temple

Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial”

Matthew 26:57-75 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:57)

Mark 14:53-72 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:53)

Luke 22:54-71 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:54)

John 18:12-27 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 18:12)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus”, click here.

 

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

 

THE SPLICE

1 The Roman cohort, their commander and the officers of the Jews 2 arrested Jesus and bound Him. 3 Peter and another disciple followed after Jesus at a distance. Those arresting Jesus took Him to the house of the high priest. The high priest that year was 4 Caiaphas. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was 5 expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. All of the chief priests, scribes, and elders were gathered there with Caiaphas at his house; 6 Annas, a previous high priest and Caiaphas’s father-in-law, was also there.  Those who arrested Jesus led Him to Annas first. During this time, Peter and 7 the other disciple had followed Jesus all the way up to the courtyard of the high priest. The other disciple was known to the high priest, and he was able to enter with Jesus into the high priest’s court, but Peter was standing at the door, outside. So the other disciple went over and spoke to the doorkeeper (who was a female slave) and 8 he brought Peter in. Then the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You are not 9 also one of His disciples, are you?” Peter denied it and said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the officers were sitting there, in the courtyard, having made a charcoal fire in the middle of it, for the night was cold and they were all warming themselves. 10 Peter was below in the courtyard, amongst them, 11 sometimes standing/sometimes sitting and warming himself, awaiting the outcome of Jesus’s trial before the high priest. Now during this time, Jesus was before Annas, and Annas then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? 12 Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer 13 the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. (The rest of Peter’s denial of Jesus and Jesus’s time before Caiaphas probably happened simultaneously). While Jesus was before Caiaphas, Peter was below in the courtyard, still warming himself by the fire with the officers and some of the slaves. Now a servant-girl of the high priest came to him, seeing him in the firelight, warming himself, and she was 14 intently looking at him and said directly to Peter, “You too were with Jesus the Nazarene, the Galilean.” And she said to the others around “This man was with Him, too”. But 15 denied it before all of the officers and slaves, saying to her, “Woman, I do not know Him. 16 I do not know, nor do I understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter went out onto the porch. When he had gone out to the gateway, the servant-girl saw him again and with another servant-girl, said to the bystanders who were there, “This man is one of them! He was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again, he denied it with 17 an oath, 18 “I do not know the man.” And during this exchange with the servant-girls, another man was also there who was saying along with the servant girls, “You are one of them too!” And Peter answered him directly and said, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour had passed, the bystanders from earlier saw Peter and one of the men in the group said to the others, in Peter’s hearing, “Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.” And this group then addressed Peter directly, saying, “Surely you too are one of them for you are a Galilean too; for even the 19 way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to 20 curse and swear, addressing the individual man and the whole group saying, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about; I do not know the man, this man you are talking about!” One of the slaves of the high priest, who was a relative of 21 Malchus, who may have been with the group of bystanders, was in near proximity to Peter at this time. He said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately, while Peter was still talking, a rooster crowed for the second time. The Lord Jesus turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “22 Before a rooster crows today, crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and the whole Council/Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death, and they were not finding any testimony that they could use.  Even though many false witnesses came forward and many were giving false testimony against Him, their testimony was not consistent. But later on, 23 two false witnesses came forward, stood up, and gave false testimony. One said “This man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the other said, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another 24 made without hands.’” 25 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent.   The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent and did not answer. 26 When it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Jesus away to their council chamber. They were saying to Him, “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “27 If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I ask a question, you will not answer.” And again, the high priest was questioning Him, and said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God. Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; I am; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter, from now on, you will see 28 THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER of God, and COMING WITH THE 29 CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.”  Then the high priest 30tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy. What do you think? How does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Jesus to be deserving of death and answered, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth. He deserves death!” Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him, and then some began 31 spit at Him, they spat in His face and then blindfolded Him, beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming. Then the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

 

 

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “Jesus Before Pilate, the First Time” click here

 

NOTES

 

1  Roman cohort: Although there have been debates as to whether or not the Romans were involved in the arrest of Jesus, John 18:12 is clear that there were Roman soldiers present. The Greek word used in John 18:3, 12 for cohort is speira which means “a body of soldiers”. The Greek word used in John 18:12 for the word commander is chiliarchos which means “a commander of a thousand”. Mark 14:54, 65 and Matthew 26:58 uses the word officers which is the Greek word hupéretés meaning “officer, underling, attendant”. It is unknown how the Pharisees came into possession of this Roman cohort in the first place, but it certainly could have been the Herodians that arranged for it. The Herodians had been in partnership with the Pharisees, plotting Jesus’s murder (see Matthew 22:15, 16; Mark 3:6, 8:15, 12:13). The Jews and Pontius Pilate had a shaky relationship, but it is possible that at some point Pilate had given the guard to the Sanhedrin/Pharisees just to make them happy.  (Back)

2 arrested Jesus: The arrest happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, after the Last Supper. To read about Jesus’s time right before the arrest, see Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46. To read the Splice about Gethsemane, click here. (Back)

3  Peter and another disciple followed Jesus at a distance: Peter and the unknown disciple were at a distance because all of the disciples had run away when Jesus was being arrested (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). At some point, Peter and the other guy returned and decided to follow Jesus to the high priest’s house (Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54; John 18:15). It is unknown what happened to the other 9 disciples at that time and we don’t know where traitor Judas went, either. We do know that at the very least, John shows back up at the foot of the cross (John 19:26) and all of Jesus’s friends were there at His death, looking on from a distance (Luke 23:49).  (Back)

4 Caiaphas: Having the office of high priest was quite a position to have, reaping respect and deference from the Jewish people. As high priest, Caiaphas would be responsible for entering the Holy of Holies and making atonement for the people of Israel once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Leviticus 16 gives information on this holiest of days. The reason why we no longer observe this holy day, as Christians, is because Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:15; 5:9-10) and His sacrifice was once and for all; atonement never needs to be made again (Hebrews 10:1-18; Romans 6:10). As a side note, the very first high priest of Israel was Aaron, Moses’s brother (Exodus 28:41; 29:9). (Back)

5  expedient for one man to die: This conversation happened when the Pharisees had gone to Caiaphas because they had were quite upset by Jesus’s miracles, particularly the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46). They went to the high priest, complaining that if Jesus went on performing miracles then everyone would believe in Him, and they feared that if this happened, then Rome would take their nation away. Caiaphas basically gave the stamp of approval for killing Jesus, to save the nation of Israel. See John 11:47-52 to read about this meeting. (Back)

