2010-1-17
John 18 What a difference the cross can make
John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Jesus finished His prayer bearing His heart and will to us! Now he goes to the garden that he and His disciples seem to have as a regular gathering spot. The purpose for His coming to earth was about to be unfolded. All four gospels have the report of the crucifixion and they each portray it in a unique way. Here in John, Judas had a detachment of soldiers come with him at the time of betrayal. Some have compared Peter and Judas actions as much the same; however nothing could be further from the truth. While Judas' heart was filled with wickedness he purposefully handed Jesus over to His enemies. Peter's actions were not from a heart of wickedness but rather motivated out of fear. One of the greatest truths in the word of God is that He judges us by the thoughts and intents of the heart. How is your heart toward God?
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, "Whom are you seeking?" 5 They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am He."And Judas, 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.
Here we find Judas turning Jesus over to the officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. This part of the crucifixion story is unique. Jesus said “I am He” and the enemies of Jesus drew back and fell to the ground. So many times as we have journeyed through the book of John people were ready to kill Jesus and He would walk through the crowd, It was not the time yet. The time had arrived and yet these verses prove that Jesus willing gave His life. In fact, Jesus could have called 12,000 angels.
Matthew 26:53 "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?"
Jesus came to fulfill the word of God because Jesus was the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear.
John 18:7 Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." 8 Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," 9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
Those who have been given to Jesus, He will lose none!
John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 18:10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"
Right to the end the disciples were thinking earthly kingdom and Jesus knew it would take His own death to establish the heavenly kingdom. Remember Peter said though I have to die I will never leave you. Peter pulled out his sword and struck! Peter’s actions were not establishing the kingdom of God . The arm of flesh can never accomplish the will of the Father. Christians today are still pulling out their swords giving their best effort to be faithful to God. Peter, in fact, was fighting to stop Jesus from going to the cross. Your best efforts, no matter how noble, will never accomplish anything if they stand in the way of the cross! Peter’s best efforts failed and so will ours if we don’t trust in the way of the cross!
Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." 34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
The way of the cross is the gospel message! If the way of the cross is not preached there will be no true salvation! The way of the cross is putting all your confidence in the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
John 18:12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. 14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
There was a death of the animal sacrifice since the day that Adam and Eve sinned. Down through the ages thousand of sacrifices. The blood was poured out year after year. Sacrifice after sacrifice never bringing total solution to man’s sin separated them from a holy God. But now it was time for the Man Christ Jesus to die for the people!
Hebrews 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Here in John 18 heaven's purpose was about to be fulfilled. Jesus was about to sacrifice himself for the sins of the world.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
The cross is not just some cute story it is the very victory Jesus won for sinners that sin could be put away by His supreme sacrifice.
John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
Here Peter finds himself in utter failure denying that he knows the Lord. Peter still was not completely understanding the way of the cross. Peter in the next few days and weeks would be learning the greatest life lessons that would ever be needed. Some times in the middle of our failures we can see no future yet God can take the shambles of our failures and make us vessels of honor.
Acts 4:5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem . 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 "If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
While Peter is left in the greatest hours of defeat we jump ahead to a few short months later. The very ones who crucified - and Peter was fearful of - He speaks boldly to. It is the transformation power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus said every believer could have. Jesus said He would baptize with the Holy Spirit!
No comments:
Post a Comment