[:en]Jesus Arrested (vs. 1-11)
After praying, Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron valley. Judas, accompanied with a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. Thjey carried with them torches, lantersn and weapons to arrest Jesus. When they were searching for Jesus of Nazareth, He boldly answered: “I am he”, and told them to let all His disciples go. Peter draw a sword and cut off the right ear of a high priest’s servant. Jesus rebuked him saying: “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? (v. 11) The “cup” referred to suffering, isolation and death that Jesus had to endure in order to save us. Peter tried to protect Jesus, but he did not know that it is God’s plan for Jesus to die on the cross to redeem the world.
Jesus Taken to Annas: (vs. 12-14)
Annas was Israel’s high priest from AD 6 to 15. When Annas was deposed by Roman ruler, Caiaphas, his son-in-law was appointed high priest . They bound Jesus and brought Him first to Annas, then to Caiaphas. As high priest, Caiaphas should have known that Jesus was the Messiah as written in the Scriptures. But his selfish ambition had prompted him to sacrifice Jesus in order to eliminate opposition.
Peter’s First Denial (vs. 15-18)
Peter went with Jesus into the high priest courtyard. Then a girl asked Peter: “Are you not one of his disciples?” Peter replied: ” I am not” (vs. 17). As Peter stood there, another man ask him and he denied to be one of His disciples. Then one of the high priest’s servant, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off challenged Peter. Again Peter denied and at that moment a rooster began to crow/ (v. 27)
Jesus Before Pilate (vs. 28-40)
Pilate was a Roman governor in charge of Judea from AD 26 to 36. He found Jesus innocent and no basis to charge Jesus. But instead of standing firm in making his own decision, he let everyone decide for him by saying: “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews?” (vs. 38-39) The Jews shouted: “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” The Jews wanted Barabbas released even though he took part in a rebellion before and committed murder.[:]