6  Annas: It is unknown whether or not Annas lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Caiaphas. It is unknown whether or not his daughter was still alive. We do know that Annas was high priest at one time, in conjunction with Caiaphas, at the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry (Luke 3:2), during the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1). Annas and Caiaphas show up again, in Acts 4:1-23, when John and Peter are preaching about Jesus’s resurrection. They even recognized John and Peter as having been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).  (Back)

7 the other disciple: Many people assume that the “other disciple” has to be John the disciple/apostle and writer of the gospel of John (as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd letters of John and Revelation). Only John records that Peter had a fellow disciple with him, following Jesus to the high priest’s house (John 18:15). John may or may not have been the apostle accompanying Peter to Jesus’s trial. Why would John mention this disciple if it wasn’t him? On the other hand, John does not refer to the “other disciple” with Peter as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:20-24). John’s usage of  “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is the only confirmed reference to himself throughout his book, as he explains in John 21:24, in reference for John 13:23; 21:20-24 and therefore by relation for 19:26 and 20:2. Another thing to think about is that John and Peter (along with James and Andrew) were fishermen at the Sea of Galilee and therefore probably not highly esteemed among the upper classes in Jerusalem, nor were they probably wealthy. Why would John be known to the high priest of the Sanhedrin at all (John 18:16)? The high priest had the top job over the Sanhedrin, which was the high court of Israel, and he was highly esteemed and wealthy. Back then (just like all through history), common/poor did not mingle with esteemed/wealthy. It is more probable that the relationship that the “other disciple” had with the high priest would have existed before this person became a disciple of Jesus. The word used for known John 18:15 is the Greek word gnóstos which means “known; an acquaintance”. This does suggest an actual relationship, even if a shallow one, and not just “known” by reputation. Besides these two disciples, we can also wonder if traitor Judas was there for the trial proceedings at the house of Caiaphas. The Bible never mentions Judas’s presence at any of the trials of Jesus (there were 5), except possibly in Matthew 27:3 by saying that Judas “saw” that Jesus had been condemned.  The Greek word used for saw in Matthew 27:3 is horaó which means to “see, look upon, experience, perceive”. The word can be used literally or metaphorically, so we can’t know for sure if Judas was physically present at Jesus’s illegal trial. (Back)

8  he brought Peter in: The other disciple is never mentioned again, after this verse in John 18:16.  (Back)

9 also one of this man’s disciples: The Greek word used in John 18:17 for also is kai which means “and, even, also, namely”. In saying “also”, she might have known the other disciple and known about his conversion to becoming a disciple of Jesus’s (another possible indication that perhaps the disciple knew the high priest before his days of following Jesus). But this asks the question: why was Peter afraid, if the other disciple wasn’t? Perhaps Peter didn’t feel he had the same immunity or protection that the other disciple might have had, since this other disciple was known to the high priest (John 18:15). However, there probably wasn’t any protection for anyone from this angry, vengeful mob. Even members of the Sanhedrin who believed in Jesus were afraid of saying so out loud because of the Pharisees and their ire (John 12:42-43). Also, it’s possible that the other disciple was just as afraid as Peter, but had decided he didn’t care anymore if he was arrested for his affiliation with Jesus. (Back)

10 Peter was below in the courtyard: The Greek word used for below in Mark 14:66 is kató meaning “beneath, bottom, down, under”.  This wording suggests that the trial before the high priest was held on an upper floor that looked out and down into the outside courtyard. We know the courtyard is outside because Matthew 26:69 says the courtyard is outside using the Greek word exó meaning “outside or without”. This courtyard is large enough to hold at least some of the officers from the crowd that arrested Jesus, some slaves, and possibly some animals (the Bible only mentions a rooster alongside Peter’s denials, but we don’t know if the rooster is in the courtyard). The room where Jesus’s trial is held must be big enough to hold some more officers and the Council and some false witnesses. This gives us the picture that the high priest’s house is larger than a common house.   (Back)

11 sometimes standing/sometimes sitting: Matthew 26:69 and Luke 22:55 say that Peter was sitting and John 18:25 says he was standing. Logic dictates that he did both while he was there. (Back)

12 Question those who have heard: This answer of Jesus’s, if acted upon, would have done a remarkable thing: given first-hand eyewitness testimony of what He actually said and taught. However, no one at this ridiculous excuse for a trial was truly interested in real testimony. The Council were interested in their agenda and the agenda was killing Jesus (Matthew 26:59; Mark 14:55, John 11:47-53).  (Back)

13 the high priest: Although it is stated that Caiaphas was that year’s high priest (John 18:13), perhaps it was also a title of respect kept for the rest of one’s life, after serving officially as the high priest. Maybe they meant “former high priest”, but the “former” is implied. In any case, Annas had some sort of perceived authority to the Jews (see note 6).  (Back)

14 intently looking at him: The Greek word for intently used in Luke 22:56 is atenizó and it means “to direct the gaze at; to look steadfastly” and has the feel of being “completely fixed” on someone. (Back)

15 Peter denied it: In each of the accounts, the word denial uses the Greek word arneomai and it means to “reject, disown, deny”. Jesus also uses the word deny in the accounts, but He uses a stronger version of the word: aparneomai. It means a strong rejection, or the act of disowning someone. See Matthew 26:70, 72, 75; Mark 14:68, 70, 72; Luke 22:57, 61; John 18:25, 27. (Back)

16 I do not know, nor do I understand: Mark 14:68. The Greek words used here for know (eidó) and understand (epistamai) show us that Peter is saying he has no concept or perception of Jesus. He wants the courtyard folks to believe that he is there, dressed not like a solider or a slave (legitimate people who would be there besides the Sanhedrin) and speaking in a Galilean accent, awaiting the results of Someone’s trial when he has no perception of that Person being in existence. No one is buying it. (Back)

17 an oath: Peter is “swearing to God” or “swearing by God”. Oaths or vows were taken very seriously in Jewish culture. They were used to prove honesty and truthfulness. A false oath is a serious offense against God and this was most certainly a false oath. See Leviticus 19:12; Zechariah 8:17. See Matthew 5:33-37 where Jesus says we are not to make any oaths at all. (Back)

18 “I do not know the man.” See note 15 for usage of the Greek word eidó (Back)

