Year 5, Day 266: John 18

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Power

• Power: This is the natural outcome when we truly get our authority from the king.  When our authority is from God, we are equipped with His power to accomplish His will.  We act on His behalf in a world that He desperately loves.

I love looking at John 18 through the perspective of power because we need to remember that this is the chapter in which the arrest happens and the crucifixion story truly begins.  On the surface, this chapter reads like Jesus’ defeat.  Even if we remember that this is God’s will and God will triumph over death and raise Jesus from the dead, it still reads like a defeat.  But if we look deeply, we can see that this is indeed a passage about Jesus power.

First of all, look at Jesus’ arrest.  When they ask Him to identify Himself and He does, they draw back.  They cannot approach Jesus unless He lets them.  They cannot draw near to the presence of God without His assent.  Jesus is in control, even if He is arrested.

Second, look at what happens after Jesus is questioned by the high priest.  He speaks the truth and is struck.  However, Jesus doesn’t back down one bit.  He asks why He is struck for telling the truth.  Because they can’t deal with Him – because they don’t have the power to do so – Jesus is sent away.

Finally, let’s look at Jesus and Pilate.  Jesus is going before the Roman governor and he is the one who ultimately holds Jesus’ life in his hands.  But Jesus does not buckle.  He speaks honestly and straight with Pilate.  He dialogues with Pilate.  He doesn’t acquiesce to Pilate’s power; He asserts His own.  In fact, He even reminds Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world.  Jesus tells Pilate that His power lies elsewhere.

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