Arrest and Trial

April 6 Arrest and Trial John 18:1-40

“(I)f we want to read the story of Christ’s death with profit, the chief point is to look to God’s eternal counsel. The Son of God is set before the judgment-seat of a mortal man. If we think that this was done by men’s will and do not raise our eyes to God, our faith must needs be put to shame and confounded. But when we realize that our condemnation is blotted out by Christ’s, because it pleased the heavenly Father thus to reconcile mankind to Himself, we are raised on high by this alone and boldly and without shame glory even in Christ’s ignominy.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:164-165

After passing through the Kidron valley, whose stream would soon run red with the blood of sacrificed Passover lambs, Jesus ascended to the Garden of Gethsemane. Humanity’s problems had begun in a garden, in Eden; God’s solution made His way to the garden on the Mount of Olives. He had been there before to pray. It was not difficult for Judas to find Him. Soldiers arrested Jesus there to take Him to trial. They came with lanterns to find the Light of the World, but He did not hide from them. Indeed, John’s account suggests that they were intimidated by Jesus. There was no question who was in ultimate control. They did not seize Him; He gave Himself up to them. When Peter swung his sword in frustration he only succeeded in wounding a slave named Malchus on the ear. Even then, Jesus calmed them before His arrest could turn into a bloodbath. They bound Him and took Him away.

Jesus was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. Annas, his father-in-law, the former high priest who still wielded considerable influence, was also there. There was a courtyard between their homes; it seems that some of the proceedings took place there. This may have been the place where Peter was recognized, where he denied his Lord. This was an important story for the early Church. If even Peter cold be forgiven after he had fallen so badly, surely there was also hope for those whose courage had wavered under persecution? We don’t need to be perfect; we simply need to cling to the One who is.

Several members of the high priestly family questioned Jesus, led by the wily elder statesman, Annas. They wanted Jesus to condemn Himself, but He was not easily cowed. Instead, Jesus radiated authority. It was as if He ought to have been questioning them. But they abused Him by striking Him in the face; then they sent Him on to be questioned further. Meanwhile, Peter was lurching from one denial to another, his courage long gone. Did he see the Lord being taken out, through the courtyard? Was it then that the cock crowed?

Jesus was taken before Plate, the Roman Governor, Procurator of Judea. Pilate’s primary concern was not justice, but expediency. He wanted to prevent any kind of popular uprising that could have tarnished his reputation. He was a career politician who was not averse to using violence or dirty tricks in order to climb the ladder. He didn’t know what to make of the rabbi from Galilee. The charge was sedition. The Jewish authorities wanted to have Jesus crucified, a manner of death that they did not have the power to impose but that, if administered would, they believed, carry the curse of God. There would be no popular cult of Jesus if the Romans crucified Him.

They left Jesus at the entrance to the Praetorium, not wishing to be rendered ritually unclean by association with the pagan Romans. But they did not hesitate to hand over the Lamb of God to the same pagans, even as they dusted themselves off in preparation for the Passover. Pilate was not eager to get involved, but the Jews insisted so he agreed to question the prisoner. Pilate probably concluded that Jesus was a harmless dreamer, scarcely deserving of death. He even tried to have Him released, but the baying crowd chose Barabbas, a bandit, instead. Not for the last time a weak man gave in to the demands of a hostile crowd. Jesus was condemned.

For further reading: Psalm 40:1-14