AM May 6th John 18

May 6^th              John 18                        (The Witness to the World)         The Lord is betrayed & arrested

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?

The High Priest - the Lord

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.

Peter denies the Lord

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.

Pilate questions the Lord

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, nd 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.

Pilate offers the Lord to the people

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.

And so Christ’s teaching ministry to his disciples is finally at an end. They go over the brook Kedron and enter Christ’s favourite prayer place the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas arrived with a band of men armed to take Jesus. The first concern of Jesus is to allow the disciples to escape.  They had a future job to do and it was important for them to live on. Jesus took charge stepping forward and asking who are you looking for? They said Jesus of Nazareth and he said, ‘I Am he’. At this they fell backward to the ground. Something of the glory of God broke through when he said, ‘I AM’. Then he said, ‘If you want me then let these go’. Peter drew a sword at started a fight but Christ quickly brought that to an end healing the man. Christ was bound and led away. First, to Annas the current High Priest. Peter and John followed at a distance. John went into the High Priests palace but Peter stood outside the gate. John arranged for Peter to be brought into the inner court. The young servant girl who was expert at faces and knowing who people were confronted Peter, saying aren’t you are one of his disciples. Peter denied it. In the court Peter warned himself with the Servants and Officers. Next we hear the High Priest ask of Christ teaching. He answered saying that, ‘What l have taught is known to everyone’. One of the officers struck Jesus but he answered in rebuke. Annas sent him to Caiaphas the ex-High Priest. Peter outside is challenged again and he denies again. Then one of the servants who was family to the servant that Peter attacked challenged him again and he denied it in oaths and curses. And just then the morning broke and Peter went out of the court into the shadows of the street and wept. Then Christ was led into the judgment hall of Pilate but the Religious leaders would not enter the hall in case they picked up any defilement because it was the Passover feast. Pilate came out to ask what accusation they had against Jesus. They said he is guilty and so betrayed their prejudice. They said we cannot execute him because we are subject to Roman law which denies us the privilege. Pilate decided to ask for himself. So he said to Jesus, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus said, You have said right. Then Pilate said, Look your own countrymen have accused you to me, what have you done? Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world. if it were then my servant would fight. But my kingdom is from heaven. So Pilate said, you are a king then. Jesus replied yes that’s true I was born to be king and l have come to bear witness to the truth. Pilate replied, what is truth? He was surrounded with the intrigue and lies of politics everyday. Then Pilate realised that he could discharge this case by releasing Jesus according to an accepted custom. So Pilate said would you like me to release Jesus the King of the Jews? But they said, No, release to us Barabbas. (The Son of the Father) Barabbas was a thief and a violent thief at that. And so came true what Peter would later say. Acts 3v13: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14: But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.