An Expository Study of John’s Gospel
CHAPTER 18

sScripture Reading: John 18 (KJV)

THE GLORIFICATION OF THE SON OF GOD IN HIS PASSION
(Chapters 18, 19)

Read vs. 1-5
Jesus had said, “The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified” (John 12:23). Glory, trials, rejoicing, suffering, joy, reproach, happiness are frequently associated together (1 Pet. 4:12-16). Jesus associated all of these elements with the Cross. He repeatedly spoke of the Cross as His glorification. It is little wonder that the Cross of Christ has become the central event in the long history of man. Many have been crucified, but only one was Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. The four Gospels are little more than the story of the Cross, with enough introduction and conclusion to tell us Who died on the Cross and His purpose.

Betrayed
As David was betrayed by a friend while crossing the Kidron (2 Sam. 15:23, 30-31), so Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of the 12 called Iscariot, while crossing the Kidron, going to the Mount of Olives. Jesus often found a “quite time” with His disciples in this valley and on the Mount of Olives. When visiting Jerusalem, be sure to stand where Jesus stood, among these ancient trees, thousands of years old.

The Kidron
The Kidron (turbid), known to us today as Wodi en Nar, is a brook running through the valley beginning north of Jerusalem, running between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.The Kidron eventually empties into the Dead Sea. It is called “Cedron” in John 18:1.

Money
While money itself is not evil, “the love of it” and the “coveting for it”, has led some to give up the faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows (1 Tim. 6:10). Judas knew the habits of his Master, betraying the Lord for the price of a common thief (John 12:4-6; Matt. 26:14-16). The death of a man often reveals more about his life than any other event. So it was with Judas and Jesus. Both lives would end the same night; one in infamy, the other in on-going glory and awe. Both died of their own choice and volition (John 10:14, 17-18; Matt. 27:3-5); One a sacrifice for sin, the other a result of sin. “Loves makes the martyr, not the fire”, and so it would be with God-man, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Lifted up
Jesus was “lifted up” on the cross (John 3:14) and His shame became His glory; His death became life to all (John 3:36).

Read vs. 6-14
The real test of character is the reaction one gives under stress or threat of death. The Passover feast always brought a full moon and the night was like early day. The enemies of Christ were led by torches and lamps, as if they would have to hunt Jesus down like a wild animal. The Lord’s answer, “I am He”, so startled them they “fell back.” When you land fish or sack game without a struggle, it is totally disarming. The Lord’s response shows us His courage, the marvel of His own authority, the wonder of His protective love, and the beauty of His complete obedience (Heb. 5:8-9; Phil. 2:3-8). His disciples were released at His own request. He not only died for them, He died instead of them and instead of us, so not one would be lost.

Simon Peter
We must take our hats off to Simon Peter,1 he is so much like all of us. He “walked on water” (Matt. 14:22-33), yet sank in his own fears and unbelief. He begged the Lord to “depart from me, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8), yet, boasted that if “I should die with Thee yet will I not deny Thee” (Matt. 26:35). Yet, he was the one who cursed and swore, “I know not the Man” (Matt. 26:74). He was the same Simon that Jesus rebuked as Satan for tempting Him to forsake His Father’s will and deny His appointed mission (Matt. 16:21-24). Simon Peter (the stone); a man among men, now is ready to die in defense of His Master – “And Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high Priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear” (v. 10). From the life of Simon, we learn how Jesus treats us when we fail or deny Him. It was this swordless love, the never failing compassion, and the strange unearthly Power that draws all of us to the Master’s feet. The binding of Jesus was the release of His disciples. Simon’s stand, when they came for Jesus, is in pitiful contrast to the weakness of his flesh, when later in the night he boldly announced to the world, “I don't know who this man is.” Earlier, he had responded in equal boldness, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16)

Total acceptance
These highs and lows, victories and defeats; these raw inconsistencies befall us all. As mentioned already, at no time did Jesus pray, “God, I have made twelve bad mistakes” – at no time did Jesus beg His Father for a second chance or another choice. It is this total acceptance that makes us all declare in one voice with Thomas, “My Lord and My God” (John 20:29). It is this marvelous beauty; this magnificent glory, that makes us shout, “Truly this Man was [is] the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).

