“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN” ST. JOHN 18:12-27 CHRIST’S TRIAL BEFORE ANNAS

As we approach this dramatic section of this superb gospel, we should be grateful that our blessed Lord submitted to being arrested by such vile and wicked men; moreover, He voluntarily submitted to these vicious men in being arrested to carry out the Father’s sovereign will.  Peter, in his zeal to help thwart Jesus’ arrest, was rebuked by Jesus for not understanding God’s sovereign will.  Notwithstanding, Peter did display his undying loyalty to Christ (Matthew 26:33-35), but it was blindly misguided for Jesus said in St. John 18:11 – “Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given Me, shall I not drink of it?”

The cup refers to the awful agony of suffering to which Jesus suffers as man’s substitute for sin.  As stated in our prior study, these events surrounding His arrest were no surprise to Jesus, for He knew that these events were all a part of the Father’s sovereign plan.   Certainly, the Father’s will included Jesus partaking of the cup – the cup of suffering from which  He could not shrink!  In verses 12-14, we find that our Lord is being bound and taken to Annas, the former High Priest; then, after the preliminary investigation by Annas, He is taken to a formal hearing before Caiaphas, son-in-law to Annas.  Caiaphas was the High Priest who unwittingly made the prophecy that Jesus must die in man’s stead (St. John 11:49-52).

After Jesus’ arrest and His disciples’ flight, Jesus was taken to the city where two of His disciples followed.  One of the disciples was Simon Peter; however, many commentators believe that the other disciple was the apostle John, the writer of this gospel (St. John 20:2; 21:20, 24).  This unnamed disciple’s acquaintance with the High Priest provided Peter with access to the priest’s courtyard.

In verses 17-18, we are confronted with Peter’s first denial of the Lord.  His action of denying the Lord is in stark contrast to Peter’s great avowal of loyalty he boasted of having in St. John 13:37.  Certainly, Peter did love the Lord, but he underestimated the weakness of the flesh!  In the time of intense pressure, we can never rely on our strength!  Our strength must come from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2).  Being cold that night, Peter joined himself to enemies’ fire.  Spiritually speaking, when we are out of God’s will, we will be in association with the world!

In Jesus preliminary investigation before Annas in verses 19-21, Annas questioned Jesus regarding His followers and His teachings.  As Jesus’ reply points out, although Jesus had chosen the disciples, He basically taught openly to others, either in the synagogues or the temple, His teachings were not private in nature.  The people who heard Jesus knew very well what He taught.  After Jesus’ reply to the High Priest’s question in verse 19, one of Annas’ servants struck Jesus in the face (vs. 22-23). The servant’s action against the Son of God evidenced that the natural man is blind to the infinite glory of the Son of God!  Having had the preliminary hearing before Annas, Jesus was sent to Caiaphas, son-in-law to Annas (St. John 18:24-27).

Finally, as Jesus appears before Caiaphas, Peter is in the courtyard denying the Lord for the second and third time.  After Peter denied the Lord for the third timed, the rooster crowed as predicted by our Lord (Matthew 26::72-74).  Another gospel writer reported that after Peter’s third denial, Jesus looked on Peter (Luke 22:61).  Can you imagine how Peter felt, being out of the Lord’s will?  May God Bless!