Key Lessons From Peter And John In The Hours Before The Cross Series

Key Lessons from Peter and John in the Hours before the Cross

The Gospel of John

John 18:12-18; John 18:24-27

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - May 9, 2018

(Revised May 18, 2020)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to John 18, as we continue looking at the Lord's final steps to the cross. Last time in vs. 1-11, Jesus and His disciples were in the Garden of Gethsemane, and there Jesus was arrested by an armed force of men.

*The "officers" in vs. 3 were from the two branches of the Jewish police force, but a "band of men" or "detachment of troops" was also there. The original word meant a force of at least 200 men, and usually up to a thousand soldiers. That's who went to arrest Jesus! (1)

[1] AND IN VS. 4-6, WE SAW THE MIRACULOUS MIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST:

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. Then when He said to them, "I am He,'' they drew back and fell to the ground.

*Maybe with just a thought, or a wave of His hand, Jesus sent that whole army sprawling to the ground! But the Lord didn't do that for Himself. He did it to protect His followers.

*Verses 7-9 say:

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.''

[2] WE SAW THE MIRACULOUS MIGHT OF OUR LORD. -- WE ALSO SAW HIS MIRACULOUS MERCY.

*Verses 10-11 point us to the Lord's great mercy:

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. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?''

*The Lord was showing mercy when He told Peter to put up his sword, but Luke 22:51 also tells us that Jesus healed Malchus' ear. There God's Word says Jesus simply "touched his ear and healed him." The Lord showed great mercy on one of the men who came to arrest Him!

*This chapter has two more important topics to cover. Next time, Lord willing, we will cover the trials of Christ. But tonight, we will look at Peter and John in those traumatic hours. And we will see how we might resemble them today.

*God's Word gives us some key lessons from His disciples in the hours before the cross. Let's begin by reading vs. 12-18 and then vs. 24-27.

MESSAGE:

*Who do you resemble in your family? I've got my mom's chubby cheeks and a bit of my dad's bright blue eyes. My brother Jon and I didn't look exactly alike, but we did sound exactly alike. Our voices were so similar our mother couldn't tell which one of us was on the phone!

*All of us have some family resemblances, if not in our looks, then in our ways, words, likes and habits. So Christians: Let's look at our brothers Peter and John to see if we can see ourselves in them.

1. FIRST, WE SEE PETER AND JOHN FOLLOWING THE LORD.

*Verses 12-15 say:

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 gave counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

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.

*In vs. 15 Peter and John "followed Jesus."

[1] THAT'S DISCIPLESHIP.

*That's what a disciple does: He follows Jesus Christ, and that's good. Don't you know that it pleases our Heavenly Father, when we follow Jesus? God wants us to be His disciples. He wants us to follow Christ, follow His teachings, follow His ways, follow His wisdom, and follow His heart. (2)

*Fred Craddock gave this great explanation of what it means to follow the Lord, and Craddock said:

"To give my life for Christ appears glorious, to pour myself out for others, to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom: 'I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory.' We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table. 'Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all.'