As we move from chapter 17 to chapter 18, the scene shifts dramatically. We leave the glorious, intimate communion of Christ with His Father and come upon the stark, adversarial, and cruel treatment of Christ by His enemies, and denial by the likes of Peter. It is perhaps hard to carry over the significance that the beautiful discourses (14-16) and prayer (17) bring to the account of chapters 18 and 19. Yet, this should be done. Chapter 18 is less about Pilate, Annas, Caiaphas, and Peter, and more about Christ, His Father, the world, and Christ's people. The wickedness of people is simply the dark backdrop against which Christ reveals His glory and love, His grace in saving people from their sins. All the while, He shows Himself especially as the Truth, who is bringing about a kingdom of truth. He had said earlier that if the truth were to set us free, we would be free indeed (John 8:32). Here, He who is the Truth will be bound that sinners might be freed. And, like Peter, who denies Christ at the same time as Christ tells the truth, we need this King of truth very much. We still have so much deceit and fear inside of us, binding us. How we need this Truth to set us free completely!

Christ's Witness in the Garden⤒🔗

Christ left the city of Jerusalem with His disciples and passed over the brook Kidron into the garden of Gethsemane (v. 1). Judas knew the place because Jesus had often resorted there (v. 2), and he arrived with a military band at the behest of the priest, with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

They came with weapons, as if Jesus had to be and could be arrested with military force. It's strange that they knew Him so little. If they had known Him, they would also have known that He had His life in His own hand. He had power to lay it down and power to take it up again (John 10:18). He had escaped plots, stones, and other attempts to arrest Him (see e.g., John 8:59). John focuses us on Christ as the Son of God here.

First, Christ's identity is majestic←↰⤒🔗

Calm and serene, Christ shone the light of His glory brightly against the dark backdrop of a dark night. The soldiers tried to light the night sky with their torches, but Christ's words are powerfully bright. John writes so splendidly: "Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?" (v. 4). Jesus neither faltered nor folded under all that awaited Him. And thus, He simply reveals Himself gloriously with two "I am he" statements (vv. 7-8), reminding us of the divine name "I am that I am" (Ex. 3:14). No wonder the bands of soldiers fell backward at this glorious self-revelation. His identity shone through as more powerful than all the weapons they use against Him. Just the words of His mouth could bring these soldiers to the ground. That was the power of Christ.

Secondly, Christ willingly accepted the cup of suffering←↰⤒🔗

In the face of this band of soldiers that want to capture Christ, Peter wished to use the sword. The impression we get is that Peter went all out in a mad dash to defend his Master. However, violence was not the way forward (v. 11). Christ saw behind the band of soldiers to His Father and realized that there is a cup of suffering that He will drink. He did not fight against the soldiers, but willingly endured this suf­fering. By His willing submission to the soldiers, Christ is even teaching Peter and all of us in these moments. Christ saw behind all the efforts of Satan and the wickedness of man the hands of His Father, and, mindful of the purpose He came for, He went forward calmly and confidently.

Thirdly, Christ gave His hands over to be bound←↰⤒🔗

It's a short sentence, but it contains a lot: and they "bound him" (v. 12). Christ let Himself be bound so that His people could go free (v. 12; v. 24). "If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way," (v. 8) He says. He stood in the place of His people, so they could go (vv. 8-9). He shielded them, represented them, and would die for them.

Peter's Witness around the Fire←⤒🔗

Not only was Christ put on trial, Peter was as well. At the very same moment that Christ was being interrogated by the priests, Peter was asked whether he was one of the disciples (v. 17). His answer twice is negative. "I am not," he answers (vv. 17, 27). This is remarkable, considering that just a moment ago, when His Savior was still close by, he was willing to die for Him (13:37). Now, with the Savior bound, Peter feared.

