JOHN CHAPTER 18.

JOHN CHAPTER 18.

            The Lord permits His arrest in the garden.           Verses 1-11.    

            They bring the Lord to Annas.                    "     12-14.

            Peter's first denial of the Lord.                   "     15-18. 

            The Lord is examined by the high priest.     "     19-24. 

            Peter second and third denial of the Lord.              "     25-27. 

            The Lord is brought to Pilate.                     "     28-32.  

            Jesus witnesses the good confession.       "     33-38. 

            The people choose Barabbas.                   "     38-40.

           

John's account of the scene in the garden, and that of the Trial and crucifixion clearly depicts the Majesty and Authority of Jesus.  It is the Lord who holds the initiative and takes command of the whole situation.  His hour had come, and he was in command.  The Lord takes the initiative in the accomplishment of the Father's command.  He goes forth to meet those who would arrest him and demands of them whom they sought, and to their reply he makes himself known as the "I am" and they fall to the ground before the Majesty of His presence and His words.

           

The Father had given him authority to lay down his life, and by this authority his captors are awed.  At his request his disciples are allowed to go their way.  He reproves Peter for using the sword.  Freedom was not to be secured in the way of the sword, but he was about to drink the cup the Father had given to him, and his drinking of this cup would secure the safety of his disciples.  The Lord surrenders himself to those who came to take him, not that he was a helpless victim, but in the power of the authority the Father had given him to lay down his life, he gives himself up to the captors.

           

John tells the story with the purpose of showing the Majesty of Jesus, the authority which the Father gave him, and his voluntary drinking of the cup given him, not by men, but by the Father.  There is authority, triumph and majesty in the obedience of Jesus.

           

Peter's denial of the Lord.  Peter was not naturally a coward.  Only a little before he was prepared to fight a large band of soldiers single handed.  But now a maid frightens him (18:17).  It is not now a band of rough soldiers, but a maid whose words may have been teasing and more sinister.

           

"Art Thou the King of the Jews."   The Lord is brought before Pilate, but the Jews refuse to enter the Praetorium lest they be defiled to eat the Passover.  Such was their hypocrisy.  They were most concerned for ceremonial cleanness, but not for cleanness of heart and for hands undefiled by innocent blood.

           

Pilate detects a certain arrogance in the Jews, who said, "If this man was not a evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up to thee."  They would decide who was a wrong doer and expected Pilate to be the tool to carry out their evil plans.  Pilate takes the opportunity to throw the responsibility of a decision back upon them, and in doing so is painfully making them acknowledge the limitation of their powers.

           

Jesus is in the Palace and Pilate enters again to examine him.  The trial turns upon the question of his kingship.  This is the accusation that would be of special concern to the Roman Governor.  It was Pilate's duty to question Jesus as to any claims he might make to be a king.  It was Pilate's duty to suppress any attempt to disturb the Roman rule.  Every local leader must be treated with respect.

           

To Pilate's question, Jesus makes it clear that he made no such claim.  He did not claim to be King of the Jews, but He was a King, but His kingship was not of this world.  The kingdoms of this world are maintained by military power, but Christ's Kingdom is a realm where men's hearts are governed by the Truth.  Everyone that is of the Truth hears the voice of the Son of God and gives Him homage and obedience.  Such is the nature of His Kingdom.

           

Pilate is certain Jesus is guilty of no crime.  He may have come to think of Jesus as a harmless visionary, but more probably he was impressed by the authority and quite majesty of the prisoner.  He had begun to examine Jesus, but he finds himself under examination.  He preferred to remain sceptical as to what is truth.

Barabbas.   Pilate goes out again to the people to declare that he finds no crime in Jesus.  Pilate has a suggestion, he would be generous, would not they also be generous, since it was the custom and they would not want this usual act of goodwill to be dropped, that he release to them the King of the Jews.  To speak of Jesus as the King of the Jews he hoped would please them.  Pilate could see there were no political implications in Jesus' kingship, for his leadership was a spiritual one.  (Compare King Koroki, also Edward 1, and the infant son made `Prince of Wales'.  It pleased the Welsh, though it involved no political danger).  The Jews were not pleased, they would have Barabbas.  This incident brings out the fierce hatred of the Jews.   John's Gospel brings out the bitterness and the hatred of the Jews to Jesus.