Malchus
Malchus had an unforgettable experience. He lost a right ear (Luke 20:50). Later, perhaps he saw his adversary, Simon Peter, not with a physical sword, but with the “Sword of the Holy Spirit” convict and lead the conversion of some 3,000 souls on Pentecost (Acts 2). While Simon may have been a poor fisherman (no record of him catching fish in a traditional way), Jesus predicted, “From now on [from henceforth] you will catch men” (Luke 5:10: emphasis added).

Six trials
Thus begins the six trials of Jesus:

1. Before Annas (John 18:12-14);
2. Before Caiaphas (Matt. 26:57-68);
3. Before the Sanhedrin (Matt. 27:1-2);
4. Before Pilate (John 18:28-38);
5. Before Herod (Luke 23:6-12); and
6. Before Pilate (John 18:39-19:6).

The first three were religious; the last three, civil.

Annas
“They brought Him first to Annas” is information given only by John. Annas was a Jewish high-priest, the son of Seth, and appointed in his 37th year (A.D. 7) by Quirinus, the imperial governor of Syria, after the battle of Actium, but was obliged to resign at the beginning of the reign of Tiberius (A.D. 14). Annas was notorious. Even after he was deposed, he was still the power behind the throne. His five sons succeeded him, one after the other, thus, giving him power over the office most of his life. Edersheim writes, “No figure is better known in contemporary Jewish history than that of Annas; no person deemed more fortunate or successful, but none also more generally execrated than the late high-priest.” Jewish law made the high-priest’s office a lifetime appointment. But, under Roman rule, loyalty to Rome became the prime ingredient for appointment and tenure. Annas was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high-priest in the year of the crucifixion of Jesus. It was this same Caiaphas who unwillingly prophesied the Lord’s death (John 11:49-52). The Jews hated the household of Annas, for he had amassed a fortune by trading sacred sacrifices, as well as exploiting and extorting those coming to worship in the Temple.

The Talmud
There is a passage in the Talmud that reads, “Woe to the house of Annas! Woe to their serpent's hiss! They are High Priests; their sons are keeper of the treasury; their sons-in-law are guardians of the Temple; and their servants beat the people with staves!”

Annas and his household were totally corrupt. It was Jesus who “cleansed the Temple.” It was Jesus who attacked Annas’ vested interests.

First to Annas
“They brought Him first to Annas.” Here was the seat of corrupted power, and the one seated thereon will gloat over the humiliation, defeat and eventual death of this disturbing Galilean. The Lord’s mock trial was a total miscarriage of justice.

Read vs. 15-18
Simon’s sword was his weakness, not his strength. When a good man tries to be bad, he generally does a poor job of it. Notice the words, “And Simon Peter followed Jesus.” Most of the disciples fled and were scattered. Thomas must have been a lonely figure walking slowly down those ancient cobble stone streets. You see, the sky was falling. For three years they had been with the Master, walking with Him, sleeping near Him, eating with Him, listening to His teachings, observing the crowds marvel at His miracles, seeing Him calm the waters, causing blind men to see, and raising the dead. Now He is shackled like a common criminal – what is happening? Where are the dreams we dreamed? Where is the Kingdom? John and Peter followed Christ, but only John had access into the High Priest’s court-yard. John looks for Peter, perhaps calling to him, only to find him stayed by the hand of a young maiden at the outer court door. John uses his influence and speaks to the door keeper. So, Peter comes in on John’s ticket.

Temptations
Temptations often come in a series of events. James describes it this way: drawn away of lust power; enticed or seduced; sin; death or separation (1:14-15). Peter is challenged, not by a mob, not by a sword, but by a young maiden (teenager). His boast of dying with his Master is lost in weakness; his swinging sword blurred. He passes this first temptation off, as if it is nothing. He denies being a follower of Jesus.

Satan
Satan is a liar (John 8:44). When we entertain his lie, we have already lost the battle. “Are you his disciple?” Such a simple and harmless question. “No, I am not”, came the terse answer; strike one. “And Peter stood with them” (soldiers, officers) and warmed himself. The Psalmist gives the “three strikes, you’re out” recipe, “Blessed [happy] is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, not setteth in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1; emphasis added). Peter believed the lie and lost the battle.

