Jesus's Arrest and Peter's Denial of Him

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(John 18:1) When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the Brook Kidron where was a garden which He and His disciples entered.

In the last chapter, Jesus had prayed a beautiful and sublime prayer.  After that, He and His disciples crossed over the Brook Kidron which was a small stream that flowed to the east of Jerusalem and divided the city from the Mount of Olives.  They went into a garden which was called Gethsemane according to Matthew 26:36.

(2) And Judas also, who betrayed Him, knew the place, for Jesus often met there with His disciples.

Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus also knew about the garden as Jesus often met with His disciples there.  Jesus was not trying to hide from His fate.  He went straight into the lion's den, so to speak, knowing that Judas would come there.

(3) Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Indeed, Judas came there with a band of men and officers that had been given to him by the chief priests and Pharisees.  The men came carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.  The lanterns and torches were probably to search Jesus out as if He would be hiding in the place He knew that Judas knew.  And as if they would need an army and weapons to take Jesus!

(4) Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?"

Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went straight to His captors and asked whom they were seeking.

(5) They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I AM." And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them. (6) As soon then as He had said to them, "I AM," they went backward and fell to the ground.

They answered that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth and Judas stood with them.  Practically all of the Bible translations read that Jesus said, "I am He," but they indicate that they added "He" for better understanding.  Jesus did not say, "I am He."  He simply said, "I AM," and that is what made the men fall backward to the ground.  The power of that name and Jesus's very own infinite power knocked His captors down, proving that they could not take Him by their power, but that Jesus willingly let them take Him.  It's amazing that after being knocked down by sheer words, that some of the band didn't retreat.

(7) Then He asked them again, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." (8) Jesus answered, "I have told you I AM. Therefore if you seek Me, let these go their way."

Jesus asked them again whom they were seeking.  When they said again, "Jesus of Nazareth," Jesus answered that He had told them already that was Him, so if they were seeking Him, He asked that they let His disciples go.  There were probably only Peter, James, and John with Him according to Matthew 26:37.

(9) That the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of them whom You gave Me, I have lost none."

Jesus asked that His disciples go free which fulfilled what He had said in His prayer in chapter 17, that He had lost none of the ones His Father had given Him.  He protected them to His very end.

(10) Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

At this point, Peter drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, Malchus, and cut off his right ear.  

(11) Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath; the cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

Jesus told Peter to put his sword back into its sheath, and He asked him if He shouldn't do what His Father had willed be done.  Luke 22:51 told us that Jesus then healed the man's ear.

(12) Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him, (13) And led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas who was the high priest that same year.

The band of soldiers and their captain and officers then took Jesus and bound Him and led Him away to Annas, who according to Luke 3:2 was himself a high priest, but at this point is mentioned as Caiaphas's father-in-law, Caiaphas being the high priest that year.

(14) Now Caiaphas was he who gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Caiaphas was the one in John 11:50 who gave counsel to the chief priests and Pharisees that it was expedient that one man should die for the people that the whole nation not perish.  He had spoken more Godly truth than he realized, as it was indeed expedient for Christ alone to die for the salvation of the world.

(15) And Simon Peter followed Jesus and another disciple; that disciple was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

Peter followed Jesus and another disciple who was also following Jesus.  Many commentators have assumed that the other disciple was the gospel author himself, John, as John often spoke of himself in the third person, only he most often referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved.  Nonnus, a 5th century Greek poet who wrote a paraphrase of the Gospel of John, said that John was known to the high priest because he carried fish to his house and sold it to him.  However, others say it is not likely that the seller of fish would have any sort of close relationship with the high priest.  They assume it was another disciple, apart from the twelve, who was better known by the high priest than any of the twelve.  That disciple went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.  The high priest that year was Caiaphas, so although the soldiers had taken Jesus to Annas first, he had evidently sent Him immediately to Caiaphas.  Both disciples continued to follow Jesus there.

(16) But Peter stood at the door outside. Then that other disciple who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought in Peter.

Peter did not enter the palace when Jesus and the other disciple did; he stood outside the door.  However, the other disciple went and spoke to the doorkeeper who let the disciple bring Peter inside.

(17) Then said the damsel who kept the door to Peter, "Are you not also one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not."

The girl who was the doorkeeper asked Peter if he was one of Jesus's disciples.  He denied it.  By this, it seems unlikely that the other disciple was John, as she would have surely also recognized him as one of Jesus's disciples, too.

(18) And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals for it was cold, and they warmed themselves, and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

The servants and the officers stood in that area of the palace.  They made a fire because it was cold, and they stood by the fire warming themselves.  Peter stood with them, also warming himself.

(19) The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

The high priest Caiaphas asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.  The council wanted to prove sedition or rebellion against Caesar, so I'm sure they wanted to show that He had many disciples forming a dangerous faction.  He wanted to know about Jesus's teaching, as well.

(20) Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple where the Jews always meet, and in secret, I have said nothing."

Jesus told Caiaphas that He had always spoken openly to the world.  He was constantly in the synagogues and in the temple at Jerusalem speaking openly to the Jews that always met there.  He had no secret agenda; what Caiaphas and his council had heard of what Jesus said, was all there was.  If He had been guilty of sedition, He would have preferred meeting in secret, planning an overthrow of the government, so as He most often spoke publicly with great crowds, they could see and hear that He was not planning a secret takeover.

(21) "Why do you ask Me? Ask them who heard Me what I have said to them; behold, they know what I said."

Jesus asked Caiaphas why he asked Him.  He would not have believed what Jesus said anyway.  He should ask the people who had heard Him, which were certainly at least some of them who stood there with Him.  Jesus had nothing to hide; He urged Caiaphas to ask them what He had said.

(22) And when He had thus spoken, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest so?"

After Jesus had asked why Caiaphas asked Him, one of the officers who stood by them, slapped Jesus with the palm of his hand and rebuked Him for speaking to the high priest in that manner.

(23) Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why do you strike Me?"

Jesus answered that if He had spoken anything evil or falsely, the officer should point that out and let Him receive fair punishment, but if He had said nothing untoward, then he had no reason to strike Him.  

(24) Now Annas had sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

This is where John explains that Annas had sent Jesus on to Caiaphas, and that was why He was now before him.

(25) And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore to him, "Aren't you also one of His disciples?" He denied it, and said, "I am not."

So there in the palace of the high priest Caiaphas, Peter stood and warmed himself by the fire among the servants and the officers.  They suspected that he was one of Jesus's disciples, but Peter denied it a second time.

(26) One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"

However, one of the high priest's servants, who had apparently been with the band of soldiers who came and took Jesus from the garden and had seen him cut the ear off the soldier who was a kinsman of his, asked if it was true that he had seen him in the garden with Jesus.

(27) Peter then denied again, and immediately the cock crowed.

Peter again denied that he had been with Jesus.  The account in Matthew said that he even cursed and swore.  Immediately after he said it, the rooster crowed.  It was just as Jesus had said, that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed in the morning.  That account in Matthew said that Peter then remembered the words of Jesus and went out and wept bitterly.

(28) Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment, and it was early; and they themselves did not go into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.

The council of Jews and the soldiers then led Jesus away from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment, or the Praetorium, as it was called, where the Roman governor heard and tried cases.  It was very early in the morning.  The Jews would not enter the house of a Gentile or they would be considered unclean and unable to eat of the Passover, so they did not go in, only the Roman soldiers.

(29) Pilate then went out to them, and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?"

Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor at that time, therefore went out to talk to the Jews and asked them what it was that they had accused Jesus of doing.

(30) They answered and said to him, "If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to you."

The Jews told Pilate if Jesus had not been a criminal, they would not have brought Him to him.  I believe their point was that they had no need for Pilate to try Jesus as they had already found Him guilty.  They brought Jesus to the Roman governor because he was the only one who could order Jesus executed.

(31) Then Pilate said to them, "Take Him and judge Him according to your law." The Jews therefore said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."

If they hadn't brought Jesus to him to be tried, then Pilate told them to take Jesus back and judge Him according to their law as they saw fit.  However, they told him that it was not legal for them to put anyone to death, which was what they desired for Jesus.

(32) That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spoke, signifying what death He should die.

They had to have Jesus condemned to death by the Roman governor.  That would fulfill Jesus's prophetic words that He would be crucified (Matthew 20:19), as only the Roman government crucified men.

(33) Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again and called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the king of the Jews?"

