To say that we ‘know’ somebody covers a variety of relationships.  The person might be someone we occasionally meet, or a colleague, friend or family member.  Even within families there are different levels or intensity of relationship.  The closest should be between spouses, and between parents and children.  But Jesus prayed to His Father in an astonishingly intimate way (John 17:1-5).  The unique bond between them was of undiluted love and mutual understanding.

Judas the betrayer had guided armed soldiers and temple officials to capture Jesus (John 18:2-3).  However, He was not going to run away; He was ready to be taken.  The cross was the essential part of His mission, and Satan’s worst schemes would only bring Him greater glory (John 17:1-5).  Jesus was fully in command of the situation.  He was not taken by surprise at all.  But there was a huge surprise in store for His captors.

Jesus, the Creator of the world, the King of kings and God the Son, was taken away bound with ropes, making sure He could not escape.  What foolishness!  It was only possible because Jesus gave Himself into their custody in order to fulfil God’s great salvation-plan.  Here the worlds of faithless religion and military power worked together in capturing Jesus.  A few hours later it happened again when the puppet King Herod gave Jesus into Pilate’s hands – until then the two power-holders were enemies, but their mutual ambition to destroy Jesus made them friends (Luke 23:13).
 

At last, the religious officials thought, Jesus was under their control.  How foolish!  Annas, the religious father figure, could now interrogate Him.  Although Jesus was a threat to the religious authorities, they were also fascinated by Him, His teaching and miracles (Luke 23:8).  But what more could His interrogators learn?  Jesus had taught the crowds in public, consistently telling them the truth from God.  What He said and did was public knowledge; it was no secret.  But when Jesus told Annas to find evidence against Him, a temple guard hit Him in the face for confronting His accuser.