02/24/2024 – [John 18:15-27] Peter Denies Jesus
PV - These are the seven guiding principles that should guide us in selecting those who are to represent us at all levels of government. The most important things in life are faith, family, and freedom. That is not a slogan, they are foundations of our great country.
1) Faith. Our nation began with the bold declaration that all men are created equal by God, and that our rights derive from Him and not the government. The founders insisted that faith must remain central to our national identity. George Washington summarized faith in this context "religion and morality are indispensable supports" of our republic. Instill faith in the hearts of your children, serve God, and serve people. No one questions that our founders made errors, but those are errors of the world; imported during the colonial period. Societal changes require several generations, thus is the way of man.
In Mark, the gospel weaves together Peter’s denial and Jesus’ interrogation by the senior priests. We are not certain whether it was Caiaphas or his father-in-law Annas. Some think they were informally together at Annas’ house initially. Possibly, Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas’ house [v. 24] for more formal questioning. Claims are made that passages were moved. This proves only one thing: the late night was confusing, dark, frightening and no one knew what was happening. We do know Jesus spoke firmly, truthfully and was slapped for it. Jesus is being truthful and Peter was lying and trying to be present yet hiding. Who was the other apostle, [v. 15-16] why was he not challenged? There are differing answers: grammatical it indicates it was John who was known by the authorities. Peter could have been more critically questioned because he had taken violent action against Malchus. Peter was cold and tired, but being loyal he was present. However, he risked being the 4th cross for his foolish action against a servant of the high priest. By the time we reach [v. 27] Peter has gone outside and according to the other gospel writers’ bursts into tears. He will need a great deal of pastoral healing to overcome his denial(s).
Meanwhile Jesus is quizzed about His disciples and teachings. Classic interrogation – what were you teaching and to whom? Jesus will tell them nothing about His followers, nor is He inclined to repeat all that He has taught the past three years. It is the middle of the night, no one is in the mood to listen to parables and only Jesus can speak as He did about the kingdom of God and how it is coming and not coming. The radical revolution He is planning is vitally different from the contemporaneous prior revolutions. Jesus reminds his interrogator that He had spoken openly in the synagogues to any Judeans who cared to listen. He suggests that they be asked what He said. [v. 20]
The slap is a resort to violence and will only escalate from this moment forward. Jesus has begun to take the rebuke His followers had earned. The cock crows reminding us of Peter’s broken promises and Jesus’ accurate prediction. [v. 13:38] The morning will bring forth other predictions. The son of man will face the ruler of the world (the official representative) and the light will shine into the darkness
[John 18:27-32] - Pilate and the Judeans – We have all been out of our element and we find ourselves not wanting to say anything that might provoke trouble. Enter Pilate.
Pilate, some think, was born in Scotland and that he was either a career politician or soldier. At the higher level of those careers there is little difference. He was a ‘newbie’ provincial governor. Judea was not a quality post, but he hoped that if he was effective, he would be moved to a better, more senior position with higher pay, more stability, and it did not happen. He was removed from office after the Judeans accused him of being a bully, arrogant and offensive. Exit Pilate. He vanishes from history about 37 AD.
His policies had two aims: He wanted to keep things quiet in the turbulent Middle East. (What has changed?) His superiors in Rome needed a steady supply of grain. Failing this food would run short. Rome was an overcrowded city, experiencing underemployment. Unrest accompanied food shortages. In the 1C., as in the 21C. Western powers needed resources from the Middle East. A steady flow of raw goods was required. Thus, it was necessary to have peace and tranquility in Israel. It was Pilate’s desire, by brutality, if needed, to keep the lid on a potentially boiling political pot.
Pilate seemed to seek opportunities to snub the Jewish people, especially its leaders. If they wanted something he would take pleasure in thwarting them. The converse was true – do what they did not want to happen. This was his way of showing he was in charge and they depended upon him. These two aims determined how Pilate would operate over the next several hours. He was the official representative of Roman ‘justice’. Thus, Pilate had considerable flexibility. The governor needed to find what worked.
This is why at first, he did not want to have to deal with the chief priests. They seemed to be fussing with him in the morning of a festival, and refused to come to his official residence because they would not risk ritual pollution. John, reminds us this is Passover, the lambs are being prepared for the sacrifice in the Temple as Jesus is brought before the Roman
Governor who has the sole power over life and death. The chief priests were evasive, saying, ‘He is doing wicked things.’ In all probability Pilate knew nearly as much about Jesus as they. Governors tended to have a network of spies. Pilate knew that Jesus was not stirring up a traditional military-style revolution. But they wanted Him out of the way as we have repeatedly seen.
Recall Caiaphas’ cynical statement, [11:49-50] “Let one person die.” From the question Pilate asks [v. 33] someone or somehow it was implied that Jesus was ‘king’. The accusers claim Jesus is guilty of something deserving death. Only the Romans have legal standing to kill people. Meaning, Jesus is going to die the death that Rome saved for rebels. Jesus said He would be lifted up. [3:14] When He was ‘lifted up’ He would draw all people to Himself. [12:32] This is the astonishing majesty of God’s saving love. Lines are conver-ging! What Jesus intends, what the chief priests intend, what Pilate intends are all rushing toward an event that is so interwoven we must look at it from differing aspects. John has laid down markers: Passover; Pilate does not want to touch this matter; chief priests are determined Jesus shall die; and Pilate must take charge. The greatest legal system and the noblest religion merge in Jerusalem (the intended center of the world). Together they blunder and stumble into an act so wicked, unjust, unnecessary, and morally bankrupt that we can draw only one correct conclusion. The man at the center of this maelstrom was in fact, dying for the sins of the world. AMIN
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