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19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 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. ~ JOHN 18:19-24
We return to our study of the Gospel of John. We have considered the arrest of the Lord Jesus in John 18:12-14, and Peter’s first denial in John 18:15-18.
In John 18:19-24, the Lord Jesus is being questioned by Annas, the previous high priest. Annas was the father-in-law of the then high priest, Caiaphas. Due to his corruption, Annas had been removed as high priest by the Romans. Yet, he was the power behind the throne, and the soldiers brought the Lord Jesus to him for questioning.
In v.19. Annas begins this first phase of questioning on a totally illegal basis. Jewish law never required anybody to testify against himself, yet that was what Annas did with the Lord Jesus. When asked illegal questions, the Lord Jesus replied openly and honestly, only to be met by contempt and with a contemptuous slap to the face.
In v.20-21, the Lord Jesus responds with, "The law does not allow you to question me. Ask those who heard me. They can tell you. Bring witnesses. That is what the law requires." In response to His statement, the obscure official slaps the Lord Jesus. To the slap, the Lord Jesus responds with "If I have done wrong then tell me what it is. If not, why do you hit me? That is against the law." He simply repeats the position he had taken earlier and stands His ground. This is what it looks like to turn the other cheek: Stand on your rights, without becoming angry or striking back.
In his questioning, Annas focuses on Christ’s disciples and His teachings because he was hoping His answers could be used against Him in the following court trials and thus lead to His execution. He is not concerned with justice; he is only concerned with using the justice system in order to eliminate the Lord Jesus who was in fact a threat to his position, power and wealth.
In v.22, the Greek word used for “slapped" is raphisma, which describes a blow to the cheek with an open hand. The unaware official said to Christ, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” The official believed that Christ’s indictment of the high priest was improper, illegal and out of line. The official provides for us a very important lesson. This lesson is underscored in Galatians 6:8 which reads, "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction." On a day by day basis, we have the continuing choice to be smart and feed the Holy Spirit who has awakened our spirit to the Lord or we can feed the flesh which is faithful to deliver destruction into our existence.
The only way His indictment of the high priest was wrong was if Christ Himself had been wrong. But He wasn’t wrong. This is why the Lord Jesus said to the officer in v.23, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” The Lord Jesus knew, even as Annas knew, that He was, in fact, right. Annas had totally disregarded the proper legal procedure.
The Lord Jesus, after explaining to the officer the rightness of His indictment of Annas, at the end of v.23 responds to the officer for striking Him with, "why did you strike me?"
When Annas realized he could get nowhere with the Lord Jesus, according to v.24, he sent Him to Caiaphas, the High Priest. He did not have to send Him far, just across the courtyard, where, by this time, the Sanhedrin had gathered. But John ignores that whole trial before the high priest, we get that in the other gospels.
In the course of this hearing, the Lord Jesus had displayed His perfection against the backdrop of the sinfulness of man. Though He was the one on trial, it was those around Him who were exposed to be the ones who were guilty. This is the way it always is when we stand in the presence of the Lord Jesus, the more we walk with Him, the more our sin becomes exposed.
Finally, I've wondered, since the Lord Jesus knew He is going to the cross, why does He defend Himself before Annas? The Lord Jesus defended Himself in order to defend the proper process or to expose the inaccurate and illegal nature of this trial. Everyone who has ever received a proper trial are ingratiated to the Lord Jesus for justice. .