19 way you talk: Peter was from Bethsaida (John 1:44) in Galilee. He had a house in Capernaum, also in Galilee, see Mark 1:21-29; Luke 4:31-38. Galileans were probably plain folk, Galilee being a fishing region, and therefore probably not especially elegant, particularly in speech. The dialect used in Galilee may have sounded a bit rustic to finely tuned ears and/or it had a specific “Galilean” accent.  (Back)

20 curse and swear: See Mark 14:71. The Greek word for curse used in Mark 14:71 is anathematizó and it’s simple definition is to “invoke a curse” and “to devote someone or something to destruction”. A human curse (not divine curses) in its most simplistic idea, wishes evil and bad things upon someone or something. The Greek word for swear used in Mark 14:71 is omnuó, and its simple definition is “to promise with an oath”. Peter did not necessarily use obscenities, but he was invoking curses upon himself, perhaps even Jesus, and promising under an oath that he did not know Jesus. To summarize, Christians shouldn’t be cursing, which is an expression of wrath and vengeance. See Romans 12:14, 17, 19, 21 on curses and vengeance. We should not be taking oaths (Matthew 5:34-37; James 5:12), nor using obscenities (Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:8). For a few more verses about the tongue/what we say, see Proverbs 18:6-7; Proverbs 21:23; James 3:3-12.  (Back)

21 Malchus: Malchus was also a slave of the high priest (John 18:10). In summary, Peter had cut off Malchus’s right ear with a sword while the arrest of Jesus was about to happen in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus told Peter to put his sword away because He would allow this arrest to happen and then He healed Malchus’s ear. See Matthew 26:51-54; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50-51; John 18:10-11. Only Luke tells us that Jesus healed the cut off ear.  (Back)

22 Before a rooster crows today, before a rooster crows twice: The accounts about the prediction of the rooster and the actual crowing of the rooster are found in the following: Matthew 26:34, 74; Mark 14:30, 72; Luke 22:34, 60; John 13:38, 18:27. Only Mark tells us that the rooster crowed twice. It should be understood that the Greek word used for twice in Mark 14:30 is dis which means “twice, utterly or entirely” and in Mark 14:72 the Greek word for second is deuteros which means “afterward, again, secondarily, second, in the second place, the second time”. It should also be understood that in none of the accounts is the word “rooster” actually proceeded by “a” or “the” because there is no distinction. It could be “the rooster” (specific rooster or a representative rooster for all roosters) or it could be “a rooster” (unspecific rooster). Roosters begin crowing before sunrise, sometime between 4am and 6am, called Anticipatory Predawn Crowing, and it’s not just one “crow”.  If there is more than one rooster in a flock, there is a pecking order for when each rooster is allowed to crow. What does all this mean? I think it means that Jesus meant that before the main rooster of the high priest’s courtyard finished his morning announcement of the impending sunrise, Peter would have denied Him three grouped-up times (with several denials per grouping, as several people were accusing him). I think Mark is making the distinction that this rooster crows twice for his morning hello, maybe even after all the other roosters have had their turn. The other 3 gospel writers just tell us that the rooster crowed, giving us the finished product without any of the crowing details, so to speak (Back)

23 two false witnesses: Both of these witnesses were misquoting Jesus. To see what Jesus actually said, see  John 2:18-22. Jesus said He would “raise up” the temple in three days. He uses the word egeiró to mean “raise up, arouse, to waken”. The witnesses are saying rebuild in Matthew 26:61 and Mark 14:58, using the Greek word oikodomeó, which means “to build, to build a house”. As a side note, Jesus will have two witnesses again, this time testifying for Him. See Revelation 11 (Back)

24 made without hands: The Greek word used for this phrase is acheiropoiétos and it is meant to be interpreted as divine design. The false witnesses are proclaiming that Jesus called Himself God. This would be a problem if any other person said they were God (Isaiah 44:6); we know that Jesus is God (John 10:30). Regardless, He didn’t actually use these words. See  John 2:18-22 (Back)

25 Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent: This is the crime that the Sanhedrin want to pin on Jesus, that He called Himself God. In reality, they are envious of Jesus (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10) and the miracles He has performed and the following He had acquired (Matthew 4:24-25). Jesus was also healing on the Sabbath, which they didn’t like (John 5:18) and Jesus didn’t mince words regarding the Pharisees’ hypocrisy to everyone (Matthew 23:1-36; Luke 12:1-3). To make the charge more palatable for Pilate, they tell him that Jesus is a troublemaker, stirring up the general population to revolt against Rome, calling Himself the King of the Jews (Luke 23:2, 5, 13, 14). (Back)

26 When it was day: It is possible that it took all night to find the false witnesses and it turned to day when they took Jesus to their council chamber. It is also possible that Jesus waited in prison while the council dispersed for a bit and when the council regathered a couple of hours later, it was considered “day”.  (Back) (Back)

27 If I tell you, you will not believe: It’s a worthless effort, trying to talk someone into believing about Jesus. We can only pray for people who do not believe Him and we can present the truth of the Bible. (Back)

28  THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER: Jesus is referring to Psalm 110:1.  (Back)

29  CLOUDS OF HEAVEN: Jesus is quoting from Daniel 7:13. I do not believe that the “clouds of heaven” are ordinary clouds, such as a cumulus cloud—something we would normally see in our atmosphere. I believe that there will be no mistaking these as supernatural clouds when they are seen.  (Back)

30 tore his robes: This was a traditional way to show mourning or grief. Many Jewish people still practice this tradition. In Joel 2:13, God instructs those who would turn to Him to rend their hearts, not their garments. This is what the repentance of sin is about. (Back)

31 to spit at Him: It was a disgrace to be spit on, particularly in the face (Numbers 12:14). Jesus was spit on, to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah 50:6. (Back)

The Crucifixion: Part Two

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice Series “The Crucifixion”

Matthew 27:31-56 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 27:31)

Mark 15:20-41 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 15:20)

Luke 23:25-49 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 23:25)

John 19:16-30(Greek Text Analysis starting with John 19:16)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “The Crucifixion: Part One”, click here.

 

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

 

THE SPLICE

And 1 the people stood by looking on. Standing by the cross of Jesus were 2 His mother Mary, and His mother’s sister Mary the wife of Clopas, John the disciple, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother, and 3 John, the disciple whom He loved, standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to John, “Behold, your mother!” From  that hour John took Mary into his own household.