So Pilate went back into the judgment hall where Jesus was being held, and he asked Him if He was indeed king of the Jews.  According to the account in Luke, the Jews had accused Jesus to Pilate of being a rebel and forbidding the people to pay tribute to Caesar, which was of course, a lie.  They told him that Jesus had said He was the king of the Jews.

(34) Jesus answered him, "Do you say this thing of yourself or did others tell you this of Me?"

Jesus replied, asking Pilate if that was a question he wanted an answer to himself, or had he asked it only because others had said that about Jesus.  I believe His point was, had Pilate seen anything in Jesus to make him suspicious that the things the Jews had said about Him were true with respect to Him being a seditious rebel trying to overthrow the Roman government.

(35) Pilate asked, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?"

Pilate asked Jesus if Pilate himself was a Jew, meaning to ask why he would have cause to suggest that Jesus was king of the Jews.  He told Him that His own Jewish nation and the chief priests had been the ones to deliver Jesus to him, so he wondered what Jesus had done to make them do that.

(36) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My kingdom is not from here."

Jesus did not deny that He was the king of the Jews, but told Pilate that His kingdom was not a worldly one.  If His kingdom was of the world, then His servants would have risen up to save Him from being delivered to the Jews.  Actually, Jesus Himself could have prevented His being delivered to them.  However, His kingdom was not of the world.  It was a spiritual one, and He was choosing to be delivered up in order to save His people from the world.

(37) Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. To this end I was born and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Since Jesus had said He had a kingdom, Pilate surmised He must be a king then.  Jesus answered that he had said rightly that He was indeed a king.  His purpose for being born into this world was to bear witness to the truth of God.  He added that everyone who was of the truth could hear and receive Him and His words.

(38) Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find in Him no fault."

Pilate asked Jesus what he must have considered a rhetorical question, as he didn't wait for an answer, "What is truth?"  I believe he must have felt that it was not worth giving His life for, and he went out to the Jews and told them he had found no fault in Him.  He found Jesus to be an innocent man.

(39) "But you have a custom that I should release to you one at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the king of the Jews?"

Pilate had found no fault in Jesus, and besides, the Jews had a custom that Pilate should release one prisoner at Passover, so he assumed they would want him to release Jesus.

(40) Then they all cried again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.

The fact that the people cried out again must mean that this was not the first time he had asked the people what they would have him do with Jesus.  The account in Mark does include more back and forth dialogue between Pilate and the people.  John, as was his custom, greatly abbreviated the events that had already been covered by the other Gospel authors.  The people cried out for Barabbas to be released to them, a robber and also a murderer according to the other Gospel accounts.  This part of the story always gets to me.  How could people who had such a short time ago lauded Jesus with praise and honor as He came into Jerusalem on the donkey, now be so anxious to have Him crucified?  The account in Mark said that the chief priests had incited the people to call for His crucifixion.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples Before His Death

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(John 14:1) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had told His disciples He would be leaving them soon.  He now told them not to be troubled by that.  He told them to believe in God and believe in Him also, to trust in Them and have confidence in Their faithfulness.

(2) "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

Jesus told His disciples that in His Father's house, that is heaven, there were many mansions.  Actually the original word translated as "mansions" just meant "abode, dwelling."  Jesus was telling them that there was more than enough room for all of them.  And if that was not true, He would have never given them such false hope.  He was about to go and prepare a place for them.

(3) "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, you may be also."

Jesus assured them that if He went to prepare a place for them, He would surely come again and receive them into His heavenly abode with Him.  They would indeed be able to follow Him there later as Jesus had told Peter at the end of the last chapter (John 13:36).

(4) "And where I go you know, and the way you know."

He told His disciples that they did know about where He was going, and they knew the way there, which was through Him.  Although they may not have understood exactly what that meant, they had accepted and believed in Jesus as the Messiah, therefore they had known the way to Him.

(5) Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"

Thomas demonstrated that they didn't understand what Jesus had meant when he told Him that they didn't know where He was going, so how could they know the way?

(6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me."

Jesus answered Thomas that He was the way.  He was the way, the truth, and the everlasting life He had often talked about with His disciples.  He explained how He was the way, as no one could come to the Father, and therefore to His Father's house, except through Him.

(7) "If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also, and from now on, you know Him and have seen Him."

Jesus answered that if they knew Him, they should have known His Father also, as He and His Father were one, as He had previously said (John 10:30).  From that point forward, they should understand that they did know God and they had seen Him in the form of Jesus who was one with God, God Himself.

(8) Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father and it is sufficient for us."

Philip, still not grasping Jesus's meaning, asked Jesus to just show them the Father and that would be enough for them.

(9) Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; and how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"

Jesus answered Philip by asking how it was he could have been so long with Him and still not know Him.  He again stated that whoever had seen Him, had seen the Father.  Therefore, how could he ask Jesus to show them the Father, as He already had shown them, in Himself.

(10) "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of Myself, but the Father who dwells in Me, He does the works."

Jesus went on to ask Philip if he believed that Jesus was in the Father and the Father was in Him as He had said in John 10:38.  Jesus said that He did not speak from His human self, but from God who dwelt in Him.  It was God Himself who did the works, therefore He had already shown them the Father.

(11) "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the very works' sake."

Jesus told him to believe that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him.  Or at the very least, believe in Him as one with God because of the works that He did that could only be of God.

(12) "Verily, verily, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater than these will he do because I go to my Father."

Jesus told His disciples that very assuredly, he who believed in Him would do the works that He did.  In fact, he would do greater works than what Jesus had done because He was going to His Father.  It was because of Jesus's resurrection and ascension back to heaven that they could actually bring people to everlasting life.  Once Jesus had finished His work of salvation to the world, they could help save people immediately, not having to look forward to the time when Jesus finished His work.  Additionally, once Jesus returned to heaven, He would send His Holy Spirit that would indwell them.  "Greater works" may have meant a greater number of works, as surely all of them preaching and teaching and spreading the word to others who could in turn preach the Gospel to even others was a work far greater than Jesus was able to do in His three and a half years of ministry.

(13) "And whatever you shall ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Jesus went on to say that whatever they asked in His name, for His purposes, like in preaching His word, or performing miracles to confirm His word, or even to give them the means to go forth and teach all nations (Matthew 28:19), Jesus would do those things for them to glorify His Father, which was always His goal.  

(14) "If you shall ask anything in My name, I will do it."

Jesus reiterated His promise to do whatever they asked in His name.

(15) "If you love Me, keep My commandments."

Jesus went on to instruct them to keep His commandments if they loved Him.  It was not that Jesus doubted that His disciples loved Him, but the evidence of that love would be that they kept His commandments, to love one another, to deny themselves, take up their own crosses, and follow His teachings.  Rather than tears at His leaving, they could better show their love by continuing His ministry and keeping His commandments.

(16) "And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever."

After Jesus died on the cross and made atonement for the sin of the world, He became Mediator between God and man in the causes of men's souls.  After He returned to the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit, said to be Comforter (parakletos), which more precisely defined is Advocate, Defender, Counsellor.  The Holy Spirit would be able to abide with them (and us who receive Jesus) forever, being our Advocate between God and us, and counseling us and showing us truths, and making intercession for us "with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).

(17) "The Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him neither know Him, but you know Him for He dwells with you and shall be in you."

Jesus continued explaining that Comforter He would send, the Holy Spirit, was the Spirit of truth.  The world would not be able to receive the Spirit because it had not received Jesus and did not know the Holy Spirit, and they certainly couldn't see the Spirit.  However, Jesus's sheep knew the Holy Spirit of God for they knew and received Jesus, and soon the Holy Spirit would dwell with and within them after Jesus's ascension into heaven.  I cannot help but feel sadness for those who don't accept Jesus and therefore don't have His Holy Spirit guiding and comforting them.  It is such a scary time in history right now, but Jesus and the Holy Spirit comfort and guide us, and we know that they intercede for us with prayers we don't know how to pray, but that always work out for the good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

(18) "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you."

What a beautiful and encouraging promise!  Jesus will not leave us alone and defenseless!  The original word defined as "comfortless" was "orphanos."  Jesus will not leave us as an orphan in the world.  His Holy Spirit is there to comfort and protect us by guiding us in all truth as a loving parent would.  And I can attest to that comfort and peace knowing that He will guide me through any difficult times.  And that's what makes me sad for those who don't know that peace.

(19) "Yet a little while and the world sees Me no more, but you see Me; because I live, you shall live also."

Jesus said the world would only see Him for a short time more.  However, because they had received Jesus, they would continue to see Him and feel Him and be led by Him, and because He continued to live eternally, so would they.

