Chapter Introduction
The previous chapter transitioned us from the farewell discourse to the passion events. Jesus had just offered his prayers for Himself, His disciples, and the future believers. The location of these prayers is not given. Chapter 18 opens with the statement, “He went out with His disciples.” This would seem to indicate the farewell discourse happened in the upper room. Although, at the end of John 14, Jesus said, “Arise, let us go from here.” Then, John 15 through 17 were somewhere between that “arise” and the “He went out with His disciples” in the first verse of chapter 18.
All four gospels speak of the celebration of the Passover, and each reports Jesus predicting Peter's denial. After that, Matthew, Mark, and John go right to the garden scene. All four gospels speak of Jesus and His disciples entering the garden.
John 18:1
East of the Temple was the Kidron Valley. The Brook Kidron was a wadi that only flowed in the winter, during the rainy season. “Kidron” means dark and gloomy. This valley was a deep ravine separating the temple mount from the Mount of Olives. Some suggested that the dark and gloomy Kidron was because it was clouded with the blood of the sacrifices from the temple. The blood shed by each of these animals foreshadowed the blood Jesus would shed.
Across that brook, the terrain immediately rose again to the Mt of Olives. As one went east from the Northeast corner of the temple, near the sheep gate, across the valley and brook, part way up the Mount of Olives was a garden. Matthew and Mark tell us the garden was called Gethsemane. A “Gethsemane” was an olive press. This was where the olives were crushed to recover the oil.
Jesus crossed the murky waters and the dark and gloomy valley with His disciples. They made their way up the Mount of Olives to this Garden. This is where Jesus would begin to be crushed by the weight of sin and all He was about to do.
Meanwhile, Judas had betrayed Jesus. He filled his pocket with thirty pieces of silver and was on his way to the garden, also leading the authorities to Jesus.
Matthew said that upon arriving at Gethsemane, He went to pray. He took Peter, John, and James with Him. They repeatedly fell asleep. This is when Jesus prayed.
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)
Jesus prayed the prayer three times. He prayed and agonized over what was before Him. This was where the battle for the souls of men was fought and won. All the while, the disciples slept. They were weak, not even able to stay awake. This was something that Jesus alone could do. It was a spiritual battle in which these men were not equipped for.
In this, we can see that the cross was the only way. If there were any other way for men to find forgiveness, then Jesus died in vain. This was a work He alone could do.
At the creation, God was in the garden of paradise in fellowship with man. He walked with man, enjoying open fellowship. Then Adam rebelled, rejecting God's way and desiring his own plan. Mankind was kicked out of the garden, and a guard was set. Mankind was destined to deal with the thorns and thistles of sin and work by the sweat of the brow.
Jesus in another garden was struggling with the work set before Him. The work was as good as done because He was committed to the obedience of the Father. In a short time, He would wear the crown of thorns, a symbol of the world’s sin He would bear. Jesus was stepping into the gap between God and man. He was taking every sin upon Himself: every rebellious act, every sin of the past, present, and future. Jesus was crushed under the weight of sin but also knowing that sin would separate Him from the Father. This is the brokenhearted knowledge of the shame, destruction, and brokenness of the human experience of sin.
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:43-44)
In this garden, He began to drink the cup of suffering that was so full and so bitter. He was filled with sorrow and distress. This was the plan of a loving God.
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:10-11)
Why would God do this? Why would He put Jesus through this? Because He is a just God, and justice demands payment for transgression. But He's also a loving God. He loves you so much that He came as a man to take our place and pay the penalty we owe.
John 18:2-9
Judas knew this place in Gethsemane. It was a place Jesus had frequented with His disciples. Judas had received his pay and was delivering Jesus into the hands of the authorities who sought Him.
The “detachment” of troops is a cohort. A Roman cohort could be up to 800 men. However, these weren’t Roman soldiers. This was the Temple Guard, Jewish soldiers that kept order at the temple. This detachment was surely just part of a cohort, but still far more soldiers than required to take a man like Jesus. His record of violence was nothing more than flipping tables in the temple.
The chief priests and other officers accompanied the soldiers and Judas to seek out Jesus.
chief priests: Refers to the leading members of the priesthood, who were responsible for the operation of the Jerusalem temple. They also played an essential role in mediating Roman rule.
Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis,
M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D.
(2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mk 11:18). Lexham Press.
They came in the night with their weapons to take Him by force. The determination of these people to deal with Jesus clouded their good judgment and common sense. They were so offended that they couldn’t control Him or silence Him. They were concerned about the crowd's response to His arrest, but they determined not to miss this opportunity.
Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” (Mark 14:48)
Jesus knew what was happening, and he went to meet them. This was something they probably didn’t expect. He asked who they were looking for and identified Himself to them. John doesn’t speak of the kiss from Judas as the synoptic gospels.
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48)
Jesus confirmed His identity by saying, “I am He.” With this, He confirmed that He was the one of whom they spoke, but also might allude to the voice of the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). There’s a Jewish tradition attributed to a Jewish writer, Artapanus. He said that when Moses pronounced the name of God, Pharoah fell backward. John tells us this contingent drew back and fell to the ground. If they thought Jesus was speaking the divine name, this may have struck fear in them, causing them to draw back. Magicians were said to have cast spells in that name.
But the appearance and majesty of that calm Christ—heaven in His look and peace on His lips—was too overpowering in its effects on that untutored heathen soldiery, who perhaps cherished in their hearts secret misgivings of the work they had in hand. The foremost of them went backward, and they fell to the ground.
Edersheim, A. (1896). The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Vol. 2, p. 543).
Longmans, Green, and Co.
We can’t dismiss the many times in the scriptures when men were confronted by God and found themselves face down on the ground before Him.
This falling back from Jesus may display His power to show He wasn’t being taken. He was surrendering. He volunteered himself to them and for them. They were looking for Jesus of Nazareth, and in doing so, they arrested the Messiah.
He confirmed again that He was Jesus. He asked that His disciples would be left alone. This fulfilled Jesus’ previous statement (17:12) of His keeping the disciples, particularly in the following days, until the Holy Spirit would come and keep them.
John 18:10
It may have been wise to carry a sword when out and about in the night. Some sources say it was against Roman law to carry a weapon during the feasts. Peter was eager to show he would never deny the Lord and that he would stand with Him against these men. This might seem foolish on the surface or even false bravado. But this wasn’t a mob. These were trained soldiers. Peter’s move was courageous.
Luke recorded a conversation that appears to have happened right before Gethsemane.
But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” (Luke 22:36-37)
This sword was a short sword. It was for close-in fighting. It was made more to stab or split a helmet than to cut or slice someone. We don't know what Peter was aiming for, but he managed to cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus.
The Lord called for Peter to stand down. He was to sheath his sword. All that was happening was part of the “cup” Jesus had spoken to them about. The Lord didn’t need this fisherman’s sword to stand against trained soldiers.
Had Peter struck again, or if his initial strike had been mortal, surely this cohort would have unleashed on them, and most would have been killed (assuming Jesus didn’t supernaturally intervene.) This minor injury wasn’t minor to Malchus. This Temple soldier would be barred from ever serving in the temple again if he was missing an ear. Peter not only damaged his ear, but his desire or ability to hear the message of Jesus.
This may well be the temptation Peter was to have been praying to avoid. It’s the temptation to rely on his own understanding and willingness to resort to the flesh to resolve the problem. With all Peter had seen and heard, he still felt like he had to take control and save Jesus from this mob. Matthew tells us that Jesus made it clear that He could have called down twelve legions of angels if he wanted.
Doctor Luke recorded the compassion of Jesus, who healed the ear of Malchus, and possibly saved Peter’s life in doing so. Had he not, Peter may have been the 4th cross. The miraculous healing of Malchus’ ear certainly restored his ear and probably created a desire to hear the message of Jesus and find out who He was.
The gospel of Mark tells us:
51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked. (Mark 14:51-52)
This young man was most likely Mark himself. This may be his way of saying, "I was there!"
John 18:12-14
Some sources say binding Jesus was illegal unless He resisted. If He resisted, they wouldn’t slow Him own anyway. The bindings were certainly unnecessary. He was the lamb of God, bringing Himself as the sacrifice. Jesus was led away in the dark by this mob.
