John Bible Study - Lesson 46

John Bible Study - Lesson 46

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 18:15-27 New International Version (NIV)

Peter’s First Denial

¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, ¹⁶ but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

¹⁷ “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

²⁰ “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³ “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

²⁶ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

John 18:15-27 New Living Translation (NLT)

Peter’s First Denial

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. ¹⁶ Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. ¹⁷ The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”

“No,” he said, “I am not.”

¹⁸ Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹ Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. ²⁰ Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people^[a] gather. I have not spoken in secret. ²¹ Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

²² Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.

²³ Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

²⁴ Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials

²⁵ Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”

²⁶ But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help you understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·        Peter Denies Jesus 3 times.

·        Jesus is questioned by Annas, beaten and then sent to Caiaphas the high priest. 

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        Peter denies being one of Jesus’ disciples.

Jesus foretold about Peter denials as well as pointing out that the disciples would desert Him. This passage also includes Jesus prophecy about His death and resurrection:

Matthew 26:31-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹ On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike^[a] the Shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”

³³ Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

³⁵ “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

·        The high priest (Annas) questions Jesus.

At this point I am going to clear up some confusion about who the high priest is, Annas or Caiaphas:

The contingent took Jesus first to Annas, probably because he the most respected and powerful of the Jewish authorities at that time. He had held the office of high priest earlier (A.D. 6-15), and his influence continued through his son-in-law Caiaphas, the current high priest and through his five sons, who had also been high priest for various lengths of time. Annas was the head of a dynasty, which probably accounts for John's reference to him as high priest), even though John is clear that Caiaphas is the one holding that office at the time.  Also, according to Jewish law, the Sanhedrin (supreme religious body in the Land of Israel that Caiaphas was the high priest of) could not meet before daybreak. Therefore, by going to Annas first, Jesus’ supposed crimes could be established making way for Him to on trial by the Sanhedrin.

·        Annas questioned Jesus about what He had been teaching His disciples. Jesus in essence was being asked to testify against Himself. This kind of questioning was illegal (self-incrimination) according to the law back then and even today. Jesus answered: Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret.”  And continues “Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

·        One of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face because Jesus’ answer to Annas was deemed disrespectful.

·        Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

·        Jesus points out that the way Annas had conducted this hearing was intended to incriminate Jesus of some kind of wrong doing. Jesus also shows that Annas has chosen not to believe what Jesus had spoken and taught. Jesus had preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, therefore Annas, knowing what Jesus had spoken and taught was being held responsible for his rejection of God’s truth.  The takeaway is this: we are all responsible for what we believe and how we act on that belief.  

·        The questioning of Jesus by Annas reminds us that the unbelieving world does not want to hear truth. In fact, their deeds are considered evil and unjust. They will also persecute those who follow Jesus and speak God’s truth. Those who love the world hate God and His people:

1 John 2:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

On Not Loving the World

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

John 3:19-20 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

2 Timothy 3:12 New International Version (NIV)

¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John 15:18-25 New International Version (NIV)

The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

People have chosen to reject God and with that rejection comes consequences. That is why the world is stuck in a never ending cycle of sinful behavior.  The Bible explains why this is so:

Romans 1:18-25 New International Version (NIV)

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

·        Even today, if anyone aligns themselves with Jesus is considered an enemy of the culture. The trend in the culture is to eliminate God and everything associated with Him from all forms of public life. God’s truth has now become evil in the eyes of the secular culture. We see today how many people are confused about their identity and claim that there is no absolute truth.

But God’s Word is absolute truth and guides those who live by it:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God’s truth will set us free:

John 8:31-32 New International Version (NIV)

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth is, Jesus is the only one who can save us:

John 14:6 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

God confirms Jesus authority to rescue us from our sin:

John 3:16-17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

All believers in Christ receive the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit):

John 16:13 New International Version (NIV)

¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

So even when those who are persecuted for their faith like Jesus was know and have assurance that God will keep His promises about the future He has in store for them. Jesus reminds His disciples that even though living as a follower of His will include troubles, He has overcome the world:

John 16:33 New International Version (NIV)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

God has a good purpose for all His people:

Romans 8:28 New International Version (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

·        Jesus was bound and sent to Caiaphas. Jesus allowed Himself to be bound in order to fulfill His purpose to set us free.

·        Peter denies Jesus a second and third time and immediately a rooster crowed fulfilling what Jesus said would happen.

There may be a time when you are tempted to deny Jesus. Remember this:

Romans 1:16 New International Version (NIV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Followers of Jesus need to remember that they are called and equipped to share the good news:

1 Peter 3:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Acts 1:8 New International Version (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Do not be ashamed of the Gospel.

·        Trust that God’s Word is truth.

·        Stand up to a culture that would deny God’s rightful place in your life.

·        Don’t fear persecution. Take heart because Jesus has overcome the world!  

Don’t forget:

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        Have you ever denied Jesus, why?

·        Have you ever been persecuted for speaking God’s truth?

·        Do you believe God has a good purpose and plan for your life?

Have a great week…………….Dave