20:26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Reminder to 21st. Century Readers of John’s Gospel:
As I mentioned before, Christians to whom John writes understand events which have taken place after Jesus’ ascension, yet before John’s death.
(We will add some of these following the next event of John’s Good News.)
Jesus was crucified around the year AD 30
John writes his Gospel to the churches after AD 85 [~AD 90-100]
After these things Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way:
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
Fishing in Galilee
Of course these Galilean Disciples of Jesus would travel from Jerusalem north to their homes along the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). John recalls which Apostles were present.
Simon Peter
Thomas called Didymus (He will not miss seeing Jesus this time.)
Nathanael of Cana
James, John’s older brother
John, author of this Gospel
Two others of Jesus’ disciples
They would have launched their two or three fishing boats from docks by Capernaum and proceeded out to sea at night, returning to port near daybreak and seeing a man on shore as they approached.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
Our 21st century ears do not hear the Master’s call to His beloved servants in this way. In fact, 1st century men and women tended to be more willing to hear a fellow Jew (especially their Rabbi) or even a Roman responsible for their local Galilean town of Capernaum as humble servants.
παιδίον – pi-de’-on
Child – From dimin. of παῖς (G3816) can mean not only a child, boy or girl but a slave, an attendant, servant, and specifically a king’s attendant, one who ministers to the King.
προσφάγιον – pros-fä’-ge-on
From the King James Version: “Children, have ye any meat?”
But once again our overfed 21st century bodies don’t quite understand what Jesus asks if they have anything eaten with bread and spoken of fish boiled or broiled.
These children of the Shepherd Christ Jesus return from a night of work, fishing — and they have caught no fish. In effect their Lord and Master, Provider of all things to His servants asks these dear ‘children’ in His care, “Are you hungry?”
John in recalling the incident adds, ‘yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.’
Obeying His command
Yes, these seven men probably were hungry after an unsuccessful night of fishing. Yet hearing His command from the shore they obeyed Jesus.
6 He said to them, “Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some.”
So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn’t haul it aboard.
It was then, John tells us, that he recognized Jesus.
“It is the Lord!”
So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the [smaller] boat, dragging the net full of fish.
Once again in a third appearance to seven disciples, Jesus demonstrates that He IS both God and a risen ‘Son of Man.’
John tells his experience as his small boat pulling nets full of fish comes near to the beach along the shore.
9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread.
10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
(Peter and the men have now been pulling the full nets ashore…)
12 Yeshua said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
None of the talmidim (disciples of a Rabbi) dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.
Pause.. to ‘fast forward’
We’ll now leave Jesus and the seven Disciples sharing bread and fish with the Lord and (in 21st c. parlance) fast forward to events known to many readers of John’s Good News, but possibly not known to most Christians in the 21st c. digital age.
(Yes, it’s a ‘pop quiz’ – 5 questions.) How do you think you’ll do?
Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
John 18:28 KJV
the Praetorium – in the Palace of Power
Herod’s Palace – Salome presents head of John the Baptist to Herod
I don’t know about you, but the rapid-fire events of the conviction of the Messiah Jesus in so brief a time in the early hours of the day confuses me concerning the places these trials took place.
If you have a comment of clarification please add it to this post.
IF, unlike those present at the Lord’s first century trials you do not understand who is in charge, the venues of Jesus’ trials can get a little confusing.
You may ask, ‘What does this banquet hall of Herod..’ (where King Herod had been presented the head of John the Baptist) ‘.. have to do with the Messiah Jesus on this morning following the betrayal of Judas?’
The Praetorium is a semi-public place where Jesus has been sent — this place is on the grounds of the palace of King Herod.
Let’s look back briefly at the history of the keys players in this developing drama which convicts the Messiah Jesus at night.
King Herod
Briefly, the history of the Herod’s gets complicated at times, but remember here that we are not talking about Herod the Great who navigated the complex politics of Rome with great agility.
After Herod’s death, Augustus Caesar ratified the wishes of his client king, Herod, to divide this eastern territory of Rome into three parts.
Herod Archelaus was appointed Ethnarch (a governor & not king) of Idumaea, Judea (including Jerusalem) and Samaria.
Herod Antipas (simply, Antipas to the Romans & his subjects, but described as ‘Herod‘ in the Gospels) became Tetrarch of Galilee (including Nazareth and Capernaum) and Perea.
Philip I, son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra of Jerusalem, became Tetrarch of the northern part of Herod’s kingdom (area in modern Lebanon & Syria).
‘Governor Herod‘
You've never heard Herod called that, have you?
This is no longer the Jerusalem of Herod the Great! Jews are now considered merely as an ethnic people and Judeans an ‘ethnic group’ similar to nearby client Roman states. They are now governed as a regional people rather than as a small kingdom allied to Rome for mutual military advantage.
