The Light Shines in the Darkness (John 18:1-40)

 Sermon for Milledgeville & Whitestown UMC...

The Light Shines in the Darkness (John 18:1-40)

 

The light shines in the darkness, 
and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5

Two men meet in hell. One Man says to the Other, “How did you die?”

Other: “Hypothermia. You?”

Man: I wanted to surprise my wife by coming early from a business trip. I was sure she was cheating on me. I knew she was hiding him somewhere in the house. I looked everywhere… I was so crazy with jealous rage, I accidentally killed my neighbor who came to see what was wrong.

Other: Woah Dude! But then how did you die?

Man: When I realized what had happened, I was so overcome by guilt and the feeling of betrayal that I killed myself.

Man: I think you forgot to look somewhere in the house.

Other: Yes, the fridge! I wouldn't have died if I looked there.

Man: Yea dude, you could've saved us both!

 

Today we are looking at the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, Peter’s denial of Jesus, and the trial of Jesus. After their last meal together in the upper room, Jesus led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. And it was night.

 

John uses night with a double meaning. It’s not simply the time after the sun sets. It is the time when darkness comes. For John, darkness represents evil. Jesus warned that night was coming when he restored the sight of a man born blind.

 

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (Jonn 9:4-5)

 

The prophet Isaiah is prone to use darkness and light as symbols of wickedness and righteousness.

 

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isa 5:20)

 

Even the name of the servant of the high priest implies the presence of evil. Malchus means king. Pilate will later ask Jesus if he is a king. So there’s irony in the use of the name Malchus. But it gets weirder than simple irony. The Greek name Malchus comes from the name of pagan gods. Etymologically, Malchus can be traced back to the earliest human civilizations in the ancient Near East.

 

The Ammonites, who lived in northern Jordan, worshipped Milcom, which means king. But before them, the Hurrian and Hittite people worshipped Milkunni. And before them, the Akkadians worshipped Milku, king of the underworld. Persian Zoroastrians wrote of a demonic spirit known as Malkus, the Destroyer, responsible for long winters. All these names are related to the high priest's slave's name, Malchus.

I don't think John means to say that Malchus was evil or possessed of demonic forces. I do think it a bizarre coincidence. Dark forces are at work in the Garden that night.

 

A group of soldiers, led by Judas, came for Jesus in the garden, carrying lanterns and weapons. Yes, it was night, the hour of darkness had come, but the light was still shining.

 

Jesus, the light of the world, bravely stood before them and asked, “Who are you looking for?” The soldiers answer, “We are looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus responds, “I am he.”

At these words, the soldiers step back and fall to the ground. It is an act of utter awe. Jesus didn’t say, “I’m the one you’re looking for.” He answered with the divine name.

 

At the burning bush, when Moses asked for God’s name, God told Moses, “I am that I am. Tell the Israelites that ‘I Am’ has sent you.” Jesus told the soldiers, “I am He.” The soldiers responded in holy fear, for they stood in the presence of Almighty God.

 

To protect Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off Malchus’ ear. Perhaps this is symbolic of the religious leadership's deafness to the truth of Jesus. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus performed a miracle and restored the slave’s ear. May Jesus open the ears of all to receive the gospel. Darkness did not overcome the light of the world.

 

Jesus stopped the violence saying, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)

 

This is very different from the other gospels. In the other accounts, Jesus prays for this cup to pass, that he would not have to face the shame and suffering of the cross. But John wants us to know who’s really in control. Oh yes, night has come, darkness is the hour of evil deeds. It looks like all hope is lost as they take Jesus away, but it only appears that way. In truth, it is they who are unwitting pawns in the hands of God, as God executes His plan of salvation. As Jesus said before,

 

No one takes my life away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. (John 10:18)

 

Peter followed the soldiers and Jesus to the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest. He was permitted entrance to the courtyard by another disciple of Jesus who was known to the high priest. This could have been Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man who supplied the tomb for Jesus’ burial. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. The unnamed disciple might also have been Nicodemus. We aren’t told. Whoever it was, the disciple got Peter into the courtyard.

 

Jesus first stood before Annas, a former high priest who was greatly influential in the ruling council. Five of his sons succeeded Annas as high priest, and Caiaphas, his son-in-law, currently served as high priest. As patriarch of a dynastic priesthood, Annas was powerful indeed.

 

As Peter seeks warmth by the courtyard fire, he finds himself being coldly interrogated by the others gathered there.

 

“Are you one of His disciples?” “I am not,” Peter denied. Notice the irony in Peter’s denial? Jesus bravely stated to the soldiers, “I am He.” But in fear, Peter hid his identity saying, “I am not.” Three times Peter denied that he was a follower of Jesus before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had foretold.

 

Meanwhile the trial of Jesus commences. Caiaphas asked Jesus about his teachings and his followers. Jesus responds much like the prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of the God of Israel.

 

I did not speak in secret
    in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
    “Seek me in chaos.”
I the Lord speak the truth;
    I declare what is right. (Isa 45:19)

 

Jesus said to the high priest, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.”

 

A soldier smacked Jesus in the face. “Is that how you speak to the high priest?”

But Jesus said, “Why hit me? Prove that what I said was wrong.” That put an end to the trial. They sent Jesus to stand before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

 

Pilate is known for brutal tactics so offensive that Caesar removed him from office. But as Pilate interrogates Jesus, we don’t see brutality. If anything, we see boredom. Pilate doesn’t want to be bothered with Jewish problems.

 

“Take him yourselves and judge him by your own laws.” The Jewish leaders insisted that Rome will not permit them to put a man to death, even though Jewish law says to execute blasphemers. Leviticus 24:16 states,

 

One who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall be put to death; the whole congregation shall stone the blasphemer. Aliens as well as the native-born, when they blaspheme the Name, shall be put to death.

 

Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. For the religious leaders, that was enough to seal his doom. But it’s clear Pilate doesn’t want to crucify Jesus. He doesn’t find anything in Jesus that demands the death penalty, so he tries to free Jesus.

 

“You have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” (John 18:39) The Jews said, “No! release Barrabas.” Barabbas was a thief. Some traditions hold that Barrabas was a revolutionary who had killed a Roman soldier. Whatever his crimes, Barrabas was a guilty man, and the people called for his freedom and the death of Jesus.

 

Yes, Jesus warned what was coming. Night is coming when no one can do God’s work. In the upper room, Jesus said that the ruler of this world has come.

 

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I do as the Father has commanded me... (John 14:30-31)

 

You see, it only looks like the devil has won. It only looks like darkness is ruling. But Jesus said, the devil has no power over him. All of this, Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ arrest, Peter’s denial, and the hasty trial held in the wee hours of the morning, are all part of God’s plan to save the world from sin and death through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.

 

There is much darkness in our world, war, violent, crimes of hate, division, cruelty, oppression, poverty, human trafficking… the list goes on. It is right to recognize darkness at work, but let us not lose hope. Jesus warned that in the end many will lose heart.

 

“…you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:9b-13)

 

Yes, there is darkness and evil at work, AND there is Jesus, the light of the world, working to set the world free from its bondage to decay. As long as Jesus is in the world, His light will shine. For Jesus is the One who was, is and is to come. Jesus Christ is the beginning and the end. He is the first and the last.

 

John wrote in his prologue to the gospel,

 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it. (John 1:5)

 

May the light of Jesus shine upon you and lead you with victory through all our dark times.