I invite you to take your Bibles tonight that are in front of you and turn to page 1074. That's John 18 tonight. John 18. We will read verses 12 through 27 of John 18 tonight. Obviously, there's a lot of narratives surrounding the death of Christ and many to pick from. Tonight, we're going to look at Jesus on trial. beginning at verse 12 of John chapter 18. So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. 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, but Peter stood outside 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. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, you are not, you are not, you also are not one of this man's disciples, are you? He said, I am not. Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered them, I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come together. I've said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. They know what I said. When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Is that how you answer the high priest? Jesus answered him, If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong. But if what I said is right, why do you strike me? Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, so they said to him, you also are not one of his disciples, are you? He denied it and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. And there ends the reading tonight of God's word. Well, just previous to this, Jesus had entered into a garden. You probably have read the beginning of John 18. He had entered into a garden and was arrested. But I want you, just for a minute, to think back to the original garden scene, all the way back in Genesis, just for a minute. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden on the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. I think that translation has been unhelpful, for we kind of envision God taking a stroll in the garden. and Adam and Eve hearing him kind of brusseling in the leaves and running away. That is not what that is. The Lord had come down to demand a reckoning as to whether they had kept his commandment to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was in the Ruach of the day, it was in the spirit of the day that he came. And when they heard that great thunderous arrival, they dashed and hid and went as far as they could, trying to cover themselves from the presence of the Lord. That's the imagery of the beginning of Genesis. Well, Jesus has now just entered a garden. John is purposeful in everything that he does. Jesus has entered a garden and what is happening here is meant to be contrasted with the original account to understand that Jesus has stepped into our place. He has stepped into our place. You could almost take Genesis three and put this chapter together and that's where the story took off again. Adam ran, Christ came and stood in the place. A great exchange had just occurred in the garden. By the way, that's a huge doctrine of the Christian faith, the great exchange. Jesus, and there is no gospel without a news of substitution. That's why we call it a substitutionary atonement. He had just crossed over the brook Kidron, and here comes the army fully armed. In verse four, knowing that his time had come, of John 18, he goes forward. He didn't run. Why did he do that? Then at the end of this, you'll look down at the first 11 verses there of John, where he says in verse 8, Jesus answered, I told you that I am. I am. That's what it says. So if you seek me, let these men go. It's the word for forgiveness. Let them go. Take me. We just had the great exchange I was talking about happen in a second garden to tell us that Jesus is the last Adam as Romans 5 compares him with the first Adam, the last Adam who has come to step in our place and to fulfill redemption and to save his people from their sins. He has released them. He has released them from the obligation of paying the debt. Had the punishment fallen on Adam, we all would have been in trouble and it would have started what you would have read in Genesis instead of the covering that was given by God. Remember, they tried to cover themselves. God killed an animal for them without the shedding of blood. There's no remission of sins. God covered them with animal skins and he announced the gospel right then. But had he demanded a reckoning from Adam and all of his posterity, a trial would have been set up right then and there. Well, that's what we have here. Our Heidelberg is so wonderful on this point when it says, what do you understand by the word suffered, that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, that throughout his life on earth, but especially at the end of it, he bore in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race so that by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation and might, obtain for us God's grace, righteousness, and eternal life. He's going to attain that for you. Well, why then did he suffer under Pontius Pilate as his judge? So that he, being innocent, might be condemned by an earthly judge and thereby set us free from the judgment of God, which in all its severity ought to fall on us. So the earthly judgment of an earthly judge is teaching us something greater about the judgment, the heavenly judgment, that everyone is under and that Jesus is taking on. All this is meant to teach us that tonight. All this is meant to help us with that. Now, I never want to have to go through a trial and then to be found guilty of something that I did not do. That's the worst news and the worst thing to face in this life of people who did not commit the crime and then had to pay. It's remarkable what's happening here in Chan. The places are reversed. They come with lanterns to arrest Christ. So the exchange has now come. He has just substituted. He has released his own. He has stepped forward for them. And look at verse 13. Verse 13 tells us that as Jesus was led away to Annas, there were two kinds of trials that happened, actually three. There was a church trial and then a civil trial. Both the trials came in threes, actually. But this Annas is what John captures under Annas. He was the most powerful religious leader of the Jewish Sanhedrin. Annas was a notoriously wicked leader in Israel, notorious for his greed. Even in the Talmud, there's a statement that you can find, woe to the