Today I read John 18, John's version of the arrest and capture of Jesus as well as His arraignment before the high priest and Pilate. It is interesting that although John is writing to those that are Christian already, he completely glosses over what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, the whole purpose for Jesus' life and the 1 single act that saves all of creation. John doesn't even mention it. Perhaps it is because he wrote his gospel last and he knew the others had already covered it and he did not wish to repeat anything, who really knows.
Whatever the reason, John does not dwell on it but jumps instead to the arrest. John makes no mention of Judas pointing out the Savior or a kiss to betray Him, but only mentions that Judas was with a band of men. A band is roughly 500 men by the way for those that did not know, this was not a small group of men that were thrown together. This was a full blown assault on the Savior. Now, a strange episode is recorded by John that when Jesus asks them who they seek, they reply Jesus of Nazareth and when Jesus replies with, "I am he" the band of men falls down. This is commonly thought to be because when Jesus stated that I am He, He was actually using the name of God, I AM, or Jehovah. In other words, when they stated that they sought Jesus, Jesus replies that He is Jehovah. That is the common interpretation anyway of why they fell down. It may be another reason, I do not know. I personally think though that this interpretation is the right one, I mean Jesus was never shy about proclaiming who He was I'm not sure why He would start now.
The rest of the chapter is pretty straight forward and almost the same as the other versions. Jesus is brought before Caiaphas and asked to tell them about His doctrine. Jesus replies that He has ever taught in the open and never in secret and He was always heard in the temple and other places and they can ask anyone what His doctrine is. The guard hits Him for the apparent insult in His answer and Jesus calmly asks why the guard hit Him and if His answer was wrong to point it out. It speaks volumes to me how in control Jesus was. He is exhausted, covered in dried blood, and just got hit for answering their question. And all He does is calmly ask the guard why He was hit. It may have been why He was born, but Jesus was not going to just roll over and play dead. But He was not being difficult either. He was pointing out the obvious and remaining calm and giving them every chance to back out.
I remember once asking as a teenager why Pilate would be punished for putting the Savior to death when it had to be done or all was lost. The answer I got has always stayed with me. I don't even remember who gave it to me, but I still remember the answer. Basically the answer was that yes, it had to be done, but it didn't have to be done by him, meaning Pilate. He had his agency and could have released Jesus despite it all. Now, Pilate was not a good man, or even a nice man. His history according to Elder Neal A. Maxwell is quite dark and hideous and we will not go into it here. The mere fact that he was willing to whip Jesus, a man he opening admitted multiple times to have done nothing wrong, proves just how dubious he was, at least to me. I mean, who whips an innocent man? Especially with a whip that was known to kill people! Yes it is commendable that Pilate was trying to do the right thing while still keeping the peace in Jerusalem, but in the end, he put to death an innocent man and he knew it. In the end, despite the warning from his wife, despite the fact that he knew Jesus to be innocent, he still had Jesus put to death. In a sense, he bowed to peer pressure.
There is a lesson to be learned in all of this. How often do we avoid doing what is right because it is not the popular choice? How often do we just sit there and be quiet and go with the crowd? Do we stand as a witness for God at all times and in all places as we have covenanted to do? Do we stop people from doing what is wrong when we have a chance? Do we stand up for the Savior when His name is being abused? Do we take a stance on moral issues of the day? Do we share our beliefs with those around us? Do not make the same mistake Pilate made. Do not give into something you know is wrong just because that is the popular and easiest choice. If we do then we are no better than Pilate, who knowingly whipped and crucified an innocent man. You do not want to be in the same boat as him, I promise. Stand for what is right and do not be afraid. Remember, this life is only temporary and has an end. But the next life stretches on for eternity. Until tomorrow.
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