Jesus demonstrated bravery and determination through even the most minor decisions he made. Judas led a force to the garden that united three previously divided groups. These groups were the Roman band of soldiers, officers from the chief priests, and some from the Pharisees. The "band of soldiers" refers to a Roman cohort that typically consisted of 300 to 600 men and was a tenth of a legion. This number may seem large, but it is similar to the 470 men prepared to escort Paul from Jerusalem to Caesarea, as documented in Acts 23:23.

The Jewish opponents of Jesus knew that Passover celebrated God's rescue of Israel from Egypt. They knew that Jesus was claiming it was time for the Son of Man from Daniel 7:13 to be glorified. This made them anticipate problems, especially since they could not beat his arguments or catch him. The massive force-carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons (as mentioned in 18:3) are because they believe they are confronting a rebel trying to overthrow the government. They aim to defeat this presumed earthly insurgent using conventional tactics.

Jesus is aware that he has been betrayed and that those who seek to harm him are approaching. Despite this, he courageously faces the impending danger leading to his suffering and death. When asked by his aggressors who they are looking for, Jesus confidently responds with his divine name given to him by the Father, even though his betrayer Judas is present, and says, "I am." Jesus, who stood alone in the dark garden, defeated his many armed enemies and made them stumble to the ground. He did not use his power to win the fight or run away. Instead, he showed that his mission was to follow the plan of his Father by sacrificing himself for his followers. John explains that Jesus bravely carried out the mission assigned to him by the Father. By surrendering himself to his enemies, Jesus ensured the safety of his followers, fulfilling his earlier promise not to lose anyone given to him by the Father (18:9).

Peter tries to do what is right and align himself with truth, but he does not fully understand God's purpose. Peter was not just trying to cut off an ear but was getting ready to fight. We cannot be sure whether his purpose was to win over his opponents or provide Jesus an opportunity to escape. Peter was willing to risk his life to save Jesus. Jesus corrected Peter and confirmed his commitment to drinking the cup assigned to him by the Father. This reference to the cup shows that Jesus wasn't surrendering himself so his disciples could escape that night. Instead, by sacrificing himself in their stead, Jesus bore the punishment God had rightfully prepared as a consequence of sin.

Nowhere is it mentioned that Peter tried to hide his denial of Jesus three times? During Jesus' trial, Peter, one of his closest disciples, denied him when he was weakest. This is a significant event in Peter's life and is often retold in the central story of our faith. In 18:15, John explains that Peter was able to witness the unfolding scene by following Jesus with another disciple. The unnamed disciple mentioned is likely John himself, as he has no problem naming other disciples. While the fact that the other disciple was known to the high priest does not contribute to our understanding of what happened to Jesus, it is a personal detail that an eyewitness like John might continue to share. What was Peter's motivation for his actions? Did he have time to think through his actions, or did he just react in the moment? It seems unlikely that Peter believed he could rescue Jesus considering Jesus had just surrendered willingly. Peter's fear and confusion caused him to prioritize his safety over his loyalty to Jesus and the truth. As a result, he denied any affiliation with Jesus.

Jesus tells Annas that he has not been preaching in secret and invites him to ask anyone who has heard him teach to verify his claim of innocence (v. 21). John portrays the official's slap of Jesus as a disrespectful act that resulted from a rushed and mistaken judgment. However, from the official's viewpoint, the high priest's dignity was being disrespected. Jesus questions the fairness of the official's action (v.23), stating that he has done nothing wrong and should not have been slapped. Annas attempted to gather evidence against Jesus but was unsuccessful. Annas' associates treated Jesus as a criminal who didn't respect authority, but Jesus shut them down using his moral authority. Despite Annas' unsuccessful efforts, he decided to send Jesus to Caiaphas.