Jesus was Passover Lamb (John 18:1-27)
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries:
Biblical precepts & Gospel music
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. Now Judas, who betrayed
him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. 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. (John 18:1-3)
Jesus,
knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I AM He,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was
standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I AM HE,
“they drew back and fell to the ground.
(John 18:4-5) Again He asked them, who is it you want?” and they said, “Jesus
of Nazareth.”
“I told
you that I AM He,”
Jesus answered. “If you are looking for
me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words He had spoken would
be fulfilled: “ I have not lost one of those you
gave me.” 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.) Jesus commanded Peter “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink
the cup the Father has given me? (John 18:6-11).
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and
the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound Him and brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the
high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that
it would be good if one man died for the people. (vv.12-14).
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, 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. “ You are not one of His disciples, are
you? “ the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”
It
was cold, and the servants and official stood around a fire they had made to
keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. Meanwhile, the high
priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
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. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I
said.”
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.
“If I
said something wrong, “Jesus replied, “Testify as to what is wrong. But if I
spoke the truth why did you strike me? (vv.12 -23)
Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high
priest. 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.” 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?” again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to
crow. (vv.24-27).
The
Kidron Vally. A ravine E. of Jerusalem, between the city
and the Mount of Olives. A detachment
(regiment). A group of three hundred to six hundred Roman soldiers. The Lord
delivered Himself of His own accord to the process of death, as He had
indicated in 10:17-18. He did it voluntarily and boldly.
Verse 5, Jesus said, “I
AM He”. I AM is the name of Jehovah. When the soldiers heard this name, they drew back and fell to
the ground.
Verse 8, while
suffering betrayal at the hands of His false disciple and arrest by the
soldiers, the Lord still took good care of His disciples. This reveals that He
was at ease in passing through the process of death.
Verse 11, Jesus shows that He was willing to pass
through the process of death.
Verse 13, a small inner
circle of high priests, headed by Annas and Caiaphas, ruled Jerusalem
regardless of who was officially the high priest. The Lord was the Lamb of God (1:29), and He was
killed on the day of the Passover (v.28). As the Passover lamb was examined
before it was killed (Ex0.12:3-6), so He was examined by the whole of mankind,
represented by the high priest of the Jews and the governor of the Romans, and
proved to be without blemish (v.38b;19:4,6).
Verse 21, while judging the Lord, both the high priest of the Jewish
religion and the governor of the Roman Empire were judged by Him in His
dignity.
Verse 24, No examination before Caiaphas is reported by John. Under
Roman law, as in free societies today, a prisoner was assumed to be innocent
until proved guilty.
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. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing
against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not
have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him
by your own law.” But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. (vv.28-31)
This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken
indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate
then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you
about me?” ” 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? 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.”
“ 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.” (vv.32-37)
What is truth? Pilate
asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a
charge against him. But it is your
custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want to release the king of the
Jews?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had
taken part in a rebellion. (vv.38-40)
Verse 28 A references to the
fourth watch 3am to 6 am. The Jew did not enter the palace. The
Praetorium. This was the Roman headquarters, the barracks (also in v.33).
As a dwelling place of Gentiles it was unclean. Thus the Jewish authorities
would not enter, lest they be defiled for the Passover. They were willing,
however, to see the murder of Jesus committed without fearing defilement!
Verse 31 we have no right. The Sanhedrin
could condemn a man to death, but the Roman government had to approve and
execute the sentence. (Luke 22:66).
Verse 32 The
Jews’ way to put criminals to death was to stone them (Lev.24:16). But the Lord
Jesus predicted, according to the type in the Old Testament (Num.21:8-9), that
He would be lifted up (3:14; 8:28;12:32). It was of God’s sovereignty that not
long before that time the Roman Empire had made it a law that criminals
sentenced to death should be crucified. It was in this way that the Lord was
executed. This proves that the Lord’s death was not accidental but was
predetermined by God. (Acts.2:23).
Verse 34 Jesus asked whether Pilate’s question arose from his own Roman
viewpoint (Is that you own idea) or from a Jewish viewpoint (or did others talk
to you about me?
Verse 36 Because Pilate’s answer indicated that he was concerned only
about a rival political kingdom to Rome (v.35), our Lord replied as He did in
this verse, indicating that His was not such a kingdom. Pilate was then satisfied that Jesus was not
a political threat and therefore wished to release Him. Kingdom, better,
kingship; i.e., My authority is not of human origin.
Verse 37 in view of the entire revelation of
this book, truth here denotes the divine reality embodied, revealed, and expressed
in Christ as the Son of God.
Verse 38 What is truth? Pilate was not being philosophical but was
simply expressing frustration and irritation at Jesus’ avoidance of a direct
answer to what seemed to him to be a simple question. He did not really
understand the charges (18:31,35,38;19:4,12)
Bibliography,
Lee,
Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry,
1985.
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
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