CHAPTER 18

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.

Traveling East from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, Jesus and His disciples crossed the "brook Cedron."
David had crossed this way when he was running from his own son Absalom (2Samuel 15:23).
Now, Jesus is going the same way, knowing that His own nation wants to kill him!

Yet, Jesus wasn't running away; He was going to the place He KNEW Judas would betray Him!
Jesus had often gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
Judas KNEW that.

After Judas had committed to betray Jesus, the "chief priests and Pharisees" gave him a "band of men."
They came out in the night to capture Jesus.
But, according to a prophetic Psalm, Jesus would answer evil with righteousness. (See Psalm 88:12)

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.

Jesus knew why Judas had come with the "band of men!"
He walked FORWARD to meet them, and asked for whom they searched.

Their answer: "Jesus of Nazareth," indicated they did not know the specific person for whom they searched.
But Judas identified Jesus with a "kiss" (See Matthew 26:48).
The "kiss" is a hug, with perhaps a kiss on the cheek.
The "kiss" exhibits friendship with no intention to harm!
Yet, Judas used the "kiss" to BETRAY and IDENTIFY Jesus as the One the guards and council sought to kill!

Immediately, Jesus told them HE was the One for whom they searched.
As He said, "I am He," the band of men "went backward, and fell to the ground!"

Jesus is the Living WORD of God!
That Word brought creation.
That Word brought salvation.
And, that Word can bring condemnation!(See Revelation 19:11-15)

The utter force of truth spoken is undeniable, and men with sinful hearts do shrink from it!

With the same authority, Jesus said, "I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek ME, let THESE go their way."
If they sought to take any one of the disciples, the WORD of God would have STOPPED them!
Jesus would lose NONE of those whom He had chosen!

My friend, if you are a Christian, the WORD of God speaks on your behalf!
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with TRUTH, " (Eph. 6:14)

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?

This instance brings a tremendous lesson.
Many of us, act impetuously; and would soon use a physical sword to defend our Lord.
Jesus needs no physical sword.
He has the "sword of His mouth" which is eternal truth.

Simon Peter would have, in anger, chopped off Malchus' head!
But Malchus probably ducked and Peter MISSED!

The TRUTH speaks louder than any physical sword!
Let us use the WORD of our LORD!

Jesus touched Malchus ear, and he was miraculously HEALED (See Luke 22:51)
Here was a sinner who came to destroy Him, yet Jesus HEALED him!
Can one explain that kind of love?

The "cup" which Jesus received from the Father was to DIE for our sins!
He was quite willing to "drink it!"
Can one explain THAT kind of love?!

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.

That must have been quite a CROWD!
The "band," the "captain and officers" made up a large group!

Note they took Jesus, first, to Annas.
Annas was NOT the high priest that year, though he HAD been once.
He had been deposed, and Caiaphas (Annas' son-in-law) had been appointed to take his place.
We must remember, at that time, the Romans ruled over the Jews.
And, the governor of Syria appointed the high priest.
Even though Annas had been deposed, probably he exerted much authority.
So, they took Jesus there first, then on to Caiaphas.

The high priest was Caiaphas.
He had earlier made the statement that ".... one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." (John 11:50)

So, they arrested Jesus in the night, and took Him to be tried in the night (illegally according to their laws).
"According to the Tosephta' Sanhedrin 7 1, the Sanhedrin held its sittings from the time of the offering of the daily morning sacrifice till that of the evening sacrifice. There were no sittings on Sabbaths or feast days." (See http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/S/SANHEDRIN/)
Also, "the Talmud states, Sanhed. c. 4 s. 1, that-"Criminal processes can neither commence nor terminate, but during the course of the day. If the person be acquitted, the sentence may be pronounced during that day; but, if he be condemned, the sentence cannot be pronounced until the next day. But no kind of judgement is to be executed, either on the eve of the Sabbath, or the eve of any festival."
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.

There was no allowance for an EVENING trial!

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.

As they came to Caiaphas' house, there was a gate and a porter.
The porter happened to be a woman (which, as I understand, was normal in that day).
Peter was not allowed to enter, but "that other disciple" was allowed.
Some people say that was probably John.
Some people say it was more than likely a disciple of Jesus who resided in Jerusalem, and knew the high priest.

