A Fisherman's Story

A Study in the Gospel of John John 17   by Samuel E. Ward April 29, 2012 Introduction: Review   Part One:  "The Beginning of the Fisherman's Story",  John 1:1-18 Part Two:  "The Telling of the Fisherman's Story", John 1:18-12:50 Part Three:  "The Climactic Events of the Fisherman's Story", John 13:1-20:31   I. The Final Meal John, 13:1-17:26 II. The Final Prayer with His Disciples, John 17:1-26 III. The Final Hours to Redemption   A. Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest, John 18:1-13   (John 18:1 NIV)  When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.   If we examine the other gospels we will note that the time spent in the Garden of Gethsemane may have been a matter of hours.  Nothing is mentioned in John's gospel concerning the agonizing prayer time He spent with His Heavenly Father while the disciples, against Jesus' instructions, slept. There is no contradiction between the gospels.  John's focus at this point was on describing in summary form how Jesus came to be crucified.   1. The betrayal was a fulfillment of prophecy, John 18:2-11   (John 18:2-11 NIV)  Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. {3} So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.  {4} Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?" {5} "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) {6} When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. {7} Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." {8} "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go."  {9} This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." {10} Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) {11} Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"   a. Jesus' betrayal and arrest were not a surprise to Him. Indeed, Jesus knew that His time had come to complete the task His Father had given Him. b. Jesus' name alone was enough to defeat His enemies if He had chosen to invoke all of its power. c. Jesus' betrayal was in the same place where King David had been betrayed nine-hundred years earlier by his friend Ahithophel, a conspirator with David's son Absalom against David (2 Sam 15:23, 30-31).   2. The arrest, John 18:12.   (John 18:12a  NIV)  Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus.   The Greek word translated "detachment" is a specific word denoting one-tenth of a Roman legion of men (600 men).   The fact that John has chosen not to give as full an account of Jesus' trials and appearances to various religious councils and government authorities is not meant to minimalize Jesus' ordeal.  (John omits three of Jesus' appearances before certain religious and civil authorities).  John can show the culpability of those Jewish and Roman authorities responsible for condemning Jesus to death.  Jesus died at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles.  For that matter, every human being is responsible for Jesus' death in that it was the sins of the race that required His death if there was to be any hope of salvation for anyone.  All involved in the decision to put Jesus to death were guilty of putting an innocent man to death.   B. Jesus' Interrogation by Annas and Peter's First Denial, John 18:12b-28   1. Annas was the first to question Jesus.  He was a high-priest emeritus who may have been the one to decide upon charges to be made and the way to proceed with cases, John 18:12b-14.   (John 18:12b-14 NIV)  They bound him {13} and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. {14} Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.   2. Peter and probably John followed Jesus from a distance.  John was allowed with Jesus into the courtyard but Peter had to wait outside.  This is the place where peter made his first of three denials to predicted by Jesus, John 18:15-18.   (John 18:15-18 NIV)  Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, {16} but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. {17} "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." {18} It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.   3. Jesus was questioned about His disciples and His teaching, John 18:19-23.   a. Jesus testified that He taught openly and there were plenty of other witnesses to His teaching, John 18:19-21.   (John 18:19-21 NIV)  Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. {20} "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. {21} Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."   b. Jesus' words were construed as disrespectful by an official who struck Him on the face, John 18:22.   (John 18:22 NIV)  When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded.   c. Jesus challenged those present to prove Him untruthful, John 18:23-24.   (John 18:23 NIV)  "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"   C.  Jesus' Appearance before Caiapas, John 18:24-27.   (John 18:24 NIV)  Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.   D. Peter's Second and Third Denial, John 18:25-27.   (John 18:25-27 NIV)  As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, "You are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "I am not." {26} One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" {27} Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.   Luke adds this heart-rending detail.   (Luke 22:60-61 NIV)  Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. {61} The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."   E. Jesus' Appearance before Pilate, John 18:28-38a.   1. Pilate's reluctance to listen to the Jews' charges, John 18:28-32.   (John 18:28-32 NIV)  Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. {29} So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"  {30} "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." {31} Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. {32} This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.   2. Pilate's inquiry into the nature of Jesus' kingdom, John 18:33-38.   (John 18:33-38a NIV)  Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" {34} "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" {35} "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" {36} Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." {37} "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." {38} "What is truth?" Pilate asked.   3. Jesus' description of the nature of His kingdom, John 18:33-38   a. Jesus' kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. b. Jesus' kingdom and His subjects would have mobilized against His arrest if it were. c. Jesus' teaching about His kingdom was the reason for His birth and ministry. d. Jesus came to tell the truth about the world and His kingdom.  People who want to know the truth listen to Him. e. Pilate could only respond, "What is truth?"    Pilate would identify well with post-modernist thinkers today who deny that we can know the truth about anything for certain. Truth is "in the eye of the beholder" or "whatever works for you."   D. Jesus' Denied Clemency:  Reveals the Jews Determination, John 18:38b-40   (John 18:38b-40 NIV)  With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. {39} But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?" {40} They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.   E. Jesus' Physical Humiliation:  Reveals Pilates' Attempt at Compromise, John 19:1-4   (John 19:1-4 NIV)  Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. {2} The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe {3} and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face. {4} Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."   F. Jesus' Crucifixion Demanded: Reveals the Depth of the Jews Hatred, John 19:5-7   (John 19:5-7 NIV)  When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" {6} As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him." {7} The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."   G. Pilate's Fear Intensified: Reveals Pilates' Vulnerability and Politics, John 19:8-11.   (John 19:8-11 NIV)  When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, {9} and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. {10} "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" {11} Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."   One possible answer concerning the source of Pilate's fears is offered by New Testament scholar Merrill C. Tenney who suggests that Pilate was afraid that Jesus might indeed be of divine origin, the offspring of one of the Roman gods and a human mother (like Hercules).  Doing Jesus harm might bring upon him judgment from one of his gods.  There is also his wife's dream.   (Mat 27:19 NIV)  While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."   Another conceivable source of Pilates' fear was word returning to Rome concerning his inability to rule the Jews without causing confrontation and increasing the possibility of a violent rebellion.  He had nearly caused such an uprising according to Josephus when he displayed Roman banners or standards in Jerusalem.    Pilate's arrogance offended and infuriated the Jews. Their second commandment dictated against worldly images, and they were wroth to witness Pilate's flagrant display of contempt for their Holy City. For five days they petitioned him to remove the offensive standards, but he refused to hear their arguments, let alone consider them. When Pilate finally admitted the Jews to the judgment seat to be officially heard, he ordered his soldiers to surround them, and then he threatened them with instant death if they did not stop bothering him over the matter. The citizens of Jerusalem called his bluff. In open defiance, the outraged Jews threw themselves to the ground and bared their necks for the Roman swords, preferring to die rather than submit to the violation of their sacred laws. Outmaneuvered and outclassed — and not willing to kill so many — Pilate yielded and withdrew the standards. This political blunder at the beginning of his appointment highlighted his lack of talent and discretion. This one act embarrassed him and had a residual influence on all the actions of his subsequent career.   --The Illegal Trial of Christ, Steve W.Allen[1] http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200503/20050324_washhands.html   H. Pilate's Arbitration Failed—Jesus Is Handed Over, John 19:12-16   (John 19:12-16 NIV)  From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." {13} When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). {14} It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. {15} But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. {16} Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.   Conclusions   1. Peter teaches us that loyalty proven is better than loyalty promised.  2. Jesus does not desire our promises to support and obey Him but our actual support and obedience. He knows that we are prone to fail under pressure and is willing to forgive us much as we develop our resistance to spiritual pressure.  Coal does not turn into diamonds overnight.   Be thankful that God is patient with us but do not try His patience.   (Psa 78:34-39 NIV)  Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. {35} They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. {36} But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; {37} their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. {38} Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. {39} He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.   3. Be thankful for the resoluteness with which Jesus endured the suffering and shame that would bring us salvation.  For in the end, it would bring joy to us all.   (Heb 12:2 NIV)  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   http://www.rapidresponsereport.com/briefingpapers/PASSION.pdf http://www.biblewise.com/overview/chronology.htm [1]"Pilate Wanted to Wash His Hands of It" by Steven W. Allen is licensed under a Creative Commons License