“The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.”
John 18:3-4 NLT
Jesus “stepped forward” to meet the motley crew of soldiers and Temple guards, led by Judas, and asked the question, “Who are you looking for”? A simple enough question and perhaps an obvious one in view of the murky darkness and proximity of trees. It was perhaps not the ideal place, from an arresting officers perspective, to apprehend Jesus, but Judas was providing the intelligence of His whereabouts, purchased for a minimal sum. Was that all Jesus was worth to him? But this was the start of a Divine plan for the salvation of mankind. Jesus told Nicodemus the manner and significance of His death, in John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life“. The bronze snake episode can be found in Numbers 21. In the story, and once again, the Israelite slaves were grumbling. We read in Numbers 21:5, “and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”” The next verse says, “So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died”. Rapid justice for any who spoke against God and His servant Moses. As an aside, aren’t we glad that God, in these New Covenant days, holds back His judgement every time we grumble and complain? The account ends with the next three verses, “Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (Numbers 21:7-9). This was a prophetic demonstration of God’s true plan for mankind where, instead of a snake representing the remedy for their sinful grumbling and complaining, people instead could look at Jesus crucified and sacrificed to take away the sins of all who believe in Him.
Jesus’ simple question in the Olive Grove, “Who are you looking for?”, has profound implications. Nicodemus came looking for more information about Jesus and His mission, as we read in John 3. There were some Greeks also looking for Jesus, “Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”” (John 12:20-21). Many looked for Jesus during His ministry years – people wanting to be fed, be healed, and wanting to hear His teaching. But they were looking for the wrong Man. They were looking for someone to kick out the hated Romans and make Israel a self-governing state once again. But Jesus came to offer them something far better – eternal life.
We pilgrims looked for Jesus and we found Him, not because of our own efforts, but because He chose us before the foundations of the world. We responded to His message of good news with faithful hearts, believing that Jesus was the Saviour of mankind.
Dear Father God. There are many people out there “looking for Jesus”, Your Son. I’m sure we know who they are, so we pray that You graciously help us to connect them with the One they look for. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 