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John

John 
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Day 278

John 18:12-27 "THE CAPTURE OF JESUS"

Day 278 – John 18

THE CAPTURE OF JESUS

In all the Gospels, the capture of Jesus was beautifully portrayed. It may be said that He allowed Himself to be captured. John wrote,

“Then the detachment of troops and the captain
and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and
bound Him.”
John 18:12

But these words cannot be read outside the context of Jesus healing Malchus when his ear was cut off by Peter’s sword. These soldiers had fallen down when they came into the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus.

Matthew gave additional information concerning the capture of Jesus.

“In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes,
‘Have you come out, as against a robber,
with swords and clubs to take Me?
I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple,
and you did not seize Me.’
But all this was done that the Scriptures of
the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Matthew 26:55-56 (Mark 14:48-49)

Luke wrote in a similar vein.

“Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords
and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple,
you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour,
and the power of darkness.”
Luke 22:52-53

It is not without significance that none of the arresting officers said a word in reply! What could they say? They had felt the power of His Presence. They had seen one of their men healed! They had seen Jesus restrain His Disciples from fighting. They had seen how cool and calm He was. The soldiers must have felt embarrassed that they were armed to the teeth to arrest a Man like Jesus! But they had their orders. They had to obey the orders given to them! All who came to arrest Jesus knew that Jesus had surrendered Himself to them. If He had not, they could never have captured Him at all!

As Jesus was led away, all the Disciples fled. Matthew wrote,

“Then all the Disciples forsook Him and fled.”
Matthew 26:56b

Mark wrote painfully,

“Then they all forsook Him and fled.”
Mark 14:50

All that Jesus had said to His Disciples had come to pass. One of the Disciples had betrayed Him as foretold. The rest of the Disciples had fled for their lives, forsaking the Master, also as foretold!

THE TRIAL BEFORE ANNAS

The bitter cup that the Father had given Jesus to drink included this mockery of justice. John wrote of the first trial of Jesus.

“And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was
the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest
that year.”
John 18:13

We turn to a good source of extra-biblical information, the renown International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) concerning Annas.

“The son of Seth (Josephus “Sethi”), he was elevated
to the high-priesthood by Quirinius, governor of Syria. A.D.7.
At this period the office was filled and vacated at the caprice
of the Roman procurators, and Annas was deposed by
Valerius Gratus, A.D.15. But though deprived of official status,
he continued to wield great power as the dominant member
of the hierarchy, using members of his family as his
willing instruments.

That he was an adroit diplomat is seen in that five of his sons
(Josephus Ant. Xx.9.1) and his son-in-law Caiaphas held
the priesthood in almost unbroken succession …

Another mark of his continued influence is that long after
he had lost his office he was still called “high priest”,
and his name appears first wherever the names of the
chief members of the sacerdotal faction was given.
Cf. Acts 4:6, “With Annas the high priest and Caiaphas
and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly
family …

Annas belonged to the Sadducean aristocracy, and like others
of that class, he seems to have been arrogant, astute, ambitious,
and enormously wealthy. He and his family were proverbial
for their rapacity and greed. The chief source of their wealth
seems to have been the sale of requisites for the Temple sacrifices,
such as sheep, doves, wine, and oil …

During the great feasts, they were able to extort high monopoly
prices for their goods. Hence the Lord’s denunciation of those
who made the house of prayer, “a den of robbers” (Mark11:15-19),
and the curse in the Talmud, ‘Woe to the family of Annas!'”
ISBE Vol.1 page 128

It was to this Annas that Jesus was led, straight from the Garden of Gethsemane. He may not have been the High Priest that year, but he certainly wielded tremendous power to have Jesus brought to him, before being brought to Caiaphas, the official high priest. While others might have been intimidated by the aging but still powerful Annas, Jesus remained calm, trusting in His Father’s Will.