Thoughts on the Gospel of John (182) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

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? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me? Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
John 18:22–24

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (182)
The high priest Annas asks Jesus about His teaching. Didn’t he hear about it during the three and a half years that Jesus taught publicly? That doesn’t say much for him. As high priest he should have been interested in the spiritual welfare of the people of Israel. The Lord makes his omission clear to him: if Annas now wants to come to an objective assessment, he must inquire with those who have heard everything first-hand.

Jesus’ answer reveals the hostility of those present. How often people have become violent because they have run out of arguments! Or does this servant think that the Lord would violate the commandment in Exodus 22:28 which says, “You shall not … curse a ruler of your people”? No, the Lord did no wrong, “nor was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). It is not Jesus who is behaving inappropriately here, but the servant! Slapping the Son of God in the face is a terrible act.

Jesus does not strike back, nor does He scold, but He does confront the servant. In doing so, He does not want to claim His right, but to bring those present to reflect on the situation. This is how Jesus’ disciples should always behave: to persevere in difficult situations by doing good and suffering. “This is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:20). Insofar as they mention anything wrong, it is only to expose it – and not to attack others.

The servant obviously cannot reply here and thus confirms the sinlessness of Jesus.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Jonah 4:1-11 · Proverbs 27:10-18