Book of John 18:1-23 February 18, 2023
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He
went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron,
where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
This Brook Kidron was a ravine between Jerusalem and divides the Mount of Olives; a deep, dark ravine, to the northeast of Jerusalem
John 18:2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew
the place; for Jesus often met there with His
disciples.
Jesus accustomed was to stay on the Mount of Olives, did
not hide
Luke 21:37 And in the
daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on
the mountain called Olivet.
Luke 22:39 Coming out, He
went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also
followed Him.
John 18:3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,
came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
· These soldiers were probably the
experienced Roman troops stationed at the Antonia, a fortress near the temple.
·
The officers
who came with the detachment were members of the temple police under the
command of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin
·
Probably around 200 men
Divine knowing all things
vs 4 – know, be aware, perceive, understand
Divine power vs 6
Divine protection
vs 8,9
The verse said Jesus had Divine Knowledge, knowing all
things
John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that was going to happen to him, went out and
asked them, "Who is it you want?"
“knowing all things”: Jesus knew the Messiah shall be cut
off (Dan 9:26). – know, be aware,
perceive, understand
Notice, Jesus went out to the mob on His own accord, did not try to hide, maybe
to keep the soldiers rushing to the disciples
Matthew 17:22-23 Now
while they were staying in Galilee,
Jesus said to them, "The
Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands
of men, (23) and they will kill
Him, and the third day He will be raised up."
And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
John 18:5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him {or traitor}, also stood with
them.
I am he”: Note: Here there is no “be not afraid”! “I am” is name of Jehovah {Jesus name in the
Old Testament}
Interesting, Nathanael when he heard about Jesus, said,
can anything good come from Nazareth?
{John 1:46}. Nazareth had an evil name and term of reproach. The term Jesus of Nazareth is listed at least 15 times in the New Testament.
John 18:6 Now when He said to them, "I am He,"
they backed away and fell to the ground. {power}
For this moment, Jesus revealed His Devine power and
threw over 200 soldiers to the ground, including Judas, on their backs. You would think this would scare them. {terror them}, all fell backward to the
earth. demons?
Realize this happen later with Saul of Tarsus when Saul
and his companions fell to the ground by the power that Jesus has. Acts 26:14.
This verse shows how completely Jesus surrender of
himself to die was voluntary.
Matthew 26:53-54 Or do
you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with
more than twelve legions of angels? (54)
How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen
thus?"
John 18:7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said,
"Jesus of Nazareth."
After being knocked down, the soldiers only think of
executing their orders that were given, to arrest Jesus the Nazarene.
John 18:8 Jesus answered, "I have told you
that I am He. Therefore, if you
seek Me, let these go their way," {protection – or let these men go }
3rd time in this chapter, Jesus claimed to be I am He
Jesus gave a very strong command to the soldiers, let these
disciples go their way, for their protection.
The soldiers had intended to seize them all
Mark 14:51-52 Now a
certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked
body. And the young men laid hold of him, (52) and he left the linen cloth and fled from them
naked.
Interesting, the soldiers were about to tie Jesus hands,
but Jesus tied theirs first.
John 18:9 that the saying
might be fulfilled which He
spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
John 17:12 While I was
with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have
kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the
Scripture might be fulfilled.
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was
Malchus.
It was unlawful to carry a weapon on a feast day; two
swords present.
Luke 22:38 So they said,
"Lord, look, here are two swords."
And He {Jesus} said to them, "It is enough." {who had the 2nd swords}
His sword was 18” long; weighed 5 lbs. Thick, not sharp:
designed
for splitting helmeted skulls
Jesus saved Peter’s life with another command to the
soldiers
Luke 22:51 But Jesus
answered and said, "Permit even this."
And He touched his ear and healed him.
As a side, this was Jesus’ last miracle before the cross.
No one ever died in Jesus’ presence.
John 18:11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" {only one sword came out}
Luke 22:42 saying,
"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup
away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be
done."
What Cup – what Jesus has to do and He agonized over His
approaching death. The cup is a figure
of speech to what is going to happen.
Psalms 11:6 Upon the
wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup.
