Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Then Jesus, because he knew all the things that were coming upon him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?” They replied to him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was also standing with them.) So when he said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:4-6)

Chapter eighteen starts as soon as Jesus had finished praying. He took His disciples across the Kidron Valley to the garden He so often took them to (Gethsemane). As soon as He had, betrayal came knocking. Judas had arrived leading a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They had lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus asked them who they were looking for. When they said His name, He responded positively. But He did it by using His Divine Identity: I AM (Exodus 3:14). The power of that Name spoken by the Righteous One knocked them down to the ground. They were POWERLESS before even His spoken Name. No one could TAKE Jesus. No one could do ANYTHING to Him. Jesus CHOSE this. Jesus ALLOWED this. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take possession of it again. This commandment I received from my Father” (John 10:18). It was Jesus’ CHOICE.

Peter stuck out to defend Jesus, but Jesus stopped Him, determined to drink of the cup His Father had set before Him (Luke 22:42). They bound Jesus up and took Him to Annas (father-in-law of the high priest and an influential man). Peter and John followed them. John came from a rich and influential family. He was known in Annas’ house and in the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. John got admittance into the house and then got Peter admittance into the courtyard of the house. The woman manning the gate thought she recognized Peter as a follower of Jesus, but he denied it. Later, one of the men in the courtyard thought he might be one of the disciples, but he denied it. Even later, one of the servants (a relative of the man Peter had attacked in the garden) recognized him as being one of the men in the garden with Jesus, but Peter again denied it.

Meanwhile, Jesus was being interrogated. But Annas had no real authority to do anything. Jesus pointed out they had had many opportunities to hear his teaching. In synagogues and in the temple. He hadn’t done anything in secret. Annas gave up and sent Him to the high priest, Caiaphas. When they had Him there, they condemned Him and took Him to the Praetorium where Pilate was. Pilate didn’t want anything to do with it, but they insisted because Rome wouldn’t let them execute anyone. Pilate didn’t find anything wrong with Jesus. But they insisted on His death. Pilate offered to release Jesus, but they took a murderer instead.

Chapter nineteen opens with Pilate finally having Jesus flogged and his soldiers mocked Jesus, beating Him. He hoped this would be enough. Even then, they refused to back down. It wasn’t enough. They wanted Him dead. Pilate, in the face of complaints to Caesar, gave in and gave the order for Jesus to be crucified. Jesus was forced to drag His cross (actually the crossbeam of it) to Golgotha where they crucified Him with two others. A sign naming Jesus the King of the Jews was placed over His head (over the protests of the Pharisees). The soldiers gambled for His clothes (Psalm 22:18). Jesus saw Mary nearby watching (several of the women were there) as well as John (the only disciple near to the actual crucifixion). Jesus, as the eldest son, took responsibility for His mother and gave her into the charge of John (with whom she lived until her death). Jesus declared His work finished and chose to die. Which He did.

The day that Jesus was executed was a day of preparation because there was a special Sabbath the next day (part of the Feast). The Jews didn’t want dead people hanging on trees during that Sabbath, so they petitioned for quick deaths. The two crucified with Jesus had their legs broken, but Jesus didn’t. He was already dead. Joseph of Arimathea petitioned for Jesus’ body. He was given it. He and Nicodemus (who had brought spices) wrapped Jesus’ body in fine burial linen and then placed Him into a newly hewn tomb that hadn’t had anyone else buried in it before. It was in a garden spot nearby. This saved Jesus from being cast into some communal grave. There Jesus lay.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Disciples, Pilate, Caiaphas, Annas, Pilate, Joseph, Nicodemus, Mary, Jews

Key Verse(s): John 18:33-38; 19:25-30