Narrative Lectionary for Third Sunday of Lent, 23 March 2014

Narrative Lectionary for Third Sunday of Lent, 23 March 2014

Lectionary Scriptures:

John 18: 12 So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, 13 and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people. 15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest; 16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter. 17 Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?”

He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself. 19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.”

22 When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

24 Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it, and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

27 Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

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Commentary on John 18:12-27 by Craig A. Satterlee

In the garden, Jesus allows the Roman soldiers and temple police to arrest him (verse 12).

The troops bring Jesus to the house of Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest (verse 13). In a wonderful twist of irony the narrator recalls Caiaphas’ words -- “You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed” (11:50) -- to express the purpose of Jesus’ death -- Jesus will gather the scattered children of God to God’s very self. A marvelous thread begins. The very ones who condemn Jesus unknowingly proclaim him.

Peter and another disciple follow Jesus and gain access to the court of the high priest along with Jesus (verse 15). What unfolds is reminiscent of a television drama in which the police hold a suspect in Interrogation Room A and his accomplice in Interrogation Room B. The scene shifts between the two interrogation rooms, one in the high priest’s house and the other in the courtyard. The tension builds as we wait to see who will be the first to succumb to pressure and turn on his friend. Whereas it doesn’t take Peter long to cave, Jesus never cracks. Peter’s denial contrasts Jesus’ faithfulness with Peter’s -- and our -- cowardice.

While the high priest, who is surrounded by the temple police, questions Jesus, a maid interrogates Peter! Pause there for a moment. Jesus faces the high priest backed by brute force. Torture is on everyone’s mind. Peter goes toe-to-toe with the maid who keeps the door. This isn’t even TSA at the airport.

The maid asks Peter if he is Jesus’ disciple. Whereas Jesus responded, “I AM” in the garden (18:4), Peter lies and answers, “I am not.” Peter then joins the very ones who came to the garden to seize Jesus as they warm themselves around a charcoal fire (verses 18-19). From the junior high kid who abandons a buddy to hang with the cool kids to the bystander who does not intervene to oppose abuse because to do so is just too dangerous, we all know what this is like.

The scene shifts to Jesus’ interrogation by the high priest (verses 19-24). Annas asks Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answers that he spoke openly in the world, taught in synagogues and in the Temple, and said nothing in secret. “Why do you ask me?” Jesus responds, ‘Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said” (18:21).

Jesus’ response highlights the devastating effects of Peter’s denial. Knowing all that is to happen to him, Jesus knows that his time of teaching is over. If people want to know the words of Jesus, they must ask those who heard them and know what Jesus said. The teaching of Jesus now rests in the hands of his disciples. Jesus’ teaching now rests in Peter’s hands and ours. And Peter has denied.

One of the temple police slaps Jesus. In response to being slapped, Jesus says that, if he has spoken blasphemy, the high priest should bring witnesses to testify to that fact. If Jesus spoke truthfully, he should not have been slapped. Here we see that Jesus is not guilty, a fact to be confirmed in Jesus’ trial before Pilate (John 18:38; 19:4, 6). More than not guilty, Jesus speaks the truth, unlike Peter who lied.

The scene returns to Peter, a disciple who has heard Jesus’ teaching. Still standing by the fire with those who came to seize Jesus, Peter is asked a second time if he is Jesus’ disciple. Peter denies Jesus a second time, saying, “I am not” (verse 25). Then, to make it impossible for Peter to deny his relationship with Jesus, a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off in the garden (18:10) asks whether he saw Peter in the garden with Jesus. Peter denies a third time.

In this instance, Peter not only denies being Jesus’ disciple; Peter denies being in the garden. Peter denies any relationship with Jesus. Peter denies all links to the disciples. Peter denies what even Judas acknowledges -- that he knows the garden, the disciples, and Jesus (18:2). “And at that moment the cock crowed” (18:27), and Jesus’ words to Peter come true. “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times” (13:38).

Jesus knows all that is to befall him; what Jesus said would happen does happen. The cockcrow confirms this. So, when Jesus tells the high priest, “Ask those who heard what I said to them” (18:21), Jesus knows that the time will come when those who heard Jesus will proclaim it. Jesus knows that betraying, denying disciples will speak Jesus’ teaching. Even more, failing disciples will be able to speak of Jesus’ unconditional love for them, and how Jesus made God known in that love, because, even as they denied, Jesus remained faithful.

This reading is not about Peter. And since it is not about Peter, it’s certainly not about us. As edifying as it is, don’t catalog all the ways we deny Jesus. Instead, proclaim Jesus’ faithfulness and confidence. Even as we deny Jesus, Jesus remains faithful to the God he calls Father and to the world he came to save. Jesus remains faithful to us even as we cave under pressure and deny Jesus and his teaching.