And those passing by were hurling abuse at Jesus, wagging and shaking their heads, mocking Him, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to 4 destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! 5 If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the 6 Jewish rulers, the chief priests, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and 5 we will believe in Him. 7 HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, 5 so that we may see and believe!” They also said,  “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 8 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words. But at some point, 9 one of the robbers had a change of heart because when the other robber was hurling abuse at Jesus, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”. The other robber answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

It was now about the 10 sixth hour, and 11 darkness fell over the whole land until the 12 ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, 13 “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, 14 “I am thirsty.” And the rest of the onlookers said, “Let us see whether 15 Elijah will come to save Him.” Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, 16 he filled it with sour wine from a jar of sour wine that was standing there. They put the sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of 17 hyssop/reed and brought it up to His mouth and gave Him a drink, and said “Let us see whether 15 will come to take Him down.” After this when Jesus had received the sour wine, Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, uttered a loud cry and He said, 18 “FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT. 19 It is finished!” And He bowed His head and 20 gave up/yielded His spirit; 21 He breathed His last.

And behold, the 22 veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 23 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, who was standing right in front of Jesus, 24 saw the way He breathed His last, saw what had happened with the earthquake and the other things that were happening, began praising God, as well as becoming frightened, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent. Truly this man was the Son of God.”  And those who were keeping guard with the centurion also became frightened and 25 also said that Jesus was the Son of God.  And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, 26 began to return, beating their breasts. All of His acquaintances and many women who came up with Him to Jerusalem were there looking on from a distance, seeing these things. Also among them was Mary Magdalene (who had been at the foot of the cross earlier), Mary the mother of James the Less and 27 Joseph/Joses, the mother of the 28 sons of Zebedee, and Salome. When Jesus was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and minister to Him.

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “The Burial of Jesus”, click here.

 

Notes

1 the people stood by looking on: The people standing around were the chief priests, the scribes, the elders/rulers, and possibly some general rubberneckers who enjoyed a gruesome scene. (Back)

2  His mother: What must have been going through Mary’s mind this entire time, while her Son was being crucified? When Jesus was a baby, Simeon told Mary that “a sword will pierce even your own soul…” and these words must have come to her mind watching Jesus suffer. See Luke 2:25-35 to learn about Simeon and his message to Mary. (Back)

3 John, the disciple whom He loved: This is John, the writer of the gospel of John, as well as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd letters of John and the book of Revelation. After all the disciples scattered to their homes, John must have come back. Some think that he came back with Peter (John 18:15-16). But the truth is we don’t know which disciple came back with Peter; we don’t even know if it was one of the remaining 10 out of the 12 disciples (minus Peter and Judas), as anyone who was learning from Him and following Him could be a disciple. We know that the “disciple that Jesus loved” is John because of John 21:20-24, and this connects it with any other verse that states “disciple that Jesus loved”. But John 18:15-16 does not use that phrasing. It is possible it was John; it is possible it was another disciple. And, although John is mentioned at the cross (did he walk beside Jesus to Golgotha?), we do not know if he was the only disciple there. (Back)

4 destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days: This is a twisting of Jesus’s words. See John 2:18-22. Jesus said He would “raise up” the temple in three days. He uses the word egeiró to mean “raise up, arouse, to waken”. The Jews are saying rebuild in Matthew 27:40, using the Greek word oikodomeó, which means “to build, to build a house”. The difference between the two words is important. (Back)

5 If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross: Jesus performed many miracles and showed many signs that the Jews, scribes and Pharisees were witness to. They wouldn’t have believed Him to be the Messiah, even if He chose to disobey God and come down off the cross. It’s the same way with people today. We are all given enough in our lives in order to believe Him (Romans 1:18-20).  No miracle or even a visitation from the dead will change any person’s mind (see Luke 16:30-31) . I think that a person who doesn’t want to believe God would attribute such a miracle of visitation from the dead to mental hallucinations, the bad sushi they ate last night, anything but a miracle from God. For a sampling of miracles witnessed by the Jews and religious elders, see Matthew 8:1-3; 9:2-8; 12:10-15; Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6; John 6:1-14; John 9:1-34, 11:1-46. (Back)

6 Jewish rulers: These people had been up late into the night and up in the early morning (it is possible they were up all night), arresting Jesus, trying to catch Him in some sort of blasphemy, consulting with each other, obtaining false testimonies (Matthew 26:47-68; Mark 14:43-65; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:2-13, 19-24 ) and then convincing Pilate to crucify Him (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-5, 13-24; John 18:28-40, 19:4-16). Their hate for and jealousy of Jesus never runs its course. It is still fueling them, through that day, to ridicule and mock Him. (Back)

7 HE TRUSTS IN GOD: This is in reference to Psalm 22:8. (Back)

8 The robbers who had been crucified: These robbers walked with Jesus, presumably carrying their cross beams/walking in front of a conscripted beam-bearer (Luke 23:32-33). Were they in cahoots with Barabbas, who was also a robber (but also a murderer and insurrectionist, see Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19, 25; John 18:40)? Was Barabbas supposed to be crucified with these two that very day? Very possible, but the Bible doesn’t specify. (Back)

9 one of the robbers had a change of heart: Matthew 27:44 says that both robbers were insulting Jesus, but Luke clarifies that at least one of the robbers changed his mind about Jesus after some time on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). Horrible experiences can do two things, spiritually speaking: they can drive you to Jesus or drive you away from Him. (Back)

10 sixth hour: or, 12pm. (Back)

11 darkness fell over the whole land: We can consider this darkness as a supernatural event, not a natural event such as an eclipse. It brings to mind what the Egyptians experienced as the last plague before God struck down the first born of every household. See Exodus 10:21-23. (Back)

12 ninth hour: or, 3pm. (Back)

13 MY GOD, MY GOD: Jesus is repeating Psalm 22:1. (Back)

14 “I am thirsty.”: The Scripture that was fulfilled was Psalm 69:21. (Back)

15 Elijah: Elijah was a prophet, who had a chariot of fire take him to heaven in 2 Kings 2:11. Perhaps these people think that Elijah will come back down in the chariot to take Jesus to heaven. You can read about Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19; 2 Kings 1:1-2:11. (Back)

