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John 18
Joh 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.
Joh 18:2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes
resorted thither with his disciples.
Joh 18:3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief
priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Joh 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went
forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
Joh 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he.
And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Joh 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and
fell to the ground.
Joh 18:7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of
Nazareth.
Joh 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me,
let these go their way:
Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou
gavest me have I lost none.
We can see clearly that these men had no power to take Jesus unless, Jesus
Himself allowed it. He made sure that all His disciples would be free. They were
the ones who would have the word given to them to spread the gospel to all the
world.
Joh 18:10 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.
Joh 18:11 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?
Peter was always quick to act without thinking. He was the one previously
rebuked for trying to tell Jesus that He would not die, He was the one who
boasted that he would never deny Him. In another gospel it is told that Jesus
healed the servant's ear.
Jesus reminded His disciples that He has a cup to drink and He must drink it. He
had to obey the will of His Father to pay the price for the sins of the whole
world. If He had not have done this, no one could be saved from sin and receive
eternal life.
Joh 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus,
and bound him,
Joh 18:13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas,
which was the high priest that same year.
Joh 18:14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was
expedient that one man should die for the people.
They willed Him to die so that the Roman government would not be satisfied. They
were afraid that when multitudes followed Jesus, they would get in trouble with
the Roman government. Little did they know that their rejection of Jesus as
Messiah caused the same Roman government to destroy them in 70 AD. There was no
Israel from that point on until 1948.
Joh 18:15 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.
Joh 18:16 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.
Mingling with a crowd that was agreeing with the judgment of Jesus was a sign of
compromise and weakness. He began to fear as much of us would under the same
circumstances.
Joh 18:17 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.
Joh 18:18 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.
He was badly unequally yoked with unbelievers. He was not there for the purpose
of witnessing the gospel but to observe what would happen to Jesus without
making Himself known as His follower. He tried to become one of the crowd.
Joh 18:19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his
doctrine.
Joh 18:20 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.
Joh 18:21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto
them: behold, they know what I said.
They knew the teachings of Jesus and what He stood for. They really didn't have
to ask.
Joh 18:22 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?
Joh 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil:
but if well, why smitest thou me?
Joh 18:24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
Joh 18:25 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.
Joh 18:26 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?
Joh 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Imagine how Peter felt when that rooster crowed. What a feeling must have come
over Him. He knew that he lacked something. The Peter before Pentecost was very
different than the Peter after Pentecost. Even though he did later have a little
trouble in the flesh and was rebuked by the apostle Paul, He still was more
stable and steadfast after He was baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Peter was forgiven his denial before men that would normally condemned him
because he later went out and wept bitterly over this occurrence.
Mat 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess
also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven.
This type of sin can be forgiven but we must repent and confess Jesus before men
which Peter later did.
Joh 18:28 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.
Joh 18:29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye
against this man?
Joh 18:30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would
not have delivered him up unto thee.
Joh 18:31 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:
If it was not lawful on a feast day to put someone to death, most probably it
would not be lawful in any case.
Since they could not put Him to death, He was to die the Roman way by
crucifixion. A very cruel way to die.
Joh 18:32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake,
signifying what death he should die.
Joh 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus,
and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
Joh 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others
tell it thee of me?
Joh 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests
have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36 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.
His kingdom is not of this world. This must be understood to keep us from the
error of dominionism and kingdom now theology. We are never as a church to
attempt to set up Christ's kingdom before He returns visibly. Only He can do
that. As tempting as it may be to think that the Lord delays His coming so He
must be waiting for us to set up a Christian theocracy, it has been tried and it
has failed miserably. I too am tired of abortion, crime, moral filth and other
such things but legislating these things without people being born again by the
spirit of God will not work. We can't make a Christian nation by forced
conversions or legislation. It can only be done by the preaching of the gospel
and individuals being born again by the spirit of God. Jesus did not command us
to set up His kingdom but to preach the kingdom which is the gospel of repenting
of sin and believing in Jesus as savior from sin. Until the sin is forgiven and
cleansed from the inner man, he or she will continue to sin and we can't force
them to convert. We have no power to change their inner being. Only the Holy
Spirit can transform a life from darkness to light. This of course does not mean
that we neglect to have any sort of government or the rights of the innocent
would be in jeopardy, but the moral conscience cannot be legislated. Abortion
though is murder so it should be outlawed but whether someone is a Baptist, a
Pentecostal or a Catholic cannot be legislated because it is something that
occurs between man and God. We can preach, teach, exhort and correct but
we can't force one's religious beliefs upon anyone when we have no power to give
them the Holy Spirit to help them not return to the filth they came out of.
We teach but God does the converting.
Joh 18:37 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.
This king must return before the kingdoms of this world become the literal
kingdom of God.
For now His kingdom is not of this world.
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of
God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with
observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the
kingdom of God is within you.
Joh 18:38 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.
Joh 18:39 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?
Joh 18:40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now
Barabbas was a robber.
They preferred a thief to be released rather than the Son of God. Do we love
this present world more than the Son of God? Do we prefer to hold onto our sins
like they did rather than repent and become a new person in Jesus Christ? The
choice of life or death is before us. Which do we choose?
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