Jesus had 6 different trials, 3 Jewish Trials, and 3
Roman Trials
Jewish Trials:
Before Annas John 18:12-14
Before Caiaphas John 18:19-24
Before the Sanhedrin Matthew
27:1, 2
Roman Trails:
Before Pilate John
18:28-38
Before Herod Luke
23:6-11
Before Pilate John
18:39 - 19:16
Jesus Faces
Annas and Caiaphas, first 2 trials
John 18:12 Then the detachment of troops and the
captain and the officers of the Jews arrested
Jesus and bound Him.
According to Jewish law it was unlawful to bind a prisoner before
judgment.
A captain was
the chief officer of a Roman soldiers.
Annas served from A.D. 6-15; deposed by Pilate’s
predecessor, Valerius Gratus. However, he was still influential; vice-president
of the Sanhedrin and patriarch of a family that held the office of the high
priest as late as A.D. 62, including 5 sons and a son-in-law.
Romans appointed Caiaphas (each year; Act 4:6) vs. Law of
God, until death (Ex 40:15; Num 35:25, etc.).
Many Jews resented the Roman intrusions into their
office; still looked to Annas, not Caiaphas, as their “real” High Priest.
Matthew 26:49-50
Immediately he {Judas} went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. (50) But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they
came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. {Jesus just said, friend}
John 18:13 And they led
Him away to Annas first,
for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas
who was high priest that year.
“led him away”: Led to the priest The judge had given his
verdict and determined the sentence before the trial took place.
John 18:14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for
the people.
Peter Denies
Jesus
John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high
priest.
Most people presume this “another disciple” was
John. Others think not.
John was a fisherman of Galilee, not Jerusalem; and as a
Galilean he would have been recognized as Peter was (Mt 26:69,73).
Also, John always refers to himself as the disciple “whom
Jesus loved”
And according to Acts 4:13, the high priest was not
personally acquainted with either Peter or John. Who then? Nicodemus? Joseph of
Arimathea?
John 18:16 But Peter
stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke
to her who kept the door, and brought
Peter in.
Damsel that kept the door”: It was a common custom to
have a female doorkeeper (Acts 12:13 – Peter, upper room).
John 18:17 Then the servant 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."
Mark 14:66 Now as Peter
was below in the courtyard, one of the servant
girls of the high priest came.
This was the
first of Peter’s three denials prophesied by Jesus
Mark 14:68 But he denied
it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are saying." And
he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
John 18:18 Now the servants and officers who had
made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold,
and they warmed themselves. And Peter
stood with them and warmed himself.
Before Caiaphas: John 18:19-24
The High
Priest Questions Jesus
John 18:19 The high
priest then asked Jesus about
His disciples and His doctrine.
Was Caiaphas trying to ensnare Him into some statement to
be used against Jesus at the trial? His doctrine; disciples; etc.
This was not a
true trial since the Sanhedrin had not been assembled. The purpose of this questioning
was to gather evidence and was interested in Jesus’s
disciples and His doctrine..
The charge on
which they wished to arraign him was that of sedition, or of rebellion against
Caesar.
John 18:20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to
the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple,
where the Jews always meet, and in secret I
have said nothing.
Jesus spoke openly, not in secret (Isa 45:19) vs. a closed
trial. Jesus had not founded a secret
society.
John 18:21 Why do
you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what
I said."
According to
the law, the witnesses for the defense had to be called first. Jesus should not
have been questioned until witnesses had testified
John 18:22 And when He had said these things, one
of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand,
saying, "Do You answer the high priest like
that?"
“...struck Jesus with the palm of his hand”: He was
entitled to be protected by judges; there is none.
This was
illegal according to Jewish law. There was to be no punishment before
conviction
John 18:23 Jesus answered him, "If I have
spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?"
Jesus invited
His accusers to present evidence that He had done something wrong.
Matthew 5:39 But I tell
you not to resist an evil person.
But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn
the other to him also.
Jesus is being
examined and gives His own illustration or understanding of His own teaching;
to exclude personal retaliation does not exclude calm protest and rebuke. Interesting