(20) "At that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me and I in you."

At that day when He would come to them (verse 18) as He did after His resurrection, they would have assurance that He was indeed one with the Father and equal to Him.  They would come to have assurance in that day that they were in Him, in union with Him, and He would be in them by His Holy Spirit.

(21) "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me, and he who loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him."

Jesus said that the one who had His commandments and kept them within his heart and lived according to them, was one who truly loved Jesus.  We may talk about loving Jesus, but Jesus Himself said that to truly love Him was to know and keep His commandments, proof that he loved Jesus both in word and in deed.  The one who truly loved Jesus would be accepted and loved by His Father.  And Jesus would manifest Himself in him by His Holy Spirit.

(22) Judas said to Him, not Iscariot, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us and not to the world?"

It was Judas Thaddeus, author of the book of Jude, who asked Jesus the question, not Judas Iscariot.  He wondered how Jesus could manifest Himself to them without the world seeing Him, as well.

(23) Jesus answered and said to him, "If a man loves Me, he will keep My words, and My Father will love him and make our abode with him. (24) He who does not love Me does not keep My sayings, and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent Me. (25) These things I have spoken to you, being present with you."

Jesus began His answer by reiterating what He had already said.  If anyone loved Him, they would keep His words, and His Father would love them, and they would reside with Him in heaven.  Anyone who did not keep His words did not love Him.  The words Jesus spoke were those of the Almighty Father God in heaven.  Jesus said He had told them these things while He was still present with them.

(26) "But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatever I have said to you."

However, after He was gone, God would send His Holy Spirit to them, and He would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance the things that Jesus had told them.  In this way He would be manifested to them.

(27) "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Jesus said He was leaving them His peace.  This was a common blessing among the Jews, "Peace be with you."  However, Jesus said He didn't give them His peace as the world gave, just an empty wish and show of good will.  Jesus's peace surpassed all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and was able to meet all the needs of one's soul and could quiet anxiety and fear.  Therefore Jesus told them not to let their hearts be troubled at what was about to happen, nor let them be afraid, and this He said because He was on the throne and their future was secure.

(28) "You have heard how I said to you, 'I go away and come back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I go to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I."

Jesus reminded them that He had told them that He was going away, but that He would come back to them.  He told them if they loved Him, they would rejoice with Him because He had told them He was going to the Father.  And that was the most wonderful thing!  It's just like when a righteous Christian loved one dies, we can be honestly happy that their trials are over and they are with Jesus!  The only reason we are sad is for selfish reasons, but we should rejoice when our loved one has achieved his ultimate reward!  They should rejoice that Jesus was going back to His original state as an equal part of the Godhead, for that was far greater than what He was with his human nature on earth that must suffer the trials on earth.

(29) "And now I have told you before it comes to pass that when it comes to pass, you might believe."

Jesus told His disciples that He had told them those things before they came to pass that when they did come to pass, they would believe.  Although it may have been hard to believe and understand at the present, once those things unfolded, they would understand the things Jesus had said and it would be fully confirmed in their hearts that Jesus was from God.

(30) "Hereafter, I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world comes and has nothing in Me."

Jesus told them He would not be talking with them much anymore because the prince of the world was coming for Him, but he would find nothing in Him, for there was no sin in Him.  Isn't it interesting that Jesus blames only Satan for what was about to happen to Him.  He didn't blame Judas or the chief priests and Pharisees.  He knew they had only surrendered to temptation by Satan to kill their "enemy."  However, Jesus could never surrender to such temptation; it wasn't in His nature.  Satan would have loved for Jesus to surrender to him to save His life, but that was never going to happen.

(31) "But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here."

So that the world would know that Jesus loved Father God, He would do as His Father had willed, even unto death.  The fact that Jesus endured such a cruel death and separation from God when He had the power to stop it at any time showed His great love for His Father and for the people He came to save.  Jesus then instructed them to rise from the table and leave.  

Jesus is Betrayed by Judas and Denied by Peter

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 22:39) And He came out and went, as He was accustomed, to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples also followed Him.

At the end of the last post, Jesus and His disciples had finished their Passover meal, and He now left the house and went to the Mount of Olives where He was accustomed to going.  His disciples followed Him.

(40) And when He was at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you enter not into temptation."

When they came to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told His disciples to pray that they not give into temptation.  Knowing that they indeed would be tempted to flee and fall away, He told them to pray in order that they have the strength to resist that temptation.

(41) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and kneeled down and prayed.

Jesus withdrew Himself a short distance away and kneeled down and prayed.

(42) Saying, "Father, if You be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done."

Jesus prayed to Father God in heaven that if it was within His will to remove what He was about to have to go through from Him, He asked of His human desire for it.  However, His divine self answered that He would do what the Father had willed must be done.  Jesus, being fully human, was tempted by feelings of self-preservation, but as God, knew what had to be done and willingly accepted it.

(43) And there appeared an angel to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

In answer to Jesus's prayer, an angel appeared to Him and strengthened His human nature to alleviate His anxiety and to resist temptation. 

(44) And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly and His sweat was like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Then, being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly and He began to sweat blood.  This agony was far more terrifying than the agony one might feel about an approaching torture and death.  Jesus had relinquished His human will to accept that, but what caused the most anguish was the pure perfect God in human form was about to take upon Himself the filthy sin of the entire world, and the Holy Father and Jesus's own divine self would be withdrawn from Him at that point.

(45) And when He rose up from prayer and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

Jesus rose up from praying and went back to His disciples and found them sleeping.  The verse states that they slept from sorrow.  Their hearts were surely heavy with sorrow at what Jesus had foretold them was soon to happen, and the heaviness induced sleep.

(46) And said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Jesus asked His disciples why they were sleeping, that they should be praying to strengthen themselves against the temptation that was surely coming, that temptation to deny Christ and flee in fear.

(47) And while He yet spoke, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.

While Jesus was waking His disciples, a multitude of people came toward Him, with Judas Iscariot, one of His own chosen twelve apostles, running ahead to meet Him first and kiss Him.

(48) But Jesus said to him, "Judas, do you betray the Son of man with a kiss?"

Jesus, knowing exactly what Judas was setting Him up for, asked Judas if he was betraying Him with a kiss, letting Judas know that He knew just what he was doing.

(49) When those who were around Him saw what would follow, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?"

When Jesus's disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked Him if they should strike with the sword, still thinking that was what Jesus had prepared them to be able to do when He had told them to sell whatever they had to get all they needed, including knives.

(50) And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

The account in John tells us it was Simon Peter who did not wait for an answer but struck with the sword and cut off the right ear of the servant of the high priest.  One could imagine that Peter was aiming to cut off the servant's head, but God's hand was in this, and the killing of the men who came to seize Jesus was not part of the plan.

(51) And Jesus answered and said, "Suffer this far." And touching his ear, He healed him.

However, Jesus answered and told him to allow this much, let them proceed and do not resist.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, suggested that Jesus might have been asking that they allow Him physically to go as far as to the servant, as they may have already seized Him at this point, "Allow Me to go as far as the servant."  He then touched the servant's ear and healed it.

(52) Then Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out as against a thief with swords and clubs?"

Jesus then asked His captors, the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, if they had found the need to come out after Him with swords and clubs as if He were a thief.

(53) "When I was daily with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against Me, but this is your hour and the power of darkness."

Jesus went on to tell His captors that He had often been with them in the temple and they never tried to seize Him, nor had they ever found Him to be one who would resist their efforts to seize Him as a thief would.  He admitted and allowed that it was now their time to act by the power of darkness, Satan.  Satan is only allowed to do what God permits him to do, and as part of the Father's will, Jesus allowed him and them to proceed.

(54) Then they took Him and led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Jesus's captors took Him to the high priest's house where the Sanhedrin had assembled.  The accounts in Matthew and Mark told us the high priest was Caiaphas and that he had assembled with all the chief priests and scribes.  However, this was not their normal place of assembly.  It seems they were acting in secrecy.  Matthew and Mark also told us that all Jesus's disciples fled the scene when He was taken, but Peter followed Him from a distance.  This showed some level of love and concern for his Lord, but he also wanted to stay out of danger for himself.

(55) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

The account in John said that it was the servants and the officers of the high priest who made a fire in the hall because it was a cold night.  They then sat and warmed themselves by the fire and Peter sat among them as one of them.

(56) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked at him and said, "This man was also with Him."

One of the servant girls saw Peter and studied him intently and declared that he had been with Jesus.

