We realize you may not be able to discuss b. What would you say to people who think they all the questions. Pick the ones you like. always have to be in charge about allowing Jesus Small Group Questions to be in control of their life? “A Band of Soldiers” Discussion Questions John 18:1-11 Read John 18:1-11 Previous message summary: In Jesus’ longest prayer 2. Where do the events of this section of Scripture take recorded in Scripture, he prays for his disciples and for those place? What is the name of this garden where Jesus who will believe in him through the message of the disciples. takes his disciples? Read Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32; As Jesus prays for his followers, he prays that they be and Luke 22:39. sanctified in the truth and then he says that God’s Word is truth. In addition to being sanctified in the truth, Jesus prays that his a. Why did Jesus take his disciples to this place to followers be one, just as Jesus and his Father are one. Truth pray? Did Judas know that Jesus would be in this and unity are both important, and the reason they are important particular garden at this time? If so, how did he in the life of Christians is so the world will know that Jesus was know? sent into the world by God to provide salvation for all who believe. When the church is unified around the truth of God’s b. Read John 13:27-30. After Judas left the upper Word, the gospel message of Jesus is effective and powerful to room earlier that night, where did he go and what reach a lost world. did he do? Read John 18:3. What we learned: God only has one flock—the church. When c. How many people might have come with Judas to we choose to be unified with our brothers and sisters in Christ arrest Jesus? Who was included in the crowd that based on the authoritative truth of God’s Word, the Bible, we came to arrest Jesus? Romans? Jews? Religious become the church that God wants us to be. But when the leaders? church divides, fights, or splits over issues that are not d. What detail(s) about the betrayal by Judas does essential to God’s plan to save the world, we send a message to the world that God is not about unity. May we strive to be John leave out of his account? Read Matthew unified in essentials, give liberty to others in those non- 26:47-49; Mark 14:43-45; and Luke 22:47-48. essential doctrinal areas, and in all things love one another as 3. What does Jesus already know as Judas approaches Jesus has loved us. Make it your goal to stand upon the truth of with the band of soldiers? Could Jesus have hidden or God’s Word and be unified with others who do the same. escaped from the garden before the soldiers Introduction approached him? If so, what does this tell you about the authority of Jesus even when things seem out of 1. As you think about your life, are you better at giving his control? orders or following orders? Why? Have you ever been in a situation where you had to follow orders that you a. According to John’s account, who asks the first didn’t agree with? question as the soldiers approach? Is Jesus trying to hide or avoid those who would arrest him? a. When you think about your relationship with Jesus, who is really in charge? Do you struggle b. What does the fact that Jesus begins the dialogue with allowing Jesus to lead in your relationship? with his captors tell you about the authority that Jesus has, even in his arrest? Who is in charge? 4. When the soldier explain that they are looking for 7. This is a very familiar story of the last days of Jesus’ Jesus of Nazareth, what does Jesus tell them? What life. What new thing have you learned from studying specifically does he say about himself as he identifies this passage? Does this give you a new perspective himself as the one they are looking for? on Jesus and what he has come to accomplish for all a. How does the crowd respond when Jesus says, “I people? am he” in response to their question? What Challenge: Because Jesus loves you and wants what is response do we see in Scripture when people best for you, allow him to lead in your life. Pledge to give interact with the divine? Read Ezekiel 1:28; 44:4; him full control of every area of your life as your Lord and Daniel 8:18; 10:9; Acts 9:4, 22:7; Revelation 1:17. Master. b. Why does John include the detail of the crowd’s response to Jesus? How does this detail help Action: I have been unwilling to give Jesus control in this support the purpose of John’s writing? Read John area of my life: ______. 20:31. This week, I will pray that God would give me strength and c. How will you respond to Jesus when you see him courage to give him control in this area of my life. face-to-face in heaven? Read Revelation 1:17 & Next Steps: Jesus is in control. Is he in control of you? 5:13-14. 5. What request did Jesus make to his captors as he G I will surrender myself to Jesus who surrendered identified himself for a second time to those who had himself for me. come to arrest him? Why did Jesus make this request G I will surrender my burdens, hardships, stress, and of his captors? worries to Jesus. a. When did Jesus say, “Of those whom you gave me, I have lost not one”? Read John 17:12. G This week, I will specifically surrender ______to Jesus. b. What does Jesus’ request tell you about the authority that Jesus has in this situation? Who is really in control? 6. How does Peter respond to the soldiers’ attempt to arrest Jesus? What does he do? a. Where did the sword come from? Read Luke 22:35-38. b. Who is the servant that Peter attacks? Where else does the mention of this servant come up? Read John 18:25-27. c. How does Jesus respond to Peter’s bold act? Read John 18:11; Luke 22:51; Mark 14:48; Matthew 26:52-56. What does Jesus’ response tell you about who is in control?