THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - PART XXI

THE ARREST OF JESUS AND TRIALS BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS AND PILATE

I. The Gospel according to John presents the passion and death of Jesus in terms of Jesus fully in control of the situation and fulfilling His role as the Passover sacrifice, the King, and the new Adam. The other major figures in the narrative, by contrast, are controlled by other forces.

C. Jesus is slaughtered just as the lambs for the Passover are being slaughtered.

II. The arrest in the garden demonstrates that Jesus is fully in charge.

III. The trials before Annas and Caiphas alternate with the denials of Peter.

A. John describes the first trial before Annas with more detail.

IV. The trial before Pilate contrasts dramatically the kingship of Jesus, the cowardice of Pilate, and the fury of the crowds.

A. The overall structure forms a sort of chiasm, focusing on the kingship of Jesus.

- Even now, Jesus is in full command of the situation.