“By His Stripes, We Are Healed”

Easter Saturday

John 18

12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another[a] disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.

17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

19 The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

22 And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” 24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” 

26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

The Jews’ law said that a man may not be beaten more than 40 times, so they made it 39 to be sure that they won’t exceed 40 stripes.
But the Romans had no such law and would beat a man without even counting. And so they beat the Lord Jesus.

Annas was no longer the high priest, being deposed by the Romans. But he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest, and still had a hand in the office of the high priest.

Just as a docter takes an oath to do all possible to save the life of their patients, so the high priest had to perform the duties of the high priest with all gravity and holiness on behalf of the people.

However, the whole trial of Jesus was a travesty of justice.

When they had arrested Jesus (being sent by the high priest to arrest Him), they immediately took Him on trial even though it was late at night. They were in a hurry to get it over and get Him condemned.

The whole trial was just to give formality to the judgement they had already predetermined.

When Caiaphas said that His death would bring salvation to the nation he did not know what he said. For Jesus indeed did bring salvation to the whole world but not in the way as he had thought.

Peter stood and warmed himself in the company of the servants of the high priest. He grew cold spiritually and denied Jesus. Do not keep company with those who are lukewarm spiritually, for they will drag you down.

A person is known by his friends.

A girl from Germany came here for help. She smoked dagga. She couldn’t speak a word of Zulu. One day we went out to preach in a rural area and we asked her whether she would like to come with us to see the area. When the service was ended she already had gotten hold of some dagga.

So homosexuals find each other, drunkards find each other etc.

They struck Him in the face, uncondemned and against the law for one standing trial. So they fulfilled one of the prophecies of Isaiah 50-53 where His suffering is described.

The Jews stoned a condemned person, but they took Him to the Romans who crucified a condemned criminal so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.

He suffered, the Creator of Heaven and earth, so that you and I could be set free from our bondage.