16 he filled it with sour wine: This was a cheap wine kept for the soldiers to drink. They didn’t care if Jesus was actually thirsty; this was just a way to extend the life of the sufferer. For anyone who would take part in hammering people to crosses, it was probably amusing to them, as well. You could say that they didn’t have a choice (everyone has a choice), as they were lowly soldiers with a centurion over them (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47) but they seem to be gleeful as they mocked Jesus and beat on Him (Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-20; Luke 23:36) and nonchalant as they gambled for Jesus’s clothing (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24, Luke 23:34; John 19:23-25). And the soldier who pierced Jesus’s side didn’t have to stab Him—they could see He was already dead (John 19:33-34). (Back)

17 hyssop/reed: Matthew 27:48 and Mark 15:36 say reed, using the Greek word kalamos which means “a reed, reed staff, measuring rod, a reed pen”. John 19:29 says hyssop, using the Greek word hussópos which means “hyssop, a stalk of hyssop”. Reed is a general term and hyssop is specific. It’s a stalk/reed of hyssop. (Back)

18 FATHER, INTO YOUR HANDS: Jesus references Psalm 31:5 (Back)

19 It is finished: John 19:30. The Greek word used for finished is tetelestai and it means “to bring to an end, complete, fulfill, I pay, to discharge a debt”. (Back)

20 gave up/yielded His spirit: Matthew 27:50 uses the Greek word aphiémi for the word yielded or gave up. Luke 23:46, and John 19:30 use the same word for yielded. The Greek word they use is paratithémi and it means “to hand over, pledge, deliver, commit”. It’s important to understand that Jesus gave His life—it wasn’t taken from Him. This was all part of the work that He was born into the world to fulfill. See John 10:18; 18:37. (Back)

21 He breathed His last: He breathed His last with quite a bit of strength left, as He was using a loud voice (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46). After a scourging that left His entire back flesh-less, the loss of blood, carrying a cross beam weighing around 100lbs for about 1/2 a mile, being nailed to the cross and hanging for 6 hours in an awkward position, pushing Himself up for each breath, Jesus still had the strength for a loud voice. Most victims of crucifixion would have no strength to talk at the end of all of this trauma. Jesus could talk and could do so loudly.(Back)

22 veil of the temple was torn in two: The importance of this imagery cannot be stressed enough. The veil was the partition between the Holy Place and Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:33). The Holy of Holies was where God was present, above the mercy seat which was on the top of the Ark of the Covenant. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29-34). The veil was torn from top to bottom, as God (top) is granting freedom to people (bottom) to come into His presence through Christ. To read about the veil and mercy seat, see Exodus 26:31-34. To read about the purposes and ceremony of atonement, see Leviticus 16. The ceremony itself was quite intricate. (Back)

23 The tombs were opened: Only Matthew tells us this detail. He says that the bodies of the saints were raised, but they only came out of the tombs after Jesus’s resurrection, appearing to many in Jerusalem. See Matthew 27:52-53. (Back)

24 saw the way He breathed His last: With strength. In the modern era, we cannot appreciate what a crucifixion or flogging entailed . See Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46. (Back)

25 also said that Jesus was the Son of God: This is only the beginning of walking towards a God-gifted faith in Christ. Even the demons recognize God as God (James 2:19) and knew Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 8:29). It’s not enough to just “know” this. God’s faith that He gives as a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) is different than human-conjured faith. This article has a nice layout of the evidence of salvation and as does this piece. (Back)

26 began to return, beating their breasts: This is a fulfillment of Zechariah 12:10. (Back)

27 Joseph/Joses: Matthew 27:56 says Joseph, Mark 15:47 says Joses. Both names are similar, although not exactly the same. It is possible that Joseph went by the nickname Joses. It’s also possible that they are two different people. (Back)

28 sons of Zebedee, and Salome: Because we are not told specifically that Salome is the mother of James and John or the wife of Zebedee, I treat her as a separate person. Many writers and pastors insist that Salome was the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee and therefore, she was the wife of Zebedee. It’s possible, but there isn’t a shred of proof for that, in the English or the Greek. Places where James and John are mentioned as the sons of Zebedee: Matthew 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; 10:35; Luke 5:10; John 21:2. Mentions of their mother: Matthew 20:20-23; Matthew 27:56. Mentions of Zebedee himself: Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:20. (Back)

The Crucifixion: Part One

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice Series “The Crucifixion”

Matthew 27:31-56 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 27:31)

Mark 15:20-41 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 15:20)

Luke 23:25-49 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 23:25)

John 19:16-30(Greek Text Analysis starting with John 19:16)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “Jesus Before Pilate, the Second Time” click here

 

Psalm 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within me.

 

THE SPLICE

And Pilate released 1 Barabbas who had been thrown into 2 prison for 3 insurrection and murder, but Pilate delivered Jesus to the Jews’ will, that is, to have Him 4crucified. Pilate gave Jesus to the soldiers and 5 after they had mocked Him, they took the 6 scarlet/purple robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. Sometime during the start of the walk to the site of the crucifixion, the soldiers seized and pressed into service, a passer-by coming into Jerusalem from the country, 7 Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), 8 to bear His cross. The soldiers put the cross on Simon so he could carry it behind Jesus.

And following Jesus was a large crowd of the people, and 9 women who were mourning and lamenting Him. But Jesus, turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, 10 ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin 11 TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ‘FALL ON US,’ AND TO THE HILLS, ‘COVER US.’ For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others, also, who were 12 criminals/robbers, were being led away to be put to death with Him.  And Jesus went out, 8 bearing His own cross, and when they came to a place called 13 Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, the soldiers tried to give Him wine to drink mixed with 14 gall/myrrh; and after tasting it 15 He was unwilling to drink; He would not take it. And there 16 they crucified Him and the criminals/robbers, one robber on the right side of Jesus and the other robber on His left side. And by being crucified with the robbers, the Scripture was fulfilled which says,17 “And He was numbered with transgressors.”. But during this time, Jesus was saying a prayer, concerning the  soldiers carrying out this duty of crucifying Him, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross, above His head. Pilate’s inscription was the charge against Him and it said:

“THIS IS JESUS THE NAZARENE THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said , ‘I am King of the Jews.’ “ Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

It was the 18 third hour when they crucified Him. After the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross, then put Pilate’s inscription above Jesus’s head, and lifted the cross up off the ground in order to stand it upright, the soldiers took Jesus’s outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: 19 “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.

After dividing up Jesus’s clothes, they sat down, and they began to keep watch and guard over Him there.

