One In Jesus

Chapter 18 brilliantly contrasts the truth with lies. Jesus insists on declaring the truth — that he is the Messiah — to power. He doesn’t flinch as he explains who he is and why he came to those who would kill him.

But Jesus is surrounded by lies. Judas lied about being his friend and disciple.

Annas lied to the people, pretending that Caiaphas had the power of high priest, while Annas actually controlled the Sanhedrin and so had to approve the arrest. Continue reading →

(John 18:28 ESV)  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.

John does not record the trial before Caiaphas, skipping straight to the trial before Pilate.

Notice that the Jews refused to enter the home of a Gentile, even though it was the Roman governor of Palestine and a man they wanted to persuade to execute Jesus. Continue reading →

(John 18:12-14 ESV)  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.

John writes as though we’re supposed to know why it matters that Annas is the father-in-law of Caiaphas, but we don’t. There’s just a lot about the First Century Sanhedrin we don’t know. Continue reading →

(John 18:1 ESV) When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.

The Garden of Gethsemane is on the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem. “Gethsemane” means “olive press,” that is, two stones used to press the oil out of olives.

The crushing weight of the round stone presses on the olives until they give up their oil. The olives, of course, are destroyed in the process, but this is the only way to produce the oil that’s needed.

Jesus doubtlessly felt very much like an olive in a press. He would soon be crushed. Continue reading →

We have a decent idea of what it means for Christians to be one with each other. But this idea of being one with God and Jesus is tough for most of us. It certainly is for me.

Is Jesus speaking in mystical terms? Is it about having visions or some special feeling that God is present? Is it sheerly subjective feelings? Just what is this unity?

Well, let’s consider that passage one more time — Continue reading →

The fact that John 13 – 17 points toward unity with God, Jesus, and each other is further supported by several observations.

First, there’s the fact that Jesus concludes his discourse with a prayer for unity.

(John 17:20-23 ESV)  ²⁰ “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  ²² The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,  ²³ I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” Continue reading →

So here’s where I wind up.

All this points toward unity with God and Christ. And that points toward unity with each other.

Jesus’ washing of their feet shows the path toward unity with God. Take on the character of God by washing each other’s feet, and you’ll know God and so be united with him. Of course, washing each other’s feet will also lead toward unity with each other.

Love one another as Jesus loves us, and we’ll become very much like Jesus. And God. This will lead to unity with God and each other. Continue reading →