The High Priest Questions Jesus
THE HIGH PRIEST QUESTIONS JESUS
JOHN 18:19-27
The high priest begins his examination of Jesus, not by asking him the basic questions about his origin and authority, but the more peripheral ones about his disciples and his teaching.
Jesus has nothing to add to what he has already said in his public ministry. While he gave special teaching to his disciples at the Last Supper, his ministry was an open one. His message has been proclaimed in synagogue and temple, places of public gathering. There is no point in his repeating it—his audience could tell them perfectly well.
Where argument fails, violence often takes over. An officer strikes him but Jesus reminds them that the point at issue is the truth of his teaching and such a point is not solved in this way. Annas then sends him bound to Caiaphas.
The scene switches back to Peter. Those with whom he has identified himself ask him if he does not in fact belong with the prisoner. For the second time he denies that he is a disciple. One of Malchus’ relations then asks suspiciously whether he did not see Peter in the garden with Jesus. There is no glory here, only shame. For the third time Peter denies, and as Jesus predicted, the cock crows.
Notes 18:19: certain questions are put to Jesus but hardly pursued. The decisions have been made secretly (not openly) without giving him a fair trial (7:45-52). 18:20: Jesus’ teaching has been done openly and to the world, though not in the way which his brothers had expected (7:3f.). The word “openly” could also mean plainly (16:29). But what was plain to his disciples would be hidden in meaning to the Jews, and even at this stage seems to have been lost on Peter. There is only one reference in the Gospel to his teaching in the synagogue (6:59). The main challenge to the Jews in their religious setting is made in the temple. 18:21: the blind man had questioned the need to repeat his evidence. There was no possibility here of their wishing to become his disciples (9:27).