The events of John 18 show us the arrest and trial of Jesus. At some undesignated place, Jesus had spent some time in prayer. He prayed for Himself, that the Father would glorify His Son. He prayed for His disciples, that the Father would keep and sanctify them through His name. Then He prayed for all believers unity and glorification. Jesus left the place of prayer for His meeting with His enemies.
John 18:1 NKJVWhen Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
There is much significance in His leaving the city. Jesus was leaving Jerusalem, the place God had chosen to put His name.
Deuteronomy 16:2 NKJV Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the Lord your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the Lord chooses to put His name.
1 Kings 8:28-29 NKJV Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
The original City of David was between the Kidron Valley and the Tyropoen or Central Valley. Both of these valleys lead down into the Valley of Hinnom which goes toward the west. The Garden of Gethsemane is on the eastern side of the Kidron Valley.
It is an interesting side note that the Hebrew letter ש (Shin), which represents His name (El Shaddai— שַׁדַּי), is in the geographical relief of the City.
Revelation 3:12 NKJV He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
John 18:1 NKJVWhen Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.
In the Bible, the Kidron Valley and the Brook Kidron is a place of exile and judgment.
This is a place where difficult things must be faced.
- King David was exiled from his throne at the Brook Kidron, 2 Samuel 15:23.
- Asa cut down an obscene image of Asherah and burned it by the Brook Kidron, 1 Kings 2:37.
- Hilkiah the high priest commanded the Baals and Asherahs be burned outside Jerusalem at the Brook Kidron, 1 Kings 15:13.
- The altars which Manasseh had made were broken down and pulverized and their dust was thrown into the Brook Kidron, 2 Kings 23:4, 6, 12.
- Jeremiah 31:40 tells of a day when God shall make the whole valley holy as far as the Brook Kidron.
This is the place for Christ’s arrest (18:1–14).
John 18:2-3 NKJV And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus deliberately met Judas and his mob.
Several times the Gospel of John tells us Jesus knew what was about to happen.
John 13:1 NKJVNow before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 13:2-3 NKJV And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God.
Several times during the Gospel account, we are told Jesus knew what He would do. He always knew the will of the Father. He knew where certain people were and what was going to happen.
It is interesting to note that Christ’s arrest took place in a garden.
When the first Adam met the enemy in a garden, he failed. Christ, the last Adam, met the enemy in a garden and triumphed, (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45). Adam hid himself but Christ openly revealed Himself.
Judas stood with the enemy. People will always go where their hearts are; the devil had captivated Judas’ heart. He stood with the crowd against Christ. Satan had filled his heart to betray the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is sad to observe what happened to the Disciples of Christ in the garden. They all did exactly what Jesus said they would do. They withdrew from Him and forsook Him.
Here comes Judas with troops, officers, lanterns, torches, and weapons to take Jesus. Pay attention to the actions of everyone in this setting.
Watch what Jesus did. He did not flee and hide. He knew who He was and what He was going to do. He knew His authority and power and was prepared for the moment.
John 18:4-6 NKJV Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Jesus stunned them when He used the divine name, “I AM!” In the statement, “I am He,” the word “He” is not in the original Greek manuscripts. Jesus spoke from His eternal being and said, “I AM.” When God appeared to Moses He said, “I Am Who I Am.”They were not able to withstand His glory and power. Jesus said: “I AM”, and they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 18:7-9 NKJV Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”
In John 17, Jesus warned His disciples that He was going away. He warned them of coming trouble and told them they would be scattered to their own home. Now that everything was beginning to happen, Peter felt that everyone was in danger and he was ready to fight. During His prayer, Jesus said, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled,” (John 17:12).
John 18:10-11 NKJV Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
Peter was responding in the wrong way. He was attempting to protect the Lord, but he used the wrong weapon, had the wrong motive and accomplished the wrong result! Even in these conditions, Jesus demonstrated the grace, mercy, and love of God. When Peter cut off Malchus’ ear, Jesus intervened for Peter. Out of the riches of His mercy and grace, Jesus touched his ear and healed Malchus. (Luke 22:51)
The first Jewish trial was before Annas.
John 18:12-13 NKJV Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
Simon Peter and another disciple (probably John) followed Jesus.
John 18:15-16 NKJV 15And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16But 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.
This must have been a difficult thing for these two disciples to watch.
John 18:17-18 NKJV 17Then 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.” 18Now 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.
John 18:19-20 NKJV The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 20Jesus 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.
John 18:21-22 NKJV 21Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” 22And 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?”
The second Jewish trial was before Caiaphas.
John 18:23-24 NKJV 23Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” 24Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Luke 3:2 tells us that Annas and Caiaphas were high priests at the same time. The fact that there were two men identified as high priests shows how corrupt the nation was at that time. While Jesus was in their custody, they spit upon Him, mocked, beat, blindfolded and struck Jesus in the face with the palm of their hands.
John 18:25-27 NKJV 25Now 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!” 26One 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?” 27Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
In the Upper Room, Jesus had warned Peter of what was going to happen. As soon as the rooster crowed, Peter went out and wept bitterly. He remembered what was said and knew that he had failed the Lord.
From the High Priest, they led Jesus to the Praetorium for His first trial before Pilate.
The Jewish leaders would not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled and not be able to eat the Passover. Jesus was assumed to be guilty and was treated that way. Although the Jews made many accusations against Him, Jesus answered him not a word, (Matthew 27:11-14).
John 18:37 NKJV Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Ultimately, Pilate told the Jews, “I find no fault in Him at all.”
From John 18:33 through 19:15, Pilate’s indecision was recorded at least seven times.
He kept going from the hall to the Jews outside trying to work out a compromise. According to Jewish custom, a prisoner was released at the Passover. After he found no fault with Jesus, Pilate offered to release the King of the Jews. The crowd cried out, “Not this Man, but give us Barabbas…” Barabbas was a robber.
Wanting to please the people, Pilate took Jesus and had Him scourged.
John 19:1-4 NKJV So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”
This is the reason Jesus came into this world.
John 18:37 NKJV Before Pilate, Jesus said, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
John 12:27 NKJV “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
John 3:16-17 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.