W E E K N I N E
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
~ John 19:30 ~
As you read John 18–21, take time to notice the characters, their responses, and the themes you encounter.
Where is God in abuse and suffering?
Notice …
... how Jesus models unthreatened love in his responses to the mob’s threats, the priests’ intimidation tactics, and Pilate’s power plays. Contrast Jesus’ calm responses with Peter’s overreaction.
... how Jesus’ bold meekness unmasked his accusers’ lies and his oppressor’s insecurity, demonstrating the victory that God’s cherished, empowered children can live in even as they walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
... the violent abuse of Jesus, God’s human representative, as he was mocked, beaten, stripped naked, and pierced.
... the overwhelming extent of his public humiliation as he bore our grief and carried our sorrow. But in the midst of his suffering and death, also notice the ways in which he was honoured and cared for. Though the circumstances surrounding his abuse seem wildly out of control, notice God’s careful attention to detail in what happens to his clothes, what sort of drink he is offered, the way his bones are preserved, and how angels keep him from striking his foot against a stone.
... along with the women, God’s faithfulness in raising him back up, restoring him to a better body and greater honour than what had been taken from him by his abusers.
... the personalised ways in which he in turn restores life to a grieving woman, a doubting disciple, and a failed leader, comforting each and reintegrating them into the community with a renewed role and purpose.
John 18:1 – 18:19
Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.
2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)
6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”
9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Jesus Taken to Annas
12 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 Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
Peter’s First Denial
15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,
16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant-girl on duty there and brought Peter in.
17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.
He replied, “I am not.”
18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
John 18:20 – 18:39
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 slapped 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 bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”
27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a cock began to crow.
Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.
29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?”
30 “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”
31 Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”
“But we have no right to execute anyone,” they objected.
32 This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”
John 18:40 – 19:18
40 They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified
19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe
3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”
But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
7 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.
10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).
14 It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.
“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.
“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
(The passage continues through John chapters 19, 20, and 21. For brevity, the full text is not included here, but you can format the remaining chapters in the same way.)
Reflect
The Big Story
The Bible is the gripping story of God’s creation and his love for humankind. Everything was good, right, safe, and whole. But as the story unfolds, we read about the unleashing of evil and humanity’s alienation from the Creator. Our reality is that every day, we encounter this creation gone awry—a beautiful world that is clouded by the powers of evil seeking its destruction. Sex trafficking. Children neglected and abused. Slavery and violence. Shame and silence. God ignored and defied.
Such ugliness can make the heart sick. Can anything make a difference? Does anyone care enough to make it different?
The Bible boldly answers the questions “Who cares?” and “Can anything be done?” God cares, and He is powerfully at work to make things right. The booklet you hold in your hand is one such story from the Bible—the story of God who sees disease and wants it healed, who hears the cry of the oppressed and is determined to make things right. This holy and sovereign God reveals who He is and provides a way for all humanity to be restored to a relationship with Him through Jesus, and then invites us to join in His restoration work.
God’s passion for the unwanted, unreached, unengaged, the forgotten, the overlooked, the marginalized, is most visible when He sends His own Son, Jesus. Entirely human, entirely divine, Jesus leads the struggle to bring justice to earth, with God’s mercy, love, and peace. For His troubles, Jesus is rejected and murdered.
Yet that is not the end. The story goes on. God raises Jesus from the dead, and Jesus breathes resurrection life into His followers. Paradoxically, through Jesus’ death, God absorbs the worst injustice humans can do. He bears it, suffers it, and defeats it—on our behalf.
Through Jesus, God rescues and redeems us. Because of Him, we have hope that one day all things will be restored again.
And then Jesus invites His followers to join Him in the struggle He leads to bring justice to earth. He asks us to work for justice in the way He showed us, with His Spirit to direct and help.
Engage
How can we become more trauma-sensitive? How can we help create trauma-sensitive communities/cultures?
You may want to consider the suggestions on pages 140–142.Here is your opportunity to get creative!
You may or may not think of yourself as an artist, but all of us, having been created in the image of God, are creatives. We’re makers.
Making something—a painting, a poem, a craft, a song, a photograph, etc.—can help us articulate what we might not otherwise be able to express. As it gives form to our thoughts and feelings, art can be a catalyst in healing.
Through creating art, we can acknowledge both the beauty and order—as well as the brokenness and disorder—which we see in ourselves and in our world. Art can help us zoom out, to see God’s big story.
Whether you’ve been working through this book on your own or in a group, you’re invited to try your hand at making something in response to your journey through the Gospel of John and the related content in Asha. Check out some of the artworks featured here by Anika, Twyla, and Deepika for a bit of inspiration.
You may want to share your artwork with your small group, if you’ve been reading Asha with others. You can also email us at asha@biblica.com with a photo of your finished creations.