Read vs. 19-24
There is a much larger battle being waged. The scene now shifts back to the Lord’s on-going trial. The drama continues: setting one (vs. 12-14); setting two (vs. 15-18); setting three (vs. 19-24); and setting four, the final setting (vs. 25-27). The first preliminary investigation is over – simple questions to Jesus about the nature of His teaching or whether an insurrection might take place (John 11:48). The calm serenity of Jesus must have been painful to his accusers. He did have a private life. He did have disciples. He did teach publicly in the Synagogue and Temple. Hundreds of eye-witnesses could be produced, all testifying of His public lectures.

Jesus Struck
One of the officers struck Jesus. This action was illegal according to Jewish law. Even then, the Jew-Christian ethic was in place; one is innocent until proven guilty. Many times, when we cannot answer the one we accuse, we resort to some type of physical force.

Read vs. 25-28
So, Jesus was sent by Annas to Caiaphas, the High Priest. The camera now returns to Simon, who has warmed himself in the enemy’s camp. The second accusation is given to him, in the form of a positive statement, a question, “Art not thou one of His disciples?” Peter replied, “I am not”. Have you ever reflected on one of your weaker moments and said to yourself, “You fool, how could I do that”? The memories of sins form a heavy burden to carry. Is this the same Peter who stood on Pentecost to declare the first Gospel message? Are these the same lips that boldly announced “that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Is this the same man who stood before Annas and Caiaphas, all the kindred of the High Priest, declaring, “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Third denial
Now the kinsmen of the servant, Malchus, whose ear Peter had severed, speak up. “Did I not see thee in the garden with Him?” You would never forget the face of someone who cut off your relative’s ear. On the third denial, the cock crew. Other versions tell us that Peter cursed and swore with an oath, “I know not the Man.” If you had talked with Simon a month before this event and casually asked, “Simon, do you swear (cuss)?” He would have probably laughed and replied, “Why, I haven’t cussed in years.” “When will you curse and swear again, Simon?” In semi-shock he might say, “What are you talking about? I stopped cussing when I began following Jesus. I gave that up a long time ago.” Peter would later write, “Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a theif, or an evildoer, as a busy body in other men’s affairs. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf” (1 Pet. 4:15, 16). Let it be said, to the credit of all New Testament writers, that after Pentecost, the denial of Jesus by Simon Peter was never mentioned in the record again.

Peter and Judas
“And he went out and wept bitterly.” Both Judas and Simon repented of their actions; one unto life and the other unto death.

Read vs. 28-32
This is the most dramatic account of the trial of Jesus recorded. It should be read as one (John 18:28–19:16). We can only help you see the overview, pointing to a few important details along the way. The individual personalities are so unique. Consider how they appear and crash, head-on. The over-view highlights of each individual or group. Read the other Gospel accounts and you will observe John putting in events, here and there, filling in the spaces. For instance, only John reports the interview with Annas and he gives a psychological profile of Pilate, something the other writers omit. John omits the trial of Jesus before the Jewish Sanhedrin (Mark 15:55-64), where the charge against Jesus was blasphemy.

Two Sanhedrins
There were two Sanhedrins: one had the power of capitol punishment; the other handled more domestic or civil cases. Yet, under Roman rule, only Rome had the power of death over convicted felons. Pilate was that Roman Governor and was in Jerusalem to watch for any signs of insurrection during feast days. He ruled ten years (A.D. 26-36). Passover was especially dangerous because of the memory of Egyptian slavery and their subsequent escape from bondage. Even this law had its exception, when Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7).

Religious Traditions
It is strange how religious tradition can bind men to a rigid morality, while all the time plotting and planning a murder – a murder of One truly innocent. Jesus warned His disciples of religious zealots who commit murder thinking they are “doing God service” (John 16:2). So, the Jews entered not into the Governor’s (Gentile’s) palace, lest they be ritually “unclean.” They could go into the outer court or under the colonnades.

Pilate’s question
Pilate's question, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” This brought a laughable reply, “If He wasn’t guilty (bad & evil), we would not have Him here.” Pilate knew the score. He knew they envied Jesus (Matt. 27:18). He also knew that only Romans could give and execute the death penalty. If the Jews had killed Jesus, it would have been by stoning, and bones would be broken. Therefore, prophecy would not have been fulfilled (John 19:36, 37); Jews only would have been guilty of His death and not the Gentile (Romans); and only by being crucified would Jesus be “lifted up”, drawing all men to Him, like the serpent (snake) did in the wilderness (John 3:14). A person under the curse of God would be hanged (crucified) on a tree (Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:14).

