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Deep Thoughts -
Deep Thoughts
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Written by Jonathan Hsieh
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Saturday, 20 February 2010 23:19 |
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18:15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed them as they brought Jesus to Annas. (Now the other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.) 18:16 But Simon Peter was left standing outside by the door. So the other disciple who was acquainted with the high priest came out and spoke to the slave girl who watched the door, and brought Peter inside. 18:17 The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He replied, “I am not.” 18:18 (Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.)
18:15 Simon Peter and another disciple followed them as they brought Jesus to Annas. (Now the other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard.)
Peter and another disciple (some thing it was John) follow the group of religious leaders, soldiers, and Jesus to Annas. They go to the high priest's (Caiaphas') house. Much later in the 14th century the convent of St. Saviour was built on what they believed was the house of Caiaphas.  Some archaeologists think the house of Caiaphas is actually not this place. So somehow the other disciple has connections with the high priest and gets let in for the private meeting.
18:16 But Simon Peter was left standing outside by the door. So the other disciple who was acquainted with the high priest came out and spoke to the slave girl who watched the door, and brought Peter inside.
Peter, on the other hand, is left outside. The disciple inside asks an attendant to go bring Peter inside.
18:17 The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You’re not one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” He replied, “I am not.”
So the girl goes out to the courtyard to get Peter. She asks Peter if he's one of Jesus' disciples. It's difficult to capture it in the English, but the Greek specifically words the question to expect a negative answer. She doesn't think he's the guy she's looking for, but she's still checking. Peter responds "I am not." Peter's response of "I am not!" (ouk eimi) is in sharp contrast to Jesus' repeated statements of "I am" (ego eimi). Also this flies against the Peter we had just seen in the garden that drew his sword and attacked to protect Jesus. Now that Jesus isn't around Peter isn't so bold.
18:18 (Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.)
Jerusalem is on a mountain (2500 feet high) and at the edge of a desert. It gets cold and windy there. Peter is standing with some slaves and guards who huddled around a charcoal fire, warming themselves. An interesting note is that a charcoal fire only pops up twice in the New Testament here and later in chapter 21 where Jesus reinstates Peter. This is unlikely a coincidence.
I feel like Peter now and then. No doubt you feel this way sometimes, too. When you're surrounded by Christians in church it's so easy to say you'll live and die for Jesus Christ and nothing will stand in your way. But when you're out in the world and you're not surrounded by Christians and there's a bit of possible opposition we so often lose that confidence. We falter like Peter and suddenly hide our affiliation with Jesus. And Just like Peter we regret it once we realize what happened. Let's stay strong, no matter where we are or who we're with, because God is always with us, whether we see Him or not. |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 20 February 2010 23:22 |
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Deep Thoughts -
Deep Thoughts
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Written by Jonathan Hsieh
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Friday, 19 February 2010 22:43 |
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18:12 Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up. 18:13 They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 18:14 (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
18:12 Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up.
So after the scene in the garden Jesus gives Himself up and they tie Jesus up to lead Him. It is ironic in that Jesus has not done any resisting up to this point and has instead given Himself up willingly, yet they still restrain Him.
18:13 They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
Jesus is brought to Anna. Why was He taken before the father-in-law of the high priest instead of the high priest himself? Back in A.D. 6 Annas was appointed high priest but later deposed in A.D. 15. Even though he wasn't the high priest, he still was a serious player behind the scenes while his family members held the role of high priest. Josephus, the historian, even calls Annas the high priest after he was deposed because, for all intents and purposes, he acted like it. John also introduces us to Caiaphas who was currently serving as high priest.
18:14 (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)
John notes that Caiaphas had said it would have been better that one man die instead of the people getting in trouble. He already picked Jesus out to die, rather than risk any turmoil that would have resulted in rebellion and Roman retaliation. It is also ironic that God felt the same way about Jesus, except on a much grander scale. Jesus' death was better than all of us dying. Paul writes in Romans "5:18 Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people. 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous."
It's interesting that the man that should have been the most in tune with God in the land, the high priest, didn't get it. And even though he didn't get it, he still performed God's will in being integral to Jesus dying on the cross. And there is so much truth in his words that he didn't even know. And sometimes we are like that. We, as Christians, are supposed to be all in tune with God's will. We should try to be as, actively as possible, trying to live and fulfill God's will voluntarily and lovingly. But there are times when we mess up and pull off a Caiaphas. We miss the truth. We mess up. I know that whatever I do, God's will will be fulfilled. I just pray and hope that I will be actively working with God on the same team instead of being an unwitting pawn. |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 20 February 2010 23:20 |
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Deep Thoughts -
Deep Thoughts
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Written by Jonathan Hsieh
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 19:24 |
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18:10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave’s name was Malchus.) 18:11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
18:10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave’s name was Malchus.)
