Out of Darkness

John 18:12-14 & 19-24 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people…19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” 22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”  24 Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
 
EVEN after this temple guard had fallen back in response to Jesus’ power, the Father’s will was for the Son to be arrested in a dark garden absent of public witness. Dark hearts work in darkness.  
   Why was Annas’ home the first of Jesus’ trials? Annas had been high priest until 15 A.D. In Jewish law, a high priest ruled for life. But the Romans were uncomfortable with one man ruling so long. Thus, a Roman governor appointed Annas’ four sons in succession over several years. Then they appointed his son-in-law Caiaphas. Still, the Jews’ system honored Annas as high priest. You may recall that after Jesus had raised Lazarus (John 11:43), Caiaphas urged Jesus’ death with an unintentional prophecy of Jesus’ eternal saving work: John 11:49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. God even uses people walking in darkness for his purposes.
   When Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teachings, Jesus protected his disciples from this inquisition. And Jesus always taught in public. His teachings were well known. In truth, Jewish law required witnesses to testify against Jesus’ teaching, but there were none. It was also illegal to strike an unconverted person. Violence always attempt to silence truth.   
   Jesus’ enemies saw the light of truth, so they built a wall of violence and darkness. But the truth remains: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)  
   We thank God that through the violence and darkness of that day, Jesus’ true light eternally shines.