Read vs. 33-40
Pilate calls Jesus into his chambers and converses with Him. Question: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Answer: “Are you seeking information or asking for someone else?” Pilate replies with another question, “Am I a Jew? What have you done?” Three charges were put-to Jesus: He will not pay homage (taxes) to Caesar; subverting the nation; He claimed to be King.

Disappointment
Jesus was a Jewish disappointment. They, and the disciples, looked for an earthly King, one who could and would restore the throne of David in the glitter and gold of King Solomon (Acts 1:6). Actually, Rome had nothing to fear; Jesus was not an earthly King. He had said, “My Kingdom is not of this world” – no army, no weapons of war. Yes, Christ would reign, but not on a physical, earthly throne. His disciples would fight, but not with worldly weapons of war, or against physical armies (Eph. 6:11-18; 2 Cor. 10:3-5).

Kingdom
Hearing the word “Kingdom”, Pilate exclaimed, “You are a King!” Jesus said, “To this end I was born”: Samuel prophesied about it (2 Sam. 7:12-f); Peter spoke of His coronation (Acts 2:29-33); John later wrote, “I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 1:9).

Jesus, the Way, the Truth
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” has been asked through the ages by agnostics and skeptics. One can only guess at the motive behind those three little words. Was he a cynic? Was it ridicule? Did he really want to know the answer? Or, was he just incited by the response of Jesus? It is truth that sets men free (John 8:32). Such peace and freedom were never known by the politician Pilate; he was re-called by Rome in 36 A.D., but Jesus Christ still reigns in the hearts of men.

Character study
The Jews and Pilate are interesting character studies. But one of the most interesting is Barabbas. The prelude is short and to the point. It was the custom to release a prisoner during Passover. Who will be released; Jesus or Barabbas? The name Barabbas, can be translated two ways: “son of the father,” or “son of the rabbi.” While it is true, he was a son gone wrong, he was, nevertheless, somewhat the champion of the people – an ancient “Robin Hood.” Probably, he was a zealot, sworn to rid his country of the hated Romans, the kind of violence that had a national romance about it, making him accepted by the common man. Some think Barabbas was his second name, that his “Christian” name was Joshua, or the Greek form, “Jesus.” If so, the crowd would be even more dramatic as they shouted, “Not Jesus the Nazarene, but Jesus Barabbas.”

Imagination
Imagine in your mind’s eye a quadroon of guards marching in unison through the inner prison. Suddenly they stop in front of a dungeon cell. “You’re a lucky man, Barabbas”, the captain of the guards yells. Barabbas, chained to the wall, thinking he is to be killed, hesitates to speak. “I said this is your lucky day, Barabbas, we’ve come to set you free.” Barabbas knew well the stoic cruelty of the Roman guards and figured it was a sad trick of the guards, to take him out easily; without struggle. “I’m not ready”, Barabbas cries. Who could ever be ready for crucifixion?  “It’s not time, I say, I’m not ready.” Then, the guards loosen his iron shackles only to find that it requires the strength of several guards to bring this man, made crazy with fear, through the long, narrow corridors. “I’m not ready, I tell you”, but his strength against so many is to no avail. The guards literally throw him out the barred prison door and, as if in a dream, he lays still on the ground for some time. Startled by a noisy crowd, he stands up, dusting himself, joining in with those passing by. “What is happening?” he asks the one pressing the crowd ahead of him. “Haven’t you heard?” comes the stunned reply, “They have released Barabbas; he’s free.” “But who’s taking his place?” Barabbas quickly asks. “Oh, one called Jesus of Nazareth; He’ll be crucified today, and we’re going to witness it.” 

One of the 3,000?
Was Barabbas one of the 3,000 who gladly received the Word of God on Pentecost, becoming a follower of Jesus Christ? It is possible. In one sense of the word, we are all named Barabbas.

Footnote:
1For more information on Peter, see Simon Peter – Life and Lessons in Contents section of StudyJesus.com.
    
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