Day 8, part 2 Jesus Prays For Us....

Jn17.1-5. Jesus Prays for Himself. Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jn17:6-19. Jesus Prays for His Disciples. "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Jn17.20-26. Jesus Prays for All Believers. "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Jn18.1. When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.

Jesus and the disciples are now on the Mount of Olives, in the garden of Gethsemane.

Mt26.36-46.Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."

The scholars McClintock and Strong told me that the plan to capture Christ involved the assemblage of a large number of the Jews by night, but Roman jealousy forbade such a thing, except under the surveillance of a military officer. An arrangement was accordingly made for a military force, which would naturally be drawn from the Fort Antonia.
At the appointed hour Judas comes and brings with him "the troops" (detachment of soldiers) and together with a number of police under the orders of the high priests and Pharisees, arrest Jesus. (John 18:3). When the actual apprehension of Jesus takes place, however, there is scarcely any reference to the presence of the military.

Jn18:2-9. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He." And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, "I am He," they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none." Jn6.39 & Jn17.12.

Lk22.47-53. And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

Members of the Roman force or the Jewish guard are meant by the “And the young men”.
It would appear that all the disciples fled and this certain young man was someone else who had followed Christ and the disciples, or else someone who was in the garden and was attracted by the commotion of the arrest. Some suggest it may have been Mark. (Quest Study Bible)

Mk14.50-52. Then they all forsook Him and fled. Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

After some time in the garden I heard the approach of a large group of people and when they came close, I could see that there was a detachment of Roman soldiers along with what I believe was the temple guard. One out of the group came forward and put his arms around the Christ, and then a scuffle broke out, the disciples ran off and the Christ was taken away being bound.

Jn18.12-14. Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

The Christ was taken back to the temple complex, into what is known as the high priests courtyard. From the garden I followed close behind the soldiers and behind me were Peter and John.
John seemed to have connections with the high priest as he was allowed into the courtyard and Peter and I were left outside. Later on John was able to get Peter and myself into the courtyard. Once in, we were able to get some relief from the cold night as the servants had a fire going. Peter was asked if he knew the Christ but Peter denied that he did. Apparently the Christ had predicted that Peter would say 3 times that he did not know Jesus.
When there is a holy day or an annual Sabbath, which is one and the same, there is a requirement that there be a back up high priest in case the high priest gets sick or something like that. Annas was the deputy for this year, so the soldiers took Christ to see him first. It was all in one palace or house as a wall surrounded it and they shared the same courtyard; it was just that Annas and Caiaphas lived in different sections of the palace.

Jn18.15-18. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." [1st time] Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

After questioning Jesus in the house-palace of the high priest, the meeting was adjourned to daylight and moved to the chamber of the Sanhedrin because, by law, all capital crimes had to take place in the daytime in these chambers. The distance between the palace and chambers was about 50 yards as the chambers were in the Temple itself. It was located at what was known as the Chamber of Hewn Stone, which was about 40 yards south east of the entrance of the Holy Place. Half of the Sanhedrin hall was in the Court of the Israelites and half was in the court of the priests.

Jn 18.19-24.The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said." And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Do You answer the high priest like that?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?" Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Jn18.25-26. Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!" [2nd time] One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"
1Mk14.71.Then he began to curse and swear, Peter then denied again; [3rd time] "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!" and immediately a rooster crowed.
Lk22.61. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
Mk14:72. A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept.

Some believe that the trial and interrogation was illegal because they believe that the house of Caiaphus was his usual home and that Pilot was in Herod’s palace when giving judgment.
It would seem to me that if God is as holy and righteous as is claimed, he would have no need to rely on a kangaroo court to fulfill one of the major events in all of history. Surely it would by the book, every thing done in a legal manner.

The following is the opinion of a modern day scholar.

It was absolutely essential that Jesus was tried and convicted in a legal manner in order to fulfill all the laws and types of the Old Testament. This is a matter of profound theological importance. Look at it for a moment: Had Christ's death not been legal, then what he did for Christians and the world by dying for their sins (as the New Testament attests that he did) would have to be put aside as not legally proper. In no way would Peter or Paul have accepted such a proposition. If his death were not legal, then his atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world would also not be legal! But when Christ died on the tree of crucifixion, all legal requirements of the Law of Moses had been met. The fact that some witnesses perjured themselves is of no consequence to the issue because, even in legal trials this happens, but it does not make the trial illegal. (Golgotha, Martin, p235)

Another case for these locations is that the location of Caiaphus's house, temporary house or palace [sometimes called the house or palace of the high priest] was in the temple precincts at the time of the feast days, as was required for feast days. Also the hall of Hewn Stone, [the council or Sanhedrin which is in the Temple and within the temple precincts] is where the trial was conducted during daylight hours. With Pilot being at the Fort Antonia, [which was adjacent to the temple on the north side] we know that these proceedings were then according to the law of Moses. To get Christ on the cross by 9:00am, all locations concerned had to be close to each other.

Lk22.63-71.Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?" And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.
As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council.

The nighttime of the Passover day is now over. We now come to the daylight period of the 14th of Nisan the day of the crucifixion. [Wednesday the 12th of April 2006].

to be continued...