John 18:12-27. Jesus and his opponents

How is it that Peter, who was one of the most privileged on Jesus’ disciples could have let Jesus down so badly and left him alone. He had actually walked on water – for a short while, he had witnessed those extraordinary miracles of Jesus, winessed his transfiguration and heard his extraordinary teaching. He had openly ackowledged that Jesus was the Messiah of God. Furthermore Jesus had just rescued him from being arrested when, in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he had attacked Malchus, the High Priest’s servant and cut off his ear.

As Jesus and his disciples were walking towards the Mount of Olives, where the Garden of Gethsemane was found, Jesus had warned them that they would all fall away from him.

“This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.’ ‘I tell you the truth’, Jesus answered, ‘This very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ But Peter declared, ‘even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.” Matthew 26:31-35

Mark’s gospel tells us,

“Then everyone deserted him and fled.” Mark 14:50

There was a young man who had accompanied Jesus to the garden but he was a bit hesitant or slow. This may have been Mark himself but he was nearly caught. He was only wearing a linen garment.

“When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” Mark 14:52

The consequences of following Jesus can be costly!

It was Peter, who, having so confidently expressed his commitment to Christ, and who, so soon afterwards, had publicly denied any association with Jesus. What a lesson this is for us. All Christians are called to publicly acknowledge their commitment to Christ, whatever the embarassment or cost. However there are other features to be noted in this account.

The hardened hearts

Judas

In the previous study we looked at Judas in some detail, who had by now changed sides. After being in the company of Jesus and the other disciples for three years he had walked out and become associated with the high priest, his Saduccee associates and the Pharisees. When this troop came to the garden, John poignantly says,

“And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.” John 18:5

The soldiers

A large crowd of Roman soldiers and the Jewish temple guard had come to arrest Jesus. Some of these had probably been amongst those sent to arrest Jesus earlier but had returned without him. Their explanation to the chief priests and Pharisees for failing to bring Jesus in was simple,

“No-one ever spoke the way this man does.” John 7:46

Furthermore, when Jesus stepped forward and surrendered himself to them, instead of running away as most people would, he had repeatedly used the divine title, ‘I am’ of himself, saying,

“I am he. . . I am he.” John 18:5, and 8

After the first occasion he said ‘I am’, this large crowd drew back and fell to the ground. What it was that caused this response we are not told, but clearly the presence of Jesus had an impact on them. Jesus then miraculously healed Malchus’ ear, but both the Jewsish temple guard and the Roman soldiers were so hardened that now nothing moved them.

Some people say that if they were to see a miracle they would believe. Some churches even try to perform such miracles theatrically in order to encourage faith . Jesus however knew people’s hearts and recognised that no-one is converted from a sinful life by seeing even genuine miracles where the laws of nature are broken.

“Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.” John 12:37

Today, as in those days, there can frequently be a hardness of heart that prevents people acknowledging the rule of God in their lives, and that is always the stumbling block.

The Jewish rulers

The religious leaders, who hated Jesus for many reasons, had sent this troop to arrest Jesus because he had repeatedly claimed to be the one and only Son of God. Furthermore he had taught that Gentiles could also become members of the kingdom of God whereas the Jews wanted nothing to do with the Gentiles, They wouldn’t even enter their homes. Furthermore the Sadducee leaders of the Jewish council had much to lose. Annas was head of this family. Annas had officially served as high priest for ten years (6–15 A.D.), when at the age of 36, he had been deposed by the procurator Valerius Gratus. However he remained a powerful authority and members of his family served successively as high priests. The high priest at this time, Caiaphas, was his son-in law.

This powerful family were not, according to Josephus very popular with the Jews. This was, in part, due to the fact that in order to remain in power they had to keep in with the Roman authorities. This family controlled the temple and all that went on in it. At Passover time all Jewish families had to come with a sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered. These animals were inspected and if any blemished were found, they were rejected, but, of course, they could buy an approved lamb from the temple authorities - for a price!

