October 15, 2023
Thinning Of The Disciples
“Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.” John 18:15-16 (NASB)
While working as a Task Force Officer assigned to the FBI on the Joint Terrorism Task Force from 2003-2006, I held many security clearances due to the nature of the cases we investigated. Some cases were normal law enforcement sensitive cases, while others were classified as Secret, and above. In gaining clearances, it allowed access to sensitive information. For most, very few have any idea how many investigations are conducted each day for our national security. A lot happens behind some closed doors at the highest levels. A lot was about to happen behind the high priest’s doors as well in condemning Jesus.
“Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple.” The disciple named, “the other disciple” is most assuredly John. Earlier in John’s gospel, he referred to himself as the “one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23), and in John 20:2, 4, 8 as “the other disciple.” His usage of these terms denotes his humility, as he followed Christ. Now after Jesus’s arrest, the disciples fled. The event is recorded in Matt. 26:56b, “Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” Somehow, Peter regained his courage and followed Jesus with the arresting authorities from a distance (Matt. 26:58). This area would have been the courtyard of the high priest. From there he could listen to what was happening. Peter was not the only one though. John too had finally mustered his courage and entered into the court area. “Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,” “This disciple knew the high priest and therefore had access into the high priest’s courtyard. Thus he was in a unique position to know what was going on and to enable Peter to get into the courtyard.”[1] As John “went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in” Peter was allowed access into an area previously inaccessible. As Jesus entered, the high priest would begin his mock trial of Jesus. This was a chance to turn the tables on Jesus for good. Why? Foster says, “Basic reasons for the bitter enmity against Jesus may have gone unspoken both in this preliminary questioning and in the formal hearing before the official high priest early in the morning (Matthew 26:57–67) … Jesus had aroused the jealousy of the religious leaders because He had taught the people as one having more authority than they. He had directly opposed them in their teaching because they emphasized the traditions of men as though they were the doctrine of God. He had exposed the scribes and Pharisees for what they were, hypocrites. He had vanquished them in each controversy when they had directly confronted Him. Why did they accuse Him? Jesus stood in the way of their own plans; He was a threat to their position and the status quo. Their enmity arose from jealousy, selfishness, and cruelty.”[2]
A lot of shady things happened behind closed doors. Unknowingly, the common Jew had no idea Jesus was taking on the sins that separated them from Him. He was standing in their place for their sin. He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
[1] Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 335). Victor Books.
[2] Foster, L. (1987). John: Unlocking the Scriptures for You (p. 194). Standard.