JANUARY 20 / JANUARY 27, 2019
JESUS IN THE COURT OF THE HIGH PRIEST
INTRODUCTION:
1. As John in these verses describes how Christ was arrested and led away to the high priest for arraignment, three amazing things stand out to us. By way of preface, let us take particular notice of them.
a) First, we see the amazing hardness of ungodly men. Jewish servants of the priest and Pharisees and Roman soldiers were alike witnesses of two spectacular exhibitions of Jesus’ divine power (Verse 6; Luke 22:51), yet they remained unmoved, as if they had witnessed nothing out of the ordinary. Let us not wonder at the callous hearts of either religious apostates, or those who are altogether irreligious and have lived without any holy influences in their lives. Neither let us imagine that seeing miracles can alone soften hard hearts and turn them to Christ.
b) Second, we see the amazing condescension of our Lord. See Him as He is taken prisoner, and led away bound as a criminal (no doubt, violently), arraigned before wicked men, suffering the greatest possible injustice. And yet this unresisting prisoner had only to will His deliverance, and He would have been free. He, all the while, knew that this entire company, including Annas and Caiaphas, would all one day stand before His judgment seat and receive from him an eternal sentence. Of course, the beautiful message here is that the love of Christ for sinners is “a love that passeth knowledge,” and for sake of that love He willingly suffered all of these things.
c) Third, we see the amazing degree of weakness of which even real believers are capable. None of the disciples seemed so confident as Peter. (Ch. 13:37; Matt. 26:33) Neither did any of them seem so brave as he. (Verse 10) Peter’s fall is doubtless intended to be a lesson to the whole church of Christ, to warn about the danger of pride and self-confidence. Yet, because of his merciful and faithful High Priest, Peter was restored, and by the almighty grace of his Lord, he would afterward become in truth that faithful, devoted, and courageous disciple that he had vainly and confidently boasted himself to be. If Peter’s fall causes Christians to see their own weakness, his life after restoration should show us what we can be by the grace and power of our Lord. (Phil. 4:13)
2. Here, we have John’s account of Christ’s arraignment which includes some circumstances that are omitted by the other Gospel writers.
I. CHRIST IS ARRESTED, BOUND, AND LED AWAY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL THAT IS NOW ASSEMBLED AND WAITING FOR HIM. (VERSES 12-14)
A. THE MAKE-UP OF THE POSSE THAT WAS SENT TO APPREHEND JESUS. (VERSE 12)
1. We see that there was a “band,” a detachment of Roman soldiers and their “captain,” that is, the officer who commanded them. The “officers of the Jews” must mean the civil servants of the priests who accompanied them.
a) How many in all we do not know (some estimate as many as 500) but it was “a great multitude.” (Matt. 26:47) They came in force as if some great malefactor or violent criminal was to be taken.
b) It was apparently a violent, vicious mob. (Psa. 22:12)
2. With Verse 12 begins the story of Christ’s suffering when He was actually in the hands of His enemies. For the first time we see Him not as a free man but submitted as a passive sufferer and allowing His foes to work their will.
a) Neither their recent experience (Verse 6) nor having witnessed His last miracle (Luke 22:51) had effected any change in them, or caused them to rethink their diabolical plan.
b) The chains with which they bound Him would have been “as a thread of tow…when it toucheth the fire,” had He wished to free Himself. (Jud. 16:9) How could they not have known this?
B. CHRIST WAS CONDUCTED FIRST TO ANNAS. (VERSE 13)
1. This is a fact not mentioned by any of the other Gospel writers, but it calls attention to the disorder and irregularity that attended to the office of high priest during the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry.
a) Instead of the high priest being high priest for life, he was often elected for a year or two and then disposed and his place given to another. (See notes on Ch. 11:49)b) In the case before us, Annas had been replaced by his son-in-law, Caiaphas.
2. Christ was brought to Annas first, but why?
a) Was it, as some think, simply out of respect for him as the elder priest? Was it because he was an adviser to the acting high priest? Was it because his house was in route to the palace, as some suggest?
b) Whatever the logical or practical reason may have been, it seems that the underlying reason was that he, being the rightful high priest (Acts 4:6); it was his duty to inspect the paschal lamb. Thus Christ being God’s Lamb for sacrifice, was first brought to Annas for examination.
c) Christ was found to be “without spot and without blemish.” The priests will resort to hiring false witnesses before it’s all over with. They will at last resort to a false charge of blasphemy in order to call for His death. (See Matt. 26:57-66)
3. Annas did not long detain them, being as willing as any of them to get on with the prosecution.
C. ANNAS SENT HIM BOUND TO CAIAPHAS. (VERSE 14, VERSE 24)
1. He was sent either to Caiaphas’ house or to the place in the temple where the high priest kept his court. In either case, it is obvious that members of the Sanhedrin were ready and waiting for the arresting party to return with the prisoner.
2. The malice of Caiaphas is intimated by the repeating of what he had said some time before, that right or wrong, guilty or innocent, it was expedient that one man should die for the people. (Ch. 11:50)
a) This is mentioned here to show what a bad man he was.
b) This is mentioned here to emphasize the injustice that was being done to Christ.
c) This is mentioned here as a testimony to the innocence of our Lord Jesus from the mouth of one of His worst enemies.
II. IT WAS AS JESUS WAS BEFORE THE COURT OF THE HIGH PRIEST THAT PETER BEGAN TO DENY HIS MASTER. (VERSES 15-18)
A. PETER LONGED TO BE ALLOWED IN, AND WITH THE HELP OF JOHN WAS ADMITTED WITHIN THE GATE. (VERSES 15, 16)
1. Peter’s love and loyalty is here seen.
a) He followed when they led Christ away. Though he followed from afar (Matt. 26:58), and thus arrived late, he was nevertheless there. Notice, John does not mention that Peter followed from afar off.
b) When he could not get in where Jesus was in the midst of His enemies, he stood at the gate. Had he not lagged behind, perhaps he would have entered with the others when John did.
2. The other disciple, who doubtless was John, for throughout his Gospel he refers to himself in this manner, assisted
Peter in getting within the courtyard.
B. PETER, HAVING GOTTEN IN, WAS IMMEDIATELY ASSAULTED WITH TEMPTATION AND FOILED BY IT. (VERSES 17, 18)
1. The attack seems to be so slight, and yet the surrender was so speedy. (Verse 17) “Art thou one of them?” asked a damsel (a little maid). “I am not.” was the reply.
a) Had it been Malchus that spotted him, or one of the soldiers, we might better understand his reluctance.
b) Had he been half the loyal servant that he had boasted that he was, he would have said, “It is my honor to say that I am.”
2. Peter went further into the temptation, even mingling with the enemy, and warming himself at their fire. (Vse. 18)
a) It was bad enough that he was not at the upper end of the hall where he might have been a support to his Master.
b) It was much worse that he was joined with the enemies of his Master, and appearing to be one of them.
c) If we stand with Christ, we will not find ourselves consorting with the ungodly.
III. WHILE PETER WAS DENYING CHRIST, THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS ASSOCIATES WERE ACCUSING AND ABUSING HIM. (VERSES 19-23)
A. THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE HIM AS A SEDUCER AND A TEACHER OF FALSE DOCTRINE. (VERSE 19)
1. The whole process was irregular and contrary to the rules of law and equity, in that, they seized Him as a criminal, but they had nothing to lay to His charge. The judge must be the prosecutor, and the prisoner himself, the witness, i.e. His own accuser.
2. Because it was already determined that Christ must be sacrificed (Verse 14), “the high priest then (therefore) asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine.”
a) Concerning His disciples, that he might charge Him with sedition, and show Him as a danger to the Roman government, as well as the Jewish cause. Some think the high priest intended by this to upbraid Christ for the cowardice and desertion of His disciples: “Where are they?” For their sakes He sanctified Himself, and suffered. (Ch. 17:19)
b) Concerning His doctrine, that he might charge Him with heresy, and bring Him under penalty of the law against false prophets. (Deut. 13:9, 10; 17:11, 12) They could not prove any false doctrine, but they hoped to extort something from Him that they might twist or distort to make Him out as an offender. How strange, nothing was said about all of His miracles, and the great good He had done.
B. THE ANSWER JESUS GAVE WAS TO PROTECT HIS DISCIPLES, AND TO EXPOSE THE ILLEGALITY OF THESE PROCEEDINGS. (VERSES 20, 21)
1. Regarding His disciples, He said nothing. If Caiaphas’ intention was to bring the disciples into this in order to ensnare them, Jesus protected them by saying nothing. (See Verse 8) Besides, with respect to this interrogation it was an impertinent question. If His doctrine was sound, having disciples to whom to teach it was only reasonableand certainly lawful.
2. Regarding His doctrine (Verse 20), He insists that His publication had been open and public, and not the clandestine spreading of dangerous doctrine as forbidden in the law. (Deut. 13:6)
a) As to the manner of His preaching, He spoke openly and with great plainness. “Verily, verily…”
b) As to His audience, He preached to the world; Jews and Gentiles.
c) As to the places, He preached in synagogues, and in the temple, and at feasts.
d) As to the doctrine, He said nothing in secret that was contrary to what He said in public.
3. Thus, He refers His interrogators to the countless people who had heard Him, if they would know His doctrine. (Verse 31)
a) He refers them not to His friends and followers, who might be expected to give a favorable report, but to any impartial hearer.
b) Some think that He pointed to their own officers when He made this appeal. (See Ch. 7:45, 46)
c) Note, the doctrine of Christ may safely appeal to all who honestly hear it.
C. WHILE THE JUDGES WERE QUESTIONING HIM, THE SERVANTS THAT STOOD BY WERE ABUSING HIM. (VERSES 22, 23)
1. It was a base affront that one of the officers gave Him. He struck Jesus on the face and rebuked Him, as if He had spoken rudely to the priest. (Verse 22; Isa. 50:6; Mic. 5:1)
2. Christ bore this affront with wonderful meekness and patience. (Verse 23; I Pet. 2:21-23)
a) Christ defended Himself with reason, but He did not avenge the assault.
b) Our answer to injuries done us must always be rational and never passionate. We are allowed to defend ourselves but not to avenge ourselves.
IV. ALL THE WHILE, PETER CONTINUED TO DENY HIS LORD MORE VEHEMENTLY UNTIL THE COCK CREW. (VERSES 25-27; SEE CH. 13:38)
Speak Your Mind