John 18:12-16, Arrested and Bound

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in.

Arrested and bound, Jesus first appears before Annas the father-in-law of the high priest, Caiaphas. Why was he not taken directly to the high priest? Annas had been deposed as high priest in A. D. 15 by Pontius Pilate’s predecessor. No fewer than four of Annas’ sons served as high priest after him along with his son-in-law. The office of high priesthood was supposed to be a lifetime appointment, but the Romans had meddled with this sacred office, and the Jewish leadership saw Annas as the rightful holder of the office, so Annas is given the first crack at Jesus.

Because the Sabbath that begins Passover is near, the Jews must act quickly to try, sentence, and have Jesus crucified by the Romans before the sun goes down on Friday. They have less than twenty-four hours and probably something closer to eighteen. Was a plan being followed? Some have suggested that the original plan was to arrest Jesus at the end of Passover so as not to rush through the process and do things in order. After all, according to Jewish law, a man could not be sentenced on the same day as his trial. Jesus had thrown a kink into their plans when he told Judas to go and do what he had planned in front of the other disciples. Judas must have thought that if he did not act immediately, Jesus might sneak out of Jerusalem, in which ase his collaborative plan with the Jewish authorities would fall apart and he would lose his reward.

Outside the courtyard home of Annas, two of Jesus’ disciples have followed and are trying to gain entry. Peter is having trouble because he is not known in these quarters, but the other disciple is. Only the Gospel of John relates this story, and therefore many believe the unnamed disciple to be John, the writer of these events. Some questions naturally follow: How and why did John know the high priestly family and have the assurance of being able to gain access? Why would he have not run away as the other disciples had? How did he have the composure to talk his way and Peter’s way inside? He must know exactly what he is doing. How can this be explained?

Ronald Brownrigg, author of The Twelve Apostles, explains (pp. 85 and 87) why John (the other disciple) might have been known to the high priest:

There was a vast demand for fresh fish and consequently a thriving fishing industry on the lake [the Sea of Galilee]. Fish were also pickled or cured at Tarichae, Capernaum and other centers, then packed in barrels to be transported by camel and donkey to Jerusalem and Samaria. Quantities of fish would be needed at the great feasts by the multitudes of pilgrims to the temple. Consequently the larger fishing concerns would have their own offices and representatives in Jerusalem. . . . The fishermen disciples of Jesus were far from all being poor, simple, rustic peasants. Zebedee and his family were of some substance and status, of considerable skill and business acumen. He employed a hired crew and had at least one sizeable smack for deep-sea fishing . . . A particularly interesting possibility is that the firm of “Zebedee and sons, of Galilee” was contracted to supply fish to the high priest’s palace in Jerusalem.

While no one can prove this point beyond a doubt, is it not like Jesus to have already planned this? Jesus knew he would need eyewitnesses to have his story written. John’s mother was most likely his aunt, so Jesus knew exactly who he had in John. He had sped up the timetable for his death by directing Judas prematurely to inaugurate his plan. He was in control in Gethsemane at his arrest. Now he has his two closest disciples just outside the walls, witnessing the horror that was to unfold.

Lord Jesus, you know all things and are in charge of all things. Help me today to know you even better as Lord and Savior. Amen.