Tuesday, 3 October

John 18:12-24

Who questions Jesus first? How does Peter get into the high priest's courtyard? Who does he deny Christ before first? What does he do next? What does the high priest ask Jesus about? How does Jesus respond? What happens to him? (A lot of things, like this, will be illegal during his trial.) What does he challenge his enemies to do? What happens next?

18:25-40

Who questions Peter next? Who questions him the third time? What happens next (after the cock crows)? (Trial by night is illegal -- see also John 3:19-20 -- note, too, that John is more interested in Annas' questioning than Caiaphas'.) Why does Pilate have to come out? What does he ask? What charges do the Jews have? Why do they refuse to try him themselves? How are Jesus' words fulfilled?

What does Pilate ask Jesus? (Where is this coming from? Has anyone mentioned kings yet?) Why does Jesus want to know whose question this is? How does he respond to the question? What does he mean? Why has he come into the world? What does Pilate tell the Jews? How does he try to have Jesus released? Who do they prefer? (Bar-Abbas means 'Son of the Father'!) What kind of man is this? (see 10:7-11)

19:1-16

What does Pilate do next? What does he tell the Jews? What happens next? What is the Jews' reaction to seeing Jesus? Why do they want him executed? How many times has Pilate said Jesus is innocent? Why is Pilate afraid? Why is he upset when Jesus is silent? Once again, who is in charge here? Who has the greater sin than Pilate? Why can't Pilate let him go? Where does he take Jesus? How do the Jews react to this talk of kings? Who is actually on trial here?

19:17-27

Who is missing on the road to Calvary? Why won't Pilate change the inscription? What is significant about Jesus' tunic?

(To be continued . . .)