They also oversaw the temple tax, that was required to be paid by all males over the age of twenty. The money was used for the upkeep of all that went on in the temple. This annual tax was collected during one of the great feasts. The catch was that it had to be paid in temple currency, consequently there were money changers in the court of Gentiles for this very purpose, and there was a premium to pay for this special coinage!

Jesus had, for the second time, entered the temple and upset the tables of the money changers. He had expelled the officials with their doves and animals from the temple just a few days earlier (Matthew 21:12-13). By doing this he was attacking the financial secuity as well as the authority of the Annas family. No wonder, when all these matters were brought together, the religious leaders were furious with Jesus. It was after Lazarus has been raised that this anger climaxed, this man claimed to be the Son of God which meant he was God.

“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’” John 11:47-48

It is so easy for all of us to have wrong motives that influence how we relate to God. Caiaphas then said arrogantly to the Sanhedrin,

“You know nothing at all. You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John 11:49

Little did he realise how profound that statement was,

“ . . . that one man should die for the people . . .”

Jesus was in fact dying, not just for Caiaphas and for the whole Jewish nation but for everyone in the world. Jesus was to die as God’s ultimate sacrifice for sin. Neither Caiaphas not the Sanhedrin realised who Jesus was and what his death would achieve.

The high priest obviously wanted to get rid of both Jesus and his main followers. Jesus was first taken to the home of Annas, a previous High Priest and still ruler of that dynasty.

“Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.” John 18:19

Significantly Jesus said nothing about who his disciples were but robustly demonstrates how wrongful his arrest was. With regards to his teaching, Jesus answered,

“ ‘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. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” John 18:21

At this point one of the officials struck Jesus in the face.

“Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

Jesus remained calm and in control,

“‘If I said something wrong,’ Jesus replied, testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?’”

There was no good answer. Truth should always be what people seek as truth is always compatible with what God thinks. They should be investigating the evidence for the claim of Jesus for it to be a fair trial.

All that was going on in this ‘trial’ was illegal. Elaborate preparations had been laid so that the accused could be tried, convicted and executed before the city awoke. Because of the events of Palm Sunday, there was probably a concern that if the common people were aware of what was being done to Jesus, they might riot in his defence. For the next part of his trial, Jesus was taken to the home of Caiaphas on the Western Hill of Jerusalem. Trials were never allowed to occur in a private home, but only in a public place where witnesses could give evidence openly. Witnesses could not be called to a private trial at night. Furthermore the judges were certainly not impartial.

Matthew, in his gospel, gives us further information about this ‘trial,’

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they could not find any, though many witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, ‘This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent.” Matthew 26:59-61

Jesus must have recognised that this court was illegal and that there was no evidence of wrongdoing against him. Then the high priest stood said to Jesus,

“ ‘I charge you under oath by the living God; Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Matthew 26:63-64

Jesus was here referring to one of the well-known prophecies in Daniel that all Jews recognised to be about the Messiah, which is the Hebrew word for the Christ. Daniel wrote,

“In my vision at night I looked and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

This was really the basis for the trial against Jesus and evidence both for and against this claim should have been heard. However,

“Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken balsphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’” Matthew 26:65-66

Doubtless Annas wanted to share the responsibility for what he knew to be wrongdoing.

“Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the official high priest.”

Caiaphas was known to be antagonistic to Jesus and he was the son-in-law of Annas!

Peter’s betrayal

“Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.” John 18:15

Mark’s gospel adds that Peter followed ‘at a distance’. It is widely thought that the ‘other disciple’ was John himself. It seems that John and his family were in some way associated with the high priest so he is permitted to enter into the outer courtyard of his house, while Peter had to stay outside. John then returned and, after speaking to the girl on duty there, Peter was admitted to the courtyard. However the girl recognised Peter as he entered.

“You are not one of his disciples are you?” John 18:17

Peter’s immediate mindset was self-preservation not truth,

“I am not.”

It was a cold night so a charcoal fire had been set up in the courtyard and many were around this, trying to keep warm and Peter joined them. At this point another person standing by the fire asked him,

“You are not one of his disciples, are you?” John 18:25

Peter again denied it,

“I am not.”

