Wednesday, April 4, 2007

John 18:1-27 (The Message)
Seized in the Garden at Night
 1 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.
 2-4Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, "Who are you after?"
   They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."
 5-6He said, "That's me." The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.
 7Jesus asked again, "Who are you after?"
   They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene."
 8-9"I told you," said Jesus, "that's me. I'm the one. So if it's me you're after, let these others go." (This validated the words in his prayer, "I didn't lose one of those you gave.")
 10Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant's name.
 11Jesus ordered Peter, "Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I'm not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?"
 12-14Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.
 15-16Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest's courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.
 17The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, "Aren't you one of this man's disciples?"
   He said, "No, I'm not."
 18The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.
The Interrogation
 19-21Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, "I've spoken openly in public. I've taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I've said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a conspirator? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard."
 22When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, "How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!"
 23Jesus replied, "If I've said something wrong, prove it. But if I've spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?"
 24Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.
 25Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, "Aren't you one of his disciples?"
   He denied it, "Not me."
 26One of the Chief Priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with him?"
 27Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.

Judas is the one of Jesus’ twelve disciples who betrays him. Judas knows a garden where Jesus often prays, and he leads a group of Roman soldier and police to that garden to make the arrest. The soldiers are sent by the high priests and Pharisees, the religious officials who have been out to arrest and kill Jesus for some time.

Jesus is always bold when he speaks the truth. This night in the garden is no different. Jesus asks the soldiers who they are looking for, and when they answer, “Jesus the Nazarene,” he plainly and honestly answers, “That’s me.”

Peter tries to come to Jesus defense with a drawn sword, but Jesus feels like this is part of a greater plan. He knows God the Father has a will for him, and that will includes suffering. When Jesus says, “Do you think for a minute I'm not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?” he is saying “Do you think I will not follow the Father’s plan for me?”

Jesus is arrested, tied up, and carried away to appear before the religious officials. They question Jesus about his teaching and about his disciples. Jesus always answers with the truth, even when he gets slapped in the face for it.

While Jesus is suffering for telling the truth, Peter is getting away with telling lies. Three times Peter is asked if he is a disciple of Jesus. Three times Peter lies, and says no.

Telling the truth is always the right thing to do, even when it is unpopular, even if you know it will cost you.