John 18: Who Did Jesus Die For?
Verse of the Day: (V14) “Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”
1. Die (V1-14)
V11 “Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
Jesus said to His disciple, Peter, to put away his sword. Jesus was ready to drink of the cup of crucifixion, and hence fulfilled His Father’s mission that He must die for the sins of the whole world. Even Caiaphas, the high priest, and the rest of the religious leaders, were plotting for Jesus’ death as they feared Jesus’ great influence over the people.
V14 “Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”
2. Denied (V15-27)
V17 “Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.”
Though Peter declared that he would give his life for Jesus, yet when Jesus was betrayed and arrested, Peter denied Him three times before the people. However, this was the fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy that the cock immediately crew upon Peter’s third denial.
V27 “Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”
3. Delivered (V28-40)
V35 “Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?”
The chief priests and the religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus because their influence over the people had declined while that of Jesus had increased. However, they knew that they could not kill Jesus as He was well respected by the Jews. Hence they delivered Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor who had great military power over Israel at that time, to destroy Jesus. However, Pilate could not find any fault in Jesus, and hence he decided to deliver Jesus back to the Jews themselves. The Jews led by the religious leaders chose to crucify Jesus, instead of Barabbas, a robber. Jesus knew that His kingdom was not this world, but the kingdom of heaven, and that He must die for the sins of the whole world.
V36 “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that Jesus died for my sins so that I may live for Him.
