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?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”
18:22
And when He had said these things,
This is a reference to Jesus’ challenge to the high priest Annas’ right to hold this pretrial.
one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand,
The hitting of Jesus with the palm of the hand was an illegal act under Jewish law (Ac 23:2).
saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”
The officer thought that Jesus should be humble in His reply to the high priest. He understood Jesus’ response to the former high priest as a rebuke.
18:23
Jesus answered him,
Jesus responded to the officer who struck Him with his hand.
“If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil;
Jesus called on the officer to present the evidence for His speaking to the high priest improperly. Truth carries self-evident power. Jesus knew His rights under Jewish law.
but if well, why do you strike Me?”
The truth about Jesus’ claim was evident, but the physical action by the officer showed that he did not have adequate reason for hitting Him. Jesus said in effect, “Prove your accusation.”
18:24
Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Annas sent Jesus still bound to his son-in-law Caiaphas after a preliminary interview.
18:25
Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself.
The scene resumes with Peter in the courtyard of the high priest.
Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”
Peter had already denied the Lord once; now a group asked him if he was Jesus’ disciple. It was difficult for him to go back on his word now that he already claimed that he was not a disciple of Jesus.
He denied it and said, “I am not!”
This is the second terse denial of the Lord by Peter. His concern was self-preservation.
PRINCIPLE:
All Christians fail the Lord at times.
APPLICATION:
All four gospels record Peter’s denial of the Lord. All Christians fail at times but, if they neglect their failure, then this creates a greater problem. He was the leader of the disciples, yet he failed the Lord. If he fell, then any of us can fall. His failure started with overconfidence. We as leadership in the church need to beware of spiritual pride.
