John 18 - The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

18:1 Cedron. The Kidron Valley, the eastern boundary of Jerusalem. garden. Gethsemane, where Jesus agonized in prayer (Mark 14:32–42).

18:2 resorted thither. Met there.

18:3 band of men. They came armed with weapons in anticipation of the possibility of Jesus attempting to resist arrest.

18:5–6 I am he. Literally, “I am.” Jesus boldly declared His identity as Jehovah (8:58; Ex. 3:14). went backward, and fell. Christ’s words manifested enough of His divine glory to overcome them, showing how easily the Lord could have escaped their arrest.

18:8 let these go. The Shepherd protects His own dear sheep, even as He lays down His own life (10:11–12).

18:9 I lost none. As He had prayed (17:12), Christ preserved all of His disciples, here by not allowing them to be tempted beyond their strength.

18:10 Malchus. See Luke 22:50–51.

18:11 cup . . . shall I not drink it? Symbolic language for receiving on Himself the justice and wrath of God against sinners (Pss. 11:6; 75:8; Isa. 51:17,22; Jer. 25:15; Rev. 14:10; 16:19). which my Father hath given me. Christ died in love and obedience to God (10:18).

18:13–27 Jesus was first tried by the Jewish leaders at night, showing His rejection by the corrupt religious powers of Israel. Examination of ancient Jewish writings suggests that these leaders violated several of their own regulations in their zeal to find Jesus guilty.

18:14 expedient that one man should die. A reminder both that the priests had already determined to kill Jesus, regardless of the outcome of the judicial proceedings, and that this was the will of God for the salvation of sinners from all nations (11:49–53).

18:15 another disciple. Most likely John, the author of this gospel.

18:16 without. Outside.

18:17 damsel. Servant or slave girl.

18:19–20 doctrine. Teaching. whither . . . resort. Where they gather.

18:22–23 If I have spoken evil. Even as Christ meekly went to die, as a prophet He briefly protested the injustice of their actions (Jer. 20:1–6).

18:26 The fact that the question came from a relative (kinsman) of the man whose ear Peter had cut off (v. 10) highlights the danger Peter must have felt himself to be in.

18:27 the cock crew. The rooster crowed after Peter had denied the Lord three times (vv. 17,25), just as Jesus had foretold (13:38)—another sign of the Lord’s sovereignty over His own Passion.

18:28—19:16 Christ’s trials before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin were now over, and His trial before Pilate was to begin early the following day, highlighting His condemnation by the unjust civil powers of the Gentiles.

18:28 lest they . . . be defiled. Evidence of their hypocrisy in observing the ceremonial law while arranging the murder of God’s Son.

18:29 Pontius Pilate, the prefect of the imperial province of Judaea, was not necessarily interested in this case but was driven by his fear of unrest among the Jews.

18:30 malefactor. Evil-doer, criminal.

18:31 not lawful for us to put any man to death. It is debated whether this was on the basis of the feast or tied to some temporary political restriction.

18:32 what death he should die. Christ had foretold that he would be “lifted up” in death (3:14; 12:32–33) and thus not die by stoning on the part of the Jews (10:31–33; 11:8); He would die by the Roman punishment of crucifixion, a sign of bearing the curse of the broken moral law of God (Deut. 21:22–23; Gal. 3:13).

18:33–37 Art thou the King. Christ’s reply could not be a simple yes or no. His kingdom is not political (of this world ) but is spiritual (3:3–6; Rom. 14:17), for He rules His subjects not by coercive force but through their faith (heareth my voice) in His Word (bear witness unto the truth). He was not a violent political revolutionary.

18:38 no fault at all. Pilate gave public testimony that Jesus was innocent (v. 6).

18:40 Barabbas. An insurrectionist, guilty of multiple crimes, including murder (Mark 15:7).

Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship: Chapter 18

1. Christ, as the great “I am,” could easily have destroyed His enemies by His divine power (v. 6). He had many powerful servants (the angels) who could have protected Him, but He did not come to be that kind of king (v. 36). Instead, His kingdom comes by preaching and believing the truth (v. 37). What does this teach us about the manner in which the church overcomes this world?
2. Christ was condemned to die under charges of criminal acts (v. 33; 19:12), and the one guilty of criminal acts was set free (v. 40). This teaches us two lessons, for both human sin and divine providence were at work here. First, so deep is the hatred and hardness of the hearts of fallen men that they prefer a murderer to the righteous Son of God (Acts 3:14). Second, so deep is the love of God that He sent His Son to die for the sins of His people in order that they, the guilty, would go free (3:16–17). How should these truths humble us and fill us with gratitude?