John 20, 1-10, An Empty Tomb

Jesus has been crucified and buried.

John 20: 1-9, An empty tomb

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 
2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 
4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 
5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 
6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 
7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 
8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 
9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 

The "disciple Jesus loved" is John. Young John outruns the older Peter to the tomb. (This race is recalled by the elderly John fifty to sixty years later!)  John records that he finally "believed" at this moment and so began to truly understand the meaning of the events that had occurred.

John 20: 10, The disciples leave

Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

The disciples leave... but Mary stays.

John 20, Easter (Overview)

Jesus has been crucified and buried.

John 20: 1-9, An empty tomb

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

The "disciple Jesus loved" is John. Young John outruns the older Peter to the tomb. (This race is recalled by the elderly John fifty to sixty years later!)  John records that he finally "believed" at this moment and so began to truly understand the meaning of the events that had occurred.

John 20: 10-17, Mary at the tomb

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" 

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" 

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary." 

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Mary sees angels. They are only described as "in white".  She does not react to them, other than asking where Jesus is. Then, a moment later, when Jesus appears, she does not recognize him, either blinded by her tears or because he is, in some fundamental way, different. (Luke, see Luke 24: 13-35, records two disciples on the road to Emmaus who also do not recognize Jesus for a time.)

It is not clear what Jesus means by "Do not hold on to me."  It may simply be that he has things to do?

John 20: 18-23, Sunday evening appearance

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

The disciples are afraid that they will be rounded up and so they are in hiding. John reports that the doors are locked so that no one can easily enter, yet Jesus appears.

The disciples react with joy and then Jesus "breathes on them" and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit. The gospel writer does not elaborate.

John 20: 24-28, Appearance to Thomas

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Thomas, "the Doubter", is given convincing evidence. First, Jesus acknowledges Thomas's earlier challenge, made in his absence, and then Jesus makes it clear to Thomas that he, Jesus, is physically present. Thomas, of course, quickly concedes.

I empathize with Thomas!

John 20: 30-31, That you may believe

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This passage is a theme of the book -- it has been written "That you may believe..."

The book almost ends here.  But John has a bit more to say, describing one last appearance of Jesus.

John 19: 36-42, Burial

Footnotes:
John 19:24 Psalm 22:18
John 19:26 The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.
John 19:36 Exodus 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psalm 34:20
John 19:37 Zech. 12:10
John 19:39 Or about 34 kilograms

Jesus has been arrested and tried before Annas & Caiphas, then before Pilate, then quickly crucified.  The gospel writer then records events at the cross.

The ending is quick and dramatic; Jesus drinks a little bit of wine vinegar, announces that all has been done and dies. John records this as a deliberate act of Jesus, bowing his head and "giving up" his spirit, with the knowledge that he has completed his task. In this light, the statement, "It is over" represents triumph, not despair.

In his death, Jesus avoids having his bones broken; this is a prohibition in the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.

John 19: 36-37, Fulfilling prophecy
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”
37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Breaking the legs apparently hastened death because it made it difficult for the condemned man to push up and breathe. It also was a traumatic injury more likely to help bring on shock.

The quote in verse 36, "Not one of his bones shall be broken" reflects instructions about sacrificing the passover lamb (see Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12) and is a phrase which also appears in Psalm 34:20. The second quote, verse 37, is from Zechariah 12:10.

John 19: 38-42, Burial

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 
40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 
42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are Jewish leaders who have been following Jesus and now take some risks by making sure that he has a proper burial. The Sabbath sunset is approaching, so these things must be done quickly.

The mixture of spices provided by Nicodemus was considerable, a hundred litrai, about 34 kilograms (say the NIV footnotes.) Like the earlier anointing by Mary, it is a touching sign of grief.

John 19: 28-37, The Death of Jesus

Jesus has been crucified. "This disciple" has been told, by Jesus from the cross, to take are of the mother of Jesus.

John 19: 28-30, Death
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 
29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The ending is quick and dramatic; Jesus drinks a little bit of wine vinegar, announces that all has been done and dies. John records this as a deliberate act of Jesus, bowing his head and "giving up" his spirit, with the knowledge that he has completed his task. In this light, the statement, "It is over" represents triumph, not despair.

To provide Jesus with the wine vinegar, the people at the foot of the cross have to design a makeshift tool to get the moisture to him, wet sponge places on a stalk, held up high to reach his lips.

John 19: 31-37, Pierced
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 
32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 
33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 
34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 
35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 
36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”
37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Breaking the legs apparently hastened death because it made it difficult for the condemned man to push up and breathe. It also was a traumatic injury more likely to help bring on shock.

The quote in verse 36, "Not one of his bones shall be broken" reflects instructions about sacrificing the passover lamb (see Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12) and is a phrase which also appears in Psalm 34:20. The second quote, verse 37, is from Zechariah 12:10.

