January 26th

"The Arrest of Jesus"

In chapter 17 we studied the High Priestly prayer … the Lord had delivered His PROPHETIC MESSAGE.  He now prepares to go forth to His PRIESTLY WORK.  In these Scriptures we will see that Jesus had complete control over His trial, sentence, and crucifixion. Nothing happens to Him by accident or outside of His control. He could have stopped the process at any moment. He is not so much the victim as the Orchestrator of events.

Verse 1: "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered."

The Kidron Valley is actually a dry water bed with water only during the rainy season; so crossing it in April would have not involved getting wet. The site is still identifiable.  The garden is the "Garden of Gethsemane;" located somewhere on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, thought to be where the arrest of Jesus took place.

The Garden is located on the East side of Jerusalem…He was crucified on the West side.  The victim for the SIN offering was destroyed WITHOUT/OUTSIDE the camp so the Lord offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin outside of Jerusalem…the Day of Atonement.  HE GAVE opportunity for His arrest and His disciples escape in the Garden.

Verse 2-3: "Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns,and torches and weapons."

These officers from the Chief Priest and Pharisees making the arrest of Jesus were most likely temple guards who had authority under the Jewish leaders to make arrests. The Roman soldiers did not arrest of Jesus; they simply accompanied the temple guard for added security.

Verse 4-5: "Then Jesus, KNOWING ALL that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them."

The Savior knew full well that the treacherous apostate was well acquainted with this spot.  Jesus had avoided His enemies before, but the “hour” was now come!  Jesus fully realized all that would happen to Him and evidently stepped forward, and being the first to speak, asked who they were looking for. When they said, "Jesus of Nazareth," He responded with, "I am He."

They came with lanterns and torches and weapons to seek out the Light of the world.  They did not know and certainly did not understand that He was ready to be led as a Lamb to the slaughter.  He was willing and ready to suffer and go forth to the Cross.  They did not recognize Jesus…neither did the traitor.  II Cor. 4:3,4, 6 The natural man is spiritually blind but the light of God shines to let us see.

Verse 6: "When Jesus said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground."

Although it might seem that Jesus is simply acknowledging He is the Jesus from Nazareth they were looking for, this is one of the great "I AM" statements Jesus used to identify Himself as deity, (God,) "God the Son." This would explain how his words could have such an impact on the troops. The mighty Roman Soldiers and the highly trained temple guards fell to the ground from the mighty power unleashed by His words.

This happening certainly shows His volunteering.  When they fell back, He could have left; He was not hindered EXCEPT for the Father’s will and to that He submissively bowed. 

Verse 7-8: "So he asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go."

Jesus tells them that He is the one they are looking for and to let the others go. Even at this point Jesus is protecting His own, giving himself up on their behalf…the Shepherd protecting His sheep.    Had the disciples suffered at that time with Him, their suffering would be thought to be a part of the price of redemption.  Lev. 16:17. 

Verse 9: "This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: "Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one."

So, this is at least twice that Jesus has made the statement that none of those the Father had given, or entrusted Him with, were lost except for Judas Iscariot.

Verse 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.) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

Here, in John's eyewitness account, Peter impulsively cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant. Peter exercised a zeal which was not regulated by knowledge; it was the self-confident energy of the flesh acting in unconsidered haste.  AND how often have we acted in much the same way????  This servant was likely a powerful person with much authority.

We also see the love, mercy, and healing power of Jesus. Healing the man’s ear was the Lord’s last miracle.  Jesus was in complete control and did not allow anything to interfere with "the cup" of suffering He was about to endure. He was determined to carry out the mission assigned to Him by the Father.

Verse 12: "So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him."

The Greek translation for the word "captain" literally means, "one in charge of a thousand men."

There is no mention in the other Gospels of Jesus being bound. Again, Jesus, being in complete control of the events, allowed Himself to be bound and led as a sheep to the slaughter.

The LORD willingly was bound!  He was willing to “drink the cup which His Father Who loved Him dearly was giving HIM.”  The serpent was about to bruise His heel; the Gentiles were about to mock and scourge Him, the Jews cry, Away with Him.  But the Lord looks beyond it all and directly to Him of Whom and through Whom and to Whom were all things.  Rom. 11:36.  Peter’s eyes were upon  the human adversaries.  How this would sweeten our bitter cups, if we would be receive them from the Father’s hand!  It is not until we see HIS hand in all things that the heart is made to rest in perfect peace. 

Verse 13-14: "First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

He was LED…again showing His willing submission.  They LED Jesus to Annas first although he was not the high priest. Annas was Caiaphas' the present high priest's father in law, and had been the previous high priest until being removed by the Roman government. The office of high priesthood was the most powerful office in Jewish Palestine until the Roman period.

Most Bible scholars believe that although Caiaphas was high priest that year, Annas had more power and influence, and that is the reason they went to him immediately after the arrest of Jesus

According to Jewish law no single individual could act as judge in a capital case. This law did not stop Annas from privately interrogating Jesus.

Verse 14: "It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people."

"Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish"(John 11:49-50).

Verse 15: "Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,"

Peter followed Christ.  Matthew states he followed “afar off”.  Peter was clearly acting in the energy of the fleshPeter Denies Jesus.  The 'other disciple' has traditionally been identified as John, the writer of this Gospel. 'John" repeatedly refers to himself in the third person throughout this Gospel. John being acquainted with the high priest may have hoped to have some influence on Jesus' behalf.  I am not confident that John was this other disciple...that is not how he usually addressed himself and I do not know that he had influence with the high priest!  I don't believe it was John. 

