The last events of our Lord’s life are given in keeping with the character of the whole gospel. The perfect obedience, and the divine personality of the blessed Lord shine out, also the full rejection of the Jews. His agony in the garden, and His sufferings as forsaken of God, are not seen, nor His sufferings from the hands of men, as in the other gospels. In Matthew and Mark He is seen as the Lamb led to the slaughter, yet opening not His mouth; and in Luke, what He suffered as a good man from the hands of men, and His agony in the garden are dwelt upon; but in John He is the Son of God accomplishing the Father’s will, yet in perfect obedience, yielding Himself up to His enemies, and giving up His spirit to the Father in death.
Verses 1-3. It was in His usual place of retirement, where He ofttimes resorted to hold communion with His Father, that was selected for His arrest. Judas knew the place, and led a band of men and officers from the chief priests and pharisees, with lanterns and torches and weapons to the spot.
Verses 4-9. Jesus knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth to meet them, and said, “Whom seek ye?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus saith unto them, “I am He.” At His word they go backward, and fall to the ground. They cannot touch Him till He allows it. He could easily have made His escape, but He was not come for that. It was God’s time for Him to yield Himself, so He says again, “Whom seek ye?” and again they answer, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He answered them, “I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way.” His word in Chapter 18:8 had to be fulfilled. He is the good shepherd giving His life for the sheep, yet protecting them. It is His voluntary offering up of Himself, we see here, according to the Father’s will.
Verses 10, 11. Simon Peter used his sword, and cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear. But the Lord tells him to put up his sword into its sheath, and take the place of obedience and submission to the Father’s will, saying, “The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?”
Verses 12-28. They took Him, and bound Him, and led Him away to the high priest’s house. Peter and another disciple followed in. The damsel who kept the door asked Peter if he was a disciple of Jesus, but he denied it, saying, “I am not.” The high priest asked Jesus of His doctrine, but He answered him, “I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou Me? ask them which heard Me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I have said.” He does not recognize the high priest’s authority at all, and when one of the officers struck Him on the face, He said with quiet forcible dignity, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me?”
Then He is sent to Caiaphas, the man who had prophesied that one man should die for the nation (11:49-52).
Peter goes on denying Him till the cock crew. What a witness to what the flesh is, even in a believer.
At last they bring Him to Pilate’s judgment seat. It was early in the morning, but they would not go in lest they should be defiled, and thus not able to eat the Passover. Their consciences allowed them to have murder in them, but zeal for religious ordinances at the same time. How terribly corrupt is fallen human nature.
Verses 29-40. Pilate would rather that they should dispose of the case without him, but they would not, so he needs to take the matter up. The Lord owns his authority, answers his questions, explains to him about His kingdom being not of this world, and Pilate is quite convinced that Jesus is an innocent man, and wants to release Him, but they resist, and resolutely and decidedly choose to let the robber Barabbas go free instead of Christ. Barabbas means, son of the father, but the devil was his father, and the true Son of God the Father, in heaven, is condemned on earth to die.