Page 597 - The MacArthur Daily Bible
P. 597
TN_06_MacArthur_Bible_June.qxd 8/8/03 15:52 Page 578
JUNE 9
who betrayed Him, also stood with them.
6 Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they
drew back and fell to the ground.
7 Then He asked them again, “Whom are you 18:13 Annas first.Annas held the high priest-
seeking?” hood office from A.D.6–15 when Valerius
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Gratus,Pilate’s predecessor,removed him from
8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am office.In spite of this,Annas continued to wield
He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go influence over the office, most likely because
9
their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled he was still regarded as the true high priest
which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave and also because no fewer than 5 of his sons,
Me I have lost none.” and his son-in-law Caiaphas, held the office at
10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it one time or another. Two trials occurred: one
and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off Jewish and one Roman. The Jewish phase
began with the informal examination by
his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword Annas (vv.12–14,19–23),probably giving time
into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup for the members of the Sanhedrin to hurriedly
gather together. A session before the
which My Father has given Me?” Sanhedrin was next (Matt. 26:57–68) at which
12 Then the detachment of troops and the cap- consensus was reached to send Jesus to Pilate
tain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus (Matt. 27:1,2).The Roman phase began with a
13
and bound Him. And they led Him away to first examination before Pilate (vv. 28–38a;
Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Matt.27:11–14) and then Herod Antipas (“that
Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now fox”—Luke 13:32) interrogated Him (Luke
14
it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it 23:6–12). Lastly, Jesus appeared again before
was expedient that one man should die for the Pilate (vv. 38b–19:16; Matt. 27:15–31).
people.
15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so
did another disciple. Now that disciple was who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not
known to the high priest, and went with Jesus also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”
16
into the courtyard of the high priest. But Pe- He said, “I am not.”
ter stood at the door outside. Then the other 18 Now the servants and officers who had
disciple, who was known to the high priest, made a fire of coals stood there, for it was
went out and spoke to her who kept the door, cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter
and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl stood with them and warmed himself.
17
DAY 9:Who was Naaman, and what does he teach us about obedience to God?
In 2 Kings 5:1, four phrases describe the importance of Naaman: 1) he was the supreme com-
mander of the army of Syria as indicated by the term “commander,”used of an army’s highest rank-
ing officer (Gen. 21:22; 1 Sam. 12:9; 1 Chr. 27:34); 2) he was a great man, a man of high social stand-
ing and prominence; 3) he was an honorable man in the eyes of his master, a man highly regarded
by the king of Syria because of the military victories he had won; and 4) he was a mighty man of
valor,a term used in the Old Testament for both a man of great wealth (Ruth 2:1) and a courageous
warrior (Judg. 6:12; 11:1). Severely mitigating against all of this was the fact that he suffered from
leprosy,a serious skin disease (v.27).Naaman’s military success was attributable to the God of Israel,
who is sovereign over all the nations (Is. 10:13; Amos 9:7).
Because of his personal greatness (v. 1), his huge gift of ten talents of silver, six thousand
shekels of gold (about 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold in v.5),and diplomatic letter (v.
6), Naaman expected that Elisha would “surely come out to me”(v.11).He expected personal atten-
tion to his need. However, Elisha did not even go out to meet him. Instead, he sent his instructions
for healing through a messenger (v. 10). Naaman was angry because he anticipated a personal
cleansing ceremony from the prophet himself. Besides, if Naaman needed to wash in a river, two
Syrian rivers were superior to the muddy Jordan.However,it was obedience to God’s word that was
the issue, not the quality of the water.
Fortunately, Naaman had a servant who pointed out to him that he had been willing to do
anything, no matter how hard, to be cured. He should be even more willing, therefore, to do some-
thing as easy as washing in a muddy river. Naaman’s healing restored his flesh to that “of a little
child”(v.14).Upon his healing, Naaman returned from the Jordan River to Elisha’s house in Samaria
to give confession of his new belief:“there is no God…except in Israel”(v. 15).
578