Herod Archelaus – EthnarchHerod Antipas – Tetrarch (Herod) Philip II – Tetrarch
Ethnarch (technically) is a Roman rank just a little higher than Tetrarch. (Kind of like Arch-Bishop is to Bishop in the church.)
Judean Governors (like Herod) sometimes appear politically and practically to be more Roman than like traditional sons of David.
IF these Herod’s were officially governors of their respective Roman regions, i.e. Judea, Galilee, Ituria, etc., — who then governed the governors?
Who governs these Jews?
John now addresses the question of who’s in charge in Jerusalem, who’s in charge of Judea, which Tetrarch governor of which ethnic region has authority in what was once the Kingdom of Israel.
As Jesus is dragged from place to place for trial the quiestions mount:
Is He a Judean? A Galilean? A Jew with authority in Jerusalem? A would-be King? Who IS this Man?
Other Gospel writers have hinted earlier how this delicate duality of rule in first century Jerusalem provided opportunity of great hypocrisy among the rulers of the Jews and their religious political parties, i.e. Sadducees, Pharisees, etc..
The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him…
So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.
Luke 20:19a,20 NASB
“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
But He detected their trickery and said to them,
“Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?”
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said,
“What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
the Praetorium – palace of the Governor
WAIT! Even knowing something of the political intrigue and complexity of the Herod’s, I’m still confused.
Again, please comment if you can help or have a question.
Note that the King James Version {at beginning of this post} states:
‘Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment…’
I get that a hall of judgment could be a large room in the palace.
Note now in the NASB translation,
‘.. into the [a]Praetorium..’
AND by definition:
πραιτώριον = Praetorium [note a]
‘John 18:28 i.e. governor’s official residence’
Why is Pilate there?
Why does Pilate emerge from the Governor’s palace to greet the religious police who have taken the Messiah Jesus into custody?
The CSB clearly calls it 'the governor’s headquarters.'
Wasn’t Pilate’s headquarters outside Jerusalem’s walls with the Roman Legion he commanded?
NO!
When Rome moved into a captured land they ‘civilized’ its remaining residents to become supporting (taxed) residents (not citizens) under Roman rule. As long as they paid their taxes and did not rebel against Roman authority these local Jews could do what they want with their own ethnic people.
What accusation?
Roman custom is such that some public judgments are made from the court of the Governor in charge. Pilate asks the local Jewish leaders who have led a prisoner to him the reasonable question of a Governor and Judge:
John 18:29 – question of Pilate to the Jews who brought Jesus before him
These Jewish leaders of Jerusalem have brought a prisoner to Pilate in the earliest hours of the morning. Pilatos, the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria, addresses them in the universal language of the vast Empire, Greek — not his native Latin, the religious Hebrew tongue of these Jews or a local Aramaic language.
Their prisoner bound for trial appears to be Jesus, who had led thousands of followers to Jerusalem’s gates just a few days ago. Pilate would already know that the Man has not caused any trouble, except one minor incident within the courts of the Jews own Temple.
The Governor has plenty to be concerned about for the upcoming day in monitoring the massive multitudes here for the Jewish holiday Pesach.
Imagine the thoughts of Pilatos:
You’ve brought a prisoner to the governor in these early hours of this busy day?
What does your warrant accuse that I should imprison the Man now?
I have more important things to do than trifle with such matters of your religious concern.
So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked,
Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.”
And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.”
2 Samuel 18:16
Watchtowers at gates of old city
Of Gatekeepers and Watchmen
Soldier of Roman Legion
It would have been a Roman Centurion, Roman guards at the gates of first century Jerusalem.
Armed soldiers, some who had marched on Roman roads connecting nearby towns and slaughtering rebellious zealots in the mountain passes guarded the gates.
As each festival approached with its crowds of pilgrims flooding the streets of Jerusalem, each watchtower with its Roman overseers would look to turn back any threat to their subject-king and their Caesar.
A Roman guard in each watchtower of Jerusalem would have sent out an alarm if any opponent approached their captive city.
They were unlike the faithful who worshiped here and the not so casual crowds of curious visitors of this day.
Damascus Gate of Jerusalem
Who approaches our city?
Will they enter through the gate by permission of their king (or city leader)?
Are they any threat to the Emperor’s representative, our leaders and our Legions?
Who may enter?
It was common practice of the people, including shepherds leading sheep for the slaughter of the sacrifice, to travel here from far away hills and trade within Jerusalem’s walls. Then they worshiped within the courts of their Temple, surrounded by walls of watchmen.
The gatekeeper is much more than a ticket taker, so to speak, a man of authority.
Please keep in mind the context of John’s gospel in the earthly journey of Jesus and the Apostles to Jerusalem. Although we pause once more in John’s witness of a man born blind, the context of Jesus’ actions set the stage for what will happen next.
Rome will destroy Jerusalem later, as Babylon and others had destroyed her before. This nervous alliance between a subject king of the region and ruler of Rome governed the day-to-day lives of Judea’s subjects.
