Final Hours, Part 1: Trials

Review & Preview

Suffering & Glory (John 12-21) – The Coming King, 12 – The Suffering Servant, 13 – Farewell Address, 14-17 – Passion, 18-19

John 18:1-11

Q: Who are the people with Judas? ● A cohort of Roman soldiers (σπεῖρα) normally numbered around 600 men. Their captain was called a “ruler of a thousand” (χιλίαρχος). These terms indicate a Roman detachment of soldiers. ● Jewish officers of the Chief Priests | Temple Guard (cf. Lk 22:52) – this group had a reputation of brutality, corruption, and secrecy. ● Jewish officials—Chief Priests (Jn 18:3; Lk 22:52); Pharisees (Jn 18:3); Elders (Lk 22:52); and their Servants (Jn 18:10).

Q: Why did they do this in the secrecy of night? ● They wanted to control the situation and the narrative. ● They feared the crowds and did not want to spark a riot. ● They had an opportunity thanks to Judas. ● Jesus could likely have seen this crowd coming—it was a full moon and they had to go through the valley visible from the Mount of Olives—Jesus could have stirred the disciples and fled…but he didn’t.

Notice: Jesus was in complete control (Jn 18:4-9) ● Knowing (vs. 4) ● “I am” – and they fell to the ground (vs. 6) ● Let these men go (vs. 8) ● Healing of the ear (vs 10) ● Shall I not drink the cup (vs. 11)

Q: Why did the soldiers draw back and fall to the ground in John 18:6? ● Shock that Jesus would step forward and self-identify with authority before Judas’ prearranged signal? ● A natural human response when face to face with the “I am”? (cf. Isaiah 6)

Peter’s attempt to save Jesus ● Peter swings his sword and cuts off Malchus’ right ear. Q: Why did Peter only cut off his ear? My guess is that he was aiming to cut off Malchus’ head and Malchus dodged the swing just in time (well, almost). Peter is commanded to put away the sword. This is not how disciples fight their battles (cf. Eph 6:12).

● Mismatch! 600 to 12 (and they only have two swords! See Lk 22:49). ● However! Jesus could have commanded twelve legions of angels (Lk 22:53). − Legions = 5,000-6,000 soldiers | 12 Legions = 72,000 angels. − Mismatch! = 72,000 to 600 (see 2 Kings 6:17)

Q: Why doesn’t John record Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane? ● John often assumes you’ve read the other gospels (“intertextuality”). Notice he alludes to drinking the cup in 18:11.

John 18:12-40

Jewish Phases of Jesus’ Trial ● Jewish Phase #1 - Annas ● Jewish Phase #2 – Caiaphas ● Jewish Phase #3 – Sanhedrin (in Synoptics) Roman Phases of Jesus’ Trial ● Roman Phase #1 - Pilate ● Roman Phase #2 – Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6-12) ● Roman Phase #3 – Pilate

Accusations against Jesus (combining all four gospel accounts) ● Jewish Trial Accusations: – Claims to be the Messiah – Threats against the Temple – Blasphemy - claims to be the Son of Man (Daniel 7) ● Roman Trial Accusations: – Claims to be Messiah, “a King” – clarifying the term for Pilate – Misleading our nation (Lk 23:2-5) – Forbids paying taxes to Caesar (Lk 23:2-5) – He stirs up crowds, inciting rebellion everywhere (Lk 23:2-5)

I find no basis of a charge…this man is innocent ● This trend will continue into our next two sections. Scholars count 7-10 different statements/actions by Pilate indicating Jesus’ innocence. ● The trial of Jesus exposes the guilt of humanity (in all phases of the trial).

We have no right to execute anyone (Jn 18:31)

● Josephus confirms that the Romans had revoked the ability for Jewish leadership to hand out capital punishment (Jewish War 2.8.1). ● But hadn’t they already attempted to stone Jesus on multiple occasions (Jn 8:59). That would have been more of a mob or religious punishment than a Roman trial. So why not stone him now? Was it to invalidate Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah and to not be culpable for his death because of their fear of the crowds?

My Kingdom is not of this world (Jn 18:36) ● But didn’t Jesus say that his Kingdom was both heavenly & earthly? ● Luke 17:20–21 The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. ● He is not a “king” in the sense that Pilate can understand.