 

 

Sketch of a branch

 

Want to continue reading? To read the Splice “The Crucifixion: Part Two” click here

 

COMMENTS

 

1 Barabbas: This is what we know about Barabbas: He was a notorious prisoner (Matthew 27:16) and he was a robber (John 18:40). Some English translations say that Barabbas was an insurrectionist in John 18:40, but the Greek word used is léstés and it means “robber, thief”. But he did also take place in an insurrection as we learn in (Luke 23:19), as well as commit at least one murder. Barabbas was in prison at this time, being jailed with other insurrectionists who had also committed murder (numbers unknown) during this uprising (Mark 15:7). Acts 3:14 confirms (through Peter’s narration) that Barabbas was a murderer. (Back)

2 prison: Prison was synonymous with misery. To read a quick run-down on prison life in ancient Rome, click here. (Back)

3 insurrection and murder: It is important to understand that during Jesus’s time, the Romans ruled quite a bit the world, including Israel. Many Jewish people were resentful over this invasion of Roman power and the polytheism they brought with them. Therefore, there were many insurrections and consequently, murders, committed by the Jewish people during this time. All this unrest eventually led up to the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jesus never became involved with these acts of violence and never sanctioned them. The Bible pointedly tells us to pay our taxes, pray for our government officials, obey the laws of the land (as long as they don’t conflict with God’s laws) and that any authority or ruler on earth was put into power by God. See Matthew 17:24-27, Mark 12:13-17, Romans 13:1-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Titus 3:1-2, 1 Peter 2:13-15. (Back)

4  crucified: Why did God allow Jesus to be crucified? Jesus was ultimately crucified because God the Father deemed it right as the substitute payment for the sins of the elect He calls to be His own (see Galatians 4:4-5). But what about the human justification for Jesus’s crucifixion? The human reason and human method of death was political. The chief priests told Pilate that Jesus called Himself a King and Rome didn’t like self-styled kings (especially with faithful followers) or anyone else who made a move towards overthrowing the government. Therefore, even though Pilate knew Jesus to be innocent of the insurrection charges, Jesus was “officially” murdered for insurrection/conspiring to get others to take part in an insurrection. Insurrectionists/enemies of the state were crucified. (Back)

5 after they had mocked Him: See Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-19, and John 19:1-3. He had also been mocked by Herod and his soldiers when Pilate had sent Him over there (Luke 23:11). (Back)

6 scarlet/purple robe: Strong’s concordance tells us that Matthew 27:28 uses the Greek word kokkinos which means “crimson or scarlet”. Mark 15:20 uses the word porphýra which means “a purple garment”. Helps Word-studies© explains a little more in depth. There were basically three shades of purple used for this idea in the ancient world: deep violet, deep scarlet (or crimson), and deep blue. John 19:5 uses the Greek word porphyroús which means a purple (reddish-purple) cloth or dye. All three of these together tells us that the robe was a purple-scarlet color, maybe akin to red-violet or violet-red from a crayons box. We can only speculate on the exact shade of purple. (Back)

HELPS Word-studies taken from The Discovery Bible, available at discoverybible.com, copyright © 2021, HELPS Ministries Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

7 Simon of Cyrene: It is unknown if Simon was a true disciple of Jesus. Simon is mentioned in Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26. Mark tells us that Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander. It is possible that the Rufus mentioned in Romans 16:13 is the same person as Simon’s son, but we can’t know for sure. There are mentions of Alexander, as well, in Acts 4:6, Acts 19:33, 1 Timothy 1:20, 2 Timothy 4:14. It is unknown if any of the Alexanders mentioned in these verses are Simon’s son. (Back)

8 to bear His cross: John 19:17 says that Jesus went out bearing His own cross to Golgotha. Luke 23:26 says that when the soldiers led Him away, they conscripted Simon and Matthew 27:32 says “as they were coming out” they took hold of Simon to bear the cross for Jesus.  Mark doesn’t really clear up when Jesus carried His cross or when Simon does in Mark 15:20-21. The simplest answer is that when the soldiers were leading Jesus out, seeing Simon, they forced him to take up the cross at first, thinking Jesus would be too weak to carry it on His own. Perhaps it was just something they customarily and automatically did because victims of flogging were too weak to carry the heavy beams themselves. But Jesus was not weak; He cried out in a loud voice even at the very end of this flagrant injustice (Luke 23:46). How He took the cross back is up for grabs, (maybe He told the guards He could carry it Himself), but He definitely carried His own cross, by Himself, all the way to Golgotha, as John pointedly says. Why bring Simon into the story at all, then? I think Mark 15:21 clears that up: Simon’s sons were prominent members of the early Christian church, and people could identify with this information. It is unknown if Simon was involved with the Christian church at all.  (Back)

9 women who were mourning: We don’t know who the women are. We can guess that they were Jesus’s female followers, perhaps even His mother included, but it is only speculation. We only know from Luke 23:28-31 that Jesus spoke to them directly, with a warning. (Back)

10  Blessed are the barren: Jesus is referring to the tribulation at the very end of the current era, where He says that the blessed women would be the ones not nursing or pregnant. This is quite a change from the common view of the day that shame accompanied women who had no children (Luke 1:25). To see Jesus’s warnings concerning the end times, see Matthew 24:3-51, Mark 13:3-37, Luke 17:20-37, 21:7-36. (Back)

11  TO SAY TO THE MOUNTAINS: Jesus is quoting from Hosea 10:8. (Back)

12 Criminals/robbers: Matthew 27:38 and Mark 15:27 say “robbers” and Luke 23:32-33 says “criminals“. John 19:18 says “two others”. (Back)

13 Golgotha: There is no current-day Golgotha. It’s ancient whereabouts is speculated upon, but we don’t know exactly where it stood. (Back)

14 gall/myrrh: Matthew 27:34 says “gall” and uses the Greek word cholé which means “gall, bitter herbs”. Mark 15:23 says “myrrh” and  uses the Greek word smurnizó which means “mixed with myrrh” or “to be like myrrh” “to embitter (as a narcotic)”. This concoction of myrrh/gall was given to help deaden pain. It was made of wine (unknown what kind of wine) and then the painkiller. No drink or drug available back then (or now) would deaden that kind of pain— enduring a flogging and a crucifixion. This concoction was probably all that could be done for a crucifixion victim, other than not using such a cruel form of capital punishment. Also, since it couldn’t make much difference in the torture being inflicted, it may have been given in mockery, for the amusement of the soldiers, to see a desperate soul drinking it in hope. (Back)

