Jesus is taken to the house of Annas for interrogation.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:15-24
Annas had been the high priest but had been removed by the Romans. They made Annas’ son-in-law Caiaphas the high priest. Even though Annas was not the ruling high priest, it is obvious that he still had a lot of informal power since the temple police brought Jesus to Annas first.
Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple is most likely John. He never refers to himself in the first person but as “the other disciple” or “the disciple who Jesus loved.” Apparently John knew people at Annas’ house and was able to get in. He also got Peter inside. John seems to have gone into the courtyard area where Annas interrogated Jesus. Peter waited outside where a group were gathered around a fire.
The girl at the gate questioned Peter. She asked if Peter was a disciple of Jesus. Almost all English translations except the NIV include the word “also” or “too” when she asked about him being a disciple. It seems that she knew that John was a disciple of Jesus. Peter denied being a follower of Jesus. Then the people at the fire accused him of being a follower of Jesus. A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off accused him of following Jesus. Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Why did Peter not go in with John? It is possible that he couldn’t get in, but I think he didn’t try. He denied knowing Jesus, so he was afraid to be associated with Jesus at Annas’ house. He stayed back away from Jesus. John stayed close to Jesus. John withstood the temptation to deny Jesus, and Peter did not.
Why is John’s gospel a little different than the others? The other gospel writers just say that Jesus was taken to the high priest. John includes this stop at Annas’ house before going to Caiaphas. Although the gospels were written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were written by real people. Of the gospel writers, John was the only witness to the events in the courtyard at Annas’ house. John also wrote his gospel several years after the other gospels. He was aware of what was common knowledge of people from the other gospels and included these details that were not commonly known. The other gospels focus on the events at Caiaphas’ house. John just says that they went from Annas’ house to Caiaphas’ house, then to Pilate.
John is my hero is this part of the gospel. He stays close to Jesus. Most of the disciples scattered at the arrest. He and Peter went to Annas’ house. John went inside. John stayed through the crucifixion.
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I agree in that John probably included this event in his writing because he was the only witness to this event as a disciple, and it wasn't included anywhere else. I believe it would be fair to say that it was probably close to his heart too. Can you imagine watching Jesus get slapped for speaking the truth? I would think one would want to write about that as it would greatly effect anyone who loves Him. I just think John really wanted this story to be out there and he was the only one to actually see this happen with his own eyes. It saddens me to think how the other disciples tended to deny knowing or following Christ when the going got tough. And they were the chosen ones, all 12 picked by God! They seemed to be worried about themselves and how they would be perceived by the world instead of God. I pray we do not do the same ever, in any situation no matter how much anger and resentment we receive from the world! If we are to be judged, we should only think of the judgement given to us by God, not man. Just my thoughts while reading ...
If I was one of Jesus disciple back then I probably ran and hid, not even follow him to the priest's house. Because of my lack of faith I would be scare like crazy, and deny him worst than Peter. I pray that if Jesus return to earth during my life time here, I will know him like a sheep knows it's owner and have enough faith to go through any situation with him.
That clears it up some. The stop prior at Annas house, being a smaller, more intimate area, would naturally be a more close knit community than the high priest council. It is this smaller venue in which Peter gets recognized vs. the house of Caiaphas. I always thought Peter must have some very unique features to be recognized all the way up at the high priest courtyard. So, this clears it up some.
I too pray I have the strength to stand up for Christ in even the most dire of circumstances. I think we have to develop the HABIT right now though. We are constantly presented with opportunities to share Christ or at least mention His view of a certain situation from the biblical perspective but we way too often stay quiet. These bad habits now do not bode well for more serious decision making circumtances.
I believe this section about Peter's choice to lag behind had to be included by John to make a point.
John is a faithful follower of Christ - he stood by his side as long as he could. Scripture says that they all have to fall away as Jesus quoted, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered." (Mark 14:27) So eventually even John fell away - but in doing so he didn't deny Christ.
We know that "all scripture is God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16) so the words written down for publication in the Bible weren't John's thoughts, they were God's words breathed into John and written down by John. They had a purpose as all of God's words have a purpose "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11).
