Midweek Lenten Worship March 12, 2025
“Two Interrogations” John 18:12-27
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
A number of years ago I sat through a multiple-day trial concerning a sexual assault. It was awful to listen to what one person could do to another person. The lasting effects of what was imposed on this young lady were horrendous.
It was difficult for everyone in the courtroom to listen to the account of what happened, the testimony of others, the evidence that was presented. It was painful to hear of this evil. When I thought of this lady and how she had to tell us what had happened to her I knew that it had to pain her, to relive the assault once again.
But what happened next was worse. The defense attorneys had a job to do. They had to try to discredit her testimony. They had to try to put holes in what she said. They had to work, in whatever way they could to bring a verdict of “not guilty” for their client, the man accused of a number of terrible crimes.
The interrogation was brutal. Only a strong person could sit and answer the questions that were asked in the days of the trial.
Have you ever been to court? Have you ever had to speak for either side? Have you had to listen as justice is attempted to be rendered? The interrogation is needed but it is not very pleasant.
Looking at our text, John 18 – don’t you marvel at how God puts His word together? Two interrogations are put side by side in the account of the passion history of Jesus Christ. One interrogation was surrounded by weakness. The other interrogation was a brilliance of strength. The first interrogation was of Simon Peter. The other was of Jesus Christ. In John 18, the text we just read, they are interwoven.
We start with Peter. Called the “Rock” by Jesus. But he was no rock in our account. He was much more like sand. He started as a hero and ended up as a coward. When Jesus was about to be arrested Peter tried to defend Jesus with his sword. He cut off the right ear of Malchus, one of those trying to arrest Jesus. He had followed Jesus at a distance to the courtyard of the high priest, where Jesus was facing Annas, the high priest, in His interrogation.
When he got inside the gates, he met his first question. He began his series of lies. “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” (John 18:17) His answer? “I am not!!” It appears that there was time between that denial and the second question. He could have had some second thoughts about what he had said. He could have bemoaned that he said what he had promised he would never say. When Peter was told that all of them would fall away that night of the arrest of Jesus, Peter said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33)
Again Peter was asked if he belonged to Jesus. His answer? No. Don’t know Him. Then a relative of Malchus, the guy with the ear cut off, stepped in, “Didn’t I see you in the olive grove?” (John 18:26) No, never been there. The first interrogation brought no truth. But eventually the lies caught up with him. He left that courtyard sometime later with shame and grief and embarrassment. How weak he was. How broken he was. “He went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)
John introduces us to the contrast of the interrogation of Peter to Jesus Christ. The opening verses of our text say, “Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiphas, the high priest that year.” (John 18:12-13)
Strength or weakness? What would it be for Jesus? He was in trouble. They weren’t looking for truth and the right thing. They wanted Him gone. Dead.
Annas begins the inquisition asking Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus said, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” (John 18:20-21)
The second interrogation, the voice of Jesus to those who opposed Him came with great vigor and confidence. He was not intimidated. He didn’t need to change His story. He was constant in who He was and what He came to do. Even in His silence He spoke very clearly.
Jesus in our reading was taken to Annas. Later He would be before Caiphas, Herod and Pilate. Paul writes to Timothy, encouraging him that his confession to the world would be as strong as the Jesus’ confession. Paul writes, “Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and to Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Timothy 6:12-14)
The good confession of Jesus spoken before His accusers was strong and reliable. He confessed that His work was to be the Savior of the world, and whose death would be the moment of life for all. In the Suffering Servant chapter of Isaiah we read, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7)
We read about two interrogations on the same day. One showed weakness; one showed strength. One came with regret; the other with resolve. It is that second interrogation, the harder of the two, the interrogation and confession of Jesus that we find our hope and our own faith and strength. Amen.
(This sermon series, St. John Passion, was written by Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller, in Concordia Pulpit Resources, 2024)