15  He was unwilling to drink: Jesus refused the help of this laced wine, because drunkenness/being out of one’s senses (such as with narcotics or alcohol) is not Godly, but sound mind and soberness of mind is (see Ephesians 5:18, 1 Peter 4:7). Jesus was strong, even up to the very end (Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37, 39;Luke 23:46), and He still had work to do on the cross, such as giving His mother over to John (John 19:26-27) and speaking to the repentant criminal (Luke 23:39-43). It would only be fitting that Jesus would face His death in all consciousness and sagacity. (Back)

16  they crucified Him: Crucifixion was the worst way to die in Roman times, and a most disgraceful curse to the Jews (see Deuteronomy 21:22-23; 1 Corinthians 1:23). What is important to know is that Jesus became the disgraceful curse in our place, by His death on the cross, in order to reconcile us with God (Galatians 3:13). To read about the horrors of crucifixion, click here. (Back)

17  And He was numbered with transgressors:  This is a reference to Isaiah 53:12. Isaiah 53 contains a lot of information about the Messiah. (Back)

18  third hour: Mark 15:25 tells us that Jesus was crucified at the third hour (9am). Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44 says that from 12pm to 3pm there was darkness over the land and Luke 23:45 says it was because the sun was obscured. Jesus died around 3pm (Matthew 27:46-50, Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:44-46). Darkness is symbolic of judgment from God. For a sampling of this symbolism see Isaiah 5:30; Job 5:14; Nahum 1:8; Matthew 22:13; 2 Peter 2:17 and Revelation 16:10. Also, there seems to be a discrepancy in the time keeping, as John 19:14 says it was the sixth hour while Jesus was still with Pilate. John is possibly using Roman time-keeping or keeping track of how many hours passed by since Jesus’s arrest. Matthew, Mark and Luke are using Jewish time-keeping. See this article for a great explanation. (Back)

19  “THEY DIVIDED MY OUTER GARMENTS: This is from Psalm 22:18. (Back)

 

The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus

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Scripture Used to Create the Splice “The Betrayal and Illegal Arrest of Jesus”

Matthew 26:47-56 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Matthew 26:47)

Mark 14:43-52 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Mark 14:43)

Luke 22:47-53 (Greek Text Analysis starting with Luke 22:47)

John 18:2-11 (Greek Text Analysis starting with John 18:2)

 

Need to catch up first? To read the Splice “Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane”, click here

 

Zechariah 11:13
Then the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

 

THE SPLICE

Now 1 Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, who was betraying Jesus, knew the place of Gethsemane, for 2 Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Immediately while Jesus was still 3 speaking to the disciples, 4 behold, Judas, who was one of the twelve, came up. Judas was leading the way, followed by a large crowd which was comprised of a Roman 5 cohort (he had received them from the chief priests, scribes, elders of the people and the Pharisees), some chief priests, elders, and officers. This large crowd was carrying weapons, specifically 6 swords and clubs. They also had torches and lanterns. Judas approached Jesus to 7 kiss Him. Now Judas, who was betraying Jesus, had at an unspecified time previous, gave the crowd 8 a sign, a signal saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard.” 9 Immediately Judas went up to Jesus saying, “Hail, 10 Rabbi!”. At the same time Judas was approaching Him, Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to Judas, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? 11 Friend, do what you have come for.” 12 And Judas kissed Him. Jesus turned His attention back to the crowd and said to the crowd, 13 “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas was now standing with the crowd. So when He said to them, “I am He,” 14 they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And 15 they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” When the disciples who were around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the 16 sword?” Then the crowd came forward and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. 17 And Simon Peter, having a sword, reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and 18 cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was 19 Malchus. Then Jesus answered, and said to Peter, “Stop! No more of this. Put your sword back into its place, into the sheath; 20 for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? The cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” 21 And He touched Malchus’s ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, to this crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I was with you; and while I was with you daily in the temple, I used to sit in the temple teaching, and you did not lay hands on Me and seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. This hour and the power of darkness are yours.” So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, 22 arrested Jesus and bound Him. 23 Then all the disciples left Him and fled. 24 A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him, too. But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

 

Want to keep reading? To read the Splice “Jesus Before the High Priest and Peter’s Denial” click here

 

NOTES

 

1  Judas Iscariot: It must be remembered that lots of people were named Judas, not just this infamous one, including a second disciple and Jesus’s half-brother. Judas in the Hebrew is “Yehudah” from a root word meaning “praised”. (Back)

2  Jesus had often met there with His disciples: See Luke 21:37 and 22:39. (Back)

3  speaking to the disciples: In the garden (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). To see the Splice about the garden of Gethsemane, click here. (Back)

4  behold: The Greek word used in Matthew 26:47 for behold is horaó and means “to see, perceive, attend to, discern”. This word can be used to mean metaphorically “look” or physically “look”. (Back)

5  cohort: John 18:3 uses the word cohort. The Greek word for cohort is speira and means anything wound up or coiled, or a body of soldiers. It also means “a tenth part of a legion”. A legion is 6,000 men. A tenth of 6,000 is 600. The Bible does not specify the exact number of people that were there in the mob. (Back)

6  swords and clubs: The Greek word for sword used in Matthew 26:47 is machaira which is a short sword or dagger. The Greek word for club used in Matthew 26:47 is xulon meaning “wood”. The word xulon can be applied to anything made of wood or a piece of wood, such as a club, staff, the trunk of a tree, or even the wood used to support the crossbar of a cross in crucifixion. (Back)

7  kiss Him: Matthew 26:49 and Mark 14:45 use the Greek word kataphileó and it means “to kiss affectionately”. Luke 22:47 uses the Greek word phileó and it means “to love”. Kisses were used as signs of respect back in the ancient world. But this kiss was also done with (false) affection and friendship. (Back)

8  a sign, a signal: The signal was worked out presumably when Judas and his thugs were still with the chief priests at their unspecified location, since Mark 14:43 says that Judas immediately went to Jesus as they walked up. The sign was established either when Judas worked out the price of the betrayal with the chief priests (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6) or that night when he left the disciples and Jesus to go get his mob (John 13:30). Matthew, Mark and Luke don’t mention when Judas leaves supper to betray Jesus. John says that Judas left after receiving the morsel (see John 13:26-30). (Back)

9  text in italics: For the entire section in italics: this section of the event may have happened all at the same time, or in quick succession or in a different order. We can’t be sure because the Bible isn’t clear on the order or timing. (Back)

