John 18:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

NIV: Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

NASB: Now Judas, who was betraying Him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

CSB: Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.

NLT: Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.

KJV: And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.

NKJV: And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.

Judas has already been identified as the traitor who will turn Jesus over to local religious leaders (John 13:2–3; Matthew 26:14–16). As with other details, John chooses to leave details of Jesus' last-minute prayers to the other Gospels (Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42). He does the same with most of Judas' interaction with Christ's enemies (Mark 14:10).

Judas' participation is needed for two reasons. First, the priests and scribes want to apprehend Jesus when He's away from a supportive crowd (John 11:57). They need Judas to lead them directly to that spot. Second, in an era before photography, arresting soldiers would need someone to point out exactly which person was to be taken in. To avoid any possible confusion, Judas has arranged a sign to make it clear who Jesus is (Luke 22:47–48).

To this point, Jesus has been active in His role as Messiah, including His teaching and healing. When Judas arrives with priests and soldiers, Jesus will give one last demonstration of His power (John 18:4–6), proving that what happens is not outside His control. From that point forward, His path as Savior will involve allowing others to act on Him, instead.

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 gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. 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”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.