Any reason that Jesus has offended you?
“Why do you strike me?”
(John 18:12-27, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 9, 2010)
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 court 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.
(John 18:12-27, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 9, 2010)
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 court 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.
...Has Jesus offended you? Is there any excuse that would justify a bad attitude toward Jesus?
So the band of soldiers... (12-14)
It has come to this. The great Messianic King is being arrested by a band of soldiers. They did not need to restrain Him in any way, since He was completely resolved to do what He came to do, to drink the cup that the Father had given Him. This is the long expected Son of David. Israel had been waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises to David given 1000 years before this point, that David would have a very special descendant. God would be to Him a Father, and He would be to God a Son. God had promised, “I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). Did anyone imagine that it would happen this way?
They arrested Jesus and bound Him. They brought Him to the ones who had been behind this plot, a number of the religious leaders in Jerusalem who were determined to be rid of Jesus. John had recorded some of their deliberations in a previous passage in this gospel in response to the overwhelming and very public miraculous sign of Jesus calling His friend Lazarus back to life after four days in the grave. At that time, Caiaphas had spoken an amazing statement of the gospel that had strangely won the day for their murderous plans (Read John 11:47-53). It was this same Caiaphas that enters into the story again in today's passage. Judas had done his awful part, and soldiers had brought him as a prisoner to a relation of this leader of the Jews with the office of priest. Jesus is the Lamb that will be slain, and there is a priest seeking His death.
Simon Peter followed (15-18)
Peter had followed Jesus, and “another disciple” who manages to have Peter brought into the interior courtyard. There Peter is challenged by a servant girl, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” Peter says, “I am not,” and with these words denies Jesus. Peter had been through so much with His great friend. He had seen so much of the power of Jesus in these amazing resurrection signs that He performed. Peter had also been used Himself already as an agent of a kingdom that He did not understand. Yet it was Peter who spoke for the whole group at a time when so many were going away. He said, “You have the words of life.”
Jesus is the Word of life for us, and it has now come to this point where the Word must die the death that we and Peter deserve. Peter has never really given much indication that he has understood this matter of the death of Jesus. Now He denies the Lord of glory. He lies. He claims that he is not associated with Jesus. It is a sad moment, and one of the sufferings of Christ. How many Old Testament passages prepared the Lord for this, like this from Psalm 38:
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
and meditate treachery all day long.
And now it is happening. Peter denies that he is a disciple of Jesus, and he stands by the fire and warms himself with the others.
The high priest then questioned Jesus (19-24)
Next we turn our attention to the priest investigating Jesus. Remember that these men have come up with a plan to make themselves look like innocent bystanders and protectors of righteousness in Jerusalem. Do you see how the storyline goes? “We did not grab Jesus. One of his own disciples brought the guards to get him. We are just here to do what God has called us to do, and Jesus has been brought to us, and now the high priest is simply attempting to investigate a man who may pose some secret danger to the nation.”
Jesus will not play along with this fiction. He is not a secret insurrectionist. He has been teaching openly in synagogues and in the temple itself. Many people have heard His words. If the high priest is actually investigating Him in order to discover something about the teaching of Jesus and His disciples, he can simply ask any of the people there. In reality, that is why they are all there. They do know about Jesus, and they have heard, and very often have understood, and understanding Him they have opposed Him. His forthright response is not received happily. Jesus is slapped. But has He done anything worthy of punishment? Not in the least. He is the sinless Lamb, and the long-expected King of the Jews. Why should anyone strike Jesus?
Now Simon Peter (25-27)
The passage closes not with the physical assault of one of the officers, but with a continuation of a different kind of injury, as Peter denies Jesus again. Where would the church be if we were left to our own wisdom and strength? For three years Jesus has invested His life in twelve men. One betrayed Him, one denied even being with Him, the rest are scattered. These men need the power of God, the power of One who says to those who would be offended by Him, “If I am wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if I am right, why do you strike me?”
We are often curious about the motivation behind all of our strange acts of sin and rebellion. What was Judas thinking of when he gave in to the idea of betrayal? Why did Peter decide that it was necessary to deny the Lord who loved Him? We're curious, and we can only guess as to the motivation of why any of us do what we do? Why did someone slap Jesus? Did that make it easier for the next person to hit him? Does any of this speculation really make a difference? Is there some answer to any of these kind of questions that will take away the guilt of sin, as if a good excuse explains all of this? We don't even know why we do what we do, but there is certainly no excuse that can justify our rebellion or that can justify us.
Jesus did not do anything wrong. He did not deserve abuse. Did He, the Son of God, come to earth to be slapped by an officer who protects the dignity of a brutally corrupt and depraved high priest. Sin deserves death. Our best excuses cannot take away our guilt. But there is one thing that does take it away. One man came who did not deserve to be struck in the face, and He faced something far worse than what any man could do to Him. This is worth thinking about. The love of God, the cross of Christ, the power of the Spirit, and the hope of the resurrection; these bring us comfort that could never come from an excuse.