Maybe the purpose of this section was to show hope to those who find themselves acting as Peter did, denying Christ - possibly repeatedly, even after meeting Him and loving Him. The hope is in restoration to a boldness for Christ and being used by God in a mighty way for His glory (Acts 2:14-41).
There have been times when I have denied Christ - not by speaking it outwardly - but by not doing what He wanted me to do or saying what He wanted me to say at the time or even asking what He wanted of me in the first place. Each time I have regretted the choice I made to not turn to Him for direction and guidance, but I praise God that He can restore us to a right relationship. His love for us is infinitely more than we can ever imagine and it is neverending.
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:1
I am reminded of several versus of scripture in the reading of the comments. I love Sarah's initial comments. 12 picked by God; There is a lot of truth in those few words. I think Bobbie also hits on it as well, when she says guided by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit always tells us what to say and when we are obedient we act or allow our members to act under the influence of God. The Scriptures talk about that deceiver Jacob keeping all of the spotted sheep from his uncle Lehban. It is such an awesome picture of how God uses and saves the spotted sheep of God. We need to see ourselves as not being better than anyone else, but under the same judgment and wrath of God to come as everyone else. The only difference is that my faith is in Christ -- I can not stress the word... faith... here enough. We must believe in Christ and hope for his Salvation, just as meshack, neshack and abindigo (a type of the true Church of God) testified before Pharoh that though we go into the fire it is up to God to save us. My friends I am here to tell you, if you do not want to catch on fire by those destined to do so, then you must keep that water welling up from within. Jesus did not come for the righteous but for the perishing. This does not mean go out and have wild drunken orgies with crazy people and try to witness to them. We must rely on the Spirit to guide us. So many times I see people getting too far into one camp or one particular verse of the Bible and forget about the rest of Scripture. We must constantly be on guard of the evil one and keep oneself unstained from the world. I just refuse to believe that God does not reach the people that we consider unholy -- dope dealers or whatever. I see the great commission as simply being a solemn call to stand up for your faith... and baptize in the name of Jesus Christ when prompted too. The testimony of three will not be refused by God and the testimony of three during the baptism, is the person's willingness to be baptized; the willingness of the person baptizing; and lastly the confirmation of the Holy Spirit. We are all on a journey through life, it is enough to go to those whom we come in contact with regularly or not so regularly that we do not need to try to make a big fuss over going to Africa or any other place without first receiving the assurance and peace from the Holy Spirit about such a venture.
The whole point is that there is God's will and then there is man's choice or action (that which he does or does not do). If we are able to get all of our members functioning in the same direction, we will do great things. An undivided man is a big man. We need to realize the forgiveness we have not to sin freely, but when we sin we rise above. God's will is for us to come to Him, His word (not found in any page of scripture, but rather in the Spiritual ear of faith) brings us to Him. If we remain steadfast in our commitments to Him, we will be brought to our knees in our deeds, but raised to His glory by His mercy and grace. I've seen it too many times to ever doubt Him again. You too! Take a moment to reflect on the goodness and mercy the Lord our God has richly bestowed upon you. And know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is real in your soul. Selah.
It was with a mighty hand that He brought the Children of Israel from captivity in Egypt. Not by Moses, but by Christ Jesus, Himself. Moses was to say to that mean old evil king, when asked: "Who is going to take these people from me?"; "I AM." and boy you better believe that stirred and anger into the Pharaoh and just harden his heart. Every time Christ performed a Miracle before the king, he could not see or hear anything but little old humble Moses saying "I am going to take these people from you." I can hear that pharaoh now just yelling and screaming "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!! I'LL SHOW YOU! BRING ME MY WIZARDS AND SORCERERS."
Funny thing is He did not do or say one thing to Herod, it is of no wonder why. But I'm getting ahead of the story.
I encourage you to find the words of God and act on them, just as Moses. Moses saw Him as a burning bush, from a distance, today we can feel Him as a burning in the bosom, much nearer than the Children of Israel ever did. Amen. Deuteronomy 4:32-40.
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