John 18:1-18 Jesus' Arrest and Peter's First Denial

In John 13 Peter tells Jesus that "I will lay down my life for thy sake" and Jesus tells him "...verily, verily, I say  unto thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice."  Peter was so sure of his love for Christ, so sure that he would never deny him but in John 18 we have the fulfillment of Jesus words to Peter, and in V15-18 the first of three denials that Peter was one of Jesus' disciples.

John 18 follows the prayer of Jesus: for himself, his disciples and all those who will believe on him through the preaching of the  gospel.  Jesus goes over the brook Cedron with his disciples, and is met by Judas and a band of men.

V1-5 "..Jesus...went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.  And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place:...Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.  Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, 'Whom seek ye?'..  They answered him Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus saith unto them, I am he.  And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them."

The betrayal of Judas was truly abhorrent for as Luke's gospel tells us, Judas betrayed him with a kiss that would identify Jesus.  The chief priests and Pharisees had sent an armed group of men with Judas, as though they would be able to overpower the Son of God.   Jesus knew all these things would happen, and were happening as the plan of God unfolded towards Jesus going to the cross to redeem his own.  He asked the men who they were seeking, but he already knew.   Even at that point Judas could have repented of his actions, but he stood fast with those who came for Jesus.




V6-11 "As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground.....Jesus said 'I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way': that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none."  Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut of his right ear....then said Jesus unto Peter, 'put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?'

The power with which Jesus spoke caused the men to fall backward.  But at other times, others to whom Jesus revealed himself fell forward in worship.  Jesus asks that his disciples be free to go their way, as it was he that they came for that the scripture be fulfilled.  In his earlier prayer Jesus had prayed to his Father that "those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition" (17:12)  Then here was Peter again, boldly  trying to protect Jesus, not understanding that these things must happen that the scripture be fulfilled.  In Matthew's gospel we are told that Jesus healed the servant's ear.  The words hat Jesus spoke to Peter next might be paraphrased, 'Peter, put up your sword, shall I not go to the cross to accomplish that for which the Father has sent me?'  In Matthew's gospel Jesus tells Peter "thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matthew 26:53-54)  Jesus did not need Peter to try and protect him, if it was not his hour, Jesus could have asked for 12 legions of angels to protect him, and the Father would have sent them.

Next we have Jesus being taken to the high priest, and Peter's first denial.

V12-14 "then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.  Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people."

Did the band really believe that binding Jesus could restrain him if Jesus did not submit to being bound?  the foolishness of men, but they did not believe that Jesus was God incarnate.  Caiphus had previously prophesied not knowingly that 'one man should die for the people.'  Caiphus and the others were afraid that Jesus and those who followed Jesus would be a threat to them from the Romans, so he said that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.  But in fact, one man did die for his people, the Lord Jesus shed his precious blood to atone for sins, and took upon himself the penalty for sins for his own, for all those who would believe on him as their Saviour.

V15-18 "And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple ...that was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.  But Peter stood at the door without.  Then went out that other disciple which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door and brought in Peter.  Then saith the damsel ...unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples?  He saith, I am not.  And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself."

At first Peter followed Jesus, as did another who was probably John, the writer of this gospel who never speaks of himself by name.  But even when asked to go in, Peter stood outside.  He who said he would lay down his life for Jesus, now hesitated to follow him.  But his actions grew worse, when the damsel at the door asked him if he was one of Jesus' disciples, Peter denied that he was, and then to compound that, he went to where the officers who had arrested Jesus were, and warmed himself at their fire because it was cold.  Peter is heading down a dangerous path,  he does not remember the words of Jesus that Satan had  desired to sift him as wheat.  And there are more denials to come.

Next post will be the questioning of Jesus and two more denials by Peter.
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