John
Chapter
18 Continued
{Verses 19-40: Opposition of the Nation}
19~~The high priest {archiereus - RBT says now in front of Caiaphas}
then interrogated {erotao} Jesus
concerning His disciples/students
and concerning His 'doctrinal teaching' {didache}.
{Note: This was an illegal trial:
1) This is night. Jewish law says must be a trial by day
(Note: Luke describes a second phase to this trial in
the daytime in
22:66-71).
2) Held on a holy day which was also illegal - and this was
the Passover.
3) Court was prejudiced and not interested in the facts of the case.
4) Prisoner assumed to be guilty but Jewish law says to
presume innocence.
5) No defense attorney was present.
6) A Jewish trial is supposed to start with examination of
witnesses against
the accused. Have to get 2-3 witnesses to agree to
indite the accused.
7) Penalty could not be pronounced on the same day as the trial.}
{Note: RBT says the purpose of the interrogation here was to get Jesus to implicate His students in His 'crimes' so they could round up the disciples also.}
20~~Jesus 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of Himself' {apokrinomai} for him,
"I kept on communicating/teaching {laleo} at all times
to the cosmos/world.
I always taught {didasko} in the synagogues
and in the temple courts,
in which place all the Jewish people assemble together
{implying "Hey you are Jewish, where were YOU when I was teaching?}.
I have communicated/taught {laleo} not even one thing in secret."
{Note: The word answered is 'apokrinomai'. It is a compound verb . . . a preposition from the ultimate source . . . giving a discerning answer based on knowledge. Krino means: 'to judge'. Krinomai means: 'to be discerning in an answer'. Thus, the full meaning of 'apokrinomai' is: "to give a discerning answer from the ultimate source of ones self."}
{Jesus Continues Without Showing Much Respect to the 'High Priest
acting Illegally'}
21~~"Why do you keep on interrogating {eperotao} Me {Jesus}?
Once and for all interrogate {eperotao} those who heard what I said.
Look, they have inherent knowledge {oida} of what I said {lego}!"
22~~ When He {Jesus} had said {lego} this,
one of the Temple Guards who kept on standing beside {Jesus}
'gave Him a blow with a rod or staff'/
'struck Him with a rod' {didomi rhapisma}
and said, "Is this the way You answer {apokrinomai} the high priest?"
{Note: This was blow with a rod or staff thereby fulfilling that part of Micah 5:1 which says, 'they shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek'.}
23~~ Jesus 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of Himself' {apokrinomai},
"If I have communicated/taught {laleo} evil
- and let us assume I have done wrong
{1st class condition of supposition to prove false}
- testify concerning the evil!
But if . . . {I have communicated/taught/laleo} good {kalos}
- and I have communicated good -
why do you thrash/beat {dero} Me?"
24~~Then Annas sent {apostello} Him,
having tied Him up,
to Caiaphas the high priest.
{Peter's Second and Third Denials}
25~~Now Simon Peter stood
- with the result that he kept on standing -
in the courtyard and warmed himself.
They {Temple Guards and Roman soldiers and temple slaves/servants}
- at points of time in a span of time - said to him,
"Do you not {me - weak negative} keep on being
out from this man's disciples/students {mathetes} also?"
{Yes you are is the required response - they know he is!}
He {Peter} denied it and kept on saying,
"I absolutely am/'keep on being' NOT {ouk - strong negative}!"
{SideNote: People who ask questions where they know the answer already are very often 'filled with pride'! They just want to put Peter down because they can. When Peter denies the Lord, the soldiers do nothing because their fun is over and they had no orders to arrest Peter.}
26~~One of the slaves/servants of the high priest
- who kept on being a relative of the man {Malcus}
whose ear Peter had cut off -
said, "Did I not see you in the orchard associated with Him?"
27~~ Peter then repudiated/denied {arneomai} {it} again,
and immediately a rooster crowed/'uttered a sound' {phoneo}.
{Note: Peter heard this like a bugle! He knew what the Lord said about him came true. Matthew tells us Peter went out and wept bitterly. Under the guidance of God the Holy Spirit, John (Peter's best friend per RBT) is permitted to cut it off right here. Peter is at his lowest point in his spiritual life, but he is still ALIVE! God can still use him! And, Peter will become a spiritual giant and a leader of the early church.}
{Jesus Brought Before Pontius Pilate - the Procurator of the Province
of Judea}
28~~Then they brought Jesus from the ultimate source of {apo} Caiaphas
to the 'Praetorian Hall'/'Roman governor's residence/palace' {praitorion}.
(Now it began to dawn {proia - means dawn is breaking}.)
They did not go into the governor's residence
for the purpose that they would not be ceremonially defiled
{idiom: miaino literally means to be covered in excrement/sewage},
with the result that they might eat the Passover {lamb} {pascha}
{the Passover meal of lamb is a picture of 'faith in Christ'}.
{Note: This is the Passover and Jews would believe they are ceremonially unclean if they enter into the house of a Gentile. So murdering their Messiah does not bother them, but they are not going to break one of their religious taboos! They will murder 'Christ their Passover' but must respect the ritual of eating the Passover lamb! They will go home with clean garments, but their souls will be full of sewage!}
29~~Pilate then came outside {catering to the Jewish mob}
face to face with them and said,
"What accusation {kategoria}
do you bring against this Man {Jesus}?"
{Note: RBT says Pilate was the illegitimate son of 'Tyrus King of Mayance' (sp) the German ruler with lands over near the Rhine. Pilate was sent to Rome as a hostage. Later, he proved himself ever capable and advanced in the Roman army. He earned the name Pontius by conquering Pontus near the Black Sea. Pontius Pilate earned his way to become the Procurator of the Province of Judea.}
{Note: Pilate made a mistake in going outside to the mob and catering to the Jews. Still he was being objective in his questioning at this point in time.}
30~~They 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of themselves' {apokrinomai}
and said to him {Pilate},
"If this one did not keep on being
a 'career criminal'/'one habitually practicing evil' {kakopoios}
- but He is not a career criminal {2nd class condition} -
we would not have handed him over to you."
