The Arrest

Lesson #299

“So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him” (John 18:12 ESV). From previous studies, we found Jesus willing to surrender to them, so why the need to bind him? Maybe they bound him for security reasons, thinking that he might try to escape again as he did in the past when they came to arrest him. Maybe they bound him in an act of contempt as they led him away to be treated as a vile criminal. As Jesus was bound the process was set in motion for his people to be set free from the bondage of sin, to be delivered from captivity by Satan, and to be freed from the bondage of the law. Binding Jesus reminds us of Abraham binding his son Isaac to be offered as a sacrifice and the binding of the sacrifice to the horns of the altar.

“First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year” (John 18:13 ESV). It is not clear why John added this bit of information. Trying to give a reason is only speculation, so I will simply say that the home of Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas was probably a convenient stopping point and place to hold Jesus until Caiaphas assembled the council. In Luke 3:2 we learn that Annas and Caiaphas may have shared the position of high priest.

“It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people” (John 18:14 ESV). This piece of information is enough to disqualify Caiaphas as the person to sit in judgment of Jesus. His advice to the Jews that Jesus should die for the people, indicates that he had already prejudged and condemned him. If Jesus was to be condemned to die it would have to be done apart from the rules of justice because Jesus was without sin; he was not guilty of any charge that might be made against him. This is not unlike what is happening to many Christians who live under persecution today. Christians are being imprisoned, tortured and even killed on false charges. Like Jesus, these Christians are seen as trouble makers who oppose their false beliefs and their influence needs to be reduced, sometimes even eliminated.

Prayer

Father, as I think about this injustice, I think of some of my readers who live in countries of persecution. I try to learn as much as I can about what their lives are like; the fears of false charges be levied against them; the suffering they might have to endure; the concern if they will be strong enough to stand and not deny like Peter did. Father, I pray for these, some who risk so much if caught reading these Bible studies. I pray for their encouragement when the going is hard; for endurance when they are not sure how much more they can take; for steadfastness to be able to stand with honor and not deny their faith or their Lord. Father, I encourage my western readers to learn from these brothers and sisters, because someday it may be our turn to take a stand; maybe that time for some is now.