(57) And he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."

However, Peter spoke directly to the servant girl and declared he did not know Jesus, denying Him as Jesus had said he would.

(58) And after a little while another saw him, and said, "You are also of them." And Peter said, "Man, I am not."

A little while later another person, a man, saw Peter and declared that he was one of Jesus's band.  The account in Mark said that it was another maid who saw him, but she spoke to the others around her.  It appears here that one of them she told confronted Peter.  Peter again denied knowing Christ, saying he was not one of them.

(59) And about the space of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Truly, he also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."

With all the Gospel accounts taken together, it seems that about an hour later a man whose kin was the one whose ear Peter had cut off, confidently told Peter he had seen him in the garden, and others agreed it must be true for his speech gave him away as a Galilean.

(60) And Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

Peter told the man he didn't know what he was talking about.  The account in Matthew says Peter even cursed and swore.  As the last words were coming out of his mouth, the rooster crowed.

(61) And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times."

Jesus, who was apparently within sight of Peter, turned and looked at him at that moment.  Peter then recalled what Jesus had said to him about him denying Him three times before the rooster crowed.

(62) And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Peter left and wept bitterly, realizing he who said he would follow Jesus anywhere, even to death, had indeed denied he even knew Him three times just as the Lord had said he would.  

(63) And the men who held Jesus mocked Him and struck Him.

The men who held Jesus in the high priest's house mocked Him and struck, or smote Him, as transcribed in the KJV.  The more complete meaning of the word "dero" that was translated as "smote," meant to strip the skin.  Therefore, this was more than just smacking Jesus; the men were either digging into His skin with their nails or beating Him and ripping His skin.

(64) And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy, who is it who struck You?"

They then blindfolded Jesus and began to strike Him on the face and then mockingly asked Him to prophesy and tell them who it was who had struck Him.

(65) And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

They spoke many wicked and blasphemous things against Jesus.

(66) And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together and led Him into their council, saying, (67) "Are You the Christ? Tell us." And He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe."

All these things had taken place in the middle of the night, and as soon as it was day, the elders, chief priests, and scribes assembled together, bringing Jesus into the council.  They demanded He admit whether or not He was the Christ, the Messiah, whom His followers believed Him to be.  Jesus answered that if He answered them the truth, they would not believe Him.  Of course, Jesus knew the truth about their motives.  They only asked, determined not to believe Him, but to use His answer against Him.

(68) "And if I also ask you, you will not answer Me nor let Me go."

Jesus's point was that even if He began a discourse with them to get to the truth, they wouldn't answer honestly and would never let Him go, so there was no real point in answering them.

(69) "Hereafter the Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God."

However, as they didn't believe and admit the proof of His being the Christ, Jesus did tell them that in the time to follow He would sit at the right hand of God.

(70) Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" And He said to them, "You say that I am."

Jesus's accusers then asked if He was the Son of God.  He answered that they said that He was.  Most all the commentators I study took this to mean, "You rightly say," confirming to them that He was the Son of God.  I don't see it that way at all.  Jesus had said that He would soon sit at the right hand of God.  They were the ones who jumped to the conclusion that He must then be the Son of God.  They condemned themselves showing that they knew the truth.  I believe Jesus was saying just as it is written, "You (yourselves) say that I am."

(71) And they said, "What need do we have for any further witness? For we ourselves have heard from His own mouth."

The men of the council then declared that they had no need for any other witnesses for they had heard straight from Jesus's mouth that He called Himself the Son of God, which they would proclaim as blasphemy and punishable by death.  However, I still believe that Jesus did not precisely say that with His own mouth, but as was His custom, He ensnared His accusers with their own words.  It's not that Jesus was purposely preparing a trap so that He could punish them eternally.  He was providing a way for them to see the folly of their own words.  I know without a doubt, had they fallen down before Him at that point and confessed that they then realized Him to be the Christ, they would have been forgiven and saved, but Jesus knew all along what they would do.

The Teachings of Jesus

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 6:1) And it came to pass that on the second Sabbath after the first, that He went through the corn fields, and His disciples plucked the ears of corn and ate, rubbing them in their hands.

By the end of the last chapter, Jesus had called His first disciples, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew.  It came to pass that on a Sabbath Day, He and His disciples went through a corn field.  There is much long discussion among commentators about what is meant by the second Sabbath after the first.  I don't think it is necessary to know for certain that detail.  Apparently, the Jews counted their Sabbaths from the Passover to the Pentecost.  This may have been the second Sabbath after the Passover, or perhaps it was the second Sabbath during Passover.  Luke may have mentioned it to intimate that it was a special Sabbath, or perhaps to denote the time of year when the corn was nearly ripe.  Whenever it was, Jesus and His disciples walked through the corn fields and His disciples plucked ears of corn, rubbed them in their hands, and ate the kernels.

(2) And certain of the Pharisees said to them, "Why do you do that which is unlawful to do on the Sabbath days?"

There were some Pharisees who observed them.  The accounts in Matthew and Mark state that the Pharisees asked the question to Jesus Himself, but it's quite reasonable to assume they had asked both Jesus and His disciples.  They demanded to know why they did what was unlawful to do on the Sabbath, gathering ears of corn and eating them.

(3) And Jesus answering them, said, "Have you not read so much as this, what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him?"

Jesus posed a question back to the Pharisees, asking if they had read in scripture about the time when David and those with him were hungry, and what they did.

(4) "How he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave to them who were with him, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?"

Jesus continued telling them what David had done, how he went into the temple and he and those with him ate the showbread that had been before the Lord (1 Samuel 21:6).  According to the law, it was unlawful for them to have done that, as that bread was for the priests only.

(5) And He said to them, "That the Son of man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

As David, a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), was not condemned for having eaten holy bread, Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, was not guilty of any wrongdoing.  Jesus, as God then in human form, had created the Sabbath and knew the heart of the law of the Sabbath.  In the account in Mark, Jesus had added that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  The Sabbath was intended to help people, not burden them.  Under the law, the people were commanded to take a full day of rest from their labor on the Sabbath.  Plucking an ear of corn to satisfy hunger was not harvesting the corn as the Pharisees had made it in their strict interpretation of the law.

(6) And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught; and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

Then on another Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and a man with a withered right hand was there.

(7) And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the Sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against Him.

The scribes and the Pharisees watched to see what Jesus would do, whether or not He would heal the man with the withered hand.  They had so twisted the law to include healing as work and forbidden on the Sabbath.  Imagine if no doctor could treat a patient on the Sabbath!  But the scribes and Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus doing something unlawful of which they could accuse Him.

(8) But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, "Rise up and stand forth in the midst." And he arose and stood there.

Jesus knew what the scribes and Pharisees were thinking, even though they had not spoken it.  He told the man with the withered hand to get up and stand in the midst of the congregation, which the man did.

(9) Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one thing; is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good or to do evil? To save life or to destroy it?"

Jesus then spoke to the scribes and Pharisees and asked them if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil.  Of course, His point was that it would be evil to not heal the man when it was in His power to do so, and He should therefore do good on the Sabbath, and they, too, should desire that.  Would it be lawful to save a life or to not save it, thereby destroying it?

(10) And looking round about upon them all, He said to the man, "Stretch forth your hand." And he did so and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus, looking around at all of them, then told the man to stretch forth his hand.  When he did, his right hand was restored and as good as his other hand.

(11) And they were filled with madness and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Despite Jesus's question to them about doing good on the Sabbath, the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage that He had healed the man and they discussed among themselves what they should do about Jesus.

(12) And it came to pass in those days that He went out on a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Jesus then went out to a mountain to pray.  He spent the entire night in prayer to God, as He routinely sought communion with God, but probably also seeking divine wisdom and guidance in the decision He would make the next day.

(13) And when it was day, He called His disciples, and from them He chose twelve, whom He also named apostles.

The next day Jesus called all His disciples to Himself, that is, all His followers.  From them He chose twelve disciples to be His apostles.  An apostle was one sent forth with a mission who had the authority of Jesus.  An apostle was a disciple also, but not all disciples were apostles; at this point there were only Jesus's chosen twelve.

(14) Simon (whom He also named Peter), and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, (15) Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot, (16) And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.

Jesus had already called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew.  In addition to them He called Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Simon the Zealot, and James, the son of Alphaeus, sometimes called James the Less, or "little" James to distinguish him from James the brother of John.  Little James's brother was Judas or Thaddeus as he was also called, and Jesus chose him also.  And finally, He chose Judas Iscariot, who of course, was the one to betray Him.

