Slideshow image

Monday: The Great I Am

Read John 18:1-9, Exodus 3:13-14, Isaiah 43:8-13, John 8:58-59

The betrayer has come with an attachment of soldiers to arrest Jesus. Jesus seemingly makes their job easier by coming to the front and asking who they are looking for. This appears to be a set up. When they ask for him Jesus delivers a final “I am.”

John has already treated us to seven “I am” statements in his gospel that each highlight a characteristic of who God is. In John 8, he subtly claimed to be the I am of Exodus or Isaiah and the Jews wanted to kill him then.

He does not back down as he faces death. In fact, the power of these two words knocks the soldiers back and requires Jesus to repeat himself.

The I am statements of Jesus give us tangible reference points for who God is. We should remember that even though he is the good shepherd, the way, etc, he is also simply God: The Great I Am.

Tuesday: Lend me your ear

John 18:10-11, Luke 22:47-53, Mark 14:46-52, Matthew 26:51-56

Tensions are understandably high as the soldiers arrest Jesus. Each of the gospel writers tells the story of one of the high priest’s servants getting his ear cut off with unique details. Matthew includes a moment of teaching, “All who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Mark inserts himself into the narrative in the most vulnerable way. Scholars believe that he was the young man who ran away naked after the arrest and ear-splitting commotion. Luke informs us that Jesus immediately healed the man’s ear.

John is the only gospel that tells us who did the slicing and who got Van Gogh’ed. Throughout John’s gospel, Peter has been impulsive and immature. Of course he would be the one to carry and use a sword. (Who gave Peter a sword!?!) If we’re honest, Peter is not on an arc through John. He really hasn’t matured even in this last moment. And in a few sentences, it will get even worse for him. It must have been shocking for early Christians to read about the first leader of Christendom making so many mistakes. How encouraging and redemptive to know that this man could become such a sacrificial and wise leader. But, only after the resurrection.

We also learn that the poor man who got his ear cut off was named Malchus. We’ll learn a few verse later that John was known to the High Priest’s family, which explains why he knew Malchus’ name and probably made for some pretty awkward get togethers. In the end, Malchus may have lucked out. Scholars believe that his ear was struck because he dodged (or Peter missed) a fatal blow.

Wednesday: The Cup

Read John 18:11, Matthew 26:36-46, Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, 21-23, 63:6

At his arrest, in all of the gospels, Jesus is fully surrendered. He alludes to “drinking the cup” as a fate he has accepted. What is the cup? We might think of communion, and there are certainly parallels. When Jesus speaks of the cup, he is referring to the cup of God’s wrath that is featured in Old Testament works of prophecy. Jesus steps up at his arrest and asks that his disciples be allowed to go free. His entire passion (Latin: to suffer) is the same on a global scale. He is taking the cup of God’s wrath that we deserve so that we can go free.

Thursday: Annas and Caiaphas

Read John 18:12-14, 19-24, Mark14:53-54, 66, Luke 22:54, Acts 23:1-5

There seems to be confusion in the biblical narrative about who the high priest is on more than one occasion. Annas was the high priest from AD 6 to 15 when he was deposed by the Romans. The Jews viewed the high priesthood as a lifelong position so he would have still wielded great influence among the Jews until his death and shared many of the ruling capacities with Caiaphas, his son-in-law. In fact, all of Annas’ sons ruled as high priest at some point.

Even Paul struggled to recognize who was the actual high priest when he was questioned more than a decade later. Ultimately, the high priests lacked the legal ability to sentence anyone to death. Caiaphas sends Jesus on to Pilate and into the hands of Rome.

Friday: Denial

Read John 18:15-18, 25-26

John sneaks Peter into the courtyard of the high priest. It must have been a brisk night as the servants who would normally be sleeping were awake because of the arrest and warming themselves in the courtyard. We’ll see the phrase “charcoal fire” again in John 21. Peter, who was so sure of his fidelity, now denies Jesus before a lowly servant girl. Can you picture Peter’s worried face flickering with light from the campfire?

In many ways it was bold of Jesus to sneak so close to the unofficial trial that was taking place. But when he’s finally questioned by someone who saw him cut off Malchus’ ear he denies Jesus a third time. Immediately, the rooster crows. That place is referred to in Latin as Gallicantu, the place of the rooster crowing.

Saturday: Pilate

Read John 18:28-40

Jesus’ interaction with Pilate is infamous. Surely no other provincial Roman governor has gained such notoriety. “What is truth?” Pilate’s question to Jesus questions the very fabric of reality in our world. Do we each have a truth? This would logically mean that there is no truth at all. Or is there one truth that we will never quite attain? Jesus claimed to be that truth. This showdown between Roman (western) thought and Jesus (Christian) thought still rages to this day in our society. Are you on the side of truth?