Exposition of John, Chapter 18 · Verse 1
Ver. 1. WHen Jeſus had ſpoken theſe words, he went forth with his Diſciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entred and his Diſciples.
2. And Judas alſo which betrayed him, knew the place, for Jeſus oft-times reſorted thither with his diſciples.
3. Judas then having received a band of men, and officers from the chief Prieſts and Phariſees, cometh thither with lanthornes, and torches, and weapons.
John, omitting Chriſts agony in the garden, as having been largely ſpoken to by the reſt, and contenting himſelfe to record (in this part of the Chapter) how he was taken and bound there, and carried away from thence; He doth premit three neceſſary particulars to that Naration; The firſt whereof, (in theſe verſes) is the conveening of all parties in this place, He firſt records how Jeſus, after the former ſweet exerciſe, goeth out of the Citie to this garden beyond the brook Cedron, wi…h his diſciples v. 1. Next, he declareth that this being a place frequently haunted by Chriſt and his diſciples, and ſo known to Judas, v. 2. He came there well guarded, to take him, v. 3. I need not here inſiſt to deſcribe this garden, nor yet to ſhew that as Adam ſinned in a garden, ſo Chriſt would ſuffer in a garden, to expiate the guilt of this ſin in all his people. But we may from v. 1. Learn, 1. It is the duty of Chriſts followers, not to expect alwayes ſo ſweet a life as preaching, hearing, communicating and prayer, but to lay their account that after ſuch exerciſes, they may be called to ſuffer, and after fair blenks, may meet with black ſtormes; for, ſo much doth Chriſts example teach, who, when he had ſpoken theſe words, (in preaching and prayer, and had inſtiſtute and celebrate the Supper) he went forth, &c. to his trial. 2. Such as have committed themſelves to God, and leſt any of whom they have charge, on him, may very ſafely leave them in the midſt of hazards, and themſelves hazard to look trouble in the face; for, more particularly, When Jeſus had ſpoken theſe words, (in the former prayer, wherein he had prayed to the Father for himſelfe, and left his diſciples upon him) he went forth to encounter death, and is not affraid to be taken from his diſciples, and leave them in the world, ſince he had put them in ſo ſure a hand. 3. It is the duty of the Lords people to be reſolute in undergoing ſuffering, and to offer themſelves voluntarily to God, to underly it, in ſo far as they have a calling; And herein Chriſt is an eminent pattern, who went forth over the brook Cedron (a little brook running betwixt Jeruſalem and the mount of Olives, of which ſee 2 King 23.6. and elſewhere) and entred into the garden, where he was to meet with ſeveral conflicts. 4. His taking his diſciples with him, and their following of him, may ſerve to teach; Partly, how affectionatly Chriſt is to be followed, when he is foretelling of his departure; for, on their part it imports their hanging on him, Luk. 22 39. as Eliſha did on Elijah till the fiery chariot parted them. Partly, That we ſhould be thrifty in ſpending every moment of our time, whatever encumbrances we have; for, Chriſt in all this throng, took them with him, that by the way he might informe them of their ſcattering, and appoint the meeting place after his reſurrection, as it is recorded, Matth. 26.31, 32. Partly, That Chriſt hath ſanctified in his own perſon, the deſolate and low condition of his people, wherein they would be glad of the meaneſt encouragement, even from the company of weak Chriſtians, and yet cannot have it; for, he alſo took them with him that they might watch with him in his agony, wherein yet they diſappointed him, as is recorded Mat. 26.38, 40. And partly, That as naturally we are averſe from trouble, eſpecially from ſuffering for Chriſt; So it is his peoples duty to train and breed themſelves for ſuch lots, both by the obſervation of the courage of others, Heb. 6.12. and 12.1. (which, no doubt, made many in the primitive times ſo ſtout) and by the obſervation of their own weakneſſe in leſſer aſſayes, that being humbled thereby, they may put themſelves in Chriſts hand, who may make notable inſtruments of theſe who at firſt are very weak; Therefore alſo did he take them with him, not that they might ſuffer at this time, but that they might be bred for their after ſufferings, by beholding his courage and power, and by getting a taſte of their own weakneſſe, to make them more ſelfe-denied, and eager to recover themſelves at another time. 5. Such as would bear out under trial and perſecution, ought not to be found ſleeping, but in the firſt place ſhould make all ſure with God, that trial do not ſurprize them, while they have not entreated the face of the Lord, 1 Sam. 13.12. Therefore alſo doth he enter into the Garden, that there he may endure his agony, and wraſtle with his Father, before Judas came, as is cleared by the reſt.
From v. 2, 3. Learn, 1. As it is our duty to be very diligent with God when troubles are eminent or incumbent; So we ought not to leave all to the pinch of extremity, but ſhould be making ready before-hand; for, Jeſus oft-times reſorted thither with his diſciples. See Luk. 21.37. and 22.39. And this he did, not only to ſanctifie unto his followers ill entertainment, notwithſtanding the ſervices they do to the world, as he preached all day, and yet lay in the fields all night, Luke 21.37. or, to ſanctifie eſſayes of hazards and trials, whereby they are fitted for greater trouble when it cometh; as he was long before ſo purſued, as he could not conveniently lodge by night in Jeruſalem; But further, he did this, that in the night time he might give himſelf there to prayer, (as was his cuſtome,) Mat. 14.…3.) and that before his Agony came. 2. As beleevers ought not to ruſh upon trials without a calling, ſo they ought not timerouſly to decline them, but ſhould ſet their face toward them, Luke 9.51. Mark 10.32. for he went where Judas knew the place, to ſhew that as he would not run to Judas, ſo he would not go out of his uſual way, though he knew his knowing of it would afford him an advantage. 3. Chriſt may be perſecuted by men who have been very eminent in his ſervice; even by one of his twelve Apoſtles, as Judas was, and by them who in their office were types of himſelf, ſuch as the chief Prieſts were. And this ſhould prevent our ſtumbling at the defection of ſuch, and by this all are warned, that were they never ſo eminent, or had ſtood never ſo long, yet they ought to take heed of an entertained idol, leſt that draw them in the ſnare, as theſe Prieſts were by their credit, and Judas by his love to the world. 4. Wicked apoſtates and perſecutors are not aſleep in their deſignes and actings, but are very vigilant and active, when, it may be, Chriſts followers are aſleep and careleſſe; for, in the dark night Judas cometh with his crew, and that at the time when Chriſt could not get his diſciples kept awake, as is recorded, Matth. 26.45, 46, 47. 5. Chriſt will not ſtand to let perſecutors have all outward advantages of him, that ſo his victory over them may be more conſpicuous; for, therefore is there a Judas who knew his retiring places, to lead out a band of men, (of theſe Romanes who kept the Tower next the Temple, whether with Pilates conſent or not, is not needful to determine) and officers or ſervants from the chief Prieſts and Phariſees, and that with lanternes, and torches, and weapons. And all this againſt Chriſt him alone. They made uſe of lanternes and torches, although it was full moon at the time of the feaſt, that ſo they might be ſure to finde him out. 6. Perſecutors want not their own feares and toſſings, in the violent courſes they undertake againſt Chriſt and his people; but may have, ofttimes, more perplexity, then the ſufferers have in bearing what they are permitted to inflict; for, therefore alſo was it that Judas came, and they ſent him thus attended and provided; even out of fear leſt the matter ſhould miſcarry.