What is truth? (Jn 18:38) ● The irony is that truth is never truly sought in the entire legal proceeding, but Truth is right in front of him. There is a higher judge that will hold injustice into account.

Supplemental Material

The Setting (18:1) ● Kidron Valley, Mount of Olives, & Gethsemane (likely means “olive press”) ● Echoes of David & Betrayal – Absalom (David’s son) 2 Samuel 15:23-30 — The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness…30 But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went… – Ahihophel (David’s advisor who conspired against him with Absalom) 2 Samuel 17:23 — When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed…he put his house in order and then hanged himself.

The Overnight Interrogation of Jesus ● The Jewish officials knew that the trial would need to take place before the Sabbath and before the festival officially began (or it would cause a delay of over a week). ● Roman officials like Pilate typically held court in the early morning until mid-morning.

Annas & Caiaphas

● Annas was appointed by Rome as the High Priest AD 7-15 and later removed by Pilate’s predecessor (Valerius Gratus). However, he still held influence through his sons & son-in-law Joseph Caiaphas. ● Caiaphas was appointed as High Priest by Rome AD 18-37. ● John 18:14 alludes to Caiaphas’ unintended prophecy earlier in John 11:49-52.

Was this an unlawful trial? ● The Mishnah (formalized around AD 200) prohibited capital cases from taking place at night, on private property, and on festival days. But this may or may not have been in place during Jesus’ time. (R.T. France). This functioned more like an interrogation or pretrial rather than a formal trial.

Pilate (Roman Governor of Judaea – AD 26-37) ● Pilate’s primary residence would have been in Caesarea Maritima. He would have come to Jerusalem for the festival. ● Jesus is bound and transferred to Pilate’s Praetorium from the Sanhedrin meeting place (Caiaphas’ house or possibly from their meeting hall in the temple (called the Hall of Gazit or “Hall of Hewn Stone”). ● Pilate is likely taking up residence in the Fortress of Antonia or in a former palace of Herod the Great. The Jewish delegation follows to make their case before Pilate. Their desire for “ceremonial cleanliness” is ironic considering their unjust treatment of Jesus. Pilate was under political pressure due to previous incidents recorded in Josephus and Philo.

Pilate’s provocations & political pressures (from Josephus, Philo, and NT sources): c. AD 26-27 Pilate commissioned Roman Standards to be placed in Jerusalem during the cover of night. Emissaries were sent to Caesarea to plead with Pilate. This sparked a week of protests. Pilate had soldiers surround and threaten the crowd with death, but they laid down and stuck out their necks in protest. (Josephus) c. AD 26-28 An uprising because he built an aqueduct using Temple treasury funds. Pilate responded to the protests by sending undercover soldiers into the crowd to suppress the demonstrations. (Josephus) Unknown An incident involving Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with sacrifices (Luke 13:1). c. AD 26-28 Incident of the golden shields dedicated to Tiberius hung in Herod’s Palace located in Jerusalem. Again, protests erupted. This time, Pilate refused to back down and the Jewish leaders appealed to Tiberius Caesar who ordered the reversal of policy. (Philo) c. AD 36, A massacre of Samaritans at Mount Gerizim. (Josephus)

Possible Political Connections with Sejanus: ● Sejanus was possibly Pilate’s benefactor who may have appointed him to office in AD 26. ● Sejanus was known for his anti-Semitic policies which influenced both Tiberius and possibly Pilate. ● Sejanus was executed on October 18th, AD 31 for conspiring to usurp the throne of Tiberius—causing a reversal of the anti-Semitic policies and a systematic removal of political associates. If Jesus’ trial took place on April 3, 33 AD, then it is possible that Pilate under significant pressure to not appear to be associated with his former benefactor.

Peter’s parallel trial and denial of Jesus ● The episodes in John flip back and forth between Jesus and Peter. ● The “beloved disciple” was known to the priestly family and gets them access into the courtyard of the High Priest (Jn 18:15). ● Remember the “charcoal fire” in this scene (Jn 18:18; 21:9). ● In Luke, Jesus turns and looks straight at Peter (Luke 20:61) ● In the synoptics, Peter goes out and weeps bitterly. ● Peter and John will appear here again…and Peter will get a “retrial” (Acts 4:1-14).