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ASSEMBLIES OF GOD


Youth Devotional

Day 39 - Jesus Is Arrested

 
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Video Host: Austin Poper - New Mexico DYD

Big Scripture: John 18:1–12 (NLT)

1 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. 2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. 3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. 

5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again, they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 

8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” 9 He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” 10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” 12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. 

 

Big Idea:

The final hours of Jesus’ life are now in motion. Jesus and His disciples left a Passover meal celebration and walked to a nearby garden in order to pray. Judas, one of Jesus’ closest followers and friends, had agreed to betray Jesus. The religious leaders paid Judas for His part in the arrest. We don’t know all of Judas’ motivations, but Judas was a greedy man and he definitely did not understand who Jesus was or what He had come to do. In this story, we learn three important things about Jesus. 

  1. Even during His own arrest, Jesus was in control. Verse 4 says, “Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them.” Jesus is not fearful, He is not confused, He is not out of control. In a chaotic scene, Jesus is in control.

  2. The soldiers looked powerful, but Jesus had the power. Something incredible happens in this story. Jesus simply says, “I am he” and the soldiers all fall down! Someone with that type of power can’t be overpowered—not even by a contingent of soldiers. Jesus alone had the power to lay His life down and take it back up again. Jesus willingly laid down His power and His life in order to go to the cross for you and me. 

  3. Jesus wouldn’t let Peter fight against the plan of God. Peter wanted to fight and stop what was happening. Jesus wouldn’t let anything stop it because He knew it needed to happen.

 

Big Questions:

  • When you think of the word “power,” who or what comes to mind? 

  • What do you notice about how Jesus responds to what is happening to Him? 

  • How is Jesus’ response to chaos and danger different than ours? How can we be more like Jesus in our responses to those things?

  • What do we learn from how Peter responded and what Jesus said to Him? 

 

Big Prayer:

God,
Thank You that You are in control in all seasons of life. Help me to trust in and rest in Your control and keep me from losing my joy and peace when I feel like I am not in control. I don’t want my own plans—I want to see Your plans and Your purposes at work in my life and in the lives of others. You know best! Keep me from fighting against Your plans. Teach me to trust in You and in the power that You have over all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.