Scripture to Read: John 18:7–11
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 not one.’” The spiritual forces of wickedness continued to press the crowd forward, though I would think that many of them might have wanted to flee after getting knocked to the ground simply by Jesus declaring Who He was. But Jesus asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” and they, possibly cautiously this time, answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.” But when Jesus answered the crowd that second time, the people did not get knocked to the ground again. This proves that Jesus did not continue to oppose His arrest but willingly gave Himself into their hands and made sure His disciples were protected from harm. Our Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for His disciples, but also for every soul who had ever lived, was living at that time, and all who would live from that time on. Peter lost his temper and took matters into his own hands, as we read in John 18:10,” Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.” Jesus lovingly rebuked Peter in John 18:11, reminding him that He must fulfill His Father’s will.
Challenge & Application
• From what you learned today, how do you know that our Lord protects His own?
• What do we learn from Peter about submitting our emotions under the authority of our Lord no matter what we face?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!