Easter Friday
John 18
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 entered, and his disciples.
What words are being referred to here? What had He said?
We read in the previous chapter that He prayed:
John 17
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[a] believe in Me through their word;
21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
These were the words Jesus spoke before they went out.
He prayed for the unity of the disciples. These are grave words, full of meaning.
He prayed that we might be one even as He and the Father are one.
Do we understand and grasp these words?
Some say they are not one with this church but with that one. But if we are in a right standing with God then it’s immaterial of what nation or even church we are; we are of one Spirit.
We should be one in love, united in God’s Spirit. If that’s not the case then we’re not on God’s way.
If we don’t obey God’s Word then we’re outsiders. And if we’re not one with God’s child who obeys His Word, then we’re outside.
We’re not united by race, but by the Cross of Jesus Christ.
If we are not one in Christ then all our other efforts are in vain. The world will believe in Christ when they see our love for one another and our unity.
This doesn’t refer to unity in that which is wrong as Ananias and Sapphira. That will take you to hell.
It’s also recorded in our text that Jesus crossed the brook Cedron.
We also read:
2 Samuel 15
30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
David was a type of Christ, a foreshadow of Christ. Absalom his son tried to usurp the throne and David had to flee and he crossed this same way that Jesus went.
As David cried when he went up the mount of Olives, so Jesus cried over Jerusalem. Jesus came to His own people yet they turned Him away and rejected Him.
Do you know that when you’re unfaithful to the Lord you bring tears to Him? The New Testament put it this way that you crucify Him afresh by turning from Him and going your own way.
Maybe your heart is not right with God. Maybe your heart is stolen by the world as Absalom stole the hearts of the children of Israel. Your heart might be in money or position or education.
Make right your life with God and get rid of that thing which has captured your heart in the place of Christ.
It’s not what church you’re in that’s important, it’s where your heart is.
Jesus said that the Father loves us even as He loves the Son. Have you seen the Father’s love?