1. What is the meaning of the earlier statement by Caiaphas concerning the death of Jesus?
2. What makes Peter's denial of Jesus such a sad offense?
3. Why was Jesus slapped by an officer in the presence of the high priest?
4. What do we learn about Peter and about Jesus from Peter's denials of the Lord?
It has come to this. The great Messianic King is being arrested by a band of soldiers. They did not need to restrain Him in any way, since He was completely resolved to do what He came to do, to drink the cup that the Father had given Him. This is the long expected Son of David. Israel had been waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises to David given 1000 years before this point, that David would have a very special descendant. God would be to Him a Father, and He would be to God a Son. God had promised, “I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). Did anyone imagine that it would happen this way?
They arrested Jesus and bound Him. They brought Him to the ones who had been behind this plot, a number of the religious leaders in Jerusalem who were determined to be rid of Jesus. John had recorded some of their deliberations in a previous passage in this gospel in response to the overwhelming and very public miraculous sign of Jesus calling His friend Lazarus back to life after four days in the grave. At that time, Caiaphas had spoken an amazing statement of the gospel that had strangely won the day for their murderous plans (Read John 11:47-53). It was this same Caiaphas that enters into the story again in today's passage. Judas had done his awful part, and soldiers had brought him as a prisoner to a relation of this leader of the Jews with the office of priest. Jesus is the Lamb that will be slain, and there is a priest seeking His death.
Simon Peter followed (15-18)
Peter had followed Jesus, and “another disciple” who manages to have Peter brought into the interior courtyard. There Peter is challenged by a servant girl, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” Peter says, “I am not,” and with these words denies Jesus. Peter had been through so much with His great friend. He had seen so much of the power of Jesus in these amazing resurrection signs that He performed. Peter had also been used Himself already as an agent of a kingdom that He did not understand. Yet it was Peter who spoke for the whole group at a time when so many were going away. He said, “You have the words of life.”
Jesus is the Word of life for us, and it has now come to this point where the Word must die the death that we and Peter deserve. Peter has never really given much indication that he has understood this matter of the death of Jesus. Now He denies the Lord of glory. He lies. He claims that he is not associated with Jesus. It is a sad moment, and one of the sufferings of Christ. How many Old Testament passages prepared the Lord for this, like this from Psalm 38:
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
and meditate treachery all day long.
And now it is happening. Peter denies that he is a disciple of Jesus, and he stands by the fire and warms himself with the others.
The high priest then questioned Jesus (19-24)
Next we turn our attention to the priest investigating Jesus. Remember that these men have come up with a plan to make themselves look like innocent bystanders and protectors of righteousness in Jerusalem. Do you see how the storyline goes? “We did not grab Jesus. One of his own disciples brought the guards to get him. We are just here to do what God has called us to do, and Jesus has been brought to us, and now the high priest is simply attempting to investigate a man who may pose some secret danger to the nation.”
Jesus will not play along with this fiction. He is not a secret insurrectionist. He has been teaching openly in synagogues and in the temple itself. Many people have heard His words. If the high priest is actually investigating Him in order to discover something about the teaching of Jesus and His disciples, he can simply ask any of the people there. In reality, that is why they are all there. They do know about Jesus, and they have heard, and very often have understood, and understanding Him they have opposed Him. His forthright response is not received happily. Jesus is slapped. But has He done anything worthy of punishment? Not in the least. He is the sinless Lamb, and the long-expected King of the Jews. Why should anyone strike Jesus?
Now Simon Peter (25-27)
The passage closes not with the physical assault of one of the officers, but with a continuation of a different kind of injury, as Peter denies Jesus again. Where would the church be if we were left to our own wisdom and strength? For three years Jesus has invested His life in twelve men. One betrayed Him, one denied even being with Him, the rest are scattered. These men need the power of God, the power of One who says to those who would be offended by Him, “If I am wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if I am right, why do you strike me?”
We are often curious about the motivation behind all of our strange acts of sin and rebellion. What was Judas thinking of when he gave in to the idea of betrayal? Why did Peter decide that it was necessary to deny the Lord who loved Him? We're curious, and we can only guess as to the motivation of why any of us do what we do? Why did someone slap Jesus? Did that make it easier for the next person to hit him? Does any of this speculation really make a difference? Is there some answer to any of these kind of questions that will take away the guilt of sin, as if a good excuse explains all of this? We don't even know why we do what we do, but there is certainly no excuse that can justify our rebellion or that can justify us.
Jesus did not do anything wrong. He did not deserve abuse. Did He, the Son of God, come to earth to be slapped by an officer who protects the dignity of a brutally corrupt and depraved high priest. Sin deserves death. Our best excuses cannot take away our guilt. But there is one thing that does take it away. One man came who did not deserve to be struck in the face, and He faced something far worse than what any man could do to Him. This is worth thinking about. The love of God, the cross of Christ, the power of the Spirit, and the hope of the resurrection; these bring us comfort that could never come from an excuse.
1. What is the meaning of the earlier statement by Caiaphas concerning the death of Jesus?
2. What makes Peter's denial of Jesus such a sad offense?
3. Why was Jesus slapped by an officer in the presence of the high priest?
4. What do we learn about Peter and about Jesus from Peter's denials of the Lord?
posted by Pastor Magee at 3:24 PM
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