John 18 The crucifixion of the Son of God

JOHN 

CHAPTER 18

INTRODUCTION

In the previous chapter we saw the concern Jesus had for His disciples.  He knew what was to happen and how His disciples would react.  He sought to comfort them with words of reassurance and a promise that He would not leave them alone.

JESUS BETRAYED

1 When Jesus had SPOKEN THESE WORDS, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples.

• This valley is also know as "Valley of Jehoshaphat  meaning the valley where God will Judge

2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples

• How did Judas know where Jesus would be?
• Luke records the answer to this question in (Lk 21:37 thru Lk 22:39 )
• Jesus often went there with his disciples to Mt Olivet

3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

• The Roman cohort consisted of approximately 960 men
• Now with the cohort were the officers of the priests guard (X Jn 18:12 )
• Why were so many men needed to capture Jesus?
• They probably feared large crowds of Jews would gather

4 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth *and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” (X Jn 13:1)

• Why did Jesus ask this question when He knew what the answer would be?
• I believe for the benefit of His disciples so they would remember what He had told them
• Also to focus their attention on Him and not His disciples

5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” *He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

• What or who caused them to fall to the ground?
• The Power of God was demonstrated to them so there would be know doubt He could have defeated them and prevented them from taking Him

7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

• Was Jesus giving them the chance to back away from His power?
• When Jesus first replied they fell back or stepped back perhaps surprised then fell to the ground

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,”

Jesus said this to:

9 to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.”

• Jesus sought to protect His disciples in this dark hour

10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear: and the slaves name was Malchus.

• Where did Peter get the sword?
• I don’t believe Jesus would have allowed any of His disciples to carry weapons except perhaps a staff.
• We can surmise peter got the sword from one of the soldiers in the cohort

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” 

• Jesus telling Peter would you have me not do the will of the Father?

JESUS BROUGHT BEFORE PILOT

12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,

13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

• Annas was the son of Seth and was appointed by the Roman legate Quirinius as the first High priest of Iudeaea in 6AD
• Caiaphas was appointed by Rome to be high priest for that year.

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. (X Jn 11:50 )

• As the Roman appointed high priest Caiaphas would guard his position zealously.
• As high priest (ruler of Jewish religion) Caiaphas enjoyed the luxury and power of the office.
• Much in the same way as our elected officials enjoy their luxury and power today
• Caiaphas convinced the Pharisees of the need to permanently prevent Jesus from causing problems with the Roman rule

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,

• It would seem that not all the disciples scattered when Jesus was taken
• Simon Peter followed the cohort at a discrete distance
• Peter did not immediately enter the court yard 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

• Who was this other disciple who had garnished much favor of the high priest?
• Although not named here I believe this person to be no other than Judas Iscariot
• I don’t believe any other disciple would have been allowed into the court yard
• Even the Roman cohort out of respect did not enter the court yard

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.”

• Now the other disciple (Judas) had talked to the keeper of the door and convinced her to let Peter in
• The slave girl must have know Judas to be a disciple and drew a natural conclusion

18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself. 19 The he high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.

• Was this to be a fair trial?
• The verdict was never in doubt
• Were the questioning asked to find the truth?
• I believe these questions were designed to gather intelligence on Jesus and His disciples
• That this information could be used against Jesus

20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.  (X Mat 4:23 Jn 6:59 )

• Jesus taught the Jews people in the open using for the most part parables.
• Jesus used these parable to illustrate to all who would have ears to hear truth
• Jesus did however give guidance and instruction to  His disciples in private.
• Mark records Jesus did not answer the charges made before Caiaphas (x Mk 14:60
• Possibly He was waiting for a question worthy of responce

21 “Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”

22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”

• The officer struck Jesus because he thought Jesus was show disrespect by His answer
• This officer was one of the priestly guards not a Roman officer
• The Romans were outside the court yard.

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?

