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Judas Betrays Jesus
v.l Jesus had taught and prayed for His people, now He proceeds to be the Sacrifice for His people.
The job of a priest was to teach, pray and offer sacrifices. [1]
v.4 [2] Jesus knowing that He would be brought to Calvary (i.e. knowing all things that should come upon him) went forth willingly to His sufferings. When the people tried to force Him to be king, He withdrew Himself (JOH 6:15), but when they came to kill Him, He went forth willingly. At this point
Judas kisses Him (MAT 26:49). Since Jesus went forth willingly, Judas' kiss
is unnecessary.
v.5 It was probably dark and many of the men were
Romans could not recognise Jesus. Judas stood with them against Jesus. It is hard to imagine the hardness of sinful
man's heart.
v.6 This incident is only recorded in John's Gospel,
because this Gospel emphasises Jesus' deity. This miracle was necessary to ensure the release of His disciples
and to tell His captors that though He had the power to escape. He would not.
v.11 [3] The “cup” refer to Jesus’ cup of sufferings which the Father had given Him to "drink" (MAT 26:39,42). Do we willingly "'drink
the cups of sufferings" that God has given us to drink for His name's sake? [4]
Jesus before the Priests
v.12 Jesus who had
come to set us sinners free was bound like a criminal.
v.15 [5] The eleven had scattered, but the bolder Peter and (probably) John
pluck up enough courage to follow Jesus afar off. John, in humility does not name himself. How he knew the high-priest
we are not told.
v.16 John had probably gone in alone first to assess
the situation, and finding that they were not hostile, he asks permission of the door-keeper to bring Peter in.
v.18 [6] Peter attempts to appear
like one of the Jewish servants or officers.
v.22[7] The Jews who appeared so careful to keep the Law, freely broke
the law.
v.23 Jesus tells them that if He had spoken evil, then they should hear witness of His wrongdoing in a just and proper way according to the
Law. Jesus' example teaches us that it is good for Christians to stand up for their rights (though we must do so
without a vengeful spirit - see MAT 5:38-42).
v.24 Jesus is treated worse than a common criminal -
shunted back and forth in bonds.
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
v.27 [8] The cock's crowing woke Peter's conscience, and immediately Peter noticed Jesus'
loving eyes focussed upon him (LUK 22:61) because Peter was looking at Christ. God had given Peter two previous chances to repent on his own,
and it was only after the third denial that God used the cock's crow to wake up his conscience.
Peter does not seem to pray throughout this time. His greatest weakness was his self-confidence. God's miraculous
restraint prevented Peter's arrest.
Jesus before Pilate
v.32 [9]Jesus was to die Roman style, i.e. by crucifixion (JOH 3:14; 12:32) as an "accused"
one (DEU 21:23, GAL 3:13).
The Jewish death sentence was carried out by stoning.
v.34 [10] Jesus cannot give a straight "yes" or "no" to
Pilate's question, because the answer would depend on what was Pilate's concept of "King of the Jews."
If Pilate's concept was an earthly kingship (like that of the Jews) then the answer was "no," but if
Pilate's concept was that of a spiritual kingship then the answer was "yes." So Jesus asks Pilate whether
his question was influenced by the Jewish concept (i.e. did others tell if).
v.36 [11] Jesus admits that He is a king without provoking Pilate (by not
saying "Yes, I am a king") because that would evoke an immediate reaction from him. He tells Pilate that
His kingdom is different from the kingdoms of this world because it does not derive its power from worldly means but from heaven. It is a spiritual kingdom that
rules over the hearts and consciences of men. He proves His statement from a fact that Pilate is obviously aware
of, namely that Jesus did not resist arrest.
v.37 Pilate is confused, because the only type of kingdom
that he knows of is an earthly one. Therefore, he asks again "Art thou a king then? " Jesus answered "You
said it!" (i.e. Thou sayest that I am a king). Jesus says that He was born to be a king. He also
hints that He is God who came into the world to be a king. Jesus reveals
that His kingship is a spiritual one. Other kings are born to rule but He is born to bear witness unto the truth. His subjects are those that hear His voice.
v.38 When truth is mentioned, crooked Pilate makes a quick exit! It is sad that
Pilate utters these words in the presence of "the Truth" (14:6) and does wait to hear the answer. Pilate
as the secular ruler of Palestine declares that Jesus is a faultless citizen who was not guilty of overthrowing
the Romans (i.e. I find in him no fault at all). [12] Jesus had to be the Passover Lamb without blemish or spot.
v.39 Pilate, the compromiser, attempts once more
to have Jesus released but fears to offend the Jews. The Roman governor often released a Jewish prisoner of the people's choice
at the Passover, so Pilate offers to release a prisoner. He thinks that if he offers a choice of wicked Barabbas
(v.40, LUK 23:19) or Jesus, Jesus would be their obvious choice since He had just been hailed by the adoring crowds as
the King of the Jews at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
v.40 Pilate underestimated the influence of the
Jewish priests. The priests had instigated the people to chose Barabbas who was both a murderer and robber (LUK 23:19).
