What Jesus Did

Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, "You're not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "No, I am not."

—John 18:24-25 NLT

Key Thought


A disciple? Yes, a disciple is one who follows a master in order to be like that teacher. Clearly, Peter hasn't gotten the concept yet. He might be willing to be like Jesus in his power, performing...

 

Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. "Is that the way to answer the high priest?" he demanded. Jesus replied, "If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me?"

—John 18:22-23 NLT

Key Thought


The Temple guard didn't know it at the time, but he was not only slapping the face of a high priest far greater than the one he was protecting; he was also slapping God in the face. Jesus...

 

Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, "Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said."

—John 18:19-21 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus taught openly. He preached to the masses in the countryside. He spoke openly in the Temple...

 

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, "You're not one of that man's disciples, are you?" "No," he said, "I am not." Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made...

 

So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, "It's better that one man should die for the people."

—John 18:12-14 NLT

Key Thought


Who really was in charge of what happened here? Yes, Jesus would be put to death at the request of the Jewish religious...

 

Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. But Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?"

—John 18:10-11 NLT

Key Thought


Peter thought that the biggest battle would be a physical battle between the forces of Jesus and the forces of religious and political authority. He was wrong. The biggest battle was one of the will. Jesus had the...

 

Once more [Jesus] asked them, "Who are you looking for?" And again they replied, "Jesus the Nazarene." "I told you that I AM he," Jesus said. "And since I am the one you want, let these others go." He did this to fulfill his own statement: "I did not lose a single one of those you have given me."

—John 18:7-9 NLT

Key Thought


Imagine being the target of hatred, jealousy, and murderous intent yet still protecting those closest to you. Jesus' protection of his disciples...

 

Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet [those with Judas]. "Who are you looking for?" he asked. "Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. "I AM he," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said "I AM he," they all drew back and fell to the ground!

—John 18:4-6 NLT

Key Thought


John helps us see that Jesus' rejection and crucifixion were not some horrible accidents that occurred because he...

 

After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

—John 18:1-3 NLT

Key Thought


Judas knew where to find Jesus; Jesus...

 

[Jesus prayed,] "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them."

—John 17:25-26 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus is the one who reveals the Father to us. If we want to know what the Father is like, all we have to do is look at Jesus. If we want to know how the Father cares for people, we can look at how...