New Testament Commentary - John 18

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 18 Jesus is betrayed and arrested—He is examined and maltreated first before Annas, then before Caiaphas—Peter denies knowing who Jesus is—Jesus is arraigned before Pilate.
1 WHED Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered^a, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the ^aplace: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a ^aband of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.	1^a he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into which he entered Now for which particular reason, this is all that John speaks of the experience in the garden of Gethsemane. And John will immediately give account of Judas' betrayal. This is not unusual for John's gospel, for he adds much which the other gospels do not contain or detail as well as leaving out other matters entirely. Whether John is being true to just particularly what he witnessed or is leaving the suffering vicarious atonement ordinance out for other reasons is not known. Perhaps it could be as simple as that John did sleep as recorded in the other gospels and therefore was not firsthand witness to it.	2^a BD Olives, Mount of, or Olivet; TG Olivet, Olives, Mount of 3^a Matt 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47;
4 Jesus therefore, ^aknowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, ^aI am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground^a.	they went backward, and fell to the ground Jesus Christ's statement was strong and assertive, even perhaps being stated with a bold stepping forward to separate himself from his group of disciples. This in itself may have caused the arresting 'gang' to step back, stumble and fall. But there must have also been much power and spiritual force in his proclaimation also. For his statement was that simple bold and grand unmistakable statement of identity which implied that he was the Great Jehovah. For is stated but the two words which Jehovah used in anouncing his identity to Moses, "I AM!" The 'he' was added by the King James translators in their attempt to clarify meaning, but in this, they as in a number of other instances have actually removed meaning by their added personally translated clarification.	4^a TG God, Omniscience of 6^a IE. 'I AM'; Ex. 3:14
7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost ^anone.		9^a John 6:39; John 17:12
10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and ^acut off his right ear. The servant's name was ^bMalchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the ^acup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13 And led him away to ^aAnnas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. 14 Now ^aCaiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
15 ¶ And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. 18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
19 ¶ The high ^apriest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by ^astruck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. 26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27 Peter then denied again^a: and immediately the cock crew.	27^a Peter then denied again Peter denied knowing Jesus three times the night of Jesus' trial. Why? Peter judged himself harshly but why would Peter, who had raised the sword in Jesus' defense hours before now shun admitting knowing him. Some judge Peter harshly for his thrice denial but could there not be some reason why Peter so denied beyond a coward's denial? I can think of at least one quite good reason. The Sanhedrin were looking for witnesses to testify of that which they could then condemn Jesus for. Peter knew well that the Jews were actively seeking Jesus' life and for at least one justifiable reason of 'blasphemey', that is Jesus had often presented himself as the 'Son of God'. And it had been Peter who at one very notable juncture so testified of Jesus that, 'He was the Christ, the Son of God.' Now I've seen enough trial depictions to note that friends of the defendant will often perger themselves in defense of the defendant. Perhaps this was Peter's logic. He would not allow himself to be brought to testify, witness before the Sanhedrin, for his testimony that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, would bring a death sentence upon the Lord and Peter knew it. Yes he lied in stating that he knew not the 'defendant' but was it in order that he might not be called upon to testify, which testimony would and could be used against Jesus unto the Lord's death? Certainly Peter did not consider that he was denying Jesus in the course of not wanting to be recognized as a follower of Jesus when his testimony could condemn the Lord. And it was not until the cock crowed that Peter remembered what Jesus had said and what the Lord was refering to. Who wants to testify against a friend? Who wants to be a 'tale bearer' when the tale would bring death to a loved one? Might not this be the very reason why Peter denied knowing Jesus and thus overted being called as a witness 'against' the Lord unto the Lord's death?
28 ¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the ^apassover. 29 ^aPilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My ^akingdom is not of this ^bworld: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 ^aPilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a ^bking then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a ^cking. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the ^dtruth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had ^asaid this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no ^bfault at all. 39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now ^aBarabbas was a robber.