03-23-03 Sermon - Baldwin Christian Church

John 18:13~40

On that cool moonlit night, after the Last Supper in the city, Jesus and eleven disciples begin walking toward the Mount of Olives. On the way, probably in the courtyard of the great Temple, Jesus delivers His last sermon, recorded in chapters 15 and 16, and He closes it with the High Priestly prayer of chapter 17. Afterward, they descend into the valley and cross the seasonal stream that cuts between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives; the stream that earned its name from the dark, murky color of the water, the Cedron. Sometimes I wonder what Jesus was thinking about as He crossed that little brook. Before the sun went down that evening, only a stone's throw away up on the hill above, sacrificial lambs were slaughtered by the thousands, and rocky ground hasted the runoff's merge with that little brook. I wonder if He was thinking about the flow of water mixed with sacrificial blood as He was crossing over it. He knew that not many hours later, a spear withdrawn from His side would release another flow of blood and water, and there would be another crossing over for Him. And now He enters the Garden of Gethsemane with the pressure of what will happen in the coming hours beginning to crush Him. A short distance from His disciples, He falls on His face in agony, and submits to His Father's will. He's on a mission as the focal point of God's grace, and He rises up to meet the small army sent to capture Him. What a surprise it must have been for hundreds of soldiers to be greeted by their quarry. Even greater must have been the surprising sound of hundreds of swords clanking to the ground when Jesus spoke just two little words. They weren't surprised at all when one of His disciples pulled out a sword and began to fight, but imagine their surprise when Jesus put a stop to it, and healed the damage caused by His disciple, thereby preventing the hoisting of a fourth cross on Calvary that day. The enduring surprise was submission from a Man who had just demonstrated supernatural powers, and that's where we pick up the story in verse twelve:

John 18:12 ~14 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

You remember the story; after hearing reports of Jesus raising a man from the dead, the religious council called an emergency session. They were panicked because the Romans only allowed them to "play church" under the condition that there would be no insurrection from the people in the province of Judea. Now, this Man was performing miracles, and if left alone, the whole nation would follow Him. (Either we get rid of Him, or the Romans will get rid of us.) Whether or not the Messiah was in their midst didn't matter. Their only concern was keeping their game going: corruption, greed, and arrogance. Jesus was embarrassing them and messing up a good thing. Well, Caiaphas the political incumbent high priest gets up at this emergency session, he calls the council ignorant, and then he uses the same gimmick politicians use to sell us a bill of goods; "it's for the good of the people," "for the good of the nation, that this Man must die." From that day forward, Jesus was a marked man.

And this character Annas, who is he? Through the next few verses, and from Luke's writings, we can only determine that Annas was a powerful man who was a high priest, but not the incumbent political high priest during the trial of Jesus. One of the conditions of allowing the Jews to continue worshipping "their God" was that the Romans would ratify each new political high priest and set his term-limit. Traditionally, the high priest was a Levite appointed by God. He served a life term, and was succeeded by his son who was also appointed by God. Even though the Romans were the ruling authority at this time, Jewish traditions didn't die easisly. Annas had indeed been high priest in the past, and in the eyes of all the Jews he was the high priest for life. When his political term "expired" (it had something to do with corruption), somehow he persuaded the Romans to ratify his son as high priest, then he repeated this feat a few more times until he ran out of term-limited sons, and that's how his son in-law came to be high priest this particular year. Annas was the political boss of Jerusalem. These details about him are found in historical writings, but they're not in the Bible. When you read verse thirteen, notice that it's written as if you, the readers, are somehow already aware of these missing details about Annas. It's not like John to leave out relevant information about important characters; he's a much better storyteller than that. John writes this in a way that it could only have been toward people who knew what he was talking about. John's account of the trials of Jesus is the only one that includes this interrogation by Annas, and he completely skips over the trial by the religious council. He obviously felt that trial wasn't worth wasting ink on, because he explains in verse fourteen that Caiaphas and the council had illegally pre-judged Jesus, and from that point on any trial would be a mockery of the law. To John, the interrogation by Annas was more important, so why does he leave out essential details that could have revealed the dynamics of this encounter? No other record of Jesus' interrogation by Annas is written of in the Bible. No reasons are given as to why Jesus is taken to Annas first, instead of the religious council, which would have been the normal procedure. The first question that entered my mind when I read verse thirteen was, "Why was an important political prisoner like Jesus taken to the father in-law of the high priest first?" My point is: verse thirteen is another one of those verses that nails down for me the authenticity of the Bible. Until somebody can enlighten me, whenever I hear that this Book is just a bunch of stories or fairy tales, I'll just keep asking the skeptics to explain to me why verse thirteen is written this way. I'll just leave it like that, but I would really like to hear what the Spirit reveals to you about this verse, because you know I very well may be way off base, and even more likely, like the council, I'm just plain ignorant.

