John 18:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

NIV: Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'

NASB: So Jesus said to Peter, 'Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, am I not to drink it?'

CSB: At that, Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me? "

NLT: 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?'

KJV: Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

NKJV: So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

"Drinking from a cup" is imagery often used in Scripture to depict intense emotions or experiences. That includes anguish (Isaiah 51:17; Matthew 20:22–23). Earlier, while praying in the garden, Jesus had referred to His upcoming suffering using the same analogy (Matthew 26:39). The rhetorical question reminds Peter that this is God's plan. In fact, these events are precisely what Jesus told Peter was going to happen (Matthew 16:21–23). Further, Jesus had just demonstrated His power by flooring the entire squadron of soldiers with a word (John 18:6).

Matthew adds further detail to Jesus' criticism of Peter. Christ points out that He could summon "twelve legions of angels" (Matthew 26:53) to His own defense. This implies a force of more than 72,000. Given the immense power of a single angel (2 Kings 19:35), this is another instance of Christ confirming that He goes willingly to this fate (Philippians 2:8).

It's noteworthy that Christ does not tell Peter to abandon his sword. Rather, the command is to put it away (Matthew 26:52). That nuance, as well, highlights that Jesus' sacrifice is voluntary. Had His intent been earthly power, Peter's action might have been reasonable (John 18:36). Jesus is not denouncing self-defense here, He is reminding Peter that this moment is not the right time.

John 18:1–11 occurs after Jesus' High Priestly Prayer (John 17). The garden setting evokes both the beginning and end of human history (Genesis 2:8; Revelation 22:1–5). Christ's obedience contrasts with the disobedience of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45; Philippians 2:8; Genesis 3:12). Writing after the other Gospels were in circulation, John skips over Jesus' prayers in the garden (Matthew 26:36–46). Judas arrives to identify Jesus so He can be arrested. Christ provides a last demonstration of power before submitting to His enemies. Peter's maiming of a servant is mentioned, along with Jesus' rebuke of Peter, but not the healing of the servant's ear (Luke 22:50–51), or the disciples retreat (Matthew 26:56). David, also, experienced betrayal by a close ally while crossing Kidron on the way to the Mount of Olives (2 Samuel 15:23–31).

Jesus is secretly, quietly arrested in the garden of Gethsemane and taken to a series of sham trials before Jewish leadership. This leads to His encounter with the local Roman governor. Jesus accepts being described as "King" but denies that His current purpose is earthly rule. A mob assembled by Jesus' enemies reject Pilate's attempt to free Jesus. In the meantime, Peter fulfills Christ's prophecy about a three-fold denial.

John's Gospel was written well after the other three, so he frequently chooses to present different details. Chapter 17 detailed Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, just before He entered the garden of Gethsemane. This chapter describes Jesus' arrest, sham trials before Jewish leadership, and the beginning of His trial before the Roman governor. In the following chapter, Jesus will be unfairly condemned, executed, and buried.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.