(17) And He came down with them and stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases.

Jesus came down from the mountain with His apostles and stood in a plain, accompanied by His other followers and a great multitude of people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed by Him.

(18) And they who were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed.

Also among the multitude were those who had unclean spirits, and as this was a continuation of verse 17, we can correctly assume that all people were healed by him, those with diseases and those with demons.

(19) And the whole multitude sought to touch Him for there went power out of Him and healed them all.

It seems the entire multitude sought to touch Jesus, not just the sick and possessed.  There was a spiritual power that went out of Jesus that everyone wanted to touch.  We can assuredly know that that power spiritually healed those who did not even know they were sick.  The verse says Jesus healed them all!

(20) And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said, "Blessed you poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus lifted up His eyes on all His disciples as He began what is known as the Beatitudes.  Luke paraphrased the first one as blessed are the poor, whereas Matthew had said the poor in spirit.  Both are true; those who were poor, having given up all for the Lord, or those who were poor but still glorified God, would see the kingdom of heaven, as well as the poor in spirit, those humble in spirit, realizing they have no righteousness in and of themselves but looked to God as Savior.

(21) "Blessed you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed you who weep now, for you shall laugh."

Luke said those who hungered would be filled, but in Matthew's account, he said that those who hungered and thirsted after righteousness would be filled.  Again, both are true.  Obviously, those hungering and thirsting after righteousness would be filled, but those who were physically hungry would be filled, as well.  If not with immediate food, they would be filled with something far more precious and life-sustaining.  Those who wept or mourned as Matthew stated it, would not only be comforted, as Matthew said, but would laugh!  They would be filled with spiritual joy in spite of physical afflictions and pressures of life.

(22) Blessed are you when men shall hate you and when they shall exclude you and shall revile you and cast out your name as evil for the Son of man's sake."

Jesus said to count it as blessing when men hated them, excluded them, reviled them, called their names as evil, generally persecuted them, as the account in Matthew stated, because they were His followers.

(23) "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For behold, your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets."

As Matthew had stated also, Jesus said to rejoice and count it as joy if they were so persecuted as they were in great company with the prophets before them who had also been persecuted by the fathers of those who persecuted them now, and their reward in heaven would be great.

(24) "But woe to you who are rich for you have received your consolation."

In Luke's retelling of the Beatitudes, he added something that Matthew did not, sort of opposite woes to the blessings of the Beatitudes.  Jesus proclaimed woe to the rich because they had already received their reward, meaning if that is what they solely sought in life and achieved it, then that was their reward, their riches.  They had no other reward in heaven to look forward to.

(25) "Woe to you who are full! For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now! For you shall mourn and weep."

Jesus proclaimed woe to those who were full, that is, those who were filled and satisfied with all the material things in life, for they would one day hunger for Jesus and His salvation, for nothing on earth can fill the empty soul but Jesus.  In the same sense, woe to those who were happy with material things and the filling of their lustful desires, for they would one day mourn when it was not enough to save their eternal souls.

(26) "Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets."

Woe to those whom all men like and speak well of.  If you are shallow and sit on the fence, trying to please all, then you are really good for nothing.  Jesus compared that kind of people to false prophets, those who told people what they wanted to hear, rather than the truth.  In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul condemned those who looked for teachers who would tell them good things they wanted to hear and turned from the truth.  In Revelation 3:16, God said He wanted to spew the lukewarm, those who were neither hot nor cold, who stood for nothing, out of His mouth!

(27) "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to them who hate you."

Jesus went on to tell His disciples and the multitude with them, to all who had ears to hear and understand, that they should love their enemies and do good to those who hated them.  When you think of your enemy as a poor lost soul who is trying to fill his life with all the wrong things and will ultimately burn eternally in hell, it becomes easy to pity him and love him.

(28) "Bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you."

In the same way, love and pray for those who curse you and use you, for as St. Paul would later explain to us, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  These people are being led by demonic spirits, and Satan himself, and for that reason, we should pity them and love them and pray for them.

(29) "And to him who strikes you on the cheek offer also the other, and to him who takes away your cloak do not forbid your coat also."

Jesus said if someone struck you on the cheek, you should offer your other cheek as well, rather than react in kind.  With this example, He taught us patience in bearing attacks and injuries, not to seek private revenge nor to indulge a hot temper.  In like manner, if someone takes something from you, don't respond in anger and revenge, but rather do good to them and offer them something else they might need.

(30) "Give to every man who asks of you, and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them back."

Jesus instructed us to give to everyone who asked of us and not to ask for it or anything they took back.  I'm sure there are limits to this.  I can't imagine Jesus intended to have us let someone take advantage and constantly take from us and our needs.  However, it is for God to judge the heart.  The point is we must be willing to do good and to give within our power to do so, even to our enemies, and should never ask anything in return.  Give graciously and generously, expecting nothing in return.

(31) "And as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise."

If only we always followed that one simple rule!  If we merely treated others as we wished to be treated in similar circumstances, that could cure almost every problem in the world today!

(32) "For if you love those who love you, what good is that? For sinners also love those who love them."

Loving people who love you is a given, even among sinners, so that is nothing worthy of notice or reward.

(33) "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit have you? For sinners also do the same."

Likewise, doing good to those people who do good to you is easy and of no particular merit, for everyone, including sinners, can easily do that.

(34) "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit have you? For sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again."

Lending or giving to someone from whom you expect to get something in return is of no special credit, for all people, including sinners, will give if they know they will get back.

(35) "But love your enemies and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward shall be great and you shall be the children of the Highest for He is kind to the unthankful and the evil."

Jesus summarized all His previous examples of doing good by saying that we are to love our enemies and do good to them and lend or give to them, expecting nothing in return.  That is true giving and worthy of reward from God and we will show the world we belong to Him, the Most High, and He is a loving God who gives to all.

(36) "Therefore be merciful as your Father also is merciful."

Jesus instructed us to be merciful to others just as He is merciful to us.  How much have we received that we did not deserve?  As Christians, we should seek to be Christ-like and merciful to all whether they "deserve" it or not.

(37) "Judge not and you shall not be judged; condemn not and you shall not be condemned; forgive and you shall be forgiven."

Jesus told us not to judge others and we wouldn't be likewise judged.  He was not talking about judgment according to the law.  If a man kills another, we can certainly judge that as wrong.  However, we cannot judge the motives of another.  The old adage about not judging until you have walked in the same shoes truly applies here.  It's easy to judge outward signs as not right according to how we think they should be, and therefore equally easy for us to be therefore judged as hypocrites for none of us is perfect.  However, that is not to say that we don't have the right to judge policies that are anti-God, but we should be careful not to judge the person who may follow some of those policies, not knowing their hearts and why they think the way they do.  People judge for themselves based on their life experiences and what they see and hear.  And some of those judgments may be morally wrong, but it is not up to us to judge another's heart and motives.  An action may be deemed wrong and I believe can be lovingly discussed, but we must always be careful not to judge a person's motives for why they think the way they do.  A perfect personal lived example of this was when people said the only reason I could not support Barack Obama was because he was black.  They would judge me racist and that was not true in the slightest way.  I didn't support him, just as I don't support Joe Biden, a white man, or Hillary Clinton, a white woman, and that is because of their Godless policies alone.  I fully support Justice Clarence Thomas and Dr. Ben Carson and Colonel Allen West.  I voted for Allen West in the Texas governor's Republican primary against a very popular incumbent.  I feel like I have achieved Martin Luther King's dream of man being judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.  I'm afraid it's because of the racism of those judging me that they are only seeing color.  But that is a topic for another time.

Jesus also said not to condemn others.  That would be to take judgment to another level, not merely judging a person's actions, but totally condemning the whole person prejudicedly based on their actions, self-righteously dismissing others because they don't measure up to our standards.  We can so likely be condemned by others for the exact same reasons.  Finally, we are to forgive others and we shall be forgiven.  We are forgiven!  By our heavenly Father, although we don't deserve it in the slightest, so we must be willing to forgive others even if we think they don't "deserve" it.  Elsewhere, when teaching us how to pray, Jesus said in Matthew 6:15 that if you don't forgive others, your heavenly Father will not forgive you.  God so loved us that even when we were sinners against Him, He sent Christ to die for us (Romans 5:8).  Likewise, we are to love those who sinned against us and forgive them.  If we have no love for our brother, we cannot know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8).

(38) "Give and it shall be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use it shall be measured back to you."