So, why did they take Him to Annas first? For one (1), they weren't concerned with due process and fairness, and (2) Annas the Godfather was being hurt by Jesus and His ministry. The sale of sacrificial animals at exorbitant prices in the Temple was an abomination to Jesus, and (3) He had violently shown His disdain for priests profiting on the backs of worshipping pilgrims. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers, drove out the cows, sheep and doves, which flew in the face of Annas' business. Follow the money. Annas was not happy (4). He was the true political power in the Jewish religious system, not Caiaphas. Also, Annas was getting up there in years, and he needed his sleep. It was the busiest time of the year, and it was going to be another long day for him, having to inspect every sacrificial animal for blemishes. So, bound in chains like a criminal, Jesus was taken first to see the boss of Jerusalem. Keep in mind; the chains couldn't really bind Him; He was bound only by His love for you, so that your soul could be released from the chains of sin.

John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

The only two disciples who hadn't completely abandoned Him were Peter and John. John followed closely, and Peter followed from afar, and that's the first lesson for us here. Jesus warned us in Revelation 3 that following Him with half your heart like Peter did; being lukewarm, you will be spewed out of His mouth. Peter is relying on human courage to follow Jesus. Perhaps he was bent on finding some way to redeem himself for falling asleep on watch in the Garden, and then endangering the entire mission by taking a swipe at Malchus. This is legalism on parade, folks. Peter loves Jesus, but he's relying on what he knows (gnosis). He's minus Bible doctrine right now, operating under the doctrine of self-will. Listen to what he has already said this very night: "Thou shalt never wash my feet, Lord." "Oh, ok, go ahead and wash me from head to toe." "Why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for thy sake." "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." "If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise." "Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and into death." Then he takes matters into his own hands, thinking he could fight half the Roman garrison by himself. Even a courageous, noble, magnificent thing can be wrong. Peter had the capacity to love Jesus in his mind, but it hadn't yet transferred into his spirit. Legalism is a difficult trap to escape from. Things will get a lot worse before they get better for this loveable guy, and he won't be changed until the rooster crows. As for John, he's relying on epignosis: a greater capacity of love; a knowledge and discernment of Jesus that's already transferred from his heart and mind into his spirit. When he enters the palace as a known disciple of the Prisoner, unarmed and showing no concern for his own life, he's operating under the doctrine of grace. Epignosis always follows through and does the most difficult thing. Jesus couldn't get rid of John until, while on the cross, He says, "Behold thy mother." (Go take care of My mom now, will you? She's your mom now.) I think only one other person had a higher capacity, a higher level of love for Jesus than John did, and I think you know who she is. So, in verse 16 "that other disciple" (John) is inside the priestly palace with Jesus.

John 18:16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

I'm not convinced Peter really wanted to, or even had the strength to come in. This speaks of Peter being assisted physically through the door.

John 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.

What a contrast between Jesus' words in verse six and Peter's words here. The porter's use of the word "also" here in verse 17 further reveals the difference between Peter's lying to protect himself (based in gnosis), and the epignosis of John. John didn't care what other people thought; his love for Jesus helped him overcome fear. Whenever you feel intimidated, or embarrassed to say grace at a restaurant, to read your Bible in public, or to explain why you won't go along with the crowd, remember Peter's first denial here, lest you also lose your focus. The Christian life is continual warfare on a sliding scale, and the proof of your faith will come in all shapes and sizes. Even a rugged man who would have taken on a small army by himself can be slain by a single unthreatening question from a twelve-year-old servant girl.

John 18:18~22 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

Adding to the insults and irony, the high priest's servant probably stood by and did nothing as he listened to this horrible slap reverberating throughout the palace, no doubt reaching his ears in perfect stereo sound. Even worse, some have conjectured that Malchus was the one who struck this blow against his Healer, and it may not have been simply a hand slap. They had come out against Him with swords and staves. The Greek word for this blow is "rhapisma," primarily meaning to strike with a rod or a staff (a stave). The prime of rhapisma comes from the "rap" sound it makes, a little different from the sound of a slap.

In Micah chapter 5 we read: "they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

When you're right, sometimes you're gonna get clobbered.

John 18:23~24 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

This completes the picture of Annas examining Jesus for blemishes, deeming Him a suitable sacrifice, and sending Him to the altar.

