John 18:12-27 – “The examination of our Spotless Lamb ”
(Ben Chidester)
John 18;12-27 12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
———————
In this passage, we observe two parallel, yet starkly different, interrogations: one of Jesus and one of Peter. Both are questioned about their identity and allegiance, but their differing responses contrast so starkly, which may be why John has threaded them together as he has.
When Jesus was questioned by the high priest, he was not afraid to answer for his teaching. Indeed, he had declared his teaching publicly and openly while in Jerusalem, so that anyone might have known it if they had sincerely desired. The high priest and his officials, however, did not truly desire a fair hearing. Otherwise, they would have tried Jesus in public, where unbiased witnesses might have come forward and testified on Jesus’ behalf. Instead, they tried him at night, to hide their interrogation from public scrutiny.
Contrast Jesus’ interrogation with Peter’s. Unlike Jesus, who answered his questioners honestly and openly, Peter hid. He tried to avoid any questions while waiting outside the trial. And when he was forced to answer, he lied about his identity as a disciple of Christ. Earlier that same night, he had asked the Lord if he could follow him to where he is going and proclaimed “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37). But when the true test of his courage and faith came, he faltered, and Jesus was left to stand alone, his friends and disciples having all abandoned him.
The story leads us to praise our Lord for his uprightness and to magnify his love for us. He was willing to face his false accusers and endure their injustice, all for our sake. He knew that their unjust verdict against him only had sway in this life; the final verdict of true justice was in the hands of God. The contrast of Peter’s faltering faith magnifies the integrity of Jesus, but it also challenges us to examine our own faith. Who of us would have stood the same test? Thankfully, we do not suffer such intense trials of persecution of our faith – but other brothers and sisters of ours do elsewhere in the world. May this passage move us to pray for them to remain strong and be encouraged, and may it cause us to examine our own faith and pray that the Lord would strengthen us to follow him wherever he would lead.
Weekly Prayer Focus: “Spiritual Renewal”
Daily Prayer Request: “That our congregation would love God’s word more deeply.”