Self preservation is a powerful instinct. The final straw came when one of the high priests’s servants who had been in the party that went to arrest Jesus and was a relative of Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him. Matthew tells us that he had recognised his Galilean accent. Peter didn’t know when to keep quiet!

“Didn’t I see you in the olive grove?” John 18:26

John simply says he denied it, but Matthew again gives more colourful detail,

“Then he (Peter) began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man.” Matthew 26:74

Then came the wake up call – it was early morning by now.

“ . . . and at that moment a cock began to crow.” John 18:27

At this point Luke records,

“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:62-63

Circumstances can so easily change the way we think unless we are very clear. A game warden in Canada came across a man who always seemed loaded with fish. One day as they were sitting by the river side, he asked the fisherman what his technique was, what bait he used. The fisherman smiled and pulled out a stick of dynamite.

“You can’t do that. I’m going to have to arrest you.”

At this the fisherman lights the fuse of the stick of dynamite, throws it into the wardens lap, and asked him,

“Are you going to complain or go fishing yourself.”

Self preservation was his prime concern, he threw the dynamite far away into the river and there was a mighty explosion. Both the warden and the fisherman collected the dead fish floating on the surface! Nothing more was said!

When we are put in an awkward situation it is so easy to try and lie our way out of it. And the more people lie or exaggerate, the easier it becomes next time.

The good news is that there can still be forgiveness if we ask for it on God’s terms. Matthew tells us how Peter felt after the cock crowed,

“And he went outside and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:75

How badly Peter must have felt. Had he ‘blown it’? Satan always wants to keep us in the dark. To go it alone is the worst thing to do. Anyone who has offended Jesus must come back to him and his people as soon as possible. This is exactly what Peter did. He joined the other disciples up in Galilee and they went fishing together. John chapter 21 tells us about this encounter with Jesus by that sea. Jesus was walking by the shore and after helping the disiples catch a miraculous haul of 153 fish, he invited them to breakfast by a charcoal fire. This is surely significant. They had a simple meal of bread and fish which must have reminded them of how Jesus had miraculously fed fed the five thousand. Then Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Do you love me more than these?”

“Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus replied,

“Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said to Peter,

“Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?”

“Yes Lord, you know that I love you.

Jesus replied,

“Take care of my sheep.”

Then the third time Jesus said to Peter,

“Do you love me?”

Peter replied,

“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Again Jesus replied,

“Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-19

The charcoal fire and the triple question was clearly a re-enactment of Peter’s denial. But Peter was clearly truly repentant of his failure and the Lord Jesus wants him to know that not only is he forgiven but he is given the responsibility by God to lead his people. He would do this by teaching them God’s word and loving them. Perhaps those words of Jesus in what is called his high priestly prayer came to mind,

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of this world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. . . . For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you” John 17:6-8

What an encouragement this is to all of us. The Lord is slow to anger and whatever we have done in the past, if we are truly repentent we can start again with him with a clean slate.

There is a profound difference between Judas and Peter. Though both deny their allegiance to the Lord Jesus, one was on the spur of the moment and the error was quickly recognised and repented of. His weeping reveals what was in his heart. Judas however had made a predetermined deep-seated decision not to side with Christ or his people. He felt remorse that led to his suicide but he never turned back to the Lord Jesus in sorrow and repentance.

Application

Just as the Lord Jesus showed his grace and mercy to Peter and to the other disciples, we must also accept that all of us make stupid and sometimes far reaching mistakes that go against the obedience we owe to the Lord. The way is always open for us to repent and turn back to Christ for his forgiveness. If a fallen church member does this, we should surely accept them back into the warm fellowship of the church. If someone persists in their serious rebellion against obedience to Christ, even if they feel sorry for decisions they have made, it should be made clear that acceptance by Christ and his church is dependent on genuine confession and repentance.

“If you love me you will obey what I command.” John 14:15

“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.” John 14:23

“He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.” John 14:24

To experience the genuine peace of God, which passes all understanding, we must keep returning to the state of repentance and a commitment to obey the Lord, whatever ther cost.

BVP