We get a glimpse into the politics and power of that time. Caiaphas was the High Priest, yet these men viewed Annas as their real leader. The High Priest was a lifetime appointment, but the Romans didn't like this and changed them out every year. In Romes's eyes, Caiaphas was the High Priest. In the eyes of the Jews, Annas was still in power.
Annas was no devout priest of pious character. He was as corrupt as they came. He got wealthy from the Temple business. He had appointed five of his sons to the High Priest's office. He had maintained some unofficial status of being over the High Priests and able to preside over judgments.
Earlier, when the Jews were trying to figure out what to do with Jesus, it was Caiaphas who advised that it was expedient that one man should die for the people (11:50).
John 18:15-18
Most think this 'other' disciple is John himself. This is disputed by quite a few on the basis of a Galilean fisherman having access to the courtyard. Some believe this other disciple is Lazarus (John 11:3 – called he whom You love). The High Priest would have known Lazarus after he was raised by Jesus. Simon, another Galilean fisherman, was not allowed in. Whoever this disciple was, he was known by the High Priest and allowed in. This may indicate a disciple that was within the Jewish court (Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus) or someone related to him. Peter was initially kept outside by the door until the other disciple spoke on his behalf.
The servant girl keeping the gate indicates this courtyard wasn’t associated with the temple. It was likely the home of Annas. The girl's question was stated in the negative, “You are not, are you?”
Peter’s first denial comes quickly and without thought. How many times do we unknowingly deny Christ every day? While the things Peter does sometimes shock us, it's also like looking in a mirror. We see ourselves in Peter.
The fire of coals is information John alone provides. These are specific and vivid details remembered by someone who was there.
- The servants and officers made a fire.
- It was a coal fire.
- It was cold.
- Peter stood with the servants and officers at the fire.
John 18:19-23
The implication by the High Priest is that Jesus is some insurrectionist. In an official Jewish trial, Jesus would not be required to answer the questions. He wasn’t supposed to be forced to convict Himself. It was by the testimony of two or three witnesses that a thing was established. Jesus pointed out that He wasn't a rebel or revolutionary against them. He taught openly to the people. Nothing was done in secret. His doctrine was openly taught and known. This was the standard for Rabbis. False teachers taught in the dark and hid their doctrine.
When power corrupts, and those in power claim to know what’s right for the people, they throw their own rules out at their convenience. Annas was fishing for something with which to charge Jesus. Jesus’ testimony could not be used against Him.
Annas had no authority over Jesus. He also had no right to examine him or allow anyone to strike him. Yet, it was by his authority first blood was drawn. These are hardly the actions of those who consider themselves representatives of God. Striking a captive was against Jewish law. Again, we can see how unconcerned Annas is with the law.
This man who struck Jesus later heard of the resurrection of Jesus. He would have heard about the gospel and the birth of the church. He may have heard the testimony of Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, or others who became followers of Jesus. What do you suppose happened to him?
John 18:24-26
Annas moved Jesus along to Caiaphas. As Jesus stood at the fire, he was questioned again. The denial, again, came easily, justified by the circumstances. Another spoke up, a relative of Malchus, and he questioned Peter also.
Imagine that moment when he heard the rooster crow. Imagine how Peter must have heard the words of Jesus’ prediction in his mind. Luke records that Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Wow! Peter wept bitterly. Jesus had been right.
They say that for the rest of Peter's life, every time he got up to preach or speak before a crowd, the scoffers and mockers would crow like a rooster.
Matthew fills in the details of what happened before Caiaphas.
57 And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, 60 but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ ”
62 And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! 66 What do you think?”
They answered and said, “He is deserving of death.”
67 Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”
(Matthew 26:57-68)
Luke tells us that it was on the way to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin trial that Jesus was mocked, beaten, blindfolded, and struck in the face. He was blasphemed repeatedly by them (Luke 22:63-65).
John 18:28
John gives us no details of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. It’s as though the trial was not legitimate, and John gave it no recognition. However, this may be because John was not there and had no eyewitness account of the trial before Caiaphas.
Rome reserved the right to all executions. Even if the trial of the Sanhedrin was legitimate and found Him guilty, they could not execute Jesus. They weren’t even close since they couldn’t get the witnesses to agree. They wanted Him dead, so they had to take Jesus to Roman justice.
