seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 18:15 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.
19 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.
25 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.
I figured the "other disciple" was John. The commentary agrees.
Many writers believe that John was from a very well to do family. As we said before, many even believe that the spacious home where the Last Supper was eaten in the Upper Room, belonged to this family.
Apparently, John was more than just an acquaintance, because the term for “known” can mean a friend (Luke 2:44). The fact that he mentioned Nicodemus (3:1), and Joseph (19:38), may indicate his knowledge of other prominent Jews.
That upper room and this abode of Caiaphas' were not far apart. It would be very likely then, that is why he could come and bring Peter in. This is perhaps reading between the lines, but this is probably the case here.
Now Jesus knew the law. I just love how He's never surprised by anything. This is from the same commentary.
At the core of their concern was Jesus’ claim that He was the Son of God. In a formal Jewish hearing, to question the defendant may have been illegal because a case had to rest on the weight of the testimony of witnesses.
If this was an informal interrogation before the High Priest emeritus and not before the Sanhedrin, Annas may have thought that he was not bound by such rules. Jesus however, knew the law and demanded that witnesses be called. An official knew Jesus was rebuking Annas and retaliated.
You know the high priest had heard about the 5,000 men who were fed at one of Jesus' meetings. The high priest is perhaps, trying to find out what they would have to fight, if an uprising of Jesus' followers takes place.
He should already know Jesus' doctrine. Jesus had not hidden to teach. He had taught in Jerusalem many times. There was no secret about Jesus' activity. They just wanted to trap Jesus, so they might have something to accuse Him of.
Annas recognized that he was not getting anywhere with Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas because, if Jesus was to be brought before Pilate for execution, the legal accusation must be brought by the current reigning High Priest I.e., Caiaphas in his capacity as chairman of the Sanhedrin.
Annas sends Jesus to the high priest, Caiaphas.
Meanwhile.... outside... Peter denied being a disciple.
Everybody knows Simon Peter, that big guy with his sword.... was a coward when asked about Jesus. Everyone knows the story "before the rooster crows". I guess it's because it used the word **** for rooster.
What I find interesting is that the "other disciple", John, was apparently a fairly wealthy guy. Apparently.... at least according to the commentary I used today.... John may have owned a home near the home of Annas... the father in law of the high priest. According to the same commentary.... the Upper Room was in John's place. So John wasn't just a poor fisherman. John was from a fairly wealthy neighborhood. Fancy that.... John knew the people well enough to bring Simon Peter to the inner courts where he could at least keep warm by the fire while he waited for John to come back out.
Inside.... in front of Annas.... Jesus was being questioned. Jesus got smacked!
Annas was hoping to uncover some dirt on Jesus that he could pass on to his son-in-law. If they were going to get the Romans to do away with Him for them, they would need to come up with a real crime. Giving sight to a man who had been blind since birth... on the wrong day of the week.... was not a crime... Jesus only broke their rules, regulations, policies and procedures... but that was not a crime. Telling a man who had been laying around for 38 years to get up and pick up his mat... on the wrong day of the week.... was not a crime.... Jesus only broke their rules, regulations, policies and procedures... but it was not a crime. Bringing his friend Lazarus back from the dead.... four days stinky.... was not a crime.... it was indeed so stinky Mary must have spilled expensive perfume on Jesus' feet trying to cover the stink.... but it wasn't a crime.
Annas needed to find a crime. So Annas was trying to get Jesus to admit to something that was a crime. Jesus knew the law.... and Jesus wasn't about to self incriminate. Jesus had to go to the Cross to finish His Mission... but He had to go to the Cross as an innocent man.
Jesus told Annas that people had been watching Him constantly.... "ask them".
Annas was well aware that Jesus drew big crowds. That was a problem.... Rome didn't like to have to deal with crowd control. There were too many armed men with a dream of running Rome out of Jerusalem and Israel. Annas had to ask if the 5,000 men who gathered to eat fish and bread from a little boy's picnic lunch.... were really an army ready to strike.
I figure Annas really asked Jesus what He said to those 5,000 men that day.... to which Jesus responded... "ask them". That's when He got smacked by the big guy. Jesus was smacked for no reason.... that's a problem. Jesus knew there were at least 5,000 witness who would tell that big lug that Jesus only talked about being kind to people.
Nothing Jesus could have said would have been enough to get Jesus to the Cross. Jesus led a great life. The Mission was to get to the Cross without sinning... and Jesus was doing just that.
Going through life without sinning once.... well that's just barely believable.... but it wasn't a crime.
