The Arrest of Jesus (18:1-12)
The arrest of Jesus sets up the way that John is going to treat the entire Crucifixion story--Jesus is in control. In a sense, Jesus is not "killed" by the Jews and Romans; of His own will, He "lays down His life for His friends" (cf. John 15:13). Jesus initiates the conversation: "Whom are you seeking?"
"I am He . . ."
This is a normal form of self-identification (kind of a "You're lookin' at him, bub!"); however, the phrase "I AM" is also the Old Testament name of God. Jesus is, to Jewish ears, claiming identity with God; hence, the crowd of those who came to arrest Jesus "fall back" at the power of His words.
> Think about how Jesus responds to his arrest in 18:1-12. What do you learn about His character, mission, and values? What details of the story give you those impressions?
Peter's Denial of Jesus/Trial before the High Priest (18:13-27)
Annas is not technically the high priest; his son-in-law Caiaphas is. Probably this points to some very tricky politics going on in the highest office the Jews controlled (all political authority belonged to the Romans); so, "he was in all probability the real power in the land, whatever the legal technicalities" (Morris).
Woven into this story of Jesus' hearing before Annas is the story of Peter's denial of Jesus. The story sort of "switches scenes" from inside Annas' house to outside in the courtyard. This switching back and forth is something of a "motif" in the story of Jesus' trial (we'll see it again in the trial before Pilate).
"And Peter stood with them and warned himself . . ."
Notice that Peter is standing around with the officers who had gone to arrest Jesus, denying that he ever knew Him! However, notice also that the story of Jesus' arrest notes that Judas "who betrayed Him [Jesus], also stood with them" (v. 5). Peter's behavior at the hearing is treated like Judas' behavior at the arrest!
> Look at John 13:36-38, 18:10, 15-18, and 25-27. What do you learn about Peter's character? If his actions were virtually the same as Judas', then why was Peter saved and not Judas?
Trial Before Pilate (18:28-19:16a)
The trial before Pilate is treated at some length. Notice that Jesus evades Annas' questioning but is very forthright in answering Pilate (though Pilate doesn't really understand Jesus' answers). Also notice that Pilate goes "outside" to talk to the Jews (who refuse to enter the Praetorium), then back "inside" to talk to Jesus (that "scene switching" thing again).
The irony is that Pilate "asks more than he knows." For example, he asks Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" In fact, Pilate, YES HE IS--Jesus is the expected Messiah! Pilate also asks: "Where are You from?" Now, that's a LOADED question. Those who have read the opening of the Gospel of John know that Jesus is not "from Nazareth" but actually "from heaven." Pilate's questions serve to "move the action along" and point to the truth about Jesus that both he and "the Jews" (the chief priests and Temple officials in this instance) refuse to recognize.
> What does Jesus say to Pilate about His Kingdom (18:33-36), His mission (18:37), and His power (19:11)?
> What do Pilate's words and actions reveal about his character? How does Pilate's "authority" contrast with the authority of Jesus?
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In John 18:9, "He did this to fulfill his own statement: 'I did not lose a single one of those you have given me'." The scripture refers to another verse: John 17:12, "'During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold'." Was Jesus referring to Judas? Or is Jesus saying His disciples won't be taken away? If not, then what was fulfilled in 18:9?
ReplyDeleteYes, "except the one headed for destruction" is a reference to Judas. Remember how the story of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion focus on the fulfillment of OT prophecy? There's a double-implication to John 18:9. 1) Jesus "prophesied" His own actions in His prayer. 2) Jesus' words are on the same plane of authority as the words of the OT (which, in Jesus' day,was the Bible)--that is, Jesus' words ARE the Word of God. Hope that helps clarify things.
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