The Praetorium was Herod’s old palace. It was used by the Roman prefect when he was in Judea (normally, he was located in Caesarea.) He was in town to ensure there was no mob violence from the swollen crowds of the Passover Feast. A mob of angry Jews showing up early in the morning would have got Pilate’s attention.
The Jews wouldn’t go into the Praetorium. It was gentile with gentile people, and they wouldn’t defile themselves on Passover. How strange these religious men were worried about ritual purity when they had murder on their minds. This gives us an idea of how these guys viewed their laws.
Now, Pilate was no friend of the Jews. He had repeatedly offended the Jews and was known to despise the Jews and their ways. He worked hard to be a “friend of Caesar” to move up the leadership ladder. Judea was just a career-building move. He didn’t need anyone making waves or providing a bad report to Caesar. The Jews took advantage of this and manipulated him. It is thought that he was already feeling pressure from Rome, and he wasn't thought very highly of by Caesar. Pilate was walking a fine line between antisemitic hatred and career management.
It begins with Pilate outside speaking to the Jews.
Pilate wasn’t obligated to hear a case involving Jewish law. They brought no charge to Pilate, only their evil passion and desire to see Him dead. He was obviously an evildoer since they had bound Jesus and brought Him to Pilate.
Pilate rejected the case, telling them to try Jesus in their court. That didn’t work, and they wanted Jesus dead, but their law didn't allow it. They didn't want to break any laws, or at least not so anyone would see.
Then Pilate is inside speaking with Jesus.
Pilate followed Roman law, making an inquiry to determine what was going on. The Jews had filed the charge of treason against Jesus, saying He claimed to be a king. The Jews wanted Him executed because He said He was the Son of God.
Pilate's question about Jesus being a king brought an interesting response from Jesus. Was Pilate inquiring on behalf of the Jews, in an official inquiry, or was he asking for himself? Pilate made it clear he was no Jew and didn’t care about them. They brought Jesus to him and he was trying to find the truth.
Jesus confessed that He was indeed a king but that his kingdom was not of this world. The fact that his servants weren’t fighting indicated that this wasn’t His kingdom. If it were, He would have already been on the throne, ruling the Jews.
Pilate established that Jesus was a king. Jesus was born for this very purpose. He came to the world to bear witness to the truth. Those of the truth would hear Jesus.
Pilate reveals himself as one without truth by asking, "What is truth?"
Truth is when the word and the deed become one.
Chuck Misler
The words Jesus spoke were true, right, and holy. All His deeds identified Him as the Son of God. The word and deed came together to lead him to the cross in divine obedience for divine purpose.
What a moment in time this was. Pilate asked the question with the epitome of truth standing right before him. But Pilate had no ability to see the truth. He was in spiritual darkness, blinded by his pursuit of power and authority. Pilate's wife warned Pilate not to have anything to do with Jesus because of a dream that she had.
Pilate went back outside to the Jews
Pilate found Jesus to be innocent and announced it to the Jews.
Roman law prohibited treason, not wandering, antisocial philosophers. From Pilate’s Roman perspective, he had no reason to condemn Jesus.
Keener, C. S. (1993).
The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament
(Jn 18:38b). InterVarsity Press.
The Jewish leadership called the Lord “Jesus of Nazareth.” Pilate called him “King of the Jews.”
John 18:39
Jesus had prophesied to the Jewish leadership in chapter five when He had angered them by healing on the Sabbath.
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. (John 5:39-43)
Jesus prophesied of a time when they would accept another, the anti-Christ, instead of accepting him. Antichrist is an "instead of" Christ. That's what we see in Barabbas. He is a type of anti-Christ. His name means “Son of the Father” – the real Son was rejected, but the son who came in his own name was accepted.
Should we not see ourselves in Barabbas? He was guilty and deserved to be crucified, yet he was freed. Jesus became his substitute, taking his place.
What we don't know about Barabbas is what he did with his freedom and how he responded to the knowledge that Jesus had died in his place.
What will you do with that knowledge?
©2005, 2009, 2013, 2023 Doug Ford
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