Jesus said to give liberally and you would receive back so much blessing that if it were something to be measured that you were holding, it would be pressed down and shaken to allow more, and it would be running over into your lap.  He said the same either generous or stingy measure by which we used to give, that is how it would be measured back to us.  Therefore, give liberally!

(39) And He spoke a parable to them, "Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch?"

Jesus then spoke a proverb or saying, called a parable, asking if the blind could truly lead the blind.  Wouldn't they both fall into the ditch, He reasoned.  He meant that one could not teach what he himself did not know.  One who was not guided by the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of God certainly could not judge another in spiritual matters.  One in spiritual darkness himself would only lead both himself and the one he judged and sought to counsel into further darkness, endangering both souls with eternal damnation.  

(40) "The disciple is not above his master, but everyone who is perfect will be as his master."

Jesus's point was that no student was more knowledgeable than his teacher.  If his teacher was ignorant, then the student would learn those same ignorant ways.  Everyone who was a perfect student would be as his teacher was.  The spiritually blind teacher would lead the spiritually blind student into further spiritual darkness, eventually falling into the ditch of hell.

(41) "And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the beam that is in your own eye?"

Jesus asked why it was that we, all His listeners and even His readers today, are so quick to spot the small sin in another, but so blind to our own big sins.  

(42) "Or how can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me pull out the speck that is in your eye," when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to pull out the speck that is in your brother's eye."

How can we possibly see clearly enough to correct someone's small sin when we ourselves are so clouded by our own huge sins?  Jesus called us hypocrites who do that.  We must first reform ourselves before we can see clearly to ever help others.  While all sins are equal in that they all separate us from God, there are some sins that are worse than others in God's eyes, and one of the worst is pride, as we read in many places in scripture.  Proverbs 16:5 says, "Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord," but there are many others.  Enter pride and proud into a search of the Bible and you'll come up with about a hundred such verses.  Pride in ourselves to think we know the spiritual answers in order to judge the sins of another is a perfect example of a log in our eyes trying to remove the speck in others'.

(43) "For a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit, neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

As a good tree will not bring forth rotten fruit, so a righteous man will not bring forth fruit of judgment, gossip, and censure of the faults of others.  A bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit just as the blind cannot lead the blind and a corrupt man cannot righteously lead another.

(44) "For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush."

A tree is known by its fruits.  When one sees a healthy tree with lots of apples, he knows right away it's an apple tree, not so much when he sees an unhealthy one with no fruit.  When he sees a tree full of thorns, he does not expect to find good apples.

(45) "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

As a tree is known by its fruits, so a man will be known by his.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart will bring forth good things and an evil man out of what is in his heart will bring forth evil.  A man's mouth will speak what is in his heart.

(46) "And why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?"

However, people might use empty words; Jesus asked why they would call Him Lord but not do what He taught.  God judges the heart and the fruit or actions of a person, not just his words.

(47) "Whoever comes to Me and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like. (48) He is like a man who built a house and dug deep and laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose the stream beat vehemently on that house and could not shake it for it was founded on a rock."

Jesus compared a person who came to Him, listened to Him, and did what He said, to a person who built his home with a deep foundation in rock.  When a flood came and rushing water beat against his house, it could not shake it because of its foundation in rock.  That person who took the time to dig deep into Christ's word and to plant it deep in his heart, doing what He said, would be providing a firm foundation that would withstand the flood of evil that might come his way.

(49) "But he who hears and does not do is like a man who without a foundation built a house on the earth, against which the stream beat vehemently and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."

On the other hand, one who heard Christ's word but did not do what He said was like a man who built his house on the dirt with no foundation.  When the flood came upon that house, it immediately fell and was completely destroyed.  When there is no strong foundation in Christ, the flood of evil that will surely come will destroy us.  Standing firm on the rock Jesus Christ, we will be able to ride out every storm of evil that comes our way and find refuge, rest, and peace in Jesus.

The Lord's Last Supper

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Mark 14:1) After two days was the Passover and of unleavened bread; and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craft and put Him to death.

Jesus had been on the Mount of Olives prophesying to four of His disciples about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, and especially the temple.  Meanwhile, it was two days until the Feast of the Passover which was, of course, the commemoration of the time in Egypt when God passed over His people to destroy the firstborn of the Egyptians.  They ate unleavened bread in memory of their quick departure from Egypt when in their haste, they had no time to leaven their bread.  It was at this time that the chief priests and scribes were discussing how they might trick Jesus and be able to put Him to death.

(2) But they said, "Not on the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people."

Although they were eager to get their job done, they feared doing it on the Passover because they were afraid of an uprising of the people.

(3) And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the meal, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious; and she broke the box and poured it on His head.

Jesus had retired to Bethany, a place about two miles from Jerusalem, where He usually spent His nights when He was in Jerusalem during the day.  He was at a meal at the house of Simon the leper, so called because He had once been a leper, but had been healed by Jesus, to distinguish him from the other Simons.  A woman came to Him while He was sitting at the table.  She had an alabaster box with a very precious and costly oil, of spikenard.  The first syllable, "spike," meant "pure," so this was genuine pure unmixed nard or spikenard and very fragrant and precious.  She broke the alabaster box, which may have meant merely breaking the seal and opening it and poured the oil on Jesus's head, as if anointing Him as was the custom to anoint the high priests in the Old Testament.

(4) And there were some who had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of the ointment made? (5) For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence and given to the poor." And they murmured against her.

Some of the people present, likely even some of the disciples, considered what the woman had done as a waste.  They reasoned that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor.  They murmured these things against the woman.

(6) And Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me."

Jesus, knowing what they were murmuring among themselves, told them to leave the woman alone.  She had done nothing that they should trouble her about.  In fact, He said she had done a good thing to Him.

(7) "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish, you may do them good; but Me, you do not have always."

Jesus told them there would always be the poor for them to help, but He would not be with them always.  In anointing Jesus's head with oil, the woman was worshiping her Lord in the highest way she could with what she had while He was present among them.  I believe there is a lesson in this for us.  The honor of our Lord is more important than the act we might say we do for Him.  We do good works because of our love for Him and we should want God glorified in our works.  He comes first and foremost and there will always be good works to be done.

(8) "She has done what she could; she has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial."

More than just an act of worship, Jesus proclaimed that the woman, doing all that was in her power to do for Him, was actually anointing His body for burial.

(9) "Verily, I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, also what she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."

Moreover, Jesus said that this incident, and what this woman had done for Him, would be part of His gospel preached throughout the world.  She would always be remembered for this loving act.  The Gospels had not been written when Jesus declared this, but sure enough, at least two gospel authors wrote about the woman with the alabaster box, possibly four, but those details were a bit different so they may have been separate incidents.

(10) And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them.

Judas was likely the chief disciple who was indignant at the woman's "waste."  The account in John states that it was Mary, sister to Martha and Lazarus, who anointed Jesus with oil, but His feet, not His head.  This may have been a different incident, but we do get a clue to the type of person Judas was.  In the account in John, he was indignant about the waste, but scripture further stated it was not because he cared about the poor, "but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bore what was in it."  Judas was the treasurer of the group and held their money bag and would have liked to have had the money for the expensive box and oil in it, as it seems he stole from it.  Having been reproved by Jesus and angry because he did not get the money, it seems he immediately went to the chief priests to betray Jesus.

(11) And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

The chief priests were very glad as Judas had just made things easier for them.  They promised to give him money for his help in capturing Jesus.  Judas pondered how he might conveniently do it.

(12) And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, His disciples said to Him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?"

It was the first day of the Passover, the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover lamb.  The disciples asked Jesus where He would like for them to go and prepare the lamb for eating at the Passover feast.

(13) And He sent forth two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and there a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him."

Jesus sent two of His disciples, telling them to go into the city of Jerusalem where they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water.  They were to follow him.  Once again, as in Mark 11:2-3, Jesus would show His knowledge for all things and His spiritual influence over the minds of others:

(14) "And wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Master says, "Where is the guest room where I might eat the Passover with My disciples?"'"

Jesus further instructed the two disciples to follow the man into the house to which he was going, and to speak to the master of the house, asking him where his guest room was where Jesus might eat the Passover with His disciples.  There may have been significance in the way Jesus told them to speak to the master of the house.  They were to repeat the words of "The Master," perhaps to someone who already knew Jesus and was a follower, "our Master and yours," so to speak.  However, it is just as likely that a stranger under the influence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit would have cooperated.

(15) "And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."

