We discussed 2nd Esdras from the Apocrypha, the significance of Peter’s Denials, the sham trial, and the Jews choosing Barabbas over Jesus.
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1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. John 18: 1-6
v1 Garden of Gethsemane = oil press, picture of all future disciples being ‘pressed’ to produce oil
Note it’s location at the foot of the Mount of Olives, the same place prophesied in
Zechariah 14: 1-9 as the site of Jesus’ return. Also note the location of Caiaphas’ house, and the Prateorium (where Pilate resides). Jerusalem was a city of about 80,000 people, increasing to 150-250,000 during the Pilgrimage Feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles)
v3 Note these men and officers are Jewish only, from the chief priests and Pharisees (ie. No Roman soldiers yet)
v4-5 The whole Gospel of John is about getting to know Jesus, and if you know Jesus (ie. through Relationship), you know the true heart of the Father. By the end of the chapter, you will see the Jews rejecting Jesus, in favor of their version of the Father (ie. a Religion, not a Relationship)
v6 they drew back and fell to the ground. Think about that! Just His voice caused them to fall back. It’s a Testament to Jesus’ power. They did not take Jesus, rather Jesus surrendered willingly.
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7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.
8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. John 18: 7-9
v9 This prophecy is not found in the typical 66 books of the Bible, but rather in 2nd Esdras 2:26 from the Apocrypha
26 Not one of the servants whom I have given you will perish, for I will require them from among your number. 2 Esdras 2:26
If you like Daniel and Revelation, what is considered Apocalyptic literature, you’ll also like 2nd Esdras and Baruch, which speak of the end times. It will support a lot of what you’ve already read, but adds some further insights. Some pastors and religious people might discourage you from reading the Apocrypha, but as always, read and use discernment. In Ethiopia (where the true Hebrews fled to after the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD), the Apocrypha is considered canon, along with the Book of Enoch
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-apocryphahttps://scriptural-truth.com/apocrypha_books.html (All of the Apocrypha, for any Super Scholars among you
Great supplementary material to the Bible. I’d recommend 2nd Esdras, additions to Esther, additions to Daniel [prayer of Azariah, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon], Baruch, as well as Enoch. As far as other books on the site, I would use discernment, as there are some Gnostic books I don’t recommend (eg. Gospel of Thomas, or Mary Magdalene)
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10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,
13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.
14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. John 18: 10-14
Jesus is the obedient, suffering servant who would become King. This is the lesson from Gethsemane: As followers of Jesus, we will suffer in order to serve as well. Peter has not learned that lesson yet, and is being self-sufficient and relying on himself. He is doing things out of his own Flesh (Body and Soul). He does not have a significant measure of the (Holy) Spirit yet. This lack of Spirit also leads to his denials later as well, as he does not have sufficient Relationship to trust God yet, and seeks to preserve his own life. In Acts, Peter is a much different individual, after he learns to walk by Spirit and not Flesh.
v13-14 Annas was the previous High Priest, and still remains the ‘de facto’ High Priest, acting behind the scenes, and controlling his son-in-law Caiaphas, who is the ‘official’ High Priest. v14 is a direct quote from
John 11:50.
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15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.
18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. John 18: 15-18
v15-16 John is known to the High Priest, Peter waits in the courtyard. The palaces of Annas and Caiaphas are in this same general area, and within visual distance of the courtyard as we see in
Luke’s account of Peter’s denial, Luke 22: 54-62 —————————————————————————————————————————————————–
19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing
21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. John 18: 19-24
v19-24 This is a sham trial. Proper procedure is to ask the witnesses for the defense 1st, not the primary defendant, Jesus. Also, Annas is not even the High Priest. Jesus is not being belligerent, he simply is pointing out this is not a proper trial. Annas eventually acknowledges this and has him sent to the actual High Priest, Caiaphas
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25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. John 18: 25-27
v25-27 Jesus predicted this would happen in
Matthew 26: 31-46 and even says why. Without building up our Spirit, we cannot do the things that Jesus wants us to do.
https://www.riseupvictorious.com/blog/the-spirit-is-willing-but-the-flesh-weak (as discussed prior, our Flesh is weak, and only by building up our Spirit, and walking in Holiness, can we overcome the weakness of the Flesh (Body and Soul only)). It’s easy to be Born Again, God has such tremendous Grace for all, even the Thief on the cross received this when he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. God wants more than that, He wants us to develop our Spirit, to walk in Holiness, which is how we bear much Spiritual fruit and become a vessel for his Spiritual gifts [see Old Man / New Man diagram again above]
We are cleansed by Water (being Born Again) but it is the trials by Fire, where we are Refined, to be what God wants us to be.
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28 Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. John 18: 28-32
v28-31 Hypocrites! Remember Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Law says “Thou Shalt not Kill”, but I (Jesus) says, whoever Hates his Brother is already a Murderer in His Heart. The Jews, as with Religion in general, tend to follow rules, and as long as you don’t break the rules, you are considered good. Jesus goes beyond that, it’s about the Heart of what you are doing. The fact they are trying to get the Romans to kill Jesus, even though they will not do it themselves, reveals their wicked heart.
v32 Reference to Matthew 20: 17-19 where Jesus prophecies the details of His death:
17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,
19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. Matt 20: 17-19
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33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. John 18: 33-38
v33-37 Jesus does not say directly that He is a king (as that is what the Jews will later appeal to Pilate to crucify Him for) but does imply it. He speaks of a Spiritual Kingdom, not a physical one. In the NASB, v36 ends ” but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” As of now, Peter would deny Him, but when we enter into the Spiritual Kingdom, ie. Born of Spirit (Jesus’ baptism, not John the Baptist’s baptism by Water – see John 1), then we will fight for Him
v37 Again, reference to John 1. The world is in darkness, and Jesus’ brings us Light (ie. Truth). Those who receive the Truth, will hear Jesus’ voice.
v38 Unfortunately others, like Pilate, remain in Darkness. The sad part is, Pilate found no guilt in Jesus, yet eventually cedes to the Jews calls to crucify Him anyway. It’s the way of the world today, where many can hear Truth, but reject it, either for comfort, tradition, to fit in, pride, mental laziness, etc. The problem is: If one can live without the Truth, they will be content to accept a lie.
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39 But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
40 Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18: 39-40
The Jews had a choice, Jesus (or Yahusha, “I AM Salvation”) or Barabbas (son of their version of the Father). As we learned in John 10, it is not Satan that comes to steal, kill and destroy, but rather false religion / the Pharisees. We are meant to have a Relationship with Jesus, but the Jews reject this, in favor of Religion
There is no salvation in Religion. We are meant to have a Relationship with Jesus. We’ll talk more about this when we get to Revelation, but when you realize the words zugos and chloros in Revelation 6 are mistranslated, and that Zechariah 6 is a parallel passage, the identity of the 4 Horsemen should be more apparent (hint: they are spirits of judgement, for those who would choose Religion/Doctrine over Relationship. Remember: “Ante” in greek doesn’t mean ‘against’, but rather, ‘in place of’)
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