Verse 16-18: "but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not. Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself."

So Peter blatantly denies being a disciple of Jesus. Right in the middle of the illegal Jewish trial, following the arrest of Jesus, Peter was recognized, but he denied being associated with Jesus. There is a practical lesson for us here.  God had placed an obstacle in Peter’s way…a door…he was outside.  When we find that the LORD has placed a barrier in our path, it behooves us to pause and examine well our grounds for going further along the same path we are in.  If our way is warranted by the Word and our conscience is clear as to a certain line of duty, then obstacles are to be regarded only as testing of faith and patience, but otherwise they are warnings from God.  Peter had DISREGARDED THE WARNING OF God – the shut door; he had PERSISTED in having his own way and he entered and God removed His provisional barrier.  We must have a listening/hearing ear.  If we do not listen, we must not be surprised if He then allows us to have our own way.

Peter was cold as are those who follow “afar off”. The enemies of Christ…the world, the flesh and satan offer their “fire” their places and means of cheer. 

Verse 19: "The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

This was a violation of the Jewish law for the accused to be interrogated, (lest he incriminate himself). Guilt must be established by witnesses.

Verses 20-21: "Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said."

It was a Jewish tradition that one must teach the law openly, in contrast to false prophets, who taught in secret. Jesus had not taught in secret and invited His accusers to ask others what He had said.

Verse 22: "When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?"

The Jews again violated their own law by striking Jesus. This is an indication of how abusive and uninterested in any form of legality Annas was; his interest was political, not legal.

Verse 24: "Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest."

This trial was probably not strictly legal because it was held at night; such proceedings which involved the death penalty were not permitted to be conducted on a single day. As you will notice no details of Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas are given in John's Gospel.

Verse 25: "Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."Verse 26: "One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 27  Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed."

The third person to challenge Peter was a relative of Malchus, whose ear he had cut off. The other Gospels do not mention this. John, on the other hand, doesn't mention the oaths and cursing by Peter, followed by bitter tears.  What can we learn from Peter and his denials:  a believer is as weak as water…only 2 hrs. before, Peter had partaken of the Lord’s Supper and had earlier said what he could/would do!  2. Danger of self-confidence. 3. Warns us of the consequences of prayerlessness..Peter was to watch and pray the LORD had said. 4. Perils of companioning with the wicked.  5. Shows us the disastrous influence of the fear of man..more afraid of the face of those we can see than the eye of God Whom we cannot see.  6 prepares us against surprise when our familiar friends fail us in the crucial house.

Verse 28: "Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover."

John's account of Jesus before Pilate is more detailed than in the other gospels. The first episode (questions) occurred outside the the governors residence.

It was customary for the Roman officials to begin meeting the public at daybreak.

Although defiled in their hearts enough to plot to kill Jesus, by remaining outside the Praetorian the Jews avoided ritual uncleanness, allowing them to eat the Passover.

Jesus and the disciples had already eaten the Passover, and these Jews would eat the following day. To some this might seem to be a discrepancy; however there are several possible explanations, one being that several Jewish groups had different calendars and did not celebrate Passover on the same day.

As a matter of interest, the Praetorian here was Herod the Great's old palace.

Verses 29-30: "So Pilate went outside to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered him, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you."

Before Pilate would be required to hear the case an official charge would be necessary, hence the reason for Pilate's question of "What accusation do you bring against this man?

Verse 31-32: "Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death." This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die."

It was not lawful for the Jews to put anyone to death without first obtaining the governor's sanction.

And to fulfill prophecy it was necessary for Jesus to be crucified. If the Jews had been allowed to carry out the death penalty He would have been stoned.

Over the next few verses Pilate held an inquiry to determine what really happened. It would be his responsibility to make the final decision and he would answer to no one for it except for Rome.

Verse 33: "So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

This second set of questions between Pilate and Jesus took place inside the palace (praetorian).

Verses 34: Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me? Pilot answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?

Pilate's main concern was whether or not Jesus was intending to lead a rebellion or to set up a government of His own.

Verse 36: "Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'"

The notion of kingship was probably in the Sanhedrin's charge implicating treason by Jesus against the emperor, along with a possible revolt.

Verse 37: "Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

Again, Pilates's concern was political, and not based upon religious beliefs. He wanted to know for sure that Jesus would not develop into a problem that might cost him his career. Jesus' answer made it clear that his kingdom was a spiritual kingdom of another place, literally, 'not from here.

Verse 38: "Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him.

Pilate seemed surprised that Jesus would use the word "truth." In the Jewish tradition truth was God's covenant integrity. This would be an abstract and impractical concept to the Greeks. Like many in our world today, to Pilate it was a matter of what is expedient, and any means to an end.

Verse 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"

When asking whom to release, Pilate purposely used the title king, no doubt to show his contempt for the Jews.

Verse 40: "They cried out again, "Not this man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber."

The word Barabbas literally means 'robber.' Barabbas was probably a hero among the Jews, but considered a terrorist by Pilate.
We, like Barabbas was replaced by Jesus...He paid it all!
Throughout the arrest of Jesus and the trial the Jews held fast in their determination to have Jesus put to death.