Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Quiet Time today--John18:1-27

 
There are QT passages in the side bar. Feel free to print or download for your use and spend time with God.

John 18:1-27
Jesus Arrested

 1 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]
 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’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 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.
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.
Footnotes:
  1. John 18:9 reference to John 6:39
vs 2 Judas knew of the location and where to find Jesus because they met often at the garden of olives--knowledge without character or righteousness is the untruth. Darwin can read the bible and gain the knowledge of Jesus too, but he hadn't believed it or applied it, and thus couldn't use it well. 
 
vs16-17 The disciple with the priest (prob John) asked to have Peter brought in to see Jesus. But Peter, thinking the servant girl had another motive, denied knowing Jesus--When it comes to the issue on acknowledging Christ, we are constantly on our toes. But when the situation calls for it, we have to do what's right and affirm we know Christ. For Peter, the outcome could have been different.
 
vs 23 Jesus was arrested and treated with much disdain. He didn't deserve it. This was outright injustice for the upright and innocent. Jesus is the truth. Peter would wonder why at the garden Jesus wouldn't protect himself or let Peter fend off the priests and Pharisees. He could fight back and even call his legion of angels down upon them (matt 26:53). Why did he have to go thru such abject humiliation and torture? He wanted to. He chose to. Sheesh, the things he would do for us, to die for us, the people who killed him. He was still very much in control of all things and could escape their clutches any time, but chose to do it so he could save us all.

APPLICATION: We can't summon angels or rain hail down on our oppressors, but we can choose to make the choice Peter did and deny Christ, or choose to suffer for God. Because we know what's right. I want to deny self and pray for the people who are oppressed. Particularly that the devil will not close in on sisters whose faith are not so strong (note to self: Ming Ming, Joellene, Ying Ting, Tresa and parents. Potential fruits Yi Ying and Lynn).