John 18 - What is Truth?

John 18 - NIV

Enduring Word Commentary

Jesus Arrested

18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the 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?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. 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.”[a]

We see the leaders still believed Jesus would try to do something by force, as they brought a huge detachment of officials and religious leaders to arrest him. It was if they though he was leading some kind of rebellion. Remember Jesus had never showed any use of physical force that would suggest they needed to arrest him in this way. Judas led the way as predicted. 

On the contrary Jesus was extremely cooperative. None of this came as any surprise to Jesus. When they said they were looking for "Jesus of Nazareth", he said, "I am he". Once he again he used the "I am" statement showing he considered himself to be God. Jesus was more concerned about the safety of the disciples than himself. Jesus knew his hour had come, and he willingly surrendered himself. 

When Jesus declared His divine identity (in the words I am), Judas and the soldiers all fell back. There was such a display of divine presence, majesty, and power in those two words that the enemies of Jesus were powerless to stand against Him. - Guzik

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?”12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. 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 Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

Peter, always the one to act first, struck the high priest's ear off with a sword. You have got to give some credit to Peter for his boldness, though it was misguided. Peter still did not understand the true nature of Jesus' mission this late in the game. Jesus reminded him this cup of suffering was his own to drink. When we receive the wine of communion in a cup, we should remember for Jesus it was a "cup of suffering". There are many ways we can be reminded in Holy Communion, and why we observe it. 

They regarded Jesus dangerous enough to send many soldiers after Him, so in custody they bound Jesus, treating Him as if He were a threat. Yet Jesus remained bound only because He surrendered to His Father’s will; hands that healed the sick and raised the dead could certainly break bonds. - Guzik

This unknowing prophecy of Caiaphas is recorded in John 11:49-53. Without knowing, Caiaphas spoke the truth that it was good for Jesus to die for the people. - Guzik

Peter’s First Denial

15 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 servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she 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.

The "another disciple" was probably John. After all, why would he not have given his name. When Peter was brought in the servant girl asked him if he was one of Jesus' disciples. It didn't take Peter long to say, "I am not". Peter goes from slicing off an officer's ear to being afraid to tell servant girl he knew Jesus. That seems kind of odd. Peter tried to hide in the crowd of others around the fire. 

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 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.” 22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

When the high priest began to question Jesus, he had nothing to hide. Jesus had taught publicly to the crowds and also taught publicly in the synagogues. Jesus told them to ask the people, if they were so anxious to know what he taught. There must have been a tone in his voice, because one of the officials reacted by slapping him in the face. This will be the first of many blows Jesus did not deserve. 

 It was the high priest’s duty to call forth the witnesses first, beginning with those for the defense. These basic legal protections for the accused under Jewish law were not observed in the trial of Jesus. “Jesus therefore claimed that, if his teaching was in question, evidence should be heard in the normal way.” (Bruce)

Notice how cool, call, and collected Jesus was in his answer. If he had done something so wrong, at least let him know what it was. Annas knew that he didn't have much on Jesus, so he sent him to Caiaphas. 

Annas had nothing to answer to Jesus. He sent Jesus on to a more official trial to the man who held the actual office of high priest, and sent Jesus bound as if He were a dangerous criminal. - Guzik

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, 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 garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Two more people recognized Peter around the fire. When asked if he knew Jesus or was one of his disciples he said, "I am not". After denying Jesus a third time, the rooster began to crow. The prophecy Jesus had given about Peter's threefold denial was now fulfilled. You can only imagine how Peter felt at this point. 

Matthew 26:74 tells us that Peter denied this third time with cursing and swearing, hoping that this would make them think even more that he was not associated with Jesus. We could say that at this point it was not the faith of Peter that failed, but his courage. - Guzik

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Jesus Before Pilate

28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because 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,” they objected. 32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. 

Clearly the Jewish leaders and the high priest did not feel comfortable getting rid of Jesus. Perhaps they realized he was not guilty of anything. Or, they didn't want to have his blood on their hands. They took him to Pilate, who was the Roman governor. It's ironic that they didn't want to enter the palace because of "ceremonial uncleanness". They didn't want to be ceremonial unclean, but they were okay with handing over the Son of God to the Romans to be executed. 

Pilate didn't want to have anything to do with the whole matter. Why did he need to get involved in their religious disputes? The Jews made it very clear what their motives were. They said they couldn't execute Jesus. But we know this was not in reality true. 

There were times when the religious leaders risked the disapproval of the Roman authorities and executed those they considered guilty without permission. Acts 7:54-60 records one such execution by stoning. When the Jewish leaders did put someone to death in this unauthorized way, it was generally by stoning. - Guzik

33 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. “Your own people and chief priests 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 Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there 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 an uprising.

Pilate was very direct in asking Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Perhaps this might give him a reason to prosecute Jesus, if he was trying to undermine the Roman power and authority. Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If so my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews."

“Pilate had expected to meet a sullen or belligerent rebel and met instead the calm majesty of confident superiority. He could not reconcile the character of the prisoner with the charge brought against him.” (Tenney)

Pilate was confused and understandably so, because Jesus was talking about a spiritual kingdom. Jesus then references the "truth". Jesus had already said chapter 14, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Pilate is now curious and asks a great question, "What is truth?" Pilate seems more interested in the truth than the religious leaders. 

What is truth: Many in our day ask Pilate’s question, but from a different perspective. Noting that many things are true only on the basis of personal preference or perspective, they think all truth is personal, individual. They think there is no true truth about God; there is only my truth and your truth and one is as good as the other. Though this thinking is strong in our day, it denies the One who said: For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. - Guzik

Is Jesus the truth for you? Have you investigated the proposition Jesus makes?  Jesus represented to be the truth about God. He also claimed to be God in no certain terms several times in this gospel! The only answer to this question is "yes' or "no"? 

Please don't go through life answering this question.  The stakes are too high to blow it off. 

Jesus has given you a ton of evidence. It is evidence that demands a verdict!