DAY NINE -Chap 17 & 18 Engaging the Bible: 10 Days Through The Gospel of John.
This entire chapter records a prayer of Jesus. It is often called "The High Priestly Prayer". The first half of his prayer (1-12) focuses on his relationship with his Father, the second half (13-26) of his prayer is for his disciples (us). This is a profound chapter that gives us deep insights into the prayer life of Jesus. You could read John 17 every day of your life and never plumb its depths. Make it a "go to" chapter often in your devotional life with Christ. Let his prayer influence how you pray.
Chapter 18
Now the action of the story accelerates. Jesus is betrayed and arrested. He is taken before the High Priest and religious leaders (the Sanhedrin) for a middle-of-the-night interrogation and judgment. While this is happening Peter is denying Jesus three times before the rooster crows just as Jesus had predicted (13:38). Roosters crow at sunrise, so this so far has been an all-night affair. In the morning they brought Jesus to the Roman governor, Pilate. They had to do this because the Jews did not have the right to carry out a death sentence, it had to be done by the Roman government. Had they the right, they would have dragged him outside the city walls and stoned him to death. But that is not how Jesus was to suffer and die for the sins of the world. He was to be scourged and crucified on a cross--that was the specialty of the Romans.
Comments