What I Noticed Today (John 17-18)
John 17
John 17 is known as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus. He prayed for Himself (vv. 1-5), His disciples (vv. 6-19), and for all future believers (vv. 20-26).
In verses 1-5, Jesus prayed for Himself. He recognized that His hour had come and asked the Father to glorify the Son so that the Son might glorify the Father. The Father had given Him authority over all flesh so that He might give eternal life to those whom the Father had given Him. He closed, saying He had glorified the Father by doing the work He was given. He was now asking to be glorified in heaven with the glory He had before the world existed.
In verses 6-19, Jesus prayed for the disciples in three parts:
1) He speaks of His ministry to them (vv. 6-8). He revealed God to those God had given Him. Now they know that I came from You and that You sent Me.
2) He petitions for protection for His followers (vv. 9-19). He intercedes for them, not for the world, because He is no longer in the world, but they are in the world. He asks God to protect them as He protected them while He was with them. None was lost except for the son of destruction (Judas). I speak these things so they might have complete joy. They are not of this world as I am not of the world.
3) He prays for their future service to the kingdom (vv. 17-19). He asks the Father to sanctify them (set them apart for special use) by truth. Your Word is truth. As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
In verses 20-26, Jesus prayed for all future believers. Jesus’ prayer is that there be unity among believers; may they all be one, as You Father are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us. He prayed that we are made completely one, so the world will know You sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me. These You sent Me, know You because I made Your name known to them so the love You loved Me with may be in them and I may be in them.
Note: Jesus’ prayer for believers asks God to protect and preserve us (v. 11), to sanctify us (v. 17), to unite us as one body (vv. 21-22), and to allow us to participate in His glory (v. 24).
John 18
In verses 1-11, (See also Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-50, and Luke 22:47-53), John describes the betrayal of Jesus. Jesus left the Passover dinner with His disciples and went across the Kidron Valley to the olive garden (Gethsemane).
Note: During the Passover celebration, many people camped near Jerusalem. Jesus and the disciples often stayed in the olive garden when they were in the area.
Judas knew where the disciples were staying and went there, leading a group of chief priests, Pharisees, temple police, and soldiers. Jesus met them and asked who they were looking for. They answered Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus said I am He. When He said this, they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Note: Falling to the ground was a common response to being in the presence of divinity.
Jesus asked a second time, and they responded a second time that they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Simon Peter stepped forward and cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priests’ servant. Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and asked, Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me.
Note: The “cup” Jesus referred to was the suffering and death that He was to experience.
In verses 12-27, (See also Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65, and Luke 22:54), John describes the trials of Jesus and Peter’s denials.
The Jewish temple police seized Jesus, bound Him, and took Him to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest.
Note: Annas had also served as the high priest. He served from A.D. 6-15.
Simon Peter was following Jesus along with another disciple (probably John). That disciple (John) was an acquaintance of the high priest and was allowed into the courtyard while Peter remained outside by the door. The other disciple spoke to the girl, who was the doorkeeper who allowed Peter inside. She accused Peter of being one of Jesus' disciples, and Peter denied it. Peter stood near a fire with the temple police and household slaves to warm himself.
Annas questioned Jesus, who said since He had always taught openly in the temple complex and the synagogue so Annas should ask those who heard Him teach. Annas bound Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas.
One of the people warming themselves by the fire asked Simon Peter again if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, and he denied it. Finally, one of the high priest's slaves, a relative of Malchus, directly accused Peter of being a disciple because she had seen him in the garden. Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
In verses 28-38, (See also Matthew 27:1-14, Mark 15:2-5, and Luke 23:1-5), John describes Jesus being brought before Pilate, the Roman governor.
Note: John did not report the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin (See Mark 14:55-64).
Note: Jews did not have the right to put Jesus to death, so the case had to be brought to Pilate, the Roman governor (A.D. 26-36).
The Jews did not enter Pilate’s quarters because they did not want to become defiled, so Pilate stepped out to meet them. Ultimately, Pilate told them to judge Jesus according to their own law, but they told Pilate it is not legal for us to put this man to death.
Pilate asked for Jesus to be brought to him, asking if He was the King of the Jews. Jesus answered that His kingdom was not of this world. Pilate asked, are you a king. Jesus answered, you say that I am, I was born for this: to testify to the truth and everyone who is of truth listens to My voice. Pilate asked what is truth.
Note: Scholars speculate on Pilate’s intention with his question, what is truth. Is he asking because he wants to know? Is he asking philosophically? Or is he indifferent, irritated? We can’t be certain, but his reaction is telling.
In verses 39-40, Pilate left Jesus, and went out to the Jews and told them he found no grounds for charging Him. He offered to release Jesus, but the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas.
Note: It was customary for Pilate to release one prisoner. Rather than releasing Jesus, he appealed to the crowd and avoided the Jewish rulers. But the rulers pushed for Barabbas’ release so they could continue their plan to kill Jesus.
Note: Barabbas means “Son of the father.” He was a revolutionary, someone who would be considered a domestic terrorist in today's terminology.
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed for the unity of believers and the church. I wonder what He would say to us today with all the denominations who legalistically argue amongst themselves, dividing the body even further.
- When Peter should have followed, he fought. When he should have led, he denied. We face the same challenge in knowing when to follow and when to lead to fulfilling God’s will today.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
