John 18

This devotional is written by Arabella Northey.

Jesus arrested
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?'

5 'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied.

'I am he,' Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, 'I am he,' they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, 'Who is it you want?'

'Jesus of Nazareth,' they said.

8 Jesus answered, 'I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.' 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: 'I have not lost one of those you gave me.'

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, 'Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?'

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter's first denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant-girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 'You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?' she asked Peter.

He replied, 'I am not.'

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood round a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The high priest questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 'I have spoken openly to the world,' Jesus replied. 'I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.'

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials near by slapped him in the face. 'Is this the way you answer the high priest?' he demanded.

23 'If I said something wrong,' Jesus replied, 'testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?' 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter's second and third denials
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, 'You aren't one of his disciples too, are you?'

He denied it, saying, 'I am not.'

26 One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, 'Didn't I see you with him in the garden?' 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a cock began to crow.

Jesus before Pilate
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, 'What charges are you bringing against this man?'

30 'If he were not a criminal,' they replied, 'we would not have handed him over to you.'

31 Pilate said, 'Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.'

'But we have no right to execute anyone,' they objected. 32 This took place to fulfil what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'

34 'Is that your own idea,' Jesus asked, 'or did others talk to you about me?'

35 'Am I a Jew?' Pilate replied. 'Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?'

36 Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'

37 'You are a king, then!' said Pilate.

Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'

38 'What is truth?' retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, 'I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release "the king of the Jews"?'

40 They shouted back, 'No, not him! Give us Barabbas!' Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

In a very memorable GCSE lesson years ago I had a pupil called Lamar who giggled every time he read 'the cock crowed,' but as we discussed Peter's dilemma further we all talked about how he would have been petrified (pun intended!) As we know he goes onto be forgiven and to speak boldly at Pentecost. The passage starts with the awful moment of those embarrassing words, 'no, I am not' as Peter's denial fulfils the earlier prediction; the second man asking was in the garden and saw Peter attack the guard, he can clearly identify him and yet Peter loses his bottle and falls into that trap, we perhaps can relate... What is Peter saying to us? Are we being asked something of which we are fearful to share the answer? He had met Jesus, hung out with him and followed him with all the costs that this involved, but still he denied his best friend when it mattered most, understandably he was confused and afraid. Sometimes our faith needs to be pressed so that we can sharpen our understanding and resolve and learn to trust Jesus

Then we cut to the second trial, this time Jesus is brought before the only man capable of giving the order to sign the death warrant, Pilate. Jesus' word play and response to his questions continually strengthen Pilate's belief that this man had done nothing wrong. Jesus says he is a King, but one whose Kingdom is not of this world. Pilate tries to find ways to escape sentencing him, in the end he opts to allow the people to decide and proclaims 'he is not guilty of any crime.' I am reminded that even those against Jesus could see there was something profoundly different about him and even when I think everything is against me or challenging my faith I need to see the truth for what it is - He is a King, bringing justice and I have the choice to allow him to reign in all parts of my life.