Jesus had just given Himself up willingly and gotten the disciples dismissed. Peter doesn't quite get it. Here's Borchert's comments on Peter's actions:
"I find him to be a comic-tragic figure who often lacks a perspective of realism about a given situation. In that sense he is like many humans who blunder through life without taking time for reality checks. What could Peter’s puny sword do against the force of a Roman “detachment” (18:3) led by a chiliarch (the usual commander of a thousand soldiers, 18:12)?"
Peter suddenly whips out his sword to take out the high priest's slave's head but only cuts off his right ear. He's a fisherman, not a swordsman. He can't take out one guy when there's a small army there.
18:11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
But this isn't what Jesus wanted. He had to die. Peter's actions seemed noble, but obviously it was not thought through in a logical sense as well as what Jesus had in mind. This was all part of Jesus' plan. Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth so He could defeat all the soldiers in a heartbeat with a gigantic angelic army (Matthew 26:53). He is going willingly.
Peter didn't get the program. On the surface, he seemed to be doing the noble thing, but it was a dumb thing and not in line with Jesus' plans. As Christians sometimes we jump to things without really thinking things through. It may be we do too much to do what we think pleases God but forget to do other things that are just as important. Perhaps we may be so enthusiastic about church but ignore our own daily, personal relationships with God, which are also very important. I don't know what your situation is and no doubt I am a Peter at times. Before jumping headfirst into things, thinking it'll be for God's own good, first take a moment to figure out if it's the right thing to do.
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Deep Thoughts -
Deep Thoughts
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Written by Jonathan Hsieh
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Wednesday, 17 February 2010 17:09 |
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18:4 Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, “Who are you looking for?” 18:5 They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He told them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.) 18:6 So when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground. 18:7 Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 18:8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” 18:9 He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”
18:4 Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, “Who are you looking for?”
Jesus knows what's going on. This is no surprise to Him. He steps up to meet the group. Even though He asks them who they are looking for, He knows He's the target.
18:5 They replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He told them, “I am he.” (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.) 18:6 So when Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they retreated and fell to the ground.
They want Jesus. He tells them "I am He." In response the soldiers and people there fell back and on the ground. The original Greek has literally "moved back" and fell. What exactly happened isn't certain. Jesus identified Himself and previously, in response seeing God in the Bible, people often fell to the ground when God identified Himself. Ezekiel does it twice in his book (Ezekiel 1:28, 4:44). For whatever exact reason, the armed group is shocked or startled at Jesus' response.
18:7 Then Jesus asked them again, “Who are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 18:8 Jesus replied, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.” 18:9 He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, “I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.”
The mob seems to have forgotten their task. Jesus has to remind them. He's the one they're after. He tells them to let His disciples go so that the words He had previously prayed in chapter 17 would be fulfilled.
For some reason Jesus has historically been depicted as very soft and, if nothing else, weak. Although He no doubt had a very loving and tender side to Him, He also has power. In the midst of an armed squad it is Jesus that takes control of the conversation. Even though they have weapons and superior numbers, Jesus is calling the shots. His self identification somehow makes these armed men move back and fall down. He has a commanding majesty. Let's not forget that Jesus is not just a lamb, but a powerful lion as well.
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Deep Thoughts -
Deep Thoughts
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Written by Jonathan Hsieh
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Tuesday, 16 February 2010 20:28 |
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18:1 When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it. 18:2 (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.) 18:3 So Judas obtained a squad of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.
18:1 When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it.
After Jesus' prayer they go out across the Kidron Valley. Here's a picture of it from www.Holylandphotos.org
This photo is looking toward the east from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, across the Kidron Valley. At the bottom left is a second temple era tomb. The road in the middle leads to Jericho. The Garden of Gethsemane is in the upper left area. The fluids from the temple sacrifices flowed in this valley. Jesus and His disciples crossed this valley same valley almost 2000 years ago.
18:2 (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.) 18:3 So Judas obtained a squad of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Judas, being a disciple, knows Jesus' patterns. Even though he wasn't there for the prayer and wasn't there when they got up to go there, he knew that Jesus regularly went there. He anticipated it and betrayed their trust. The original Greek word translated as squad, speiran, is technically a group of 600 soldiers. John may not have been trying to be technical, using the word in a more general sense so the group could have been smaller, like a maniple, which is 200 soldiers. Either way, this was a very significant armed guard that came to arrest a peaceful band of twelve men. Most likely they sent such a group in fear of reprisal. Previously the religious leaders had worried that if they had arrested Jesus there might be upheaval.
One thing that struck me was the consistency of Jesus. He must have gone there regularly to pray. There are many instances of Jesus arising early in the morning to pray. He was consistent in His relationship to God and in His spiritual life. One might even say He was predictable, as Judas played it. How many of us are like Jesus in the sense that we so regularly meet with God in some way that we are predictable. Whether or not we go to church every week or have quiet times early in the morning or before bed. How many of us are so regular that if someone were to ask what we were doing, they could go "Oh, it's such and such a time. They must be praying/reading the Bible/etc." In this sense I would like to be predictable and regular. To be repetitive to the point that people know that at certain times of the day I dedicate time to exclusively meet with God. That shows dedication. I want to be more like that.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 20:30 |
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