This denial by Peter is word for word the exact opposite of what Christ had said: "I am he" (vv. 5, 8). Moreover, the contrast with Christ is even more explicit, for in the garden Christ had identified Himself twice clearly, whereas John records that Peter denies his identity also twice (vv. 17, 27). We could call it a "fiery trial," which is the name Peter later gives to the temptation the early Christians endured in Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:7). No doubt many early Christians were being asked to deny their faith as well. They were being forced to say that they were not Christ's disciples but that the Roman emperor, Caesar, was Lord. Peter could under­stand this trial from the inside out. He could understand what it was to give way to this temptation and sin by denying His Lord.

Our only hope needs to be in Christ's "I am he." Our own confessions are often dim or even dark. It's amazing that Christ bears with our failings and even our denials of Him. The reason Christ holds on to His people is that His love had its beginning in Himself, not in them.

Christ's Witness Before Pilate←⤒🔗

The third scene of our text is before Pilate, the Roman governor. The leaders had sent Jesus on to Pilate, but for fear of defiling themselves, they didn't enter into his court themselves (v. 28). This is ironic, of course, because they thought nothing of rejecting Him, whom God has sent. They didn't realize that they are not just defiling their bodies, but their hearts and souls by rejecting the Savior. The religious leaders want Pilate to judge Jesus, because they don't have the wherewithal to put Christ to death. However, Christ Himself has predicted the death He would die — the death of the Roman cross — and thus He was tried and will be judged by Pilate (v. 32). Again, we see how God's plan is leading, not that of the Jewish leaders.

Pilate asked Jesus whether He is a King. Christ used this question as an opportunity to declare that His kingdom was not of this world (v. 36). If Christ's kingdom were of this world, then it would have been different. If Christ would have been just an earthly king, this injustice would not hap­pen, for He would show His mighty power by force.

Christ declared His purpose was to bear witness to the truth (see Ps. 96:13). Christ used magnificent words that showed His great delight in the purpose God gave Him: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice" (v. 37).

Notice how Christ appeared so clearly full of grace and truth, having come forth that the Father might be glori­fied in the revelation of the truth of Christ. His truth is that man is fallen from God; it proclaims the truth that God has come seeking and redeeming His image-bearer. It climactically announces the truth that God is out to glorify Himself before the tribunal of the world, religion, and His people. The garden on the other side of Kidron, the halls of the priests, and the judgment room of Pilate are all so many scenes in which Christ can reveal His glory as the King of Truth, namely, the Lamb, which takes away the sin of the world. Will we hear His voice (v. 37)? If we do, we are of the truth; we will be set free and live in His Kingdom where weapons and soldiers cannot harm us.

Pilate puts to the crowd the option of releasing Christ or Barabbas. Barabbas was a violent criminal (v. 40), much like the portrait Christ had given a few chapters back: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). What a difference here between a Savior and a murderer. But the people chose a destroyer over the Life-giver! They bound the truth but let the brigand free. Isn't that typical for men, to willingly choose to shut out the truth and follow lies? To choose evil over goodness? But under it all and through it all, mysteriously and gloriously, the Truth, which is Christ, was binding the lie. As the Passover Lamb, He would free untold numbers of captives, even murderers. In His kingdom, God's truth will reign with power that, like we saw earlier, can bring soldiers to the ground. In this world, the way to glory is the cross — both for Christ, and for those His people in Him.

Questions:←⤒🔗

1. In what way does Christ show His superiority and majesty in this chapter? Does Christ appear more active or passive in this chapter?
2. What are the differences between the kingdom of Christ and that of the world?
3. How does the suffering of God's people on earth glorify God? How should we learn from Peter if we are ever on trial for Jesus's name?
4. How does God give truth in our hearts? How do we follow Him (v. 37)?
5. Compare and contrast this judgment before a tem­poral judge in this chapter and the judgment of the eternal Judge. What should we learn from this com­parison about living in this world in light of the next?
6. Can you name promises given to us when we suffer for Christ's name? Does that comfort you?