John 18: 1-27-He Was Faithful for Your Sake

John 18: 1-27-He was faithful for your sake

Summerstrand 4 March 2018

Welcoming

Entry

Song 205: 1Bring praise to the Father, glorify the Son–stand

Votum and Blessing

“I have not lost one of those you gave me.”- John 18:9

Praise

Song 199Praise God from heaven(v1 & 3 all, v2 choir) - stand(Text: Ps 148)

Worship

Song 329For, God loved the world so muchthat He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth shall not perish but have eternal life– sit

Choir: Song 331Because God loved the world ...

Children

We read fromthe New Testament for Children (use NIV below)

John 18:1-11(GrégoireGuérard's paintingThecaptureofChrist)

John 18:12-27(Rembrandt van Rijn's paintingPeter's denial)

As creed

Song 543Lord Jesus, I am small, make my life pure(v1 ladies, v2 men, v3 all. Refrain all)– sit

Holy Communion

Song 303 (Afrall, Engchoir,Afrall)Eat this bread, drink this cup and nerver be hungry.Eat this bread, drink this cup.Trust in Christ and you will not thirst–sit

Scripture

John 18:1-27

The story from Gethsemane until just before the crucifixion is told in 6 episodes:

Jesus is imprisoned - John 18:1-11;
Jesus appears before Annas, the former high priest - John 18:12-14;
Peter denies Jesus the first time - John 18:15-18;
Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his teaching - John 18:19-24;
Peter renounce Jesus two more times - John 18:25-27;
Pilate trial Jesus - John 18: 28-40.

We only read the first five episodes(in the NIV).

1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” 12Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. 15Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. 19Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” 22When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Preaching

“I have not lost one of those you gave me.”

Between two gardens

The story of the last day in Jesus' life occursbetweentwo gardens.The gardenofGethsemaneat theKidron Valley at the foot of the Mount of Olives where Jesus was betrayed (John 18:1).And the garden ofJoseph ofArimatheawhere Jesus' body was wrapped and buried after his crucifixion and death (John 19:38).

Peter deniesthe Lord Jesus in the courtyard

In between, there isthe story ofthecourtyardof the high priest Annas where Peter stood by a fire in the cold and denied the Lord Jesus three times (John 18:15-18; 25-27).

One saw in the first garden Peter standing up for the Lord Jesus.Judasbetrayedthe Lord Jesusandrejected his grace.However, Peterstilldefendedthe LordJesusbycutting downMalchus' ear.Hiscommitment to Jesus, thoughin a wrong way, was still firm.

But here, where the tide turns against Jesus, where Jesus is sent from church to state to pay the highest price, Peter's courage fails him, and he denies the Lord Jesus.Three times.

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” the servant girl asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”(John 18:17).
A few minutes later:“You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
Still later: One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow."

ONE:Jesus does not shrink from betrayal, denial andcrucifixion

The gospel of this section isfirstthatJesusdidnot shy away from the arrest; andin the garden even go so far astoidentifyhimselfto the soldiers and guards.

We read: “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’‘Jesus of Nazareth’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:4-7).
So He had to overcome their fear of Him in the darkness of the garden: “Again he asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they said.” (John 18:8).
And to the last faithful to his people:“Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.’”And they did (John 18: 9).

TWO:He was faithful for your sake

And in this the secondpart of thegospelis locked up.Johnsays,"This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: ‘I have not lost one of those you gave me.’”(John 18:9).

We not only see Jesus'control ofhis ownlifebut also his control over thelifeof his disciples.The soldiers– probably about 600 of them –do not challengeHim and let the disciples go.

Jesusthus choosestofollowtheroute of the cross,notto establish the kingdom of Godby force, but to sacrifice himself for it.That's why he also turns to Peter when he tries to defend him, even healing the ear of Malchus, a miracle with his arrest.

Jesus had to drink the cup of suffering. It was his assignment and he would be obedient unto death. And we must say, thank God, he was faithful!

But there is more.He was faithfulfor your sake.He has persevered through every part of this path for your sake.Through the treason of the first garden.Through the denial of the inner courtyard.Untilhisfuneral in the second garden.

He was faithful for your sake.

THREE:God's grace for squandered chances

This brings us to the third aspect of the gospel in this section.

