John 18:19-24

John 18:19-24

Therefore the high priest asked Jesus regarding His disciples and regarding His teaching.  Jesus answered to him, “I have spoken openly to the world, I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple where all Jews come together, and I said nothing in secret.  Why do you ask me?  Ask the ones who have heard what I have said to them!  Behold, they know what I have said to them!”  And after He said these things, one of the assistants who had stood by gave a strike with an open hand to Jesus after saying, “Do you answer this way to the high priest?”  Jesus answered to Him, “If I spoke wrongly, testify regarding the wrong!  But if I spoke correctly, why do you strike me?”  Therefore Annas sent Him – having been bound – to Caiaphas the high priest.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

First things first.  I have to declare here that my respect for Jesus has grown through reading this passage – especially in conjunction to the discipleship process.  Notice here that the high priest specifically asks Jesus about His disciples.  Yet, in the whole conversation in John 18, you’ll find that Jesus says absolutely nothing about His disciples.  I think there are two reasons for this. 

• First – and most obvious – Jesus is protecting them.  It is the disciple-maker’s job to protect His disciples while they are under his care.  As a spiritual mentor, I know this lesson and it is tough.  When people come to attack me, my disciples, and the discipleship process the buck must always stop with me.  It is not my place to throw my disciples under the bus.  Outside attacks stop with me.
• Second, I think Jesus is also honoring the discipleship process.  Jesus knows that His disciples will be found by those who know what to look for and who spiritually desire to find it.  This is also true.  Those who wish to be discipled will come humbly seeking what others can give to them.  There is no need for Jesus to tell the high priest who His disciples are.  If he really wanted to know, he’d find them the way it should be done: spiritually with humbleness.

What can you learn from Jesus at his trial about being a spiritual mentor?  What can you learn from Jesus’ trial about the protection offered by a spiritual mentor?  How can that affect your spirituality?

Second Thought:

Annas’ trial at his own courtyard was a mockery of justice.  The Jews had a practice that the western world has adopted.  No person may be asked to answer any question that would incriminate himself.  In other words, a person on trial must not be forced to take the stand.  They can if they desire it; but they must not be forced.  What you see here is Annas violating yet another Jewish law in order to bring Jesus to his version of justice.  Furthermore, we can see greater evidence of the corruption in the system.  When Jesus reminds Annas that the law says that witnesses must be used rather than the accused, Jesus gets slapped in the face.  It is shameful to see the depths that people descend when they seek the destruction of another.  It is even more shameful when it is done simply to destroy the hand of God at work in the world. 

Have you ever thought of Jesus’ trial as a demonstration of horrible leadership because he was forced to defend Himself and risk incriminating Himself?  What does this show about Annas?  When have you seen this in your life?

Third Thought:

I feel the need to be a little clear on this passage with respect to Jesus’ claims.  When Jesus says that He spoke openly, He is not claiming that He only spoke openly.  There can be no denying that Jesus had private conversations with His disciples.  Mark 4:10-12 and Mark 4:33-34 make this point clearly and succinctly.  What Jesus is saying is that He did in fact speak publically.  He did teach in synagogues.  He did teach in the temple.  He did teach where anyone who wanted to come and hear Him could do so.  Annas Himself could have found Jesus and listened to Him had He wanted.  Certainly Jesus taught His disciples privately and more deeply.  But His public message matched His private message, just on a more shallow level.  Jesus’ point is a legal one, not a spiritual one.  There were plenty of people who saw Jesus’ public ministry; any one of them could have been brought as a witness if this were a real trial.

Why do you think that Jesus reminds Annas that He did speak publically?  What does it say about Jesus that although this was a mock trial that wasn’t following the legal procedure that He still submitted to the will of the Lord and endured it?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 18:25-27