"NO HELP NEEDED" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 6/30/26

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53)

“As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” (John 18:6)

The place is the Garden of Gethsemane, and the occasion is our Lord’s betrayal. A mob with orders from the high priest has come to seize Him. Judas steps forward and places the pre-arranged identifying kiss of betrayal on His cheek. Peter displays his love, if not his prudence, by drawing his sword: “Shall we smite with the sword?” Before any answer can be given, Peter strikes off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. Jesus prevents immediate retaliation while He reaches out and restores the man’s ear. Our Lord would allow no harm to come to His disciples, only to Himself. This He made clear when He gave the sovereign command, “If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.” (John 18:8) Nothing else can explain why it was that none of his disciples were harmed, not even Peter. Something else that our Lord makes abundantly clear is that everything that He shall suffer at their hands will be completely voluntary. He had said, “No man taketh My life from Me, I lay it down for the sheep.” He will later assure Pilate “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” Thus, from our two texts, we can say with assurance that Jesus suffered voluntarily, and that He suffered vicariously as a substitute for His people.

Jesus therefore declined the legions of angelic warriors. He clearly did not need them. He could have prayed to the Father, and immediately twelve legions, each numbering between three and six thousand (One legion for Himself and one for each of the eleven remaining disciples) would have been dispatched. The hosts of heaven were no doubt waiting on the wing ready to descend at a moment’s notice. Can you imagine what short work they would have made of destroying this mob. Just one of them alone destroyed an entire army of 185,000 men in one night. (II Kings 19:35)

But clearly there was no need for their help. This One who could have called for them was Himself their Creator. He had just before this merely declared who He is and the whole mob fell paralyzed to the ground. He asked, “Whom seek ye?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I AM,” and they suddenly became a captive audience flat of their backs on the ground. (John 18:5, 6) The pronoun “he” is in italics, which means that it isn’t in the original but has been supplied by the translators. Ordinarily the addition would give sense, but in this case, Jesus simply said, “I AM,” for He is the Mighty I AM. (Ex. 3:14) He had also proved His Divine power when He restored and healed Malchus’ ear. Why didn’t the mob immediately retaliate? Because Jesus’ words stopped them: “Suffer ye thus far.” (Luke 22:51) This command prevented them while He repaired the man’s ear, and also after. He who spoke and worlds appeared, needed no help in delivering Himself, had He wished to be delivered.

However, though He spoke not a word to deliver Himself, He did speak a word to deliver us. Notice again, these words, “If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.” This was not a mere request or suggestion; it is a sovereign command. Jesus’ concern was not for Himself, but for us. Think of the great Christian doctrines that are here foreshadowed. Substitution: It was for our sins that He suffered and died. Justice calls my name. Jesus says, “Let Him Go.” (Rom. 8:23, 24) Intercession: Christ intercedes for us with the greatest leverage possible. Eternal security: The disciples here represent all who shall believe in Christ through their word. (John 17:20) He shall lose none! Notice Jesus followed with these words: “That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.” (John 18:9)