After partaking the last supper with His disciples and having washed their feet, Jesus went out with them over the Book Kidron where there was a garden. There with Peter, James and John, he prayed that if it was His Father’s will, let the bitter cup of the death on the cross be taken away from Him, nevertheless not His will but the Father’s.
The third time, Jesus prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”(Matt.26:37-42). An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and He prayed even more earnestly. Being strengthened, Jesus rose from prayer, woke up the three disciples and went to meet Judas Iscariot who had procured a detachment of soldiers from the chief priests and Pharisees came to arrest Him (v.1-3).
Jesus knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am He.” They drew back and fell to the ground.
Then Jesus asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me, I have lost none.” (v.4-9)
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant Malchus, and cut off his right ear. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me.” (v.10-11)
The detachment of soldiers and the captain and officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. They led Him to Anna first (Anna was high priest from AD.7 to 14. He was deposed by the Romans. Caiaphas, his son-in-law was appointed to the position and served from AD 18-37. Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. ref: John 11:50 (v.12-14)
Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple who was known to the high priest. He went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest while Peter stood at the door outside. He spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl, who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciple, are you?” Peter said, “I am not.”(v.15-17)
Peter warmed himself and stood with the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals to warm themselves for it was cold. They said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” Peter denied it and said, “I am not.” (v.18 & 25)
One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately the rooster crowed (v.26-27).
As this was happening in the courtyard, the high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered Him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? And those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
When Jesus said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest (v.19-24).
They led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die (v.28-32).
Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus and asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of his world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man but Barrabbas!” Now Barrabbas was a robber (v.33-40).
Commentary
The Brook Kidron was a ravine between Jerusalem and Mount Olives.
A detachment was a cohort of about 600 men. But sometimes the Greek word was used for one-third of a cohort that is 200 men. The soldiers who came with Judas Iscariot were probably Roman troops stationed at Antonia, a fortress near the temple. The officers who came with the detachment were members of the temple police under the command of the Sanhedrin.
Jesus knowing all things that would come upon Him, that He would be arrested, could have escaped but He did not. Instead He submitted Himself to the ordeal that was ordained by His Father.
When Jesus said to the soldiers who came and sought Him who was Jesus of Nazareth, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. At that instance, Jesus manifested the majesty of His deity. (Jesus is God ‘I AM’ -Greek ego eimi. I AM WHO I AM ref: John 8:58).
After Jesus said the third time, “I am He” He said also, “Therefore if you seek Me, let these go their way.” As Jesus was being arrested, He demonstrated His love for His disciples. He would lose none of those whom His Father gave Him (v. 9, 6:39; 17:12).
Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. That was when the detachment was arresting Jesus. But He said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My father has given me?” (v.10-11) Jesus mercifully restored the ear (Luke 22:51) that Peter cut off. Jesus was prepared to drink the cup which His Father gave Him. Peter was rash to draw his sword and strike Malchus, cutting off his ear.
Often times we too are rash in our deeds as we love the Lord Jesus and fail to understand His will. Yet His purposes are ultimately fulfilled despite our wrongs (ref. Luke 9:51-56).
Jesus answered Pilate who asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”, saying, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here.” Jesus is King but He was not a threat to Rome.
The Church purchased with Jesus’ blood is His Kingdom not of this world but one that is spiritual descended from heaven. Hence the church should be administered with fear of the Almighty Sovereign God according to His word and spiritual guidance from the Holy Spirit (I Cor.12:28-31; 2:4-5, 10-16).
Another disciple (v.15) refers to apostle John. How he was known to the high priest is not clear. John entered the courtyard of the high priest and spoke to the servant girl who kept the door so that Peter who stood outside the door was permitted to enter into the courtyard.
It followed that Peter was recognised as a disciple of Jesus but he denied it three times. That happened just as Jesus said, “I tell you Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22:34).
“Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” (v.21) According to the law, the witnesses for the defense had to be called first. Jesus should not have been questioned until witnesses had testified.
“And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand ………..” (v. 22) This was illegal according to Jewish law. There should be no punishment before conviction.