• Why did the priests guard strike Jesus?
• It was part of his job to discipline those he perceived to show disrespect to the high priest
• The guard had no idea of who he was striking

24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

PETERS DENILE

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”

• This question way asked by a female slave who was the door keeper.
• Did Peter fear he too would be turned over to the priest as a conspirator?
• Peter told Jesus he would die for Him
• But when put to the test he failed to even acknowledge Jesus, just as Jesus had told him he would.

26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, did I not see you in the garden with Him?”

• This slave was surely one of those who was in the garden when Jesus was arrested and yet the slave asked the question in an accusative manner

27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. 

• Peter denied Jesus three times just as Jesus had told him
• Jesus forgave Peter his denial. 
• This demonstrates the magnitude of Jesus’

JESUS BROUGHT TO PILOT

28 Then *they LED Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so the would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

• The term referred originally to the "tent of the commander, or praetor", and thus denoted military headquarters.
• Two possible praetorium sites in Jerusalem have been proposed: the Antonia Fortress and Herod's Palace.

29 Therefore Pilate went *out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?

30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”

• They did not accuse Jesus of violating Roman law at this time.
• Instead they said He was accused of being an evildoer.
• This led Pilot to believe that Jesus had violated some Jewish law and should be judged by the religious leaders

31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,”

According to the Mishnah (Sanhedrin 1:4) the death penalty could only be inflicted, after  trial, by a Sanhedrin composed of twenty-three judges and there were four types of death penalty (Sanhedrin 7:1): stoning, burning, slaying (by the sword), and strangling. A bare reading of these and the other accounts in the tractate would seem to suggest a vast proliferation of the death penalty. [Rabbi Louis Jacobs]

In theory, Judaism had a death penalty for several different crimes, including murder. But acceptance of the death penalty was theoretical and never implemented according to tradition. According to Jewish Law, one was only deserving of a death penalty if two witnesses saw the crime, warned the aggressor of the consequences, the aggressor acknowledged the situation and consequences, and committed the crime anyway. Thus, Judaism established conditions that made death penalty sentencing nearly impossible, even in a theoretical situation. [Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner]

• Now the high priest could not take a chance on a full trial because there were those in the Sanhedrin who not vote for the death penalty.
• The only witnesses who could testify of Jesus and His teachings would testify to His innocence.
• The high priest believed that Jesus must be put to death to ensure his position as high priest
• And to ensure the people would not rise up and place Jesus on the throne as messiah and king
• If Caiaphas could get the Romans to execute Jesus then his hands would be clean … after all he didn’t pass judgment in violation of Jewish law
• The high priest was instrumental in fulfilling the prophesy, concerning the manner of death of Jesus. (V32)

32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die. 

• Luke 18:32 “For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,”… (X Mat 26:2 )

33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

• Had Jesus just said yes I am then Pilot would be justified in believing the charge of sedition.

34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”

• “Jesus asked whether Pilate’s question arose from his own Roman viewpoint or from a Jewish viewpoint” [Ryrie Bible]

35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?

• Pilot did not answer Jesus’ question
• Pilots response was one of indignity saying how am I supposed to know of you except for what I have been told by the Chief Priest

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom [or kingship]is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews” but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”

• Because Pilate’s answer indicated that he was concerned only about a rival political kingdom to Rome (v35), our Lord replied as He did in this verse, indicating that His was not such a kingdom.  Pilate was then satisfied Jesus was not a political threat and therefore wished to release Him.
• Jesus was tell Pilate that His kingship and authority was not of this world

37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king.  For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

• Matthew, Mark, and Luke reported Jesus’ as: “it is as you say” Mat 27:11; Mark 15:2 ; Luke 23:3 
• “For this I have been born

38 Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?”

• Pilate was not being philosophical but was simply expressing frustration and irritation at Jesus’ avoidance of a direct answer to what seemed to him to be a simple question [Ryrie Bible commentary]

39 And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews *and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.

40 So they cried out again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a robber.