John 18:12-17
12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,
Here we see that both the Romans and Jewish leaders were instrumental in the arrest of Jesus. We may ask why they “bound Him.” It seems that if Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested and told the crowd that He was the man, He would not have tried to escape. Perhaps they remembered several other instances where Jesus slipped out of their grasp.
And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way. (Lk. 4:28-30)
Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple (Jn. 8:59).
“While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them (Jn. 12:36).
It is clear from the Gospels that Jesus was in total control of Himself. He knew that “His hour had come”, and He willingly gave Himself to be arrested and bound.
John does not mention that the other disciples fled at this point as do the Synoptics. Apparently, John and Peter followed at a distance to see what would happen next.
13 And [they] led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
According to the Gospel of John, it appears that both Annas and Caiaphas were high priests. Annas was high priest between the years of 6-15 AD. After that, the son of Annas was high priest, and later other members of the Annas dynasty. It is thought that Annas’ daughter married Caiaphas, who served as high priest. It is speculated that Annas, who at the time was the former high priest, lived in the house with his son-in-law, Caiaphas. As we often address former government officials with the title they had while in office, it is thought that this is the case here (Leon Morris, The Gospel of John, p. 747 and R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary of the New Testament, John, p. 1190).
Jewish law stated that a person could not be sentenced on the same day of his trial. Therefore, the Jews needed to have one trial to determine the facts of the case so that the second trial could render the sentence. The trial before Annas, then, was the discovery trial held late Thursday night. Jesus was then tried before Caiaphas, who could render a sentence early the next day.
14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
By including this comment, John points us to the sovereignty of God mentioned earlier.
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad (Jn. 11:49-52).
God can speak His will through a corrupt high priest who thought his words would condemn Jesus to death as an impostor. Little did he know that God took his words and made them a prophecy of the Gospel. What an awesome God who works His will in even the most corrupt and wicked leaders. Let us pray that He will do so today.
15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
The “other disciple” was the Apostle John. It is thought that he might have been related to Annas in some way and apparently was even know by the doorkeeper. In any event, he did not feel that his life was in danger by his presence at the trial of Jesus. John gives more detail about Peter’s denial than do the Synoptics. Some think that John felt some responsibility for Peter’s fall in that he was the one who used his influence to bring Peter into the situation where Peter was overcome by temptation.
17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
John had heard Peter’s declaration of loyalty, spoken just a few days before:
Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times (Jn. 13:37-38).
John could have warned Peter or left him outside, but he did not. Peter wanted to see what was going to happen to Jesus. In answer to the slave-girl who said, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Peter answered, “I am not.”
Here we see the chief of the disciples who proclaimed his loyalty even in the face of death overcome by a servant girl’s question. In answering “I am not,” Peter disowned his place as one of Christ’s disciples! How easy it is to fall prey to temptation in the moment of stress and fear.
Application
- In this passage, we see the sovereignty of God worked out in the words of Caiaphas. What he meant for evil, God took for good and through his exact words brought out a meaning that never entered into the mind of Caiaphas. God is working His will in salvation history. What appears as evil to us, may in time, be seen as God working all things after the counsel of His will.
- In this passage, we see the forces of evil—the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews arrayed against one unarmed man. It is certain that Jesus was in their power only by His willingness to drink the “cup” of sorrow for our salvation? Today, it appears that the world is opposing the principles and people of Christianity. We must take courage that the forces of evil can only do to us what is allowed by the love and will of God.
- In Peter’s denial, there is a lesson for us. We, too, do not know how weak we are until we are in the force of temptation. The Lord warned Peter about his weakness and coming denial. Peter thought he knew himself better than Jesus did and disregarded the warning. Peter saw himself as the paradigm of strength and loyalty. By contrast, John was one who was humble, not even mentioning his name in his gospel. We have many warnings in Scripture which are designed to keep us from falling.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You (Ps. 119:11).
- It is only as we read and trust the word of Christ that we can stand in the hour of temptation. We are to put on the full armor of God mentioned in Ephesians 6.
Prayer
Father, thank you for this message in John’s gospel. May I trust your sovereign will. Help me to be humble and read your word. Keep me from the hour of temptation and the attack from the evil one. Thank you for the promise that you can keep me from stumbling.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:24-25).
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