Jesus went on to tell them that the master of the house would then show them a room furnished and prepared for guests to have a meal.  There the disciples were to prepare for their Passover meal.

(16) And His disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found all just as He had said to them, and they made ready the Passover.

The two disciples went into the city as Jesus had instructed and found everything just as He had said they would, and they prepared for the Passover.

(17) And in the evening, He came with the twelve.

Later that evening Jesus came to that upper room in that house with all His disciples.

(18) And as they sat and ate, Jesus said, "Verily I say to you, one of you who eats with Me shall betray Me."

As Jesus and the disciples were eating their Passover meal, Jesus made a sudden prophetic statement that one of those eating with Him at that time, which of course, meant one of His own disciples, would betray Him.

(19) And they began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one by one, "Is it I?" And another said, "Is it I?"

The disciples were very sorrowful at the idea that one of them would betray their Lord.  Since it was a prophetic statement, each personally couldn't be sure it wasn't about him, and they began to ask Him one by one if it was him.

(20) And He answered and said to them, "One of the twelve who dips with Me in the dish."

Normally people did not dip from the same dish unless they were very close.  This statement made it sound generally that it was one of His close disciples who regularly ate with Him.  However, the account in John made it more specific and said it was the one He was dipping with at that very moment, and in fact, Jesus gave Judas the bite He was holding when He spoke.  Either Jesus spoke softly at this point and the other disciples did not hear Him, or they still thought He spoke in general about any one of them.

(21) "The Son of man indeed goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would be good for that man if he had never been born."

Jesus admitted that He was going to be betrayed and go to His death regardless, but He pitied the man who betrayed Him and sent Him to His death.  He said it would have been better for him if he had never been born.  I don't believe for a moment that Judas was pre-destined to betray Jesus and there was nothing he could do about it.  He was giving Judas an out if he would take it.  He was saying that it wouldn't change what would have to happen to Him, but He was warning Judas not to be the one who betrayed Him.  However, God knew beforehand who it was with the heart so hardened against Jesus that he would go through with his wicked plan regardless of any warning.  How can we know this for certain?  Because God is all good and just and righteous, and couldn't do evil such as it would be to use a person who might otherwise be saved from eternal damnation.  God is also all-knowing and He knew nothing would change Judas's mind about what he planned, and therefore used him to fulfill His plan.

(22) And as they ate, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat, this is My body."

As Jesus and His disciples were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it as He always did.  He broke the bread and gave each of His disciples some, telling them to eat it as it represented His body.  

(23) And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave to them, and they all drank of it.

Jesus then took the cup of wine, gave a blessing of thanksgiving, and gave a drink to all His disciples.

(24) And He said to them, "This is the blood of the New Testament which is shed for many."

Jesus told His disciples that the wine represented His blood, a blood of a New Testament, a new memorial, blood that would be shed for many people.  Jesus was instituting a new memorial supper.  Whereas they had come together to celebrate and remember the Passover when God had passed over all the Jews who had put blood on their door frames and He therefore did not kill their firstborn, Jesus now instituted a new covenant and memorial, of which the blood on the door frames had only been a symbol of this time to come.  

(25) "Verily, I say to you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until the day I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Jesus told His disciples that that would be the last time He drank wine, meaning there on earth, until the day He drank of a heavenly wine in the kingdom of God.

(26) And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn at the end of their memorial supper and then went to the Mount of Olives.

(27) And Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.'"

Jesus told His disciples that they would be offended because of Him that very night.  The word that was translated as "offended" is that word "skandalizo" again.  It literally meant "trip up" or "cause to stumble," which was exactly what was meant in the prophecy Jesus quoted from Zechariah 13:7.  Jesus, the shepherd, would be struck down and all His sheep, His followers, would stumble and be scattered because of it.

(28) "But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."

However, Jesus assured His disciples that after He had risen, He would be back to go before them into Galilee.  Not only was it assurance, but I see a very loving gesture.  He had been telling His disciples what was to happen for quite awhile, and they were convinced that He was the Son of God, but when those things He foretold began to happen, His closest followers fell away.  However, God the Father in heaven, in the form of Jesus on earth, came back to encourage and inspire His disciples again.

(29) But Peter said to Him, "Although all shall be offended, yet not I."

Peter told Jesus that although all others might be offended, he would not, and I'm certain he truly believed that he could never fall away from His Lord.

(30) And Jesus said to him, "Verily I say to you that this day, in this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."

Jesus told Peter that truly he would deny Him that night.  Before the rooster crowed twice in the morning, Peter will have denied Christ three times.

(31) But he spoke more vehemently, "If I should die with You, I will not deny You in any way!" Likewise, they all said also.

Peter should have known better than to contradict Jesus, as He was always correct, but he just couldn't believe it of himself.  It is interesting to note that before when Jesus had said at their supper that one would betray Him, Peter was probably one of those who asked if it was him who betrayed Him.  But now, he very confidently and forcefully said to Jesus, even if he had to die with Him, he would never deny Him.  All the other disciples said the same thing.

As this is an especially long chapter, I will end this post here.

Jesus Before Pontius Pilate

Continuing a Bible study of the gospel accounts:

(Matthew 27:1) When the morning had come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had just been betrayed by the kiss of Judas and apprehended and brought before Caiaphas the high priest.  He was found guilty of blasphemy in a mock trial and sentenced to death.  The next morning the chief priests and elders plotted on how they would put Jesus to death.

(2) And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

They bound Jesus again and took Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor appointed by the Romans over Judea.  It is written that the sanhedrin had the power of life and death themselves in everything that concerned religion.  Perhaps their case against Him was not strong enough, or more likely they wanted it taken out of their hands, perhaps because they feared the reaction of the people.  Whatever the reason, they put Him in the hands of a Gentile magistrate, fulfilling Jesus's prophecy in Matthew 20:19 that He would be delivered to the Gentiles.

(3) Then Judas who had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

When Judas saw that Christ was condemned to death, he began to feel remorse and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders.  Perhaps Judas thought Jesus would have freed Himself through some miracle, and he had just seen a chance to make some money.  Now Judas "repented himself."  It is important to note there is a difference in the original word used here, "metamellomai" and the word more commonly used for repent, "metanoia."  Judas's type of repenting was more of a changing of his mind, perhaps some remorse caused by fear of the consequences of his actions.  It was a self-centered repentance like when we say that a person was not really sorry, only sorry he got caught.  A true godly repentance, "metanoia," represents a changed heart and behavior, a turning from sin to God.

(4) Saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."

In changing his mind about his actions, Judas took the money back to the chief priests and elders, telling them he had sinned and betrayed innocent blood.  Once again, there is no evidence that Judas truly repented before God, falling on his face before Almighty God, humbling himself, asking for forgiveness in the realization of what he had done to His Lord.  Remember that God sees the heart and He is always just and righteous, but under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew wrote that Judas was only sorry for himself.  The chief priests and elders declared that was of no concern of theirs.  If he felt he had sinned, he should go take care of that himself.  They had what they wanted, Jesus, and they had condemned Him for blasphemy; they didn't care about Judas's guilt or that he considered Jesus to be innocent of their charges.

(5) And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

Judas then threw down the pieces of silver and went out and hanged himself.  There has been much discussion about how Judas actually died, because Peter later stated in Acts 1:18, that "falling headlong, he burst open in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out."  Surely both statements are true.  If Judas had hung himself on a tree near a precipitous valley or something like that, the limb could have broken causing him to fall and tumble headfirst and his body dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks.  Matthew stated Judas hanged himself; he didn't say whether or not he actually died at that point.  He may have died, and then fallen; or a limb could have broken before he died and he died grotesquely upon the rocks.

(6) And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood."

The chief priests picked up the pieces of silver Judas had thrown down, but said it was not lawful to put them in the temple treasury because it was blood money.  It is remarkable that they were so scrupulous about the source of the money in their treasury, but not so when condemning innocent blood, as Judas had told them.

(7) And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field in which to bury strangers.

They consulted together and decided to use the pieces of silver to buy the potter's field, which was probably so called because the earth had been dug for pottery, and it was probably now used up and good for nothing.  They were able to buy it for just thirty pieces of silver and used it as a cemetery for strangers.

(8) Therefore that field was called the Field of Blood to this day.

Matthew declared that that potter's field had been called the Field of Blood, because it had been purchased by the price of blood, ever since then and up to the day he wrote that scripture.

(9) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him who was valued by the people of Israel, (10) And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."

