18, he was now coming with a mob to arrest Jesus. It’s interesting that the crowd came with weapons as if they were expecting a fight to break out. The reason they came with torches and lanterns was because it was nighttime. Notice too that Jesus very calmly asked the crowd, “Whom do you seek?” Jesus knew they had come for Him and knew what He was about to go through. He asked the crowd whom they were seeking because He did not want His disciples harmed. He wanted them to confirm that they were there just for Him. Remember that Jesus had asked the Father in John 17 to protect the disciples. He is our Protector and Provider.

Challenge & Application

• What did Jesus ask the crowd and why did He ask it? • How does our Lord protect us each day from the enemy we face? (Look at Ephesians 6:10–18 for help.)

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

Jesus finished His prayer in John 17, and then He and His disciples headed toward the garden of Gethsemane. Though God had the Apostle John record the Lord’s prayer in John 17, He did not have him record the Lord’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. But to avoid missing what our Lord went through before He was arrested, we must examine His p...

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Day 2

We know the garden of Gethsemane was a place that Jesus and His disciples had gone to regularly during Jesus’ three years of ministry with His disciples. We read today in John 18:2–4, “Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and off...

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Day 3

Jesus had asked the crowd “Whom do you seek?” but what is incredible is what happened next. We read in John 18:5–6,” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” In the original ...

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Day 4

Jesus had declared Who He was, and after the crowd got back up, we read in John 18:7–9, “Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost n...

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Day 6

We know Jesus had told Peter (as recorded in Mark 14:30 and John 13:38) that Peter would deny Jesus three times before a rooster crowed. We read of Peter’s first denial in John 18:17–18, “Then the slave-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He *said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and t...

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Day 5

Though He asked the Father to remove the cup from Him (Matthew 26:36–44, Mark 14:32–42, and Luke 22:40–46), Jesus knew the cup would not be removed and therefore was arrested. We read in John 18:12–14, “So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was f...

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Day 7

Peter and John were watching as Jesus was questioned by the high priest and then struck by the officer. Neither Peter nor John did anything at this point. Then, we read in John 18:25–27, “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”...

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