John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?
Do you remember that old disciple who said he would never abandon Jesus? Do you remember the disciple that cut off the ear of Malchus in order to defend Jesus? That very same disciple, by the name of Peter, has his own narrative going on at the same time Jesus' trials are going on. While Jesus is under going scrutiny, so is Peter. There almost appears to be this compare and contrast element happening here. While Jesus is confronting his accusations with boldness, Peter shrinks back in shame. While Jesus presses through without fear, fear dominates the mind of Peter.
Jesus is confident in His mission and doctrine. Peter is not so confident. The accusations Peter receives are no where near what Jesus is receiving. He is simply being noted as someone who was associated with Jesus. Given the current circumstances, Peter folds under the pressure and denies having any relationship with Jesus. Three times over Peter denies Jesus, and Scripture makes it evident it is to his shame. What is note worthy about this for the original audience is they would have known what became of Peter. He was the one who boldly spoke at Pentecost where 3,000 were saved. He planted churches and spread the gospel like wildfire. But here? Here he is a coward. It contrasts greatly with who Jesus redeemed him as.
The lesson is a simple one. Denial of Jesus is a shameful act. While Jesus is proceeding forward, the one's He is dying for are accusing Him, beating Him, and even His own disciples are rejecting Him. But this is exactly why Jesus must do this. He is there to set them free. As Jesus endured the trial, the original audience would see the contrast of their own lives. They were suffering for Christ's sake. John wants them boldened in their faith. They ought to suffer like Christ, not as Peter did there. In fact, I think of the words of Peter that he had learned through his own suffering.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
-1 Peter 4:1-2
That lesson becomes clear in this text. Suffer for Him as He suffered for you.
What lesson do you see?
Jesus is confident in His mission and doctrine. Peter is not so confident. The accusations Peter receives are no where near what Jesus is receiving. He is simply being noted as someone who was associated with Jesus. Given the current circumstances, Peter folds under the pressure and denies having any relationship with Jesus. Three times over Peter denies Jesus, and Scripture makes it evident it is to his shame. What is note worthy about this for the original audience is they would have known what became of Peter. He was the one who boldly spoke at Pentecost where 3,000 were saved. He planted churches and spread the gospel like wildfire. But here? Here he is a coward. It contrasts greatly with who Jesus redeemed him as.
The lesson is a simple one. Denial of Jesus is a shameful act. While Jesus is proceeding forward, the one's He is dying for are accusing Him, beating Him, and even His own disciples are rejecting Him. But this is exactly why Jesus must do this. He is there to set them free. As Jesus endured the trial, the original audience would see the contrast of their own lives. They were suffering for Christ's sake. John wants them boldened in their faith. They ought to suffer like Christ, not as Peter did there. In fact, I think of the words of Peter that he had learned through his own suffering.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
-1 Peter 4:1-2
That lesson becomes clear in this text. Suffer for Him as He suffered for you.
What lesson do you see?
Recent
Archive
2026
January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19John 19 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 19 | What's the connection?John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 19 | What's the lesson for me today?John 19 | What am I going to do about it?John 19 | Prayer Prompts
March
Passage of the Week: John 20John 20 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 20 | What's the connection?John 20 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 20 | What's the lesson for me today?John 20 | What am I going to do about it?John 20 | Prayer PromptsJohn 21 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 21John 21 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 21 | What's the connection?John 21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 21 | What's the lesson for me today?John 21 | What am I going to do about it?Passage of the Week: Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What is a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 1:5-14Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:5-14 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:1-4Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the connection?
No Comments