Praetorium (v.28,33) was the official residence of the Roman governor probably the fortress Antonia near the temple in Jerusalem. Early morning refers to the fourth watch 3am to 6am.
The Jews would be defied had they entered the praetorium because during the Passover if one enters a house that contained leaven he would be ceremonially unclean and unable to celebrate the feast.
Are you speaking for yourself about this? (v.34) Jesus asked Pilate because if he were asking the question on his own initiative, Pilate would have used the word ‘king’ in the Roman sense of a political leader. If not on his own initiative but was told by others concerning Jesus, the word ‘king’ would have been used in the Jewish sense of the messianic king.
“Am I a Jew?” (v.35) Pilate was saying that he being a Roman governor would have no interest whatsoever in a Jewish question.
“You have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover.” (v.39) Perhaps some in the crowd suggested that someone be released in honour of the Passover (Mark 15:8 & 11). Pilate jumped at the suggestion which would be a compromise. By promising to release Jesus on account of the custom rather than to proclaim Him innocent, Pilate would avoid insulting the Jewish leaders who had already pronounced him guilty.
TEACHINGS:
Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ because he had in his heart a place for the devil to enter, abide and work (John 12:4-6; 13:2). Probably being the only one among the twelve apostles who was from Judah while the others were from Galilee, Judas was full of discontent over the way Jesus moved among them and dwelt with them.
He was envious of the closeness of Jesus to Peter, James and John resulting in the illusory and deleterious conclusion that He was biased and showed prejudice toward him. Judas was one full of hypocrisy and deceit in his heart, as seen in his words to Mary as to why the precious spikenard she used to anoint Jesus not sold for 300 denarii and the proceeds given to the poor. Also in his kissing of Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane. The kiss was a sign to identify Jesus to the soldiers as the one whom they had come to arrest (Luke 22:47-48).
Jesus loves all whom He had created, especially us whom He had called, with the same love of the Father for His children, with the same care of the Shepherd for His sheep having sacrificed Himself and shed His blood to purchase each of, and with the true righteousness and holiness of God for all people (Eph. 4:6-7; John 10:16; Tit.2:11-13). It is us who fall short of His glory and are bigoted. Yet God accepts our faithfulness and fails not to pour down His grace abundantly if we do well. But if we do not do well, as Judas was guilty of, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for us (Gen. 4:7).
“Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me.” Jesus accomplished the death on the cross to be the propitiation for sins by His blood and redeemed us from sins. He yielded to His Father’s will. Though sorrowful and in distress, He prayed in the garden and was strengthened. Consequently He suffered the death on the cross and drank the cup which His Father gave Him.
He told Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath.” Peter obeyed. Having put his sword into the sheath, Peter followed Jesus to the praetorium. There he denied Jesus three times. Yet Jesus prayed for him hence he could turn back.
Peter was strengthened on the day of Pentecost when the power of the Holy Spirit from on high came upon him. He accomplished the ministry of an apostle and died as a martyr according to what Jesus said to him (John 21:18). For he prayed and was strengthened with might of the Holy Spirit. He no longer relied on his fervour for Jesus, having put his sword into the sheath.
We can finish the race, fight the good fight, and keep the faith through prayers and trust in the Lord Jesus and His mercy (Rom. 7:24-25). Be reminded, “Wrath of man never can produce the righteousness of God.” (James. 1:20)
“My kingdom is not of this world”
The church is the kingdom God from above. Administration of the church and activities must not just to promote earthly prosperity, social fellowship and physical satisfaction. Emphasis should be on worship and fulfilling the commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel of salvation to all nations and present every sheep of His perfect before Him.
Serving the Lord Jesus Christ is a spiritual rather than a secular undertaking and endeavour. It must be done with the fear of God, with godliness and holiness, and with obedience to the word of truth in the bible. Honouring Him, pleasing Him and not ourselves, and working for the spiritual growth of the house of the LORD should be the spirit of service, goal of the ministry and of reason for the work to be performed (Gal.1:10; I Pet.4:10-11).
Take heed: The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Spirit (Rom. 14:17)
