“Simultaneous Interrogations” John 18:12-27
We closed our last study with John 18:12: “Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.” (There really was no need to bind Jesus; He had given no resistance but here we see the Christ, who had immeasurable omnipotent sovereignty at His disposal, going willingly where the Father wanted Him to go.) 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”
Annas’ Interrogation
Jesus’ first interrogation is by Annas, a High Priest who had been deposed by the Romans, but was still known by this title among the Jews. The proceedings here were marked by irregularities and violations of Jewish law. First of all, they should not have met at night. Second, the death penalty (which would be declared shortly) could not to be declared on the day of the trial. Third, false evidence and false witnesses were utilized. Fourth, Jesus received corporal blows during the trial/hearing. It was also illegal for the Sanhedrin to meet for a capital case on the eve of a Sabbath or feast day. All these things demonstrate the injustice and hypocrisy of the Jewish authorities which made Jesus’ condemnation a travesty of justice.
Verse 14 is referring to Caiaphas’ accurate but unknowing prophecy which he proclaimed in John 11:50: “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." He suggested that executing an innocent man may be excused if it secured an advantage for the nation. Little did Caiaphas realized that in his words, the purposes of God were being stated, and that the death of Jesus was expedient for the salvation, not only of the Jews, but for the elect of the entire world. Now his “prophecy” would be fulfilled in our Savior’s death on the Cross.
Peter Questioned and Denied
Look at verse15: “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple (probably John) was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.”
There are simultaneous interrogations going on in this part of our text. Jesus is being interrogated by the high priest concerning His teaching, and Peter is being questioned, not by a high official or religious leader, but by a slave girl, concerning His relationship with Jesus. Her question is posed in a way that prompts a negative response, but Peter was not under pressure to deny Jesus; as a matter of fact, Peter denies knowing Jesus to a slave girl, who is the least threatening of all people. Yet when the girl asks: “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" Peter answers emphatically, "I am not."
While Peter is having this conversation and being warmed by the fire with the servants and officers, Jesus is still bound and speaking to Annas in verses19-24:
Jesus before Annas
“The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." 22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?" 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”
Here Jesus is being questioned by Annas without the testimony of witnesses who will attest to Jesus’ guilt, and yet Jesus remains bound and assumed guilty without establishing a presumption of guilt. This was highly irregular conduct by the religious leaders.
It is not surprising that Annas begins his interrogation by asking Jesus about His disciples. The Jewish political and religious leaders were always concerned about public opinion and success in the eyes of others and so his line of questioning hints to Jesus’ success among His followers, and not first of all to the content of His teaching.
Jesus declares: “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing.” Jesus indicates that there were never any discrepancies or hypocrisies between what He taught openly and what He taught and practiced privately. He did not act as a subversive criminal or as a person who was out for personal gain.
Jesus’ statement results in him being struck by an officer while bound, which was also not allowed by Jewish law; He is struck for telling the truth. (Matt. 26 tells of far more physical abuse to Jesus than does John.) Jesus replies, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?" and we are told that Jesus is sent to Caiaphas. We can only imagine that the Jewish leaders do not want to have any unnecessary conversations which might deter their purpose, namely to rid themselves of Jesus by sundown, keeping strict observance of their law.
We are not actually given any of Caiaphas’ interrogation in John, although Matthew 26:57-67 gives more information, but are only told that “Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.” Instead, the attention again is aimed in Peter’s direction in verses 25-27:
The Second and Third Denial by Peter
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.”
As we saw in verse 17, Peter first denied knowing Jesus to a slave girl, the least threatening of all people. Then in verse 25 Peter denies knowing Jesus to a group of servants, more or less his equal status. Finally in verse 26 a relative of Malchus, the man whose ear Peter cut off says: “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” This man is an eyewitness in the garden and he has a personal interest since he is a relative of Matchus; the way in which he phrases his question anticipates an affirmative answer. His question expects a “yes” but Peter denies knowing Jesus.
The account in Luke 22 reveals that the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter with his third vehement denial, but all of the Gospels recount Peter remembering Jesus’ prophecy only hours before… when he hears the rooster crow. We can imagine how Peter felt when he remembered that His Lord had told Him at the last supper after Judas had left the table that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. What sorrow!
A Few Observations
Here was their conversation in John 13:36-38: ”Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward." 37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." 38 Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”
We cannot be too judgmental toward Peter mainly because we are very much like him. We sometimes vacillate between promises made and promises broken and not kept. We find ourselves lacking faith when the pressure rises or when circumstances around us are uncomfortable. We may not deny Jesus the way Peter did, but we deny Him in other ways. You may take time to think about how you do not always profess Jesus in your thoughts or actions. Take time to pray those out.
Jesus was right, Peter was willing to confess Jesus to Jesus, but not yet able to follow Him to death, claiming Him boldly before men. Peter’s denial was only a detour to more abundant future grace and restoration by Jesus. Then, after the Holy Spirit came upon him, Peter would not only profess but powerfully preach Jesus as Lord and Savior to thousands and ultimately follow Jesus even to death.
At the present time, Peter denied who he was, that he indeed was a follower of the accused, but Jesus never denied who He was. Paul later wrote in 2 Tim 2:11-13 (which was probably composed as an early Christian hymn): “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” Peter was restored to the One who is called Faithful and True. If we believe in the LORD Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we died with Him when He died for us on the cross; We are therefore assured that we will also live with Him forever because we are part of His Body.
Almighty God and Father, grant us the courage, the humility, and the faith to boldly confess, not merely within Church walls and to intimate family, the truth about the Lord Jesus, but to do so to a fallen world which so badly needs the message of the Glorious Gospel. In Jesus name and for His glory alone. Amen
I. Peter is questioned concerning His relationship with Jesus, while his Master is interrogated. (17, 25-27)
A. Peter denied knowing Jesus to a slave girl, the least threatening of all people.
B. Peter denied knowing Jesus to a group of servants, more or less his equal status.
C. Peter denied knowing Jesus to an eyewitness in the Garden, a servant to the high priest.
II. Jesus is questioned concerning His Disciples and His Teaching.
A. Jesus is questioned by Annas without establishing a presumption of guilt by witnesses (19- 24).
B. Questioning by Annas concerning Jesus’ disciples first, hints to Jesus’ success and not first of all to the content of His teaching.
C. He is struck while bound, for telling the truth: Jesus had always taught openly in public, no hypocrisy between His public and private.
III. A Few Observations
A. We may not deny Jesus the way Peter did but we do in other ways.
B. Peter’s denial was a detour to more future grace and restoration by Jesus.
C. Peter denied who he was but Jesus never denied who He was (2 Tim 2:13)
D. Jesus was right, Peter was willing to confess Jesus to Jesus, but not yet able to follow Him to death, claiming Him before men. (John 13:36-38)