John 19: 23-27, Crucifixion

Jesus has been crucified. 

John 19: 23-24, The robe
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment."

So this is what the soldiers did.

The robe is kept, not ripped apart.

The quote in verse 24 about the garments is from Psalm 22:18.

John 19: 25-27, Beneath the cross

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 
26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 
27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

"This disciple" is the writer of the gospel, John.  He records being assigned to take care of Mary after Jesus's death.  The NIV footnotes stress that the word translated "Woman" in verse 26 does not indicate disrespect.

John 19: 16-22, To Golgotha

Jesus has been arrested and tried before Annas & Caiaphas, then before Pilate. Pilate, knowing that the Jewish leaders want Jesus crucified, attempts to placate the leaders but is threatened by the leaders' claim that Jesus wants to be king.

John 19: 16-20, Golgotha

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 
20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 

The crucifixion is described quickly simply. Jesus is crucified alongside a highway. Presumably this was common, to publicize what happens to those who disobey the Roman emperor and Roman law. The notice Pilate prepares shows his anger with the Jews. It effectively says, "This is what happens to your kings."

John 19: 21-22, What I have written...

The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

The leaders take offense to Pilate's summary and Pilate is in no mood to humor them. The religious leaders have claimed that they have no king but Caesar -- in contrast to their many claims before to be "free" -- and so they must put up with even Pilate seeing through their hypocrisy.

John 19: 6-16, Pilate Submits

Jesus has been arrested and tried before Annas & Caiphas, then before Pilate. Pilate, knowing that the Jewish leaders want Jesus crucified, attempts to placate the leaders.

John 19: 6-7, Religious leaders pressure Pilate
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

Jesus is to be executed for blasphemy. Pilate taunts the Jewish leaders by telling them to do it themselves, knowing that they have no authority to do so.

John 19: 8-15, No king but Caesar
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 
9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 
10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). 
14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

The Jewish leaders have a clear threat. If it gets back to Rome that Pilate has been soft on one claiming to be a king, Pilate's career, and life, might be in danger.  But John also records a sad note: the Jewish leaders, supposedly waiting for a Messiah, have instead pledged allegiance to Rome.

John 19: 16, Pilate gives in

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

The might ruler has given in to the mob.

John 19: 1-7, Beaten, Taunted, Flogged

Jesus has been arrested and tried before Annas & Caiphas, then before Pilate. Pilate, knowing that the Jewish leaders want Jesus crucified, attempts to placate the leaders.

John 19: 1-7, Beaten, taunted, flogged
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 
2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 
3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 
5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

Jesus is to be executed for blasphemy. Pilate taunts the Jewish leaders by telling them to do it themselves, knowing that they have no authority to do so.

John 19, Crucifixion (Overview)

Jesus has been arrested and tried before Annas & Caiphas, then before Pilate. Pilate, knowing that the Jewish leaders want Jesus crucified, attempts to placate the leaders.

John 19: 1-7, Beaten, taunted, flogged
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.

Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" 

But Pilate answered, "You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him."

The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."

Jesus is to be executed for blasphemy. Pilate taunts the Jewish leaders by telling them to do it themselves, knowing that they have no authority to do so.

John 19: 8-15, No king but Caesar
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar."

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).  It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" 

"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. 

"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.

The Jewish leaders have a clear threat. If it gets back to Rome that Pilate has been soft on one claiming to be a king, Pilate's career, and life, might be in danger.  But John also records a sad note: the Jewish leaders, supposedly waiting for a Messiah, have instead pledged allegiance to Rome.

John 19: 16-20, Golgotha

Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him, and with him two others--one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

The crucifixion is described quickly simply. Jesus is crucified alongside a highway. Presumably this was common, to publicize what happens to those who disobey the Roman emperor and Roman law. The notice Pilate prepares shows his anger with the Jews. It effectively says, "This is what happens to your kings."

John 19: 21-22, What I have written...
The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write `The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews."

Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

The leaders take offense to Pilate's summary and Pilate is in no mood to listen.

John 19: 23-24,
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

"Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." 

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did.

The robe is kept, not ripped apart.

The quote in verse 24 about the garments is from Psalm 22:18.

John 19: 25-27, Beneath the cross

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

"This disciple" is the writer of the gospel, John.  He records being assigned to take care of Mary after Jesus's death.

John 19: 28-30, Death
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips.

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The ending is quick and dramatic; Jesus drinks a little bit of wine vinegar, announces that all has been done and dies. John records this as a deliberate act of Jesus, bowing his head and "giving up" his spirit, with the knowledge that he has completed his task. In this light, the statement, "It is over" represents triumph, not despair.

