Jesus Stricken by an Officer - John 18:22

The apostle John wrote how, “the high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why ask you me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-two of his book John shared how, “ the officer which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand” where we read:

And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answer you the high priest so?

The verse reads, “And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, ...” John began with the words, “and when he had thus spoken” which means “and at the time and moment he, Jesus, uttered, declared and proclaimed that He taught openly in the synagogues and temple so the high priest should ask the people who heard him”, “one of the officers” or “a particular and certain one of the attendants of the high priests or synagogue” “which stood by struck Jesus” which means “who was standing near the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation hit, slapped and boxed Him” “with the palm of his hand” or “by using the palm of his physical hand”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking” the following question. John shared after Jesus answered the “high priest”, one of the “servants” to the “high priest” slapped Him with the “palm of his hand” and asked Him the following question.

The verse goes on to say, “Answer you the high priest so?” John continues with the words, “answer you” or “do you, Jesus, responded to” “the high priest so” which means “the chief and principle priest in such a manner”? John shared how the “officer” who “slapped” Jesus asked Him if He responded to the “high priest” in the manner He did.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how this “officer” was so offended by how Jesus answered the “high priest” that he “slapped” Him with the “palm of his hand”. This was only the beginning of the suffering Jesus would endure on behalf of mankind. People sin, and because of this, “the wages of sin is death”. (See Romans 6:23) This creates a problem for people because “sin” separates people from a relationship with God. Jesus endured the “slap” of this “officer” as well as the ridicule, torture and crucifixion that was ahead of Him because He desired to make a way of “salvation” for mankind. Those who are wise will think about this “slap” and decide if they too would “slap” the “Son of the Living God” because they do not like what He says or the way He says it.

Next time John shares how Jesus said to the officer, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".