{Note: The mob is saying they are upright citizens and would not THINK of arresting an innocent man. See Luke 23:1 and following for more on this interrogation.}
31~~Then Pilate told them,
"Seize Him yourselves
and pass judgment on Him according to your own law!"
The Jews {religious leaders} said unto him {Pilate},
"We absolutely cannot {ouk} legally put anyone to death {apothnesko}
{Romans prohibited this in conquered nations}."
32~~ (With the result that The Word {Logos}
at a point in time might receive fulfillment {pleroo} . . .
when He spoke
indicating what kind of death {thanatos - spiritual and physical death}
He was going to 'die from the ultimate source of Himself' {apothnesko}.)
{Note: The Jews stoned people to death. The Old Testament prophesied 500 years earlier that the Messiah would 'die on a piece of wood' (and not under a pile of rocks).}
{Pilate Questions Jesus}
33~~Then Pilate went
into the 'Praetorian Hall'/'Roman governor's residence/palace' {praitorion},
again and summoned {called to question - phoneo} Jesus and asked Him,
"Do You keep on being the king of the Jews?"
{Verses 34-37: Jesus' Answer Satisfies Pilate}
34~~Jesus 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of Himself' {apokrinomai} and said to him {Pilate},
"Do you say this 'from the ultimate source of yourself'/'on your
own initiative',
or have others said it to you concerning Me?"
{Note: Jesus says, 'is this your idea, or did someone testify against Me' - as should happen in a trial. The Romans tolerated kings in their conquered nations, but the real implication is Jesus is being charged with being a 'king against Roman' which is a charge of treason with a penalty of death.}
35~~Pilate 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of himself' {apokrinomai} for Him {Jesus},
"Am I am a Jew? No I am not! {meti}
Your own people/nation and your chief priests
delivered/betrayed {paradidomi} You over to me.
What have you done?"
{not an accusation here - just an honest request for information}
{Note: The Greek word 'meti' used in a question means that the answer has a required answer and therefore should be translated 'no I am not' - or in more street lingo today we would translate it 'HELL NO!'}
{Kingdom of Jesus Does Not Conflict with the Roman Empire}
36~~Jesus 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of Himself' {apokrinomai},
"My kingdom/'royal rulership' {basileia}
keeps on being absolutely not {ouk} from this world/cosmos
{not a national entity in conflict or competition with Rome}.
If My kingdom kept on being from this world/cosmos
-but it is not of this world
{2nd class condition setting up the possibility but denying it}-
then My servants {huperetes} would 'fight violently' {agonizomai}
for the purpose that I would absolutely not {ouk} receive betrayal
to the Jews {religious leaders}.
But now/'at this moment'
My kingdom keeps on being absolutely not {ouk} from this place."
{Note: Agonizomai is the Greek word from which we get agony. It is used in an athletic event where there is fierce competition, or in a battle that is fought to the death. It is a violent fight to the death here.}
37~~Then Pilate then said to Him,
"Do You keep on being a king then?"
Jesus 'had an answer'/'gave a discerning answer
from the ultimate source of Himself' {apokrinomai},
"Affirmative/'You said it'! {idiom: literally: 'You say'}
Because, I am and always will be a king!
'To this end'/'For this purpose', I {Jesus} was born
- in the past with the result that I will be {in hypostatic union}
forever -
and for this cause, I came into the world
for the purpose that that I might be a witness/'bear testimony'
unto the Truth/Doctrine {aletheia}.
The one who keeps on being from the source of the Truth/Doctrine
'hear and obey' {akouo} My Voice."
{Note: See Chapter 10:3 on the True Shepherd and His sheep who listen and obey his voice. This is Pilate's last chance to be positive to God and hear the gospel message of salvation. Only those positive at the point of God consciousness can 'hear' the 'good news'/gospel message about Jesus Christ. Only Christ's sheep can hear His voice.}
38-39~~ Pilate then said to Him,
"What keeps on being Truth/Doctrine?"
Having said this, he {Pilate} went outside
face to face with the Jews {religious leaders} and said,
"I keep on finding no charges/complain/case against Him {Jesus}.
{Note: When Pilate said 'what is Truth'? That was a rhetorical question expression his final ounce of negative volition. If he were positive, he would have asked questions leading to the presentation of the gospel. For Pilate, this finished the scar tissue on his soul and he was lost. Three years later, he would physically commit suicide.}
{Note: I Timothy 6:13 Paul states that 'Pilate witnessed a good testimony' concerning Jesus. This verse is referring to this event.}
39~~"You keep on having a 'custom based on precedent' {sunetheia}
with the result that I should release - in a point of time -
one {prisoner} for you at the Passover.
Are you willing {boulomai} for me to release for you
the king of the Jews?"
{Note: Sunetheia is a custom based on precedent as opposed to a custom/law based on an edict passed by a legislative body.}
{Note: Boulomai is the strongest Greek word for volition. It is a desire based on careful consideration and thought. Pilate is supposed to be ruling, but now he is catering to the mob.}
40~~ Then they all
vociferated/'nastily shouted from mental attitude sins' {kraugazo}
again keeping on saying, "Not this one, but Barabbas!"
(Now Barabbas kept on being a 'career criminal' {lestes}.)
{Note Barabbas means 'son of the father'. The religious Jews chose
the 'son of the father' over the 'Son of God'. They in their mental
attitude sins would rather release a vicious criminal instead of Jesus.}
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