Some mattered more than others. A ruling council guarded their revamped religion and culture: Pharisees, Sadducees, rich landowners paying taxes for the Roman army to remain there in peace.
They kept pretense of self-rule under Herod as a self-subjugated nation which could be crushed by Rome at any hint of rebellion.
A Roman legacy of a Judean King
Back in 19 B.C., Rome had allowed their great builder king to start rebuilding the Temple. Ten thousand skilled laborers and a thousand Levites built it with contributions of Jews mostly from the diaspora to the east just beyond Rome’s grip. It would not be completed until A.D. 63, just seven years prior to their destruction of all Jerusalem. – Source
Those now in authority choose who may enter Jerusalem. Several acted as gatekeeper for a gate entering the court of the Temple, a designated religious police poised at its gates. And as always, those judged for crimes were sentenced by a court sitting at the gate.
But now their jewish judgments must be confirmed by Rome’s prefect who cruelly crushed opposition by the constant reminders of their Roman crosses of crucifixion along roads to the city.
Like always, men of no threat to anyone often sat within the gates begging from faithful pilgrims coming and going into the city.
“For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.
– the words of Jesus, Matthew 26:11 NASB
David’s Watchmen
When David was king, Jerusalem had fought for the LORD rather than bowing down to a Caesar. Yet even David sat as gatekeeper of Israel after opposition by his own son.
David’s great kingdom long forgotten, Jerusalem’s leaders mustered the crowds toward a new faith of confidence by the name of David, although few remembered David’s defeats and difficulties.
One such ne’er-told scripture would have been of David’s time after Absalom’s revolt. It was a day not so grandiose as their many reminders to first century crowds of Solomon’s first Temple.
7 The people of Israel were defeated there before the servants of David [Judah], and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men…
17 They took Absalom and cast him into a deep pit in the forest and erected over him a very great heap of stones. And all Israel fled, each to his tent.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. The watchman called and told the king.
And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.”
And he came nearer and nearer. Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.”
And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.”
…
Why send two?
Two messengers. King David awaits good news as he sits in the gate as gatekeeper of the City of David.
Men from the watchtowers above see a distant scene long before David has news of what has happened. Two separate messengers approaching the stronghold of Jerusalem where the people had kept their king behind as gatekeeper.
Why two? What details of the battle for the LORD will they reveal?
“O my son Absalom
The report of hope turns into great sorrow for the king.
“Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”
“Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept.
Though his victory as King is secured, David would have done anything to have kept his own son from death.
And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 19:
8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate,” then all the people came before the king…
After several violent battles between the rebellious tribes of Israel David prevails as king.
Solomon then becomes Israel’s richest and greatest king, building the Temple of the Lord. But in his old age Solomon falls away from his faith and at his death Israel and Judah once again divide.
After some centuries both kingdoms fall, the Temple of Solomon destroyed.
A Babylonian-built Jewish temple
Perhaps you have never considered that the temple in Jerusalem could never have been rebuilt over the ruble where the Law was found without Persia’s and Babylon’s help. Of course, the LORD made it possible as the LORD had influenced Pharaoh before.
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Ezra 1:2 NASB
Therefore, ‘in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia.’ [Ezra 1:1]
For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
Hebrews 3:3 NASB
Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS…
Hebrews 3:7-8 NASB
Nehemiah & Ezra
Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned both Israel and Judah to return to the LORD, but they also provided hope for later faithful generations of God’s faithfulness.
Although building of the second temple was begun around 516 BC (many centuries after David), it was not completed until about 349 BC under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem is desolate and its gates burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”
Nehemiah 2:17 NASB
Again, note the passage of time and the patience of the LORD in completing His plan of redemption.
Nehemiah 4:
He [Sanballat] spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said,
“What are these feeble Jews doing?
Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?”
The importance of gatekeepers guarding the gates of the faith, as well as the city continued as it had since the time of David and traditions of Moses.
… And Judah was carried away into exile to Babylon for their unfaithfulness.
17 Now the gatekeepers were Shallum and Akkub and Talmon and Ahiman and their relatives (Shallum the chief being stationed until now at the king’s gate to the east)…
20 Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them previously, and the Lord was with him. Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the entrance of the tent of meeting. All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds were 212.
The Pharisees and priests (Levites) of the rebuilt temple of the first century had legitimacy of guarding the purity of the faith of the LORD.
Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths remained in the other cities.
We will next return to first century Jerusalem, but first hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah. (Without knowing their context you may have heard them before.)
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. … The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. “Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy…
Yet previously Isaiah the Prophet had warned:
His watchmen are blind, All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark, Dreamers lying down, who love to slumber; And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied.
And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one.
Into this same Jerusalem the Messiah Jesus enters the gates, encounters the watchmen and shepherds of Herod. Among other signs the Lord gives a man blind from birth his sight!
Could the LORD have sent a new gatekeeper of heaven to Jerusalem?
To be continued...
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