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Footnotes
[1]
Cedron is a tiny brook between Jerusalem's east-wall and the Mount Olives. David, a type of Christ, crossed
it when he was fleeing from his son Absalom (2SA 15:23). The garden
is Gethsamane (which means: oil-press) which is at the foot of the Mount of Olives. As with other biblical
sites; the general location is known but not the specific location, to prevent idolatry of sites.
[2] v.2 Unlike David who fled from his unjust persecutor, Jesus went
to meet his unjust persecutors so that He could lay down His life for us (JOH
10:11). Jesus oft times resorted to this garden to
stay because He had no house to stay in whenever He went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish religious festivals
(LUK 21:3,7). Therefore, Judas knew the place. The only time we read
of Jesus being inside a house when He was in Jerusalem was when He ate the Last Supper with His disciples.
v.3 A band of Roman soldiers was called a cohort,
which consists of six hundred men. To send so many men (MAT 26:47) to capture
the Prince of Peace showed that they obviously misunderstood who Jesus was. The officers from the chief priests were the Temple guards and senior
Jewish leaders (LUK 22:52) who were mostly Sadducees. Even the Pharisees, who hated the Sadducees, united with them against Jesus.
The time of the Passover was the time of full moon, yet they brought lanterns and torches because
they thought that Jesus would hide from them. Obviously, the Roman soldiers carried their weapons. But even the
Jewish temple officers brought weapons (probably cudgels) expecting Jesus, His disciples and Galilean supporters
to resist. They treated Jesus like a dangerous criminal (MAT 26:55).
[3] v.7 Jesus had clearly demonstrated that He was God by this miracle.
By doing so, He was giving them a chance to turn form their wicked project. Therefore, He asked them
again, Whom seek ye? They should have replied "We were seeking Jesus of Nazareth,
but we have changed our minds and are not going to do this wicked deed of arresting the Son of God." This
is another proof that miracles do not produce conversions.
v.8 Twice they had owned up that they had come for Jesus only, therefore they should leave his disciples
alone. This verse depicts Jesus-as the Good Shepherd protecting His flock (JOH
10:11). The same miraculous restraining power that had worked to prevent many attempted arrests of Jesus now
works to restrain the Romans and Jewish officers from arresting His disciples.
v.9 In JOH 6:39, 10:28,
17:12, this verse speaks of Jesus preserving each of His people unto everlasting life. Here, it would appear that
the protection is merely physical, i.e. Jesus protecting His apostles from arrest and torture, because their faith
at this point of time would not be able to withstand the torture. God preserves our faith through secondary means
like these.
v.10 Peter, the impulsive one, is emboldened by Jesus' miracle to try to kill Malchus. The
fact that he cut off Malchus' right ear suggests that Peter was a left-hander. This was a foolish act because Jesus
had repeatedly foretold His arrest and death to His disciples. Furthermore, by this act. Peter endangered the lives
of the other disciples. Zeal without knowledge can be dangerous, yet it does reveal Peter’s love for Jesus, though
imperfectly.
In Jesus' hour of apparent weakness, He performed two miracles -one of power, the other of mercy. By this miraculous
healing, Jesus showed us how to love our enemies.
[4]
Peter still did not understand Jesus' ministry. Peter did not understand that Jesus' yielding was not surrender
but a victory of obedience and love.
[5] v.13 Annas
had been high-priest, but was deposed. However, this greedy, rich, powerful and ambitious man "placed"
five of his sons, and one son-in-law, Caiaphas, as high-priests. He was the power behind the throne. He
probably lived in a different wing of the same palace. Caiaphas was a scheming, ambitious man.
v.l4 In JOH 11:49,50 Caiaphas had already shown his intention
to murder Jesus because he was afraid to lose his power and wealth to Jesus.
[6] v.17 While Peter was standing around nervously, the doorkeeper
stares at him (LUK 22:56) and confronts him. Peter caught by surprise,
and having to give an immediate answer, denies Jesus. This was so different from Jesus' confession in the face
of far greater sufferings. Though Peter was the boldest disciple, the best of man is man at best. Being denied
by one he loved was probably worse than being falsely accused by religious scoundrels.