Viewed from one angle, this story of the cross is, of course,a story of squanderedchances.It is anaccumulationof squandered chances.

Judas squanders his chance of repentance.
The Jews squander theirchance to honour their King.
Annas and Kajafas squander their chance to give Jesus a fair trial.
Peter squanders his chance of standingup for Jesus.
Even John slips into the high priest's house, squandering his chance of standing up for Jesus.
Pilate squanders his opportunity to give Jesusa fair trial.

Butin all this, Jesus is actually making his own choices.Toseizethis opportunity to bring life to a Peter and to each one of us.

Jesusdoesn’t oppose the traitor.Judas chose by thewashing of the feetnot to take the cleansing act to heart, but to harden his heart and betray Jesus.In fact, even after the crucifixion, he chooses to commit suicide, rather than kneeling down in front of Jesus' feet.Until the end he had a chance, but lost it forever.Jesus never withdrew his offer of mercy until it was finally rejected.
Jesus does notforcethe Jews to worship Him.He remains faithful to his message which, on its own, already had to make all the Jews think that this was done with integrity.His deeds and words and miracles all spoke of one thing, that God isGod, and that He has finally revealed His mercy to the world.Jesus was indeed the Messiah whom the Jews had expected for so long.He stands before the spiritual leaders, and they choose to reject Him.They arevigorouslyrejecting Him.He perseveres in his grace until they definitively reject it.
Jesusalso does nog thwartPilates'spolitical anddiplomatic game.Jesus still testifies to the truth, even as he endures the pain of unwarranted arrest, the false charges, the unheard of beating without sufficient cause.He even tolerates being found innocent, but still being crucified.What mockery and ridiculous application of the Roman justice system.Judicial injustice.And Pilate choses to wash his hands in innocence.The truth is in his hands, the Truth stands before him, but he chooses against Jesus, and for his own power play.Jesus, however, does not thwart him, gives him a chance up until the end, until Pilate finally rejected it.

And yet,Jesussurrenderedhimself tothisinjustice, tolerated it patiently, did not protest against it, did not shirk from the nails in his hands, did not yell at the soldiers who played with him in his suffering and cheated and hurt him.He never gives up the truth, He does not pretend that what they are doing is right, but Hedoes not force them to accept it.

Why?Because he is the promise of Godto everyone who would acknowledgethatthis sacrificeHe makes, this suffering he bore, that this is the way of lifefor us and will befor all whowill believe inhim.For all of us.

As Paulwrotein his deepletter to Rome:"As Scripture says(and he quotes fromIsaiah 28:16):‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’"(Romans 10:11-13).

FOUR:God's mercy is for you

I have an urgent passion for your to hear this message and claiming it for yourself.For this is the fourth aspect of the gospel of this passage.As Paul says,"Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."I would like you to be assured that Jesus gives this messagealso to you.As Jesus says,“I have not lost one of those you gave me."

Thepainting of Rembrandtthat I used for the PowerPoint shows the moment of Peter's denial.This isabsolutely in focus.It looks so final.It is so public.But in the background, Jesus is looking over his shoulder where he is being tried in the high priest's house on false charges.Therein lies the gospel of the painting, and also of this section.Jesus is watching over his shoulder out of the darkness of his own pain, and saying, I will not lose you.You will not sink, Peter.

You may also remember a few lost chances in your life , where you denied the Lord like a Peter, where you said, I do not know the man, where you have chosen the easy way of not being truthful, and did not accept the clear vision that God has given in Scripture about our lives, without protest. Where you were in danger of feeling the cleansing hand of Jesus on you, like a Judas, but choosing not to take it to heart.

It is never too late todoso, tosay yes,to call on the name of the Lord, and allow Him to change you inside out and to guide you to his destination for you."Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."

I would like you to receive and accept the grace of the Lord and entrust your life to Him.My consolation is that the Lord Jesus Himself says,“I have not lost one of those you gave me."

And in that I will rest, but not without reminding you to my last breath, what he has done for you, and what joy it will give you if you say yes to him.

Prayer

Thanksoffering

Final Song

Song 514I know for sure: Jesus is Lord–stand

Blessing

Response

Song 514:2 (last 4lines)He is my Leader - He lets me live.He is victorious - He is the Lord.By His mercy, love and grace, we know God will keep his children– stand