Key Verse: John 18:11 "But Jesus said to Peter, 'Put your sword away. Shall I not drink from the cup the Father has given me?"
Key Thought: The cup means the suffering, isolation, and death that Jesus would have to endure in order to atone for the sins of the world. Jesus drank His cup because it was the Father's will. Is there a cup that is difficult for us to drink? If it is the Father's will, pray for strength and drink it.
Verses 1-12. Sin began in the garden of Eden, there the curse was pronounced, there the Redeemer was promised; and in a garden that promised Seed entered into conflict with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a garden. Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take a moment meditate on Christ's sufferings in a garden. Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth and asked, Whom do you seek? When the people would have forced him to a crown, He withdrew, vs. 6:15, but when they came to force Him to a cross, He offered Himself; for He came into this world to suffer, and went to the other world to reign. He showed plainly what He could have done; when He struck them down He could have struck them dead, but He would not do so. It must have been the effect of Divine power, that the officers and soldiers let the disciples go away quietly, after the resistance which had been offered. Christ set us an example of meekness in sufferings, and a pattern of submission to God's will in every thing that concerns us. It is but a cup, a small matter. It is a cup that is given us; sufferings are gifts. It is given us by a Father, who has a father's authority, and does us no wrong; a father's affection, and means us no hurt. From the example of our Savior we should learn how to receive our lighter afflictions, and to ask ourselves whether we ought to oppose our Father's will, or to distrust His love. We were bound with the cords of our iniquities, with the yoke of our transgressions. Christ, being made a sin-offering for us, to free us from those bonds, Himself submitted to be bound for us. To His bonds we owe our liberty; thus the Son makes us free.
Verses 4-5. John does not record Judas' kiss of greeting (Matthew 26:49, Mark 14:45, Luke 22:47, 48); but his kiss marked a turning point for the disciples because with Jesus' arrest each one's life would be radically different. For the first time, Judas openly betrayed Jesus before the other disciples. For the first time, Jesus' loyal disciples ran away from him (Matthew 26:56). The band of disciples would undergo severe testing before they were transformed from uncertain followers to dynamic leaders.
Verse 6. The men may have been startled by Jesus' statement or by the words, "I am," a declaration of His divinity (Exodus 3:14). Or perhaps they were overcome by His obvious power and authority.
Verses 10-11. Trying to protect Jesus, Peter pulled a sword and wounded one of the Temple police. But Jesus told him to put away his sword and allow God's plan to unfold. At times it is tempting to take matters into our own hands, to force the issue. Instead we must trust God to work out His plan. Think of it--if Peter had had his way, Jesus would have not gone to the cross, and God's plan of redemption would have been halted.
We should try and work into God's plan. Obeying God's commands and looking for ways to show love to others is a good start. If we do not do God's will, at least don't hinder others who wish to do God's work.
Verse 13. Annas and Caiaphas are called High Priests. Both Annas and Caiaphas cared more about their political ambitions than about their responsibility to lead the people to God. Though religious leaders, they had become evil. As the nation's spiritual leaders, they should have been sensitive to God's revelation in His Word. They should have known that Jesus was the Messiah about whom the Scriptures spoke, and they should have pointed people to Him. But when men pursue evil, they want to eliminate all opposition. Instead of honestly evaluation Jesus' claims based on their knowledge of Scripture, they sought to further their own selfish ambitions and were willing to kill God's Son to do it.
Verses 13-27. Simon Peter denied his Master. The particulars have been noticed in the remarks on the other Gospels. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water. The sin of lying is a fruitful sin; one lie needs another to support it, and that another. If a call to expose ourselves to danger be clear, we may hope God will enable us to honor Him; if we do not, we may fear that God will leave us to shame ourselves. They said nothing concerning the miracles of Jesus, by which He had done so much good, and which proved His doctrine. Thus the enemies of Christ, while they quarrel with His truth, wilfully shut their eyes against it. He appeals to those who heard Him. The doctrine of Christ may safely appeal to all that know it, and those who judge in truth bear witness to it. Our resentment of injuries must never be passionate. He reasoned with the man that did him the injury, and so may we.