At any rate, "that other disciple" came back out, and Peter was allowed to come in.

The porter probably recognized Peter as one of the leading disciples.
When she pointed that out (by means of a question), Peter denied it!
First denial!

Outside the house proper, and in the courtyard, there was a fire.
Peter stood there with the "servants and officers" who had brought Jesus to Caiaphas.

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.

The high priest had authority to question a rabbi concerning his teachings.
When Caiaphas questioned Jesus about His disciples and teachings, Jesus replied NOTHING had been done secretly.
In fact, Jesus even stated the high priest could question the listeners.

Answering in this manner, one of the officers considered Jesus to have insulted the high priest.
So, he struck Jesus.
Jesus questioned, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil (tell about it): but if well (if I have spoken rightly), why smitest thou me?" Take note: no one answered Jesus!!
Jesus had only spoken absolute truth, and none could deny it!

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.

Peter, standing with others by the fire, was asked if he weren't one of Jesus' disciples.
Second denial.

Then, one of the servants who was kin to Malchus (whose ear Peter had chopped off), asked, "Did not I SEE thee in the garden with Him?"
Third denial!
THEN, "immedicately the cock crew."
Jesus had warned Peter of denying Him three times before the cock would crow!

How many have maintained silence, instead of openly professing Christ, when they faced being called "good two shoes," "do gooder," or some other denegrating name?
Well, it is sure that if any have done so, and really KNEW Christ, they felt the SAME THING PETER FELT! GUILTINESS! CONVICTION!!

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.

The officers now followed the orders of the high priest, and took Jesus bound to "the judgment hall."
The "judgment hall" was called the "praitorion".
This actually was the governor's palace.
They placed Jesus in the "judgment hall," but wouldn't enter themselves.
If they entered a Gentile's residence, they would be defiled and unable to participate in the Passover.

Pilate wanted to know why they were bringing this man bound, and under guard.
"What accusation bring ye against this man?"

They, at first, would not give a charge.
They simply stated he was a "malefactor" (criminal).
So, Pilate said, "Then YOU take him and judge him according to YOUR laws."

But they wanted THE DEATH PENALTY!
That's why they told Pilate, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:" (according to the Roman laws at that time).

This fulfilled a prophetic statement Jesus had made that He would be crucified.
(See Matthew 26:2, John 3:14, and John 13:32-33)

33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and 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.

So, Pilate went back into the judgment hall and talked to Jesus.
Some of the men outside had probably stated that Jesus called Himself "King of the Jews."
This would have made Pilate be concerned about an insurrection or rebellion against his forces.

Pilate asked, "ARE you King of the Jews?"
Jesus' answer was a question.
It was actually an evangelistic question!
He wanted to know if this had been revealed to Pilate, or did he just hear it from others.
If it had been revealed, then Jesus would have talked further with him.

Pilate's answer indicated he did not "keep up" with his duties as he should have.
He had not studied the Jewish religion.
He simply received information from the leaders - as was needed!

Therefore, Jesus assured Pilate there was no insurrection or rebellion intended.
And, in clear terms, Jesus indicated His "kingdom" was not "of this world," rather, it was of spiritual nature.
Also, in clear terms, Jesus said His "kingdom" was not "NOW" of this world.
One day, He WILL COME and rule the entire earth for a thousand years! (See Revelation 20:2-7)

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.
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.

Pilate asked Jesus definately if He were a "king."
Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king."
Or, in other words, "Yes, it is true what you say."

Pilate's question: "What is truth?" was followed by him abruptly leaving Jesus.
This indicated an attitude that he believed no one knew real truth; and, if they did, he wasn't interested.
JESUS is real TRUTH!
However, Pilate's attitude is similar to most of the world.

Note that Pilate went to the Jewish leaders and said, "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.

Pilate also reminded the Jewish leaders of the custom to release one prisoner at Passover.
His question was: did they want Jesus released, since he found no fault in Him.

But they would rather have a "robber" released than the One of TRUTH!

When TRUTH convicts the soul, some would rather have a "robber" among them than the One of truth!