[7] v.l9 Jesus faced two types of trials. First, he faced an
ecclesiastical one before Annas, the Jewish leaders, and Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. Then, he faced a civil one
before Pilate, Herod, and Pilate. The high-priest's envy is evidenced by his question regarding Jesus' disciples
first rather than regarding His doctrine. Jesus' "trial" was a plot using false witnesses (MAT
26:59), mob-reaction (MAT 27:20), and intimidation (JOH
19:12,16). They were hoping that He would say something about His doctrine that could be used against
Him.
v.20 Jesus answers regarding His doctrine but not regarding His disciples. If His doctrine is right,
then he had every right to have disciples. Jesus had taught all the central truths of his faith openly in
the synagogue and the temple. His openness contrasted with the secret plottings of the Sanhedrin.
v.21 According to Jewish law He was not compelled to
testify against Himself. It was the duty of the prosecution to provide witnesses. And many of those accusing Him
had heard Him teach in the temple.
[8] v.25 This denial is worse than the previous one because
Peter should have been more prepared for this one. Peter's denial was more emphatic than the previous one. In verse
17 he saith, I am not. But in this verse. He denied
it. and saith, I am not. This denial grieved Jesus more than the abusive
treatment of the Sanhedrin.
v.26 Peter's emphatic denial probably catches the attention
of others. His lie finally catches up with him.
[9] v.28 John's Gospel
does not mention the sufferings that Jesus underwent from about 3 am to sunrise at the bands of the Jews in the
high- priest's palace (MAT 26:67,68, MAR
14:65, LUK 22:63-65).
The Sanhedrin was not permitted to convene meetings till sunrise, so as soon as the sun rose they convened a hasty
Sanhedrin council to "rubber-stamp" their decision to put Jesus to death. Then with that "official"
judgement they went to Pilate early to have it executed, since they were not allowed to execute the death
penalty.
The Jews were afraid that Jesus would leave Jerusalem after the Passover meal, so in their determination
to arrest Jesus before He "disappeared" they missed their Passover meal. Now they were frightened they
would be ceremonially defiled by contact with a Gentile, leaven etc. and be disqualified from eating the
Passover meal. To enter Pilate’s judgement hall would
defile them because he was a Gentile. Religionists are more frightened of ceremonial defilement than moral defilement.
v.29 Pilate was the Roman governor of S. Palestine. He was a very cruel (LUK
13:1) opportunist who had made some political blunders in his dealings with the Jews that had made him look
bad in the Roman emperor's eyes. He hated the troublesome Jews; yet was frightened of the trouble that they could
cause. Because the Jews would not come into the judgement hall, he went out
unto them on the balcony. According to Roman Law a formal charge must be lodged before a man
stands trial, so he asks them what the accusation (charge) against Jesus was.
v.30 The Jews reply impudently, hinting to Pilate that
if he knew what was good for him he should just confirm their decision without asking "silly" questions.
The Jews then charged Jesus with forbidding the nation to give tribute unto Caesar, and claiming that He was a
king (LUK 23:2).
v.31 Though Pilate knew that they were envious of Jesus (MAT
27:18), he could not imagine that they wanted to crucify Him, so he tells them to go ahead and deal with Him.
Pilate did not want to be involved with this case because he must have heard of Jesus' miracles, of Lazarus' resurrection,
and of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Furthermore, he was warned by his wife to have nothing to do with "that
just man" (MAT 27:19). Since Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent,
he should have freed him. Instead, like a true politician, he did not want to offend the Jews so he told them to
judge Jesus according to their law. His plan to avoid judging this case backfired when the
Jews said unto him. It is not lawful for us to put away any man
to death. The Jews here reveal their desire to crucify Jesus. They also confess that they were no more rulers
of their nation, thus declaring that the time of the Messiah had come (GEN
49:10).
[10] v.33 LUK 23:2 tells
us that Pilate refused to precede until the Sanhedrists had given their charge. Then he entered
into the Judgement hall to interview Jesus privately, knowing that the Jews would not enter for
fear of being defiled. The Jews had accused Jesus of usurping Caesar's throne, therefore, he asks Jesus "Art
thou the King of the Jews? " Pilate examined Jesus as a king, he sentenced Him as a king,
and he crucified Him as a king. Pilate was trying to ascertain what kind of king Jesus was. He had mixed feelings
of fear, curiosity and contempt.
[11] v.35 Proud Pilate contemptuously replies "Am I a Jew? Do you
think I, a noble Roman, bother with the superstitions of you Jewish people. I have better things to do! I simply
have to ask this question because your own nation and the chief priests hove delivered
you unto me for judgement. So please tell me what have you done."
[12]
At this point Pilate should have released Jesus, and that would have saved him much anguish later. Pilate however
passes Jesus to Herod, hoping that Herod would make the decision. Herod, after mocking Jesus by robing Him in a
"gorgeous robe" (LUK 23:5-12) sent Jesus back to Pilate.