JOHN 18:15-40

Lesson # 38

THE TRIAL:? TWO TRIADS, DOING RIGHT WHEN SURROUNDED BY EVIL

I.? Introduction:? Doing right in the midst of Chaos.

Note:? What is going to follow in the rest of chapter 18 is primarily two triads.? Two sets of three with Jesus’ actions in court surrounded by actions taking place outside of court.? Each of the interviews of Jesus, first by Annas and then by Pilate have book ends.? The first trial or court interview of Annas is preceded and followed by actions of Peter.? The second trial or court interview by Pilate is surrounded by private conversations between Pilate and the Jewish leadership.? Jesus is carefully doing the right thing and acting in love but being sold out behind His back.

II.? The First Triad: ?Peter-Jesus and Annas-Peter.? John 18:15-27.

A.? The First Scene:? Peter Denies Jesus:? John 18:15-18.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:15-17

Q? Why had Peter denied Jesus when he was willing to die for him, just moments before in the Garden of Gethsemane?

>>>> Have someone read John 18:18.

RQ? Can you picture this happening, a cold night, it is late in the night, a bunch of guys around a fire trying to keep warm?

Q? Who is Peter standing with?? What is the author saying here?

Note:? The author has started telling us the famous story of Peter denying the Lord three times before the cock crows, but he stops his story and changes scenes, leaving Peter “warming himself”.? We will return to the “warming Peter” later.

???????????B.? The Second Scene:? Jesus interviewed by Annas:? John 18:19-24.

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:19-21.

Q? What two things does Annas want to know about?

An = About Jesus’ teaching and about His disciples?

Q? Which of the two questions does Jesus answer?

An = About His teaching.? Notice Jesus will not say anything about His disciples.? Know doubt Annas is worried about how many there are, if they are armed, what will they do to rescue Jesus.? Remember Roman troops were sent to arrest Jesus, no doubt in fear of Jesus’ disciples trying to protect Him by force of arms.

Note:? Look again at Jesus’ answer, notice He certainly does not appear afraid and His answer does not speak of the content of His teaching.

Q? What does Jesus say about His teaching?? What is the focus of His answer?

An = That is spoke openly, publicly and with noting to hide.? He almost seems to say that the question is not really a good question, because they, as everyone else does, should know the answer.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:22-24.

Q? Why did Jesus get popped by the officer?

Q? What do you think of Jesus’ answer?

An = Notice He is bold, not afraid, demanding them to think, not retracting His answer.

Note:? By Jesus’ answer, He has received an extra blow to His body, but He has safely avoided giving any information about His disciples.? He has taken all the attention back to Himself and taken all the flack for it.? He has frustrated Annas and so the interview ends.? No information has been given about the disciples.

C.? The Third Scene:? Peter Denies Jesus.? John 18:25-27

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:25-27.

Q? How many times does Peter deny Jesus in this section?

An = Twice.

Q? Why has the author split the story of Peter’s denial and put like book ends around the interview of Jesus by Annas?

An = Perhaps, to show that while Jesus is carefully taking extra blows just to protect His disciples, His head disciple is busy denying Him.

Q? What does this tell us about Jesus?

An = He does the good thing for others, at cost to Himself, but they are not nearly so loyal to Him.?

Q? Does it always pay to do the right thing for others?? Will it always pay off?

Note:? The whole time we are denying Jesus, He is interceding for us with the Father.

III.? The Second Triad:? Jews-Jesus and Pilate-Jews. ?John 18:28-40.

Note:? We now move on to the second triad and again the interview of Jesus will be in the middle that is surrounded by other action.

A.? Pilate and Jewish Leadership:? John 18:28-32

>>>> Have someone read John 18:28-29.

Q? Where does this discussion take place?

An = Outside the Praetorium, lest the Jews even come under the eves of a Gentile building and become defiled.? Pilate has to come out to them.? This aspect of coming out or going in will take place numerous times right up until Jesus’ fate is decided.