To provide Jesus with the wine vinegar, the people at the foot of the cross have to design a makeshift tool to get the moisture to him, wet sponge places on a stalk, held up high to reach his lips.

John 19: 31-37, Pierced
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

Breaking the legs apparently hastened death because it made it difficult for the condemned man to push up and breathe. It also was a traumatic injury more likely to help bring on shock.

The quote in verse 36, "Not one of his bones shall be broken" reflects instructions about sacrificing the passover lamb (see Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12) and is a phrase which also appears in Psalm 34:20. The second quote, verse 37, is from Zechariah 12:10.

John 19: 38-42, Burial

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.  Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are Jewish leaders who have been following Jesus and now take some risks by making sure that he has a proper burial. The Sabbath sunset is approaching, so these things must be done quickly.

The mixture of spices provided by Nicodemus was considerable, a hundred litrai, about 34 kilograms (say the NIV footnotes.) Like the earlier anointing by Mary, it is a touching sign of grief.

John 18: 33-40, Jesus Before Pilate

Peter, in an outer courtyard, has denied, three times, his friendship with Jesus. Meanwhile Jesus is being interrogated by the high priest.

The Jews want an execution and Pilate is reluctant to give that to them. The gospel writer will record Pilate's timid and frightened response to the proceedings, showing him as a weak ruler. The other gospels report a third interview, before Herod, but John skips over that part of the trial.

John 18: 33-40, Jesus before Pilate
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. 
39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

Pilate is trapped. He is half fearful that Jesus might really be a "son of a god", common in Roman mythology. He wants Jesus to talk to him.  But Jesus will not. And although Pilate recognizes the trumped up trial, he is too weak to rule for justice. Running back and forth between the crowd and the palace, Pilate will make one more attempt to mollify the Jewish leaders.

John 18: 25-32, Before Pilate

Jesus is before Annas or Caiphas, one of whom is the current high priest.  He has been slapped and bullied by the audience.

John 18: 25-27 Denials #2 and #3

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Peter's denial is recorded in all four gospels. Peter, a church leader after Pentecost, could have attempted to paint over this shame and embarrassment, but humility and confession form the structure of the early church and so we all know of Peter's cowardice. May our churches today be so transparent!

John 18: 28-32, Before Pilate

Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 
29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”

30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”

“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected. 
32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.

Again John records the injustice of the trial.  When asked for their evidence against Jesus, the Jewish leaders deflect the question with "If he were not a criminal...," a statement intended to push Pilate to jump to the verdict without a trial.

The Jews want an execution and Pilate is reluctant to give that to them. The gospel writer will record Pilate's timid and frightened response to the proceedings, showing him as a weak ruler. The other gospels report a third interview, before Herod, but John skips over that part of the trial.

John 18: 15-24, Before the High Priest

Jesus has been brought before Annas. Apparently Annas was a sort of "high-priest emeritus", retired but still very influential.  (So says commentator Merrill Tenney.)

John 18: 15-18 Denial #1

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 
16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

Poor frightened Peter. If even Peter can be a disciple, then so can you and I!

John 18: 19-24, Jesus before the high priest
Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 
21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 
24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Jesus will not play games with the rulers tonight. They have had ample opportunity to observe and question him.

It is not clear if this interview is before Annas or Caiphas. It could be before Annas, in his role as high priest emeritus or it could be before the current high priest, Caiphas. Apparently this last sentence could be in the past tense; for example, the NIV footnotes give "Now Annas had sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest."

Jesus's response to the slap is a simple one. If he is guilty, prove it so. If not, why the bullying and attempts at intimidation? John records this event so that we may know that the trial is unjust.

John 18: 10-14, Arrest

Jesus has finished his last instructions to his disciples.  Those teachings began in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem and moved on to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. Now the night will do its dirty work.

John 18: 10-14, Arrest

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 
13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 
14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

John even records the name of the servant who lost his ear! Peter's actions oscillate between anger and fear. A more stable Peter will appear after Pentecost.

Apparently Annas was a sort of "high-priest emeritus", retired but still very influential.  (So says commentator Merrill Tenney.)

Caiaphas, the younger and current high priest, is recorded here as saying, prophetically, that it would be good if one man died for the people.  This was not a positive statement by Caiaphas but a cynical one, yet he will end up carrying out that plan.

John 18: 1-9, In the Garden of Olives

Jesus has finished his last instructions to his disciples.  Those teachings began in the upper room of a house in Jerusalem and moved on to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. Now the night will do its dirty work.

John 18: 1-9, Garden of Olives
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 
6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 
9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Judas and an attachment of soldiers expect conflict.  But Jesus is passive and ready to be arrested.

The prophecy described at the end was made from earlier in the text, from John 6:39.