That prophecy was actually spoken by Zechariah:

And I said to them, "If you think it good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed out for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, "Cast it to the potter, a goodly price at which I was priced by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:12-13)

It is believed by the older commentators I study that a subsequent copyist probably mistakenly added the name of the prophet, as Matthew's usual mode of writing was to say only, "by the prophet" (Matthew 1:22, Matthew 2:5, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 13:35, and Matthew 21:4).  Many early manuscripts omitted the name, and that is most likely how Matthew wrote it.  Matthew's point was not about who made the prophecy, but that prophecy had been fulfilled.

(11) And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "You say."

Probably thinking their claim of blasphemy would not matter to Pilate, the chief priests and elders most likely had told him that Jesus professed to be king to incite anger and judgment by the government.  Therefore, Pilate asked Jesus point blank if He was the King of the Jews.  Jesus answered only, "You say," which was not really an admission or a denial.  The account in John 18:36 went on to say that Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world, so He admitted that He had a kingdom, but not a worldly kingdom that would have rivaled Caesar.

(12) And when He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

Evidently, the chief priests and elders then had their turn to spout all their accusations before Pilate and in front of Jesus, but He said nothing.  There was really no use.  They were false claims, but He knew they intended to kill Him regardless, so He did not try to answer.  This fulfilled another prophecy by Isaiah, in Isaiah 53:7, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He didn't open His mouth; He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth."

(13) Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they witness against You?" (14) And He answered him not a word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Pilate, pressing Jesus to defend Himself, asked Him if He had heard all the things of which the chief priests and scribes had accused Him.  Jesus did not answer him, and that amazed Pilate.  It was at this point that Luke added that Pilate asked Jesus if He was a Galilean.  Probably wanting an excuse to free Him, Pilate was likely relieved that being a Galilean made Jesus under Herod's jurisdiction.  He sent Him to Herod, who saw no cause for death in Him, and sent Him back to Pilate.

(15) Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the people a prisoner, whomever they wished.

It appears that at the Passover Feast the governor had a custom of releasing one prisoner of the people's choosing.  It was not law, but a custom that may have originated in an effort for the Romans to show some bit of respect for the Jews.

(16) And they had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas.

At that time Pilate had an infamous prisoner named Barabbas imprisoned.  Being notable, he was a known criminal; he was either a repeat offender or had done a horrific thing to be so well known.  The account in Luke states that he had been guilty of sedition and murder.

(17) Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" (18) For he knew that out of envy they had delivered Him.

When the people were gathered together, Pilate asked them who they wanted released to them, Barabbas, the notable criminal, or Jesus whose only "crime" was that He was called the Christ.  The account in Luke states that Pilate found Jesus to be innocent and not worthy of death and had planned to release Him at the feast.  He was most likely certain the people would choose to release Jesus rather than the infamous Barabbas.  Pilate knew it could only be envy that made the chief priests and elders want to kill Jesus, for there was no fault in Him.

(19) When he was sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him."

While Pilate was on his judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him asking him not to involve himself with condemning whom she called a just Man.  She had had dreams about Him, and was convinced of His innocence or perhaps feared the judgment that might come upon her family if Pilate condemned Jesus.

(20) But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

Now that the decision to kill Jesus was out of their hands, the chief priests and elders urged the people to ask for Barabbas.  They probably incited a riot of excitement in the people, for how else could people who had so recently led a procession for Him, crying "Hosannah!" now be persuaded to call for His death?

(21) The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"

The governor responded to the crowd by asking which of the two prisoners they wanted released to them.  Unbelievably, the crowd answered Barabbas.  This was surely done because of the instigation of the chief priests and elders.  It shows the danger of wicked church elders who can easily persuade their flocks, and the danger of a mob mentality.

(22) Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" All said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

Pilate, probably incredulous, asked the people what then would they have him do with Jesus, a Man he had judged as innocent.  The crowd shouted to crucify Jesus!  Pilate, if he had indeed found Jesus innocent and not worthy of death, should have released Him after his finding.  However, it was God's will that Jesus die on the cross.  

(23) And the governor said, "Why? What evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Let Him be crucified!"

Pilate asked the multitude why they should call for Jesus's crucifixion; what evil had He done?  Instead of answering his question, the crowd just shouted all the more to crucify Him.

(24) When Pilate saw that he could not prevail, but rather a tumult had developed, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person; you see to it."

Pilate had lost control of the mob, and therefore took water and washed his hands before the crowd declaring his innocence of the blood of this just Jesus.  If the crowd wanted Him crucified, then it was up to them to have it done.

(25) Then all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and our children."

The people declared it would be their responsibility, and they even decided for their children!  They had no idea what they were asking for, nor what a prophetic statement they had made.

(26) Then he released Barabbas to them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Pilate did what the people asked and delivered free Barabbas to them.  He then scourged Jesus.  If he considered Him innocent, why did he have to do that?  He then delivered Jesus to be crucified.  Why?  Because he had no power over the people?  I have long pondered over Pilate's actions.  Was he innocent or not?  At the very least, he was a very weak ruler, letting the people rule over him.  It seems he found Jesus innocent from the beginning, but was happy to have someone else make the decision when he sent Jesus to Herod.  When it came time to release a prisoner, he again pushed off the decision to the people.  Since he was the governor, and he had found Him innocent, and even Herod had found no fault in Him, it seems it would have been his duty to release Him.  He apparently feared going against the chief priests and elders.  I'm sure he thought the people would call for Jesus's release opposite such a wicked prisoner as Barabbas, but he should have been man enough to make the decision himself.  He wanted to pass the decision to someone else and he would bear no responsibility to anyone.

Pilate had even received confirmation from his wife's dreams that he should not condemn Jesus, but he allowed the chief priests and elders to stir up the crowd against Jesus, even knowing that they did it out of envy.  He repeatedly put the question to the people (Luke states three times), indicating his desire to free Jesus, but being the weak ruler he was, he allowed the people to make the decision.  When the people asked that Barabbas be released, he could have released him and then dealt with Jesus as a just ruler should have, but he asked the people what he should do about Jesus!  When they said they wanted Him crucified, he asked why, what evil had He done to deserve crucifixion.  Weak and fearful as he surely was, he gave in to the people.  He said he washed his hands and declared his innocence from that decision, but he really was not innocent.  He failed miserably in his duty as a governor of the people, being so weak.  However, we know that it was God's will that Jesus be crucified.  I don't believe that God forced Pilate to make decisions against his will; I believe Pilate was chosen to allow this because he was a weak man.  Since he had washed his hands of it all, why then did he scourge Jesus?  Only God knows the heart of a man and he will judge Pilate righteously.  This incident proved to be a perfect illustration of what was taking place.  Jesus, judged as innocent, was condemned by the same judge, just the same.  Jesus, the perfect soul having no sin in Him, was nonetheless willed by God to be condemned to die on a cross.

(27) Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered to Him the whole band of soldiers.

The soldiers of the governor then took Jesus into the praetorium, which is actually the original word used.  It means the common judgment hall of the governor, or his court room.  They gathered an entire band of soldiers around Him, as if they really needed that!

(28) And they stripped Him and put on Him a scarlet robe.

The soldiers stripped Jesus and put a scarlet robe on Him.  They did it to mock Him, but by their actions, they were representing prophecy.  In Isaiah 1:18 it says, "...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..."  Jesus took on the world's scarlet sins to make them white as snow.

(29) And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail! King of the Jews!"

The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus's head to mock Him, but also to torture Him.  They put a reed in His hand to act as a staff and then bowed before Him in mockery, calling out, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  It gives me chills to think these men mocked God Himself!

(30) And they spit on Him and took the reed and struck Him on the head.

Again, it is chilling to think of these men spitting in the face of God and beating Him about the head!  Little did they know He could have struck them all dead with one word, but He allowed Himself to be mocked and tortured for all us lowly sinners, including those soldiers who did this, if we only accept His gift of salvation.

(31) And after they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

After the soldiers had had their vicious fun, they took the robe off Him and put His clothes back on Him.  They then led Him away to be crucified.

(32) And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; they compelled Him to bear His cross.

The account in John tells us that Jesus did bear His cross for a while until His tortured and beaten body could do it no more.  The soldiers then found a man of Cyrene, a city in Libya, Africa, named Simon, and forced him to carry Jesus's cross.

As this is another very long chapter, I will end the post here.  This first half of the chapter dealt with the events leading up to Jesus's crucifixion after His apprehension and mock trial in chapter 26.  The actual crucifixion takes place in the second half of this chapter.