Q? What does Pilate want to know from them?

An = What is Jesus’ crime.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:30

Q? Do they give a specific crime?

An = No, such an accusation will not satisfy Pilate, and would not satisfy any fair court in the world.? Notice Pilate’s reaction.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:31-32.

Q? Is Pilate happy with them?? Does He want the case?

An = Pilate seems irritated, and we are not told why.

B.? Pilate Interviews Jesus:? John 18:33-38b.

>>>>? Have someone read John 18:33.

Q? What prompted this question?

An = The Jews want a death sentence and therefore need to have Jesus convicted of a crime that is a capital offense to the Romans.? Pilate either infers that they mean to accuse Jesus of insurrection or he has been given information from the trial that took place after Jesus was taken to Caiaphas.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:34-35.

Note:? Jesus seems to be forcing Pilate to reveal where this question is coming from and Pilate, seemingly irritated, seems to be saying, the source of the question (and therefore the accusation) came from the Jews (perhaps, presented privately, such a breach of proper judicial procedure might account for Pilate’s previous irritation in 31).

>>>> Have someone read John 18:36.

Q? How does Jesus deal with the accusation that He is a rival king to Rome?

An = He says He is not a political threat, proved by the fact that His followers did not fight when He was arrested.? There is even proof that Jesus stopped what little resistance started (remember Peter’s attempt).? Jesus has proved His innocence and so Pilate has no case.? So he has to say something….

>>>> Have someone read John 18:37.

Q? What is Jesus trying to do for Pilate?

An = He has moved beyond the court case and even uses the dangerous word “king” to openly and honestly appeal not for His innocence but for to appeal for Pilate’s soul.? Jesus is trying to witness to Pilate, to influence him towards truth, toward justice, towards Pilate’s own salvation.

>>>> Have someone read the first sentence of John 18:38

Note:? Pilate’s answer seems to be a flippant one, he seems almost to be trying to push Jesus’ searching, disturbing statement away from him.?

Q? Why would Pilate be so flippant about truth, something Roman law would prize?

C.? Pilate and the Jewish Leadership:? John 18:38b-40.

>>>> Have someone read John 18:38

Note:? Notice, Pilate goes out to speak to them.

Q? What is Pilate’s verdict?

An = There is no case, the Jews lose the case, Jesus is innocent.? He should have let Jesus go right at that moment.

Note:? However, Pilate is facing a determined and troublesome group and is under pressure to please them.? So watch what he attempts to do to keep his integrity as a Roman judge and yet to please the religious leaders politically.? This is first attempt to try and “have his cake and eat it too”.? He will try to give the religious leadership a way out to save face….

>>>> Have someone read John 18:39-40.

Q? Does Pilate’s attempt to give them a way out, to be magnanimous, work?

An = He gets caught.? He not only is not allowed to free Jesus, as an act of grace from Rome, and allowing the religious leaders a way to save face, in light of the fact that their accusation was proved groundless, but Pilate is now forced to let a true criminal go.

IV.? Conclusion:

Note:? Jesus was seemingly aware of what Pilate was doing, that Pilate had been prepped with information before the interview.? Jesus seemed to know that justice was not going to take place, but rather political pressure was being unfairly exerted.? Yet, notice, Jesus still tries to win Pilate over.?

RQ? Would not you or I be bitter with Pilate and yet Jesus is trying to win His soul?

Jesus is trying to save Pilate, even though Jesus’ interview is surrounded pressures that are intended to subvert justice.

Note:? Jesus is aware Peter will deny Him, and He works to save His disciples, even though they have run or are denying Him.? Jesus does what is right despite what others do.? Jesus serves though unappreciated by Peter.? Jesus works for Pilate’s soul despite Pilate’s dishonest maneuvering in the background.? Jesus does not do good because it is appreciated but because it is good.

God loves us with a love we do not deserve.? If we are disciples, when we are denying Him, He is serving us.? When we are losing our integrity, He still serves.