Jesus Arrested
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4Jesus, 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.) 6When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground.
7Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?"
And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
8"I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me."
10Then 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.)
11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"
Jesus Taken to Annas
12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter's First Denial
15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter.
He replied, "I am not."
18It 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
19Meanwhile, the high priest 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. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."
22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck 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?" 24Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter's Second and Third Denials
25As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?"
He denied it, saying, "I am not."
26One 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 olive grove?" 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Jesus Before Pilate
28Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30"If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."
31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."
"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
38"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"
40They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
Interesting points of Discussion:
- [See v.6] 'they drew back and fell to the ground'- when Jesus replied "I am he", the officials and soldiers instantly fell to the ground; this goes to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit that was moving upon them by which they were so overwhelmed that they involuntarily lost control of their balance (staying upright)
- Maybe they were so filled with shame at that moment in the presence of his holiness and majesty that they couldn't possibly bear to stand dignified in their sinful nature as human beings
- [See v.11] 'Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me'- whereas Peter sees protecting Jesus' life as an act of saving, Jesus sees his own death as saving
- [See v.17,25,27] Peter denies being one of Jesus' disciples on three separate occasions
- Peter seems to have had mixed feelings- on one hand he wanted to stay close to Jesus and see the outcome but on the other hand he didn't want to get into trouble so he denied knowing Jesus 3 times in order to avoid being arrested himself
- Peter really feared man more than he feared God at this point in his life although that would change later on; the spirit of fear can grip us and take control of us if we are not careful- it can keep us from following God to the fullest, instead short-changing our goals for something less and incomplete
- Making a white lie is far easier than standing up for Jesus and facing the consequences; but at the same time, one little lie can lead to bigger lies that will cause you to turn your back on the truth
- It's encouraging to know that Peter, who eventually was willing to trust God and die for Christ later in his life, struggled in the beginning of his faith journey between his love for Jesus (Spirit) and himself (flesh); many of us, even as Christians, find it hard to fight this battle in a world where the flesh always seems to be winning but we can be encouraged to know that there are those who overcame it by continuing to fight and never giving up
- [See v.31] 'we have no right to execute anyone'- the Jews were under the authority of the Roman government which had the power to execute anyone
- [See v.35] 'Am I a Jew'- Pilate, the Roman emperor seems reluctant to be the one to cast judgement on Jesus; his response is "I'm not Jewish so don't look at me- I have nothing to do with this matter which should be in the hands of the Jewish people"
- Pilate is trying to shift the blame to the Jews because he feels somewhat guilty or fearful of the consequences of casting judgement on someone who may actually have more authority than he does
- When we relate to God one-one-one we should not point fingers to others as Pilate did because we are called to be "pure and blameless" for the day of Christ which means no complaining or arguing which will only work to steal away our praise
- Jesus stood firm in front of the high priest and Pilate; likewise we can take a page from his book and stand resolute in speaking God's truth and word when we are presented with circumstances that put our God-given purpose to the test
- [See v.36] 'my servants would fight'- the illusion is that it looks as if the world has won by having Jesus sentenced to an execution but what they don't know is that the real victory lies in God's kingdom; Jesus seems to be saying that the real battle is not here and now in the finite world but in the future when the kingdom of God he belongs to will have the true victory
