Episode 122 - God's word is faithful and true - John 18:28-32
John 18:28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
No matter how often one reads the Scriptures, new insights on the events and meaning are not uncommon. Even if they are subtle or insignificant concerning the primary message, they are exciting. Such is the case here. As mentioned before, John tells us the crowd first brought Jesus to Annas. Jesus’ time before Annas appears relatively brief before John informs us that “Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.” (John 18:24) I assumed that Caiaphas must have been at a completely different location, perhaps his own home. However, there’s a problem with that.
Notice that after Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, John turns our attention back to the fire and Peter’s last two denials. Then, in verse 28, John records that “they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters.” Wait! What happened with Jesus while he was with Caiaphas? The answer is that John doesn’t tell us. Fortunately, we have other gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry, and they often provide different details about the same events. For example, Matthew records the crowd took Jesus to Caiaphas first and makes no mention of him being taken to Annas. (Matt. 26:57 and following) What does this mean? Is Matthew’s account wrong? Is John’s account wrong? The answer is that neither has to be incorrect. It’s simply that Matthew and John chose to include and exclude specific details depending upon what they wanted to share with their audience.
In comparing the two accounts, it appears that Annas and Caiaphas were at the same facility but perhaps in different areas. It seems reasonable that they would have taken him to Annas first since they considered him to be the true high priest, but then led him to Caiaphas, who ultimately asserts that Jesus has committed blasphemy and deserves to die. (Matthew 26:65-66) It simply wasn’t important for Matthew to record the details of Jesus' short exchange with Annas. But, we can see how the three denials of Peter occurred during Jesus’ trial by the priests and before he was sent to Pilate.
Moving onto the message of this section, we see more irony, which John so often highlights in how these people have violated the Law by not bringing valid witnesses to convict Jesus. Yet, they take such great caution to “not be defiled” (v. 28) by entering Pilate’s headquarters. They don’t see how they have already defiled themselves.
Pilate appears to see through this group and their attempt to get him to do their bidding. (v. 29-31a) The irony continues when they tell Pilate, “it is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” (v. 31b) That was true. It wasn’t lawful under the Roman government for the Jews to serve capital punishment. But, that didn’t stop them from trying at earlier times when they picked up stones to stone Jesus, yet he always escaped because it was not his time.
Furthermore, the Mosaic Law called for capital punishment for several violations of the Law. They think they are obeying it by (wrongly) condemning Jesus. (The Jews reveal this to Pilate in John 19:7) So, in making this claim to Pilate that they cannot put anyone to death, they are essentially subverting the authority of God’s Law under Roman law for their evil purpose. If this is not self-defilement and absurdly ironic, I don’t know what is. Peter incriminated himself, and these Jews are incriminating themselves while Jesus alone stands guiltless.
John explains in verse 32 how their appeal to have Jesus executed by the Romas fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy of how he would die. What is meant by this? Crucifixion was a common form of capital punishment by the Romans because they weren’t just executing people; it was a form of intimidation and control over people. Crucifixion was often near where people would see the condemned hanging and suffering on a cross. It was a message that they better obey the Roman government; or suffer the same fate. Jesus' words recorded back in John 3:14 asserted that the Son of Man must be lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness that Moses lifted up.
Is there a lesson we can learn through this? If nothing else, it’s that God’s word is true. The words of people are not reliable. Our motivations and pride sometimes lead us to absurd and ironic inconsistencies between what we say we believe and do. Yet, God’s word is faithful and true.