The Gospel According to
John 18
40 verses≈ 7 min5 peopleBSB
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The Betrayal of Jesus
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Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Jesus
So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”
Soldiers
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
Jesus
“I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”
This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?
John 18:11
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him. They brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.
Two high priests
Whiteboard
Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, “the high priest that year.” Jesus is questioned first by Annas, then sent on to Caiaphas, who had advised “that it would be better if one man died for the people.” He meant it as politics. God meant it as salvation.
Question
Quick question
In the dark garden, one disciple reached for a sword. John is the only Gospel writer who tells us who was hit.
What was the name of the high priest’s servant whose ear Peter cut off?
Peter’s First Denial
Jesus before the High Priest
Annas
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
Jesus
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”
The officers
When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
Jesus
Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”
I have spoken openly to the world
John 18:20
Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Pray
Spoken openly
Jesus was struck for telling the truth, and He answered without bitterness: “if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?” Ask Him for the same steady courage: to speak openly and kindly about what you believe, and to stay gentle and honest when you are treated unfairly.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Jesus before Pilate
Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
Pilate
So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
The Jewish leaders
“If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”
Pilate
“You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them.
The Jewish leaders
“We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
Pilate went back into the Praetorium, summoned Jesus, and asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
“Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
0:44
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
What is truth?
John 18:38
Pilate
And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
The Jewish leaders
“Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
Reflect
Whose voice?
Jesus told Pilate, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” Pilate asked, “What is truth?” and went straight back out. Where are you tempted to walk away before Jesus has finished speaking? What would it look like to stay and listen today?
You’ve experienced
John 18
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A verse to carry with you
For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth.
John 18:37
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