family of Annas. He was brutal to his own family. The whole family was corrupt. It was a machine, everything corrupt you could imagine. And Caiaphas was his cover as the high priest that year. The text wants you to see how bad the plot was. Verse 14 says, now, it was Annas, you'll notice there, it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people. So Annas and Caiaphas, Caiaphas had been under the prodding of the spirit, able to say that kind of thing, and it was both of their determination to put Jesus to death. The point of all this is to say up front, Jesus stepped into the hands of people like this for us. The righteous won given into the hands of the unrighteous. If you've ever complained about a corrupt politician, I don't think you've ever done that, right? Technically, this is about as bad as it gets. This is a totally illegal trial. You know what time it is? Jesus is being tried and condemned between 1 and 3 a.m. on Friday. The arrest came as from a bribe from Judas for the silver, blood money. And now Jesus is put on trial here. And he's put on trial with great pressure to incriminate himself. How many people would just say, listen, I don't want to deal with this. I'll take the guilty charge. He is not guilty, still willing to take the guilty charge, but notice how he handles himself. Trial begins, verse 19. The high priest then asked Jesus about his His disciples and his teaching or his doctrine is probably better said, don't miss what Annas just did. Tell me about how, who, tell me who you got caught up in these terrible ideas. It's an amazing charge. All he cared about is who got caught up with it. And the truth for him didn't matter in the least. Who bought into your teachings, Jesus? Who accepted these teachings? I wanna know. He's ready to take down the whole thing. He's accusing Jesus, of course, of rebellion, anarchy, revolution, if you will. That was the one thing they had to deal with because if Caesar found out, they would be ousted. He was raising up this sect, and they had all kinds of sects at the day who caused problems, but Jesus was accused of raising up a sect, a rebellious opposition called the disciples that had challenged the doctrine of Israel. Jesus is being interrogated as a false prophet. Annas was the guy who collected all the money from the temple taxes and doves that Jesus flipped the tables from. So he's definitely not happy about this guy. In verse 20, Jesus answers him, I have spoken openly to the world. I've always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard. have heard me, what I said to them. They know what I said." What a statement. If you ever looked at any cult or any sect, what is the one thing they do? They're off in the corners. They're off behind closed doors. They're in the dark trying to pull people in. When it came to the core reason for which he came, the gospel, the core message that he was giving, he shall save his people from their sins, there was nothing secret about it. There was nothing secret about what Jesus was doing. Multitudes came and sat at his feet. Multitudes listened to him. He got on the boat. He stood on the shore. He preached the gospel to people. He healed, he helped, he showed mercy. He gave sight to the blind. As soon as he said this, one of the officers hauls back his fist. Under no command, he walks up and gives Jesus a deep blow to the right cheek. You kind of understand turn the other cheek, can't you? With the palm of his hand. I wonder, on that day, if you don't believe, you realize you were the one who struck the Son of God. Think about that. Soldiers get in their ranks, we know from the other Gospels at this point. They begin to march. Every military unit that has ever existed does something similar. They march, they salute. That's what's happening here. They're saluting him. They're ridiculing him. They give him a mock coronation. They chanted the King of the Jews. They marched. They all began to punch him with their hands as they hailed him in mockery, each giving him a blow to the face. No retaliation. No retaliation. Now, when I say no retaliation, it's one thing if it's me and my hands are chained. This is the Son of God. This is the one through whom everything was made. Only a fair question. If I've said what is wrong, verse 23, bear witness. Bear witness about the wrong. But if I say what's right, why are you striking me? Let that set in. Why are you striking me? Why are they striking him? Think about that. Why are they striking him? If you really believe I spoke evil to the high priest, then testify. But if not, why? I have no idea. You have no idea tonight. How was your day today? Did you relax, watch the ball game, take it in? Pretty nice day for me. I have no idea the humiliation of this. I have no idea of the humiliation of the son of God taking on a blow like this from sinners. The one who sat, think about it, enthroned, he just spoke in John 17 about the glory he had with his father before the world began. All power and dominion and thrones belong to him who is forever blessed. Amen. Why would he lower himself to this degree? Why? So bad was the mockery at Caiaphas's trial. They then brought in false witnesses to catch him in a trap. Some began to spit on him, blindfold him, beat him, and say, prophesy. The officer struck him with the palm of their hands. He was made a ridicule, he was laughed at, he was beaten. They hurled spit on his face, and they mocked him as the savior of the world. Matthew says, when they struck him, prophesy to us, O Christ, tell us who struck you. Let's see if you can, let's see how divine you are. No resistance. Why? And the tragedy. To make sure we understand this, what's woven into the scenes tonight? It's Peter. You want to know why? It's right here. He has no understanding of this whole thing. In verse 10, Simon Peter, look back to verse 10, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear. Let me make clear, Peter, for a moment, got tough. You don't, there's sword manuals, Dr. Baugh told me this the other day, there's sword manuals. When Peter pulls out and strikes, he can't even hit the head. He's such a bad hit, he accidentally hits the ear. But no warrior ever pulled a sword like that. In the first century, the sword manuals, you jabbed. He didn't even know how to use the sword. Now this is gonna take down a kingdom, isn't it? Jesus says, put it back. Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given to me? Peter had said, even if all are made to stumble, there's just no way. There's just no way I will not be. Jesus said, really? Assuredly, I say to you, at the time the rooster crows the third time, your third denial, the rooster will crow. If I have to die with you, I will not deny you. Woven together, beating, humiliation, suffering, release, Substitution. Peter. Verse 15, woven together then is Peter's greatest failure. Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest. They went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest Jesus. is brought into Annas's house. So you have this great sort of palace with square rooms. They faced a center courtyard, big square. There was a big courtyard. And Jesus had entered what would have been known as a hearing hall of the high priest's house. The Roman soldiers have left. The temple police are there. Verse 16, but Peter stands outside. The other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to her who kept the door and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, you are not also one of this man's disciples, are you? I'm not. Now the servants and the officers had made a coal fire. Fires of coal stood there for it was cold and they warmed themselves and Peter stood with them and warmed himself. He's got a chill. He's cold. I mean, how many of us have complained about the temperature in the building? As this is going on, Jesus is being punched. Before of all Israel's most powerful leaders, in the middle of this, a servant girl walks up. A little girl. She doesn't have a sword in her hand. What's she going to do? She has no ability to punch him. Aren't you a follower? The guy who said you'll die for him, aren't you a follower? I'm not. Peter can't even stand up to a little girl. He's cold. He's fretful. He has no ability. And John leaves us with the thought, as Jesus is now being hauled off to Caiaphas, what happens in the courtyard. As Simon Peter stood there and warned himself, she comes, they said to him, are you not also one of the disciples, are you? The soldiers now ask, he denies it, I am not. A second time, verse 26, one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him who cut off Peter's ear, said, did I not see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it and immediately the rooster crowed. How in control of God. Is he in control of everything? Luke says, as soon as the rooster crowed, Jesus turned around and looked at Peter under arrest. Peter hauls off and weeps bitterly. No power, no ability. He loves his Lord. But here's Jesus taken bound to death Now, as we come to the supper tonight, what's the application to all of this? Remember when Jesus was carrying the cross on Good Friday? A great multitude of people followed him and women who also mourned and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. They were feeling sorry for him. How much emotionalism and sentimentalism surrounds the whole celebration of this thing while missing the whole message? Here's the message. He was despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, but he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. You know what it says in the middle of that in Isaiah 53? And we, as it were, hid our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed him not. Why all this? For you. For you. You even began to plumb the depths of what I just said. You know how deep his love is for you? Failures and messes you are, sinners. Jesus came here, pure and perfect. suffering at the hands of these kinds of people for you, willingly substituting himself for you, stepping into a place arrested for you, garden scene, hauled off to judgment for you, confessing and bearing and receiving all the righteous indignation for every last one of those sins you do and in secret. blows to the head. Every one of those blows, Luther said, you should study here and see that's a sin. That's your sin hitting him. And here's the triumph of it all. He did it for people like Peter. So weak throughout the course of their lives. Struggling. Cheap. All sin is a denial of God. While you denied Him, He stood there and confessed, paying for those denials. Now, when you see how helpless you are, and really, that there is nothing we can do about our predicament because of what they deserve, our sins, we fall in awe tonight and understand what this is all about. He was bound up and crucified in our place. This is the Christian gospel. This is the heart of it. I want everyone to look back at verse 8. We close on this verse. If you seek me, verse 8 of 18. So if you seek me, let these men go. Verse 9. This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken of those whom you gave me. I have lost, not one." That's what he prayed in the high priestly prayer. I kept them. You've given them to me. I've guarded them. Not one of them's lost. At the end of the day, this is it. This is the heart of it all. This is the heart of our whole faith. You can look at Peter and you can see the failure and you can look at yourself and see the failure. But what does the Lord wants you to do? He wants you to look to him in faith and see the success and believe it. Jesus went through all of this that tonight you might be released, forgiven. Go on your way. You're forgiven right to heaven. This is what the good news declares to us. Everything done needed to be done to save us from our sins. He did on Good Friday when he said, it's finished. This is what the gospel declares to you. Bruise for our iniquities, loose them and let them go. I'm not losing one of them. May we be believing him and trusting him. And if you can come with that faith tonight to the supper, come and receive the same message and encouragement for your souls. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for this wonderful word to us. Thank you for encouraging us, helping us and showing us your mercy to us. Of Christ in our place on trial, releasing us from that judgment day. so that we will never hear the words, depart from me you cursed, enter into the fire, but come, enter the kingdom. Well done, good and faithful servants. Thank you for forgiving us, O Lord, by the blood of Christ. Thank you for Good Friday. In Jesus' name, amen.