John 18:25~27 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

A little lie leads to another, and so on, and so on. Jesus wasn't close enough to hear Peter's third denial, but at that exact moment, when the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked right at him. At that moment, Peter remembered Jesus telling him "The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice." Instantly Peter saw his boasting and his tough facade for what it really was, and he knew he was a fraud. He had just declared with cursing lips that he did not know Jesus, but with one look into his Master's eyes, he finally realized that Jesus knew him better than he knew himself. Peter ran out and wept bitterly.

When we finally come to terms with the fact that no matter how hard we try, we cannot overcome our sin nature, its one of the most wonderful and beautiful moments in the life of a true Christian. Right smack dab in the middle of our transgressions, we see the Lord looking right at us, and the sorrow and grief causes us to weep. Dying to myself is one of the hardest things about living in Jesus. It becomes a life or death struggle to leave my identity, my desires, my goals, my definitions, my standards, my personhood, my will, and my gnosis. I'll do anything but die to myself, and the world is eager to help me. These days, the number of things considered sinful is becoming smaller and smaller, and the march toward depravity is getting larger and larger. Sin is written off either because everybody's doing it, or it's just a result of prior victimization. But the truth is we are sinful people. At that precious moment when we realize that the Lord is looking right at us in our sin, we feel so naked, and that is the moment at which we can empty ourselves. We become so disappointed in ourselves that we let Him have us, and throw ourselves on His mercy.

The look of Jesus broke Peter's heart, and that's sad, but the crowing of a rooster also signifies a new day dawning. Peter was broken of legalism, and grace entered into his understanding (epignosis) when their eyes met. Jesus deals with him after the resurrection, and Peter would rebound to become a great evangelist and a real leader. Restoring each other is a crucial ministry that we are all called to. Peter learned his lesson well, and he gives us an excellent study on the difference between gnosis and epignosis in the first chapter of 2 Peter.

John 18:28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

By not entering the house of the Gentiles, the Jews did avoid accidentally stepping on crumbs of leavened bread, but the leaven of an illegal trial had already defiled them this night. And today we still see the power of leaven. We see people standing up for the rights of the endangered cave gnat, but not lifting a finger to support the rights of an unborn child. They will openly condemn someone for lighting up a Camel, but then sneak off to light up a joint, or worse. They protest in the streets that a war is fought over oil, and then they drive home. And yet, in some way or another we're all guilty of the same thing. We can be so careful about certain issues, but we risk missing the big picture altogether. If I hide behind the cross with a judgmental attitude toward my brother or my sister, in effect I'm calling into question the redeeming power in the blood of Jesus, and I know nothing of His love.

John 18:29~32 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.

Remember Jacob's prophecy? Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Only two years before this trial, the Romans took away the right of the Jews to execute one of their own criminals. The scepter of authority departed from Judah about the same time Jesus began His public ministry. When it happened, the rabbis rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, threw dirt on their heads, and protested in the streets, saying "God has failed us, God has failed us, and Messiah has not yet come." Messiah was in their midst, they just didn't recognize Him. Today Jesus holds that authority, and when the Day of Judgment comes, He will use it.

John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?

In the midst of a very dramatic story, this is a little bit of comedy, and hopefully it gives your heart a lift to know just how dumb evil people can be. From Pilate's question, its obvious he had already been informed that this Man claimed to be the King of the Jews, the Messiah, and any two-bit Roman official stationed in Judea would certainly be aware that the Messiah was coming to deliver the Jews from their oppressors, so it made absolutely no sense for them to find fault with the Man who sought to free them. I mean, when, if ever, did this restless, rebellious people deliver up to death someone who claimed to be their deliverer. You can almost hear Pilate scratching his head, as...

John 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?

All He had to do was deny that He was the King of the Jews, and that probably would have been enough to set Him free, but He would not lie, and He did not shrink away from His mission.

John 18:35~40 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

Here we have the two greatest systems of justice in the world at that time breaking down. The truth didn't matter, even though the Truth was standing right in front of them, bound in chains. And yes, Barabbas was a robber, a murderer, and an insurrectionist, which made him popular with the oppressed Jews, but he goes down in history as the first person for whose sins Jesus went to the cross as a substitute.

In the first garden, the first man was disobedient. Because of his disobedience, the first garden was shut up to mankind; an angel unsheathed a flaming sword to guard the entrance, and so began the curse of sin. In the second garden, the Man without sin told Peter "Put up thy sword into thy sheath (the sword that causes pain): the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" More alone than we can ever imagine; with no help from angels, disciples, His Father, or the Holy Spirit; during the three darkest hours this world has ever known, when even the Light of the world was darkened; with only Bible doctrine to carry Him through, Jesus Christ obediently drank that cup on the cross: the cup of suffering that leads to humility; the cup that unifies us as we drink it to remember Him; the cup that leads to the third garden.

Revelation Chapter 22:1~5 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.