8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
10Then 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.)
11Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Thoughts: It is clear in all four Gospels that Jesus saw His arrest as part of a greater plan and purpose, often calling His arrest and crucifixion His "cup" from the Father. Jesus did not run, did not encourage his followers to fight, and identified himself to those who would arrest him in the dark.
Peter cut off the high priest's servant's ear. Jesus rebuked his sword, and disclaimed violence to Peter, the soldiers who came to arrest him, and later to Pilate. Luke (22) tells us that Jesus healed Malchus' ear. Later, at Peter's denial, Malchus' relative said he saw Peter with Jesus (implying he saw him cut off his relative's ear). Perhaps Peter felt rebuked for his zeal which may have led him to soften and hold back in his boldness and deny Christ. There is an important line between boldness (not being ashamed of following Christ), and violence. We are called to not be violent or uncivil about our faith- but still be faithful and boldly proclaim the truth.
They bound Jesus and brought Him to Annas. Annas had been deposed by the Romans as high priest, setting up Caiaphas his son-in-law as high priest, but most Jews regarded Annas as the real high priest- so they took Jesus to Annas. Caiaphas had already said it would be better if Jesus died for the people than all the people to die at the hands of a Roman rebellion (11:49,50). John saw this as a significant prophecy by the high priest. Jesus is, as John the Baptist also prophesied, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (1:29). Other New Testament passages expand on this idea- 1.Christ's sacrifice is once for all (Heb. 10:10); 2. He frees us from our own death by his single death (Heb. 2:14); 3. He bore our sins on the tree (1 Pt. 2:24); He is the Great High Priest who does not need to offer any other sacrifice because His sacrifice is good once for all (Heb. 7:27). It is significant that the high priest prophesied about the Great High Priest that Christ would die on behalf of many as a sacrifice of sorts- even though Caiaphas did not fully know what he was saying. Jesus' death was not just His own, but it was a purposeful, meaningful, sacrificial death.
Peter cut off the high priest's servant's ear. Jesus rebuked his sword, and disclaimed violence to Peter, the soldiers who came to arrest him, and later to Pilate. Luke (22) tells us that Jesus healed Malchus' ear. Later, at Peter's denial, Malchus' relative said he saw Peter with Jesus (implying he saw him cut off his relative's ear). Perhaps Peter felt rebuked for his zeal which may have led him to soften and hold back in his boldness and deny Christ. There is an important line between boldness (not being ashamed of following Christ), and violence. We are called to not be violent or uncivil about our faith- but still be faithful and boldly proclaim the truth.
They bound Jesus and brought Him to Annas. Annas had been deposed by the Romans as high priest, setting up Caiaphas his son-in-law as high priest, but most Jews regarded Annas as the real high priest- so they took Jesus to Annas. Caiaphas had already said it would be better if Jesus died for the people than all the people to die at the hands of a Roman rebellion (11:49,50). John saw this as a significant prophecy by the high priest. Jesus is, as John the Baptist also prophesied, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (1:29). Other New Testament passages expand on this idea- 1.Christ's sacrifice is once for all (Heb. 10:10); 2. He frees us from our own death by his single death (Heb. 2:14); 3. He bore our sins on the tree (1 Pt. 2:24); He is the Great High Priest who does not need to offer any other sacrifice because His sacrifice is good once for all (Heb. 7:27). It is significant that the high priest prophesied about the Great High Priest that Christ would die on behalf of many as a sacrifice of sorts- even though Caiaphas did not fully know what he was saying. Jesus' death was not just His own, but it was a purposeful, meaningful, sacrificial death.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from taking your sacrifice for granted.
(1520 anonymous)
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