Daily Devotions
John
John 18:1-11 "JESUS OF NAZARETH"
Day 274 – John 18
JESUS OF NAZARETH
When Jesus began His ministry, few recognized Him as the Messiah. Even Nathanael, who was one of the earliest disciples found it hard to accept the fact that Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth. Thus he said,
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
John 1:46
Of course Philip did not mean to demean Jesus when he spoke to his friend Nathanael about Him. He was just stating a plain fact! Jesus had spent his boyhood in Nazareth (Matthew 2:22-23). That known fact stuck! He was called “A Nazarene”. He would not gain immediate attention or respect. He would have to “earn” that respect by what He did in His life!
GALILEE – A DESPISED REGION
Even in the days of Jesus, the problem of snobbery existed! The people who lived in Judea, especially those who lived in Jerusalem, despised Galileans. The Galileans spoke with a special accent. They were usually not as well-heeled as those who lived in Judea. Another of the reasons why Galilee was looked down upon was because of its vicinity to the Gentile. Consider this word from the book of Isaiah.
“Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her
who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.”
Isaiah 9:1-2
In this text, the Lord Himself was described as One who “lightly esteemed … Galilee of the Gentiles”. The people who dwelt in this region were described as living “in the land of the shadow of death”.
However, this text suggests that redemption would be given to this region! God Himself would cause His light to shine upon them! A “great light” would shine upon Galilee. That light was none under than Jesus Himself (John 1:9)!
NAZARETH – EVEN MORE DESPISED
Historical books indicate that even among the cities that made up the province of Galilee, Nazareth was despised by the other cities! A small number of cities were mentioned. One city was called Cana (John 2:1). Another city was called Bethsaida (John 1:44 – Philip, Andrew and Peter came from this city). Nazareth was from a poorer suburb and when a nomenclature had a phrase, “Of Nazareth” attached, it was usually used in a pejorative manner.
THE ARRESTING OFFICERS
The detachment of troops that had come to arrest Jesus included Roman soldiers. This arrest of Jesus was authorized by the governor Pontius Pilate. They had been primed to expect the worst! They had come to arrest a man from lowly Nazareth. What did they expect from a person who had come from this despised region! They were in for a surprise!
The contingent of people who came out to arrest Jesus was well described by John. We read,
“Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops,
and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees …”
John 18:3
Judas was flanked by two groups of people. There were the “detachment of troops” (Roman soldiers) and there were the “officers from the chief priests and Pharisees”. They were armed to the teeth (John 18:3b; Matthew 26:47; Mark 14:43 Note the phrase, “swords and clubs”).
Jesus actually went to the detachment of troops and the officers from the chief priests and Pharisees and asked them quietly,
“Whom are you seeking?”
John 18:4
The arresting officers replied,
“Jesus of Nazareth.”
John 18:5
They had not recognized Jesus! They had not expected that this same Jesus would go up to them so calmly and address them! They had expected resistance or flight. Jesus rejected both options. In answer to their statement, He said gently.
“I am He.”
John 18:5
This was all so unexpected! This was all wrong, wasn’t it? Who had they been sent out to arrest? This calm, collected soft-spoken Man? Could He really be the One whom they had been sent to arrest? How could He be Jesus of Nazareth!
John recorded the reaction of the arresting officers! They couldn’t have been more stunned!
“Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’
they drew back and fell to the ground.”
John 18:6
They were so astonished that they fell to the ground! Who was this Jesus of Nazareth? They had come armed with swords and clubs to arrest this Man?