John
© copyright 2008 Darroll Evans, all
rights reserved
Chapter 18
John 18:1-27
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his
disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden,
into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for
Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a
band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh
thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon
him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he.
And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the
ground.
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye?
And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you
that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be
fulfilled, which he spake, Of
them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the
high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up
thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not
drink it?
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews
took Jesus, and bound him,
13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which
was the high priest that same year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the
people.
15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another
disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus
into the palace of the high priest.
16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then
went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 Then saith the damsel that kept
the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.
18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a
fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood
with them, and warmed himself.
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of
his doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue,
and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said
nothing.
21 Why askest
thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said
unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which
stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest
thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus answered him, If I have
spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest
thou me?
24 Now Annas had sent him bound
unto Caiaphas the high priest.
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said
therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it,
and said, I am not.
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his
kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
After Jesus prayed, He took the disciples and went across
the Cedron valley to the garden of Gethsemane!
At that time, Judas was leading soldiers to arrest Him!
Judas had been there with Christ and knew that place they
would find Him!
God’s plan for salvation is precise!
Judas was accompanied by Temple guard from the chief
priests, Sadducees, and some Pharisees.
They came at night, armed!
Jesus knew what was happening! He went meet them, and asked,
“Whom seek ye?”
They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
So, He told them, “I am He.”
Judas stood with those who came to arrest Christ!
When they heard Christ say, “I am He,” they stepped back, and
fell to the ground in a prostrate position of worship!
So, again He asked, “Whom do you
seek?”
Again, they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus bluntly told them, “I told you
that I am He, so if you are
only looking for Me, let these others leave
peacefully!”
Jesus said that so what He prayed may be fulfilled, “Of those You gave Me, I lost none”
(John 17:12).
Simon Peter, being a bit impetuous, drew his sword and cut
off the high priest's servant’s right ear. That servant's name was Malchus! John mentions him as a point of reference.
However, Jesus knowing that He needed no physical defense
told Peter, “Put up your sword! The Father has given Me this cup, and I shall drink it!”
Then, the officers took Jesus, and bound him.
First, they took Him to Annas! He
was the father-in-law to Caiaphas, that year’s High Priest.
Caiaphas had counseled the Jewish leaders that it was
practical for one man to die rather than the entire people.
Simon Peter and John (referred to as “another disciple”)
followed Jesus!
That disciple, John was known to the High Priest!
John went with Jesus into the palace of the High Priest.
At the crucifixion, John was the only Apostle present!
Peter stood outside the palace.
John spoke to the woman who was the doorkeeper, and brought
Peter.
She asked Peter, “Aren’t you one of His disciples?”
He stubbornly said, “No!”
It was cold, so the Priest’s servants and Temple guard
standing nearby were warming themselves by the fire. Peter stood with them.
The High Priest quizzed Jesus and His disciples about His
doctrine.
Jesus apparently thought the question was strange.
Christ Jesus told him, “I spoke
openly to the world!
“I taught in both the synagogue and
in the temple!
“All Jews could come and hear!
“I said nothing in secret!”
Christ taught openly!
However, even if they heard the words, they did not discern the meaning!
In that Christ made a point of fulfilling prophecy!
Matt 13:13 “Therefore speak I to them in
parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they
hear not, neither do they understand.”
Then Christ Jesus asked, “Why do you
ask?”
He gestured to those around Him, “Ask
those who heard Me!
“They know what I said.”
Indeed they had heard the words, but not the Word!
Many Church attendees today listen to the words without
hearing the Word!
At that one of the Temple guard slapped Jesus demanding, Why are You Answering the High Priest like that?”
Jesus responded, “If I have spoken
something evil, tell Me what it is!
“However, if I speak accurately, why
do you hit Me?”
Truth, Christ Jesus, is seldom appreciated!
Annas sent Christ him to Caiaphas the High Priest.
Simon Peter stood and warming himself.
Those close by him asked, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”
Again, Peter denied it!
Then, a kinsman to the one whose ear
was cut off asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
Again Peter denied it!
Immediately the rooster crowed!
John 18:28-40
28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment:
and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest
they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If
he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye
him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It
is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 That the saying of Jesus might be
fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he
should die.
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and
called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing
of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the
chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not
of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight,
that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from
hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then?
Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for
this cause came I into the world, that I should bear
witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth
my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again
unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no
fault at all.
39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one
at the passover: will ye
therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but
Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
Early in the morning, they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the
Roman’s judgment hall.
However, the Jewish leaders did not go into the hall!
If they had entered a Gentile hall they would have been
ritually unclean and could not have celebrated Passover.
So, Pilate, the Roman proconsul, went out to them, and
asked, “What is the charge against this man?”
The Jewish leaders evasively answered, “If He were not a
malefactor, we would not have delivered him to you.”
The Jewish leaders did not accuse Christ of any specific
crime against Rome or Israel!
Pilate told them, “Take Him and judge him according to your
law!”
The Jews knew that Christ could not be judged by God’s Law!
They were fake religious leaders and criminals by any
standard, but they were not stupid!
The Jewish leaders retorted, “It is not lawful for us to put
any man to death!”
In that they lied!
If Christ had broken God’s Law, they could have put Him to
death!
Stoning was practiced even in that “humane” society!
But, He had not broken God’s law, so they lied!
Besides, Christ could not be stoned!
He had to be crucified, and Jews did not crucify!
That happened to signifying by what death Christ should die!
Then Pilate went into the judgment hall to speak to Christ.
At the moment Christ was taken into the Roman judgment hall,
he became ritually unclean!
Pilate asked Jesus, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered, “Did you say that
because you know it, or did someone tell you about Me?”
So, Pilate asked, “Am I a Jew?”
“Your own people brought You to me!
“What have You done?”
At that Jesus told him, “My kingdom
is not of this world!
Jesus told them and us specifically that His Kingdom is not
of this “Kosmos.” The Kingdom of God the Son is not
of the Physical, soulish kingdom. His Kingdom is
spiritual in nature and does not depend on physical conditions to achieve His
will!
“If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight so that I should not be handed over
to the Jews!
“But, as I told you, My kingdom not here!”
Pilate asked, “So, are You a king?
Jesus responded, “You say that I am
a king!
“To that end I was born, and for that
purpose I came into the world do that I should bear witness to the truth!
“All that are of the truth hear My voice!”
Pilate inquired, “What is truth?”
After that Pilate went back outside to the Jews, and told
them, “I find no fault in Him at all,
but you all have a custom, that I should release one prisoner at Passover!”
And Pilate asked the mob, “Should I release the King of the
Jews?”
Then, they all shouted, “Not Him!
“Give us Barabbas!”
Barabbas was a robber.