18After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.聽2Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.聽3So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.聽4Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, 鈥楩or whom are you looking?鈥櫬5They answered, 鈥楯esus of Nazareth.鈥 Jesus replied, 鈥業 am he.鈥 Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.聽6When Jesus said to them, 鈥業 am he鈥, they stepped back and fell to the ground.聽7Again he asked them, 鈥楩or whom are you looking?鈥 And they said, 鈥楯esus of Nazareth.鈥櫬8Jesus answered, 鈥業 told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.鈥櫬9This was to fulfil the word that he had spoken, 鈥業 did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.鈥櫬10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest鈥檚 slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave鈥檚 name was Malchus.聽11Jesus said to Peter, 鈥楶ut your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?鈥

12 So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.


"New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Transcript

The scene of the arrest in John鈥檚 Gospel is very different from its presentation in the other three Gospels.聽 Jesus does not pray for the cup to pass him by, rather he rhetorically asks if he will not drink the cup the Father has given him.

The Johannine Jesus is in total control of the episode. He knows everything that will happen and identifies himself to the arresting party. Jesus鈥 declaration, 鈥淚 am,鈥 so resonates with divine authority that the arresting party falls to the ground before him. Details of the swordplay are provided, but no healing of the severed ear is mentioned.