Daily Devotions
John
John 18:12-27 "THE INTERROGATION OF JESUS"
Day 279 – John 18
THE INTERROGATION OF JESUS
Annas had of course heard of Jesus. It would have been reported to Annas that Jesus had on at least one occasion disrupted his family business. Let us recall this incident,
“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus
went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the Temple
those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the
money changers doing business. When He had made
a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the Temple,
with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out
the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
And He said to those who sold doves,
‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s
house a house of merchandise!'”
John 2:13-16
Now Annas had the arrested Jesus in front of him. What was this Man really like? Annas soon began his interrogation of Jesus.
“The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples
and His doctrine.”
John 18:19
Who were His Disciples? What were His main doctrines? What did Jesus stand for?
THE SUPREME CONFIDENCE OF JESUS
How did Jesus answer Annas? We must believe that Jesus held Himself with the same cool confidence that He displayed at the Garden of Gethsemane. Thus, quietly He said,
“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.
Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard
Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”
John 18:20
Probably no one else had spoken to Annas in such a manner. How do we read this statement that Jesus made?
1. Jesus refused to entertain Annas!
2. Of course, He knew that Annas was attempting to toy with Him. He refused to be part of that charade!
3. If Annas really wanted to know about Jesus, His disciples and His doctrine, all his informers would have given him all the information he wanted.
JESUS’ LIFE – AN OPEN BOOK!
Jesus’ answer to Annas was startling. In effect, He said that His life was an open book! He had lived a very transparent life. He had nothing to hide! Thus He could say as boldly as He did these words:-
1. “In secret I have said nothing”
Jesus could not be accused of any clandestine activities! Whatever He taught, and did – it was all out in the open! How many can speak as Jesus did?
a) “I spoke openly to the world.”
b) “I always taught in synagogues and in the Temple.”
2. “Ask those who have heard Me …”
The Jews (a reference to some of Annas’ men) had been sent to Him on previous occasions. There had been public debates between Jesus and the Jews. The latter had been soundly beaten again and again!
What would be the point of answering the questions that Annas raised? If Annas had really been on the level, he would have had the credentials of Jesus checked out again and again.
THE FIRST BLOW METED OUT AGAINST JESUS
One of the officers felt that Jesus should have been more compliant. How could anyone speak to the High Priest in that way? There was nothing in the words of Jesus to provoke this response; it was just the fact that nobody had dared to stand up to Annas until now!
John wrote how Jesus endured the first blow from His enemies.
“And 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?'”
John 18:22
The suffering of Jesus had begun. This was another sip from the cup of suffering! He who had healed so many (one of the recipients of His healing grace worked as a servant in the household of the High Priest, perhaps in this very household) was now struck by an officer attending this interrogation!
Jesus must have looked at the man who struck Him when He said,
“If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil;
but if well, why do you strike Me?”
John 18:23
The use of force was not allowed in any court proceedings. If any punishment is to be meted out at all, it must have the endorsement or approval of the Sanhedrin Council. Jesus pointed out that the arresting officer should not have hit Him!