This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom
The Gospel of John – 37 – Truth on Trial – Daily Wisdom
/:The Gospel of John – Part 5: Vindication Of The Word – Truth On Trial
dom, the Global Eden. In John: , starting on page:Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter’s First Denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple (John) were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,(Annus), he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest (Annus) questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”
22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.
23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
VINDICATION OF THE WORD
–:Truth on Trial
JOHN 18:1–27
—18:1—
As Jesus concluded His prayer (17:1–26), His words undoubtedly felt like a warm blanket (wrapped in a blanket) around the disciples as they came to terms with His imminent departure. They were indeed eternally secure in the sovereign care of God, but they scarcely realized the horrific evil mounting against the Lord that very moment. Even as the remaining eleven men trusted their Master to fulfill His promises, Judas had slipped into the dark of night to betray Him. The temple officials were organizing a raiding party of combined Roman and Jewish troops, soon to surround Jesus and haul Him before six criminal hearings.
ne. Some expositors interpret:(Bulletin Insert – top picture)
e place, we know from Matthew:—18:2–3—
He was about to endure (Matt.: roximately three hours (Matt.:Since there are several olive groves with gardens on the Mount of Olives, they never would have known His whereabouts were it not for Judas. The temple officials had tried to seize Jesus on several other occasions, but He eluded their grasp in the temple, or multitudes of witnesses discouraged His would-be abductors, or He kept His movements a secret. However, they could seize Him privately once they found an inside man willing to betray Jesus.
on Jewish uprisings!” (John:—18:4–9—
;:The initial reaction of the cohort offers a little comic relief: Six hundred well-armed men terrified of a single rabbi and his eleven followers; only one that we know of carried a weapon!
statement to the Father (John: —: h the Lord and give his life (:Because John typically includes details for their symbolic value, it’s likely Peter aimed for the man’s right ear for the express purpose of leaving an insulting injury. Malchus was an emissary of the high priest, representing his authority. Cutting off an ear or a nose was considered particularly humiliating, especially since Jews barred maimed individuals from serving in the temple. Moreover, Jewish tradition prescribed higher restitution for organs and extremities on the right side of the body.
n in the other Gospels (Matt.: —:To arrest Jesus, the soldiers undoubtedly followed Roman procedure by pulling His arms behind His back, placing them in irons, or binding them tightly with rope. (Chains and collar) We may assume He remained tied with a noose around His neck throughout His ordeal. Then Jesus was taken to the highest Jewish power in Israel, Annas. Although Caiaphas officially held the office of the high priest, many recognized his father-in-law, Annas, as the true authority in Jerusalem and the final voice in every matter concerning the temple.
—: e arrest in the garden (Matt.: as blasphemed!’ ” (Matt.: d had predicted earlier (John:Take note of John’s detail concerning the fire. In the NLT, it is described as a charcoal fire. John includes this seemingly insignificant feature to imprint on the readers’ minds the image of Peter looking across a fire and denying His Master. Later, John will recall this image around another charcoal fire where Jesus was cooking fish for breakfast (21:9).
—:The Six Trial of Jesus (Bulletin Insert)
Some experts have called into question the historicity of the Gospel accounts, noting that the trials of Jesus before the Jewish authorities didn’t fit the established protocol. However, the illegality of the trials is precisely the point in the Gospels. Jewish tradition carefully regulated the conduct of criminal trials, even more so than civil cases. No trial was to be held secretly or at night, and the only proper place to hear criminal cases was the “Hall of Judgment” in the temple. Furthermore, when hearing evidence, the accused could not be compelled to testify in his case. All charges had to be substantiated by multiple corroborating witnesses.
Annas broke Sanhedrin rules by asking Jesus directly about His followers and teaching, hoping to hear something incriminating. At first blush, Jesus’ response appears insolent; however, He merely pointed out the proper procedure. In a present-day American courtroom, the council for the defense might have said, “Objection! According to Mishnah: Sanhedrin 3:3–4, the accused may not be compelled to present evidence against himself; furthermore, the presiding judge may not examine a witness (or the accused).”
Jesus then called for witnesses to testify. Everything He had said and done took place in the presence of multitudes. According to Jewish custom, conflicting testimonies could not condemn the accused, only acquit him. Jesus knew that a fair polling of witnesses would either exonerate Him of all charges or cancel the false testimony of the religious leaders.
—:Brutality was not permitted in the courtroom, yet one of the guards stepped in front of Jesus and punched His face. Jesus maintained perfect composure and responded with a reasonable request. He said, in effect, “If My objection should be overruled, state the legal precedent. I should not be punished for being right if it should be sustained.”
o Caiaphas the high priest. (: —: is trial than the last (Matt.:
The council disbanded before daylight to maintain at least the appearance of propriety. According to their rules, the members were to meet in pairs, share a sparse meal, and discuss the case exhaustively in preparation for a final ruling the following day. Instead, they took turns abusing the accused. Meanwhile, out in the courtyard, Peter fulfilled His Master’s prophecy. Two more denials completed his failure.
As the first three trials of Jesus came to a close, we see how He would respond to the injustice of the next three. (Next week) The Lord accepted that He would not receive justice from men. He knew that the world was—then as now—polluted with sin and ruled by corrupt people. So He did not expect justice from the courts or seek people's approval. Instead, the Son submitted to the will of the Father, who permitted injustice to advance His plan. If someone asked a question for greater understanding, Jesus directly spoke the truth in response. Moreover, He refused to allow anger or bitterness on His part to distract anyone from seeing that truth—should anyone genuinely desire to. Throughout His ordeal, He entrusted Himself to the One who will ultimately and inevitably judge every soul righteously.
APPLICATION: JOHN 18:1–27
Enduring Injustice with Grace
I can think of few situations more personally challenging than enduring injustice alone and unnoticed. Because we are imagers of God, justice satisfies a deep-seated, God-given need; however, because we are polluted with sin, our desire for justice becomes a supremely selfish pursuit. Outrage demands satisfaction. Bitterness demands revenge. Self-centered hopelessness begs Heaven for relief. Desperate isolation longs for an advocate while an uncaring world idly watches our suffering. In that lonely crucible of unfairness, the silence of heaven can be deafening.
If you have suffered in obscurity and slander has sullied your reputation. If gossip has isolated you from those you respect and a false accusation has turned the course of your life. Suppose persecution has fallen upon you instead of those who are genuinely guilty. Let me assure you, the Lord does hear your cries for help and hope, and He has not ignored you. Justice will be served, although not as you might want—or when.
trials and persecutions (John:Shortly after His prayer on our behalf, Jesus endured the worst injustice any human can experience. No one was ever more innocent than Jesus. Few were more hypocritical and corrupt than Annas, Caiaphas, the temple elite, or Herod Antipas. Perhaps reflecting on how Jesus conducted Himself during that awful time, Peter later wrote to Christian slaves facing persecution in 1 Peter 2:20, Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
One day, the Lord will return, and He will restore justice. The truth will reign supreme on the last day, and all who have suffered injustice will be vindicated, just as Jesus was vindicated by His resurrection. In the meantime, submit your need to be heard to the sovereign plan of God. Stop striving for vindication. Speak the truth in love. Take comfort in the fact that your Savior understands your struggle. No one has been more unjustly treated than Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. We must also Endure Injustice with Grace to be the shining light on the hill as citizens of God's kingdom.
Judgment’ Please read John: