Reflections on Thursday night. John 18:12-30
The questions below are taken from, “John 13-21 for you, Josh Moody.”
Have you ever denied Christ? If so, what should you do about it now?
Have you experienced opposition or persecution for following Jesus? How can Jesus’ example and approach encourage you as you face your attacks today?
How can you guard yourself now and prepare yourself now to be ready to be faithful to Christ even when put under severe pressure?
Integrity and deviousness – John 18 v 28-30
With no case to put before the Roman governor, Pilate, the Jewish leaders as a body took Jesus to the Roman governor in the early hours. The plotting and scheming had continued through the night but they still did not have evidence. In an act of self-righteousness and wishing to protect their ceremonial cleanliness they did not enter the governor’s palace as it would have made them unclean and unable to eat the Passover. Here we have in one act those who claim to be holy scheming to do away with the only truly holy person. When asked about charges by the governor all they could say was, ‘If he were not a criminal … we would not have handed him over to you.’ v30 Claiming integrity sufficient to base the crucifixion of Jesus on they were pursuing their own deviousness. They lacked personal spiritual insight and believed their own infallibility. It is a risk for all who are in power. It is a more serious form of somebody in the midst of a temper exclaiming, “Because I said so!” When all leaders but especially when spiritual leaders resort to justifying their actions on the basis of the authority of their position alone, without good reason or evidence, then it is a dangerous slippery slope towards sin and the loss of integrity.
In the open or hiding away
Courage and fear – John v 15-18, 25-27
While Jesus, alone, was facing questioning with courage and clarity of mind the disciples were in a very different state of mind. Mark records at Jesus’ arrest ‘Then everyone deserted him and fled.’ Mark 14:50 John adds further detail. Two disciples, Peter and one other followed Jesus, presumably at what they thought was a safe distance. The other disciple is unknown. Many think it was John himself but there is no certain evidence. Whoever it was, was known to the high priest’s inner circle and was part of Jesus’ own inner circle who had accompanied him from the last Passover supper. The other disciple gained access to the high priest’s compound and persuaded the servant girl on duty to let Peter into the courtyard. Peter must have been highly conflicted, desperate to know what was happening to Jesus but afraid of being identified as one of Jesus’ closest associates. His mind was in turmoil. Three times Peter was challenged to admit he was a Jesus follower and three times he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. Each time it became a bit more threatening, firstly a servant girl, then a group of servants and an official, then it got very threatening and personal as he was challenged by a relative of the man he had just attacked with a sword. What experiences of in some way disowning Jesus have we succumbed to? It could be through verbal denial as in Peter’s case, it may be through persistent sin that we have denied Jesus’ lordship over our life or alternatively we may for a period have simply ignored his call on our life. Does Jesus’ restoration of his relationship with Peter and Peter’s subsequent ministry give us cause for encouragement?
While Jesus, alone, was facing questioning with courage and clarity of mind the disciples were in a very different state of mind. Mark records at Jesus’ arrest ‘Then everyone deserted him and fled.’ Mark 14:50 John adds further detail. Two disciples, Peter and one other followed Jesus, presumably at what they thought was a safe distance. The other disciple is unknown. Many think it was John himself but there is no certain evidence. Whoever it was, was known to the high priest’s inner circle and was part of Jesus’ own inner circle who had accompanied him from the last Passover supper. The other disciple gained access to the high priest’s compound and persuaded the servant girl on duty to let Peter into the courtyard. Peter must have been highly conflicted, desperate to know what was happening to Jesus but afraid of being identified as one of Jesus’ closest associates. His mind was in turmoil. Three times Peter was challenged to admit he was a Jesus follower and three times he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. Each time it became a bit more threatening, firstly a servant girl, then a group of servants and an official, then it got very threatening and personal as he was challenged by a relative of the man he had just attacked with a sword. What experiences of in some way disowning Jesus have we succumbed to? It could be through verbal denial as in Peter’s case, it may be through persistent sin that we have denied Jesus’ lordship over our life or alternatively we may for a period have simply ignored his call on our life. Does Jesus’ restoration of his relationship with Peter and Peter’s subsequent ministry give us cause for encouragement?
Honesty and Corruption – John 18 v 14-21
Caiaphas the high priest had been secretly conspiring to fulfil the prophesy he had made as High Priest without understanding its significance. V14 ‘Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.’ John 11:49-52 Once Jesus was taken into the presence of Annas the previous high priest and father in law of Caiaphas he was immediately questioned about his followers and his teaching. v19 Annas had been high priest from AD 6-15. “Annas was patriarch of the high priestly family, and many still considered him the ‘real’ high priest even though Roman officials considered Caiaphas to be the high priest at the time.” (NIV Study Bible, 2011) In contrast to the secret plotting of the high priestly inner circle, Jesus had been completely open and public about his teaching, purpose and identity. ‘”I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “ I have always taught in synagogues or at the temple where all Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.” Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”’ vv20-21 Annas was looking to trip Jesus up with a statement they could legitimately crucify him for. Jesus wisely simply asked him to bring forward evidence of what he had said that was self-incriminating. None existed and so they resorted to violence. v22 What challenges does this set the church or ourselves as individuals about speaking openly and honestly despite opposition?
In the open or hiding away
John 18:12-30
John’s account of Jesus’ arrest contrasts honesty with corruption, courage with fear, integrity with deviousness, openness with hiding away. Sadly, it is a picture that is repeated across the world today. Those who argue that with increased knowledge and scientific skill humankind has progressively evolved for the better both morally and socially are choosing to ignore the evidence emblazoned across the 24 hour rolling news media. Those in power repeatedly desperately hold on to power, frequently using the power of the media and state to do so. Lying and distortion of truth even false imprisonment, torture and state sponsored killing are common place. We should not fool ourselves into thinking modern western democracies are free from such acts although they may be less common and less explicit. Western governments have frequently supported regimes and opposition groups knowing they adopt such tactics. Jesus deliberately stepped into a situation where he would feel the full force of human hate for the sake of his followers but also in many cases for the sake of those who at the time hated him and plotted his downfall. ‘Jesus knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. v4-5 How does it help us when we experience injustice and hate, to know that Jesus also experienced it and to a greater extent in that he is uniquely the Son of God?