10  Rabbi: Matthew 26:49 and Mark 14:45 tell us that Judas used the word rabbi. The Greek word for rabbi is rhabbi and means “my master” or “my teacher”. (Back)

11  Friend, do what you have come for: From Matthew 26:50. The Greek word used here for friend is hetairos which means “a companion”. This can also mean “comrade”. (Back)

12  And Judas kissed Him: See Note 7. By using the Greek word kataphileó (meaning “to kiss fervently”), this allows for the possibility of Judas kissing Him repeatedly. (Back)

13  “Whom do you seek?”: Only John 18:4-8 tells us about this exchange. No one dragged Jesus off, Jesus didn’t try to hide, He didn’t even try to defend Himself; He simply stepped forward. He could have walked away, had He wanted to (Matthew 26:53). (Back)

14  they drew back and fell to the ground: People who don’t want to believe God will not believe no matter how much proof you give them, even with falls to the ground (John 18:6) and the healing of cut off ears (Luke 22:50-51). People who hate God and don’t want God in their lives would attribute these things to hallucinations or to a dream—anything but Jesus Himself. It’s good to remember that salvation and faith are gifts from God and we cannot conjure up such faith on our own (Ephesians 2:8-9). (Back)

15  they said, “Jesus the Nazarene”: I think a spokesman from the crowd said this (perhaps a Roman guard or someone with the authority to perform the arrest) or perhaps several people answered at once, some saying “Jesus” some saying “Jesus the Nazarene”, some saying something else, maybe even “The Rabbi”. People didn’t say the exact same thing in unison back then, just like they don’t today. Whenever the writers in the Bible say “they said,” I always assume a spokesperson said what everyone else was in agreement with, or else several people were talking over each other or at each other, speaking about the same idea while using their own words, all meaning the same thing and the writer picked the phrase that best described the idea at hand. (Back)

16  sword: It is nonsense to say that Jesus had the disciples carrying the swords to defend themselves against humans or even animals. Jesus had no use for any weapon and didn’t need one, Matthew 26:53. People carried these short swords (Greek: machaira, see John 18:10, Luke 22:49, Mark 14:47, Matthew 26:51) for usage other than as a weapon, like someone might carry a pocket knife today. The disciples had two of these short swords/daggers (see Luke 22:38) available to them. (Back)

17  And Simon Peter, having a sword, reached and drew out his sword: Matthew 26:51, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:49-50, John:18:10. It doesn’t seem that Peter waited for an answer from Jesus to the question “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” The question and the action could have been taking place at the same time. Also, it says in Luke that Jesus answers (Greek word: apokrinomai meaning “to answer or take up the conversation”) after the use of the sword (Luke 22:49-51). Only Luke mentions that the disciples asked Jesus if they should strike with the sword and it doesn’t say which disciples spoke out loud. They all could have been saying something out loud and meaning the same thing, speaking over each other in the panic of seeing a weaponized crowd grabbing at Jesus.  (Back)

18  cut off his right ear: There are some that say Peter was aiming for Malchus’s head or neck in order to decapitate him, but missed and caught his ear. This could be entirely true, but the Bible doesn’t say that. We do not know if Peter was an experienced swordsman or just a “slash and hack” kind of a guy. We do not know if there were enough lanterns/torches present in Peter’s vicinity to make the area bright enough to see someone’s ear or neck. We don’t even know if Peter was aiming for Malchus and we don’t know how close Peter was to Malchus. In any case, the point is that Peter took a sword and maimed Malchus by cutting off and completely removing his ear, and Jesus either put the ear back or regenerated a new ear or a little of both and healed it.  (Back)

19  Malchus: Later on that night one of Malchus’s relatives will see Peter at Jesus’s trial before the priests and give Peter a little trouble (see John 18:26). (Back)

20  for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword: See Genesis 9:6 and Revelation 13:10 for more on this idea. There is nothing in the Bible justifying any sort of lethal defense, even to save the life of Jesus, much less ourselves. (Back)

21  And He touched Malchus’s ear and healed him: How does this crowd see this action, (as well as being knocked to the ground when Jesus speaks to them) and still go ahead with the arrest? And why wasn’t Peter arrested for cutting someone? Was this not an arrestable offense? Was the fact that the ear was healed a mitigating factor? Or were they all just so caught up in arresting Jesus that an assault didn’t matter enough to report it to the owner of Malchus (who was Caiaphas the high priest: see Luke 22:50 and Matthew 26:57 naming Caiaphas as the high priest)? Peter was the one who committed a crime that night and he went without an arrest—Jesus saved him from jail. I also wonder if Malchus turned to Christ after this happened or sometime later, when he perhaps thought about what happened that night. Most people didn’t seem to give Jesus a second thought after they got what they wanted from Him, but that wasn’t always the case (see Luke 17:17-18). (Back)

22  arrested Jesus and bound Him: This arrest was illegal, as well as the trial by the high priest and the conviction. Not one charge was brought up nor one point proved to make this disaster a legal and proper proceeding. Also, it was conducted in the middle of the night and not during the day when legal proceedings took place. (Back)

23  Then all the disciples left Him and fled: This was prophesied by Jesus in John 16:32. See John 18:10-12, to note that this fact of fleeing is missing. Matthew, the other gospel-writing eyewitness to the arrest (along with the possibility of Mark being an eyewitness, but we can’t be sure) however, does mention it in Matthew 26:56. (Back)

24  A young man: This information is from Mark 14:51-52. Many people think this was Mark himself. We can’t be sure.  If it was Mark, why didn’t he just write that he himself was there as an eyewitness to the travesty of this arrest? If it isn’t Mark, why would he include the information at all? It can be certain that the information wasn’t included for comedy relief, but it was included to show the franticness and seriousness of the situation. One point to remember: it was cold out. It’s April, and there is mention of the cold in Mark 14:54, 67, Luke 22:55, John 18:18, 25. This young man was in such a hurry that he threw a linen sheet around himself (instead of getting fully dressed when it is cold out) to see what this crowd was up to, perhaps as they were marching themselves out of Jerusalem. At the mountain, the situation turned serious, and it was enough to run away from this crowd, abandoning the previously mentioned sheet. I heard a pastor say the young man was already on the mountain, sleeping, when this crowd came along to arrest Jesus but that doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t have been “naked” with just a sheet on himself out on a cold mountain. He would have been fully dressed, using his cloak as a blanket. (Back)