December 27, 2020 -- John 18:24 -- Jesus in Charge

Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

John 18:24 English Standard Version

This short verse is packed with information. ‘Him’ is a reference to Jesus. At the start of this chapter when Jesus was about to be arrested by the cohort of Roman soldiers, He declared “I AM He” (the Jesus of Nazareth you see). At His word then soldiers fell to the ground as though dead. The merest word caused these battle hardened men to become discombobulated. Jesus was fully in charge.

When Annas interviewed Jesus, the evidence of chaos was in the face of the reader. The Jewish people considered Annas the real high priest. Caiaphas was his son-in-law, appointed by the Romans, and serving as high priest. Who is in charge? Jesus is fully in charge.

Jesus allowed Himself to be bound. He willingly endured mocking and suffering so that believers would be set free. Understand this—Jesus is not helpless. He is fully in charge. He is glorious and powerful. Those who repent of their sin—who turn from sin and face Jesus seeking after Him—will find He is gloriously in charge. Sin cannot defeat Him. Those who are bound up to Jesus in faith, hope, and love find in Him their perfect peace which no temptation, no circumstance, no government can destroy. Is Jesus fully in charge of your life?

The prayer is based on latter portions of Isaiah 40:

God our Father—to whom can we compare You? With Isaiah the prophet we confess:

Do you not know? Do you not hear?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth

and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

Who brings princes to nothing,

and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

You alone are great, O God, bringing out the starry host by their number,

calling them all by name.

You are great! Father, direct Your people by Your Spirit into the love of Jesus and faithful obedience to Your glorious Name. Amen.

https://youtu.be/XG347euXoTM