The truth is easy to find, but sometimes hard to accept.
Verse 27. This fulfilled Jesus' words to Peter after he promised he would never deny Him (13:38).
Verses 28-32. It was unjust to put one to death who had done so much good, therefore the Jews were willing to save themselves from reproach. Many fear the scandal of an ill thing, more than the sin of it. Christ had said He should be delivered to the Gentiles, and they should put Him to death; hereby that saying was fulfilled. He had said that He should be crucified, lifted up. If the Jews had judged Him by their law, He had been stoned; crucifying never was used among the Jews. It is determined concerning us, though not discovered to us, what death we shall die: this should free us from distress about that matter. What, when, and how, has been appointed by the Lord.
Verse 31. Pilate made four attempts to deal with Jesus: 1. he tried to put the responsibility on someone else (18:31), 2. he tried to find a way of escape so he could release Jesus (18:39), 3. he tried to compromise with the people--beating Jesus rather than handing Him over to die (19:1-3), 4. he tried a direct appeal to the sympathy of the accusers (19:15). Everyone has a responsibility to decide what he or she will do with Jesus. Pilate tried to let everyone else decide--and in the end, he lost.
Verse 32. This prediction is recorded in Matthew 20:19. Crucifixion was a common method of execution for criminals who were not Roman citizens.
Matthew 20:19 "and will turn Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!"
Verses 33-40. Are you the King of the Jews? that King of the Jews who has been so long expected? Messiah the Prince; are you him? Do you call yourself so, and would you be thought so? Christ answered this question with another; not for evasion, but that Pilate might consider what He did. He never took upon Him any earthly power, never were any traitorous principles or practices laid to Him. Christ gave an account of the nature of His kingdom. Its nature is not worldly; it is a kingdom within men, set up in their hearts and consciences; its riches spiritual, its power spiritual, and it glory within. Its supports are not worldly; its weapons are spiritual; it doesn't use force to maintain and advance it, nor does it oppose any kingdom but that of sin and Satan. Its object and design are not worldly. When Christ said, I am the Truth, He said, in effect, I am a King. He conquers by the convincing evidence of truth; He rules by the commanding power of truth. The subjects of this kingdom are those that are of the truth. Pilate put a good question, he said, What is truth? When we search the Scriptures, and attend the ministry of the word, it must be with this inquiry, What is truth? and with this prayer, Lead me in your truth; into all truth. But many put this question, who doesn't have patience to preserve in their search after truth; or not humility enough to receive it. By this solemn declaration of Christ's innocence, it appears, that though the Lord Jesus was treated as the worst of evil-doers, He never deserved such treatment. But it unfolds the design of His death; that He died as a Sacrifice for our sins. Pilate was willing to please all sides; and was governed more by worldly wisdom than by the rules of justice. Sin is a robber, yet is foolishly chosen by many rather than Christ, who would truly enrich us.
Verses 36-37. Pilate asked Jesus a straightforward question and Jesus answered clearly. He is a King, but one whose Kingdom is not of this world. There seems to have been do question in Pilate's mind that Jesus spoke the truth and was innocent of any crime. It also seems apparent tat while recognizing the truth, Pilate chose to reject it. It is a tragedy when we fail to recognize the truth. It is a greater tragedy when we recognize the truth and fail to heed it.
Verse 38. Pilate probably thought that all truth was relative. To many government officials, truth was whatever the majority of people agreed with or whatever helped their own personal power and political advancement.
If truth is relative or subjective, then people could excuse heinous crimes. If truth is relative or subjective, the Holocaust and Apartheid can be excused, because murder and oppression are only subjective. There must be a truth that lies outside of mankind. That truth is from God.