Even as we deny him, Jesus remains confident in us. Jesus, who knows all things, know that, after he has been lifted up from the earth and drawn all creation to himself, we will be emboldened by the power of his resurrection. Peter and all Jesus’ disciples will proclaim Jesus and his teaching. Jesus will give Peter the chance the next time Peter finds himself around a charcoal fire (21:9). Three times Jesus will ask Simon Peter if he loves him, once for each of Peter’s denials (21:15-17). And Peter will answer, “I do.” And so will we.

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Holy God,

Patient and enduring, like Peter, who denied Jesus, we often turn our backs on you. Forgive us and show us a new way to live, walking boldly and passionately toward you. Amen.

HYMNS:

“What wondrous love is this” (Author: Anonymous)

1. What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

2. When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

3. To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,

to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;

while millions join the theme, I will sing!

4. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

and through eternity I’ll sing on.

“Guide me ever, great Redeemer” (Author: William Williams (1745); Translator: Peter Williams (1771))

1. Guide me, O my great Redeemer,

pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but you are mighty;

hold me with your powerful hand.

Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,

feed me now and evermore,

feed me now and evermore.

2. Open now the crystal fountain,

where the healing waters flow.

Let the fire and cloudy pillar

lead me all my journey through.

Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,

ever be my strength and shield,

ever be my strength and shield.

3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,

bid my anxious fears subside.

Death of death, and hell's Destruction,

land me safe on Canaan's side.

Songs of praises, songs of praises

I will ever sing to you,

I will ever sing to you.

CHORAL:

“Stay with us” Walter Pelz

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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary:

John 18:12-27

Verse 12. When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia - Of which Corinth was the chief city. This Gallio, the brother of the famous Seneca, is much commended both by him and by other writers, for the sweetness and generosity of his temper, and easiness of his behaviour. Yet one thing he lacked! But he knew it not and had no concern about it.

Verse 15. But if it be - He speaks with the utmost coolness and contempt, a question of names - The names of the heathen gods were fables and shadows. But the question concerning the name of Jesus is of more importance than all things else under heaven. Yet there is this singularity (among a thousand others) in the Christian religion, that human reason, curious as it is in all other things, abhors to inquire into it.

Verse 17. Then they all took Sosthenes - The successor of Crispus, and probably Paul's chief accuser, and beat him - It seems because he had occasioned them so much trouble to no purpose, before the judgment seat - One can hardly think in the sight of Gallio, though at no great distance from him. And it seems to have had a happy effect. For Sosthenes himself was afterward a Christian, 1 Cor. i, 1.

Verse 18. Paul continued many days - After the year and six months, to confirm the brethren. Aquila having shaved his head - As was the custom in a vow, chap. xxi, 24; Num. vi, 18. At Cenchrea - A seaport town, at a small distance from Corinth.

Verse 21. I must by all means keep the feast at Jerusalem - This was not from any apprehension that he was obliged in conscience to keep the Jewish feasts; but to take the opportunity of meeting a great number of his countrymen to whom he might preach Christ, or whom he might farther instruct, or free from the prejudices they had imbibed against him. But I will return to you - So he did, chap. xix, 1.

Verse 22. And landing at Cesarea, he went up - Immediately to Jerusalem; and saluted the Church - Eminently so called, being the mother Church of Christian believers: and having kept the feast there, he went down from thence to Antioch.

Verse 23. He went over the country of Galatia and Phrygia - It is supposed, spending about four years therein, including the time he stayed at Ephesus.

Verse 24. An eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures - Of the Old Testament. Every talent may be of use in the kingdom of God, if joined with the knowledge of the Scriptures and fervour of spirit.

Verse 25. This man had been instructed - Though not perfectly, in the way of the Lord - In the doctrine of Christ. Knowing only the baptism of John - Only what John taught those whom he baptized, namely, to repent and believe in a Messiah shortly to appear.

Verse 26. He spake - Privately; and taught publicly. Probably he returned to live at Alexandria, soon after he had been baptized by John; and so had no opportunity of being fully acquainted with the doctrines of the Gospel, as delivered by Christ and his apostles. And explained to him the way of God more perfectly - He who knows Christ, is able to instruct even those that are mighty in the Scriptures.

Verse 27. Who greatly helped through grace - It is through grace only that any gift of any one is profitable to another. Them that had believed - Apollos did not plant, but water. This was the peculiar gift which he had received. And he was better able to convince the Jews, than to convert the heathens.

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