JESUS IS ARRESTED AND LED AWAY
JOHN 18:12-27
Introduction:
The Lord had prayed and prepared Himself for this moment. His determination to fulfill the Father’s will was undaunted. Now He was in the hands of His enemies. His disciples had been scattered and he was taken to be judged by the ruling body of the Jews, the Sanhedrin, made up of the Saducees and Pharisees and elders of the community. Traditionally it had 70 members.
I. JESUS IS TAKEN TO THE SAHEDRIN
Matthew 26:57, “And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.”
A. Annas received Him first, v. 13. Annas had been the High Priest for 15 years and still maintained much influence over the Sanhedrin.
B. Jesus is sent to Caiaphas bound, v. 13, John 18:24, “Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.”
1. Caiaphas had prophesied that one should die for the nation, John 11:51, “And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;”
2. The gift of prophecy does not mean one is a true believer, Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
a. These were ferocious wolves who appear harmless as sheep, Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”
b. One need only look at the fruit they produce. Grapes and figs do not grow on thornbushes or thistles, Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
C. Now Jesus was alone since His disciples had been scattered, John 16:32, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”
II. JESUS IS FOLLOWED BY SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES
A. All of the disciples were offended because of Jesus that night, Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”
1. Peter follow “afar off,” Matthew 26:58, “But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.”
2. The Lord had said that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crew, Matthew 26:34, “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.”
a. The first denial, v. 17; John 13:37, “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now I will lay down my life for thy sake.”
b. The second denial, v. 25.
c. The third denial, vs. 26-27.
B. Another disciple, probably John, was more involved, v. 15; this disciple knew the high priest and therefore had access into the high priest’s courtyard.
III. JESUS IS EXAMINED BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST
A. He was asked about His doctrine that they might charge him with heresy, v. 19; Deuteronomy 17:12, “And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.”
B. They hoped to make him an offender for some word or statement, Isaiah 29:21, “That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.”
C. Having failed in that attempt they charged him with blasphemy, Mark 14:61-64, “But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven . 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.”
1. Jesus is found guilty of being the Son of God.
2. To these unbelieving Jews this was blasphemy and the penalty was death, Leviticus 24:15-16,“And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD , shall be put to death.”
3. Jesus had predicted this outcome, Mark 10:33, “Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.”
CONCLUSION:
Now Jesus is taken to Pilot to be condemned because the Sanhedrin had no authority to sentence a man to death under Roman rule. John 19:7, “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”