HELPING PEOPLE FIND AND FOLLOW JESUS
JOHN 18:1-20:31
#prettymuchjustthegospel
THE PURPOSE OF CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND AND FOLLOW JESUS.
READ JOHN 18:1-11 (ESV)
“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with His disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So He asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He. So, if you seek Me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that He had spoken: “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost not one.” 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 its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?”
The arrest of Jesus is a tragedy and amazing all at the same time.
It is a tragedy because Judas did not have to betray Jesus. The cross was God’s will for Jesus and was inevitable. Judas made his decision and it simply expedited the process of the soldiers finding Jesus. He didn’t have to betray Jesus, but he did. I find that to be a tragedy. Sin is always a tragedy.
It is amazing because the cross was God’s will for Jesus and was inevitable because Jesus was willing to lay down His life. Jesus Christ was in control the entire time He was arrested and throughout the entire passage we are about to read. At no point did Jesus think: “Hey Me, take the wheel, Take it from My Hands; 'Cause I can't do this on My own; I'm letting go; So give me one more chance; And save Me from this road I'm on; Hey Me, take the wheel!” Nope, it is amazing that Jesus is in complete control the whole time.
READ JOHN 18:12-18 (ESV)
“So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. 13 First they led Him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this Man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.”
I find it very interesting that when Jesus was arrested that three times in verse 5, verse 6, and verse 8 Jesus declared “I am He.” Jesus fessed up with very simple words without hesitation as to His identity. “I am He.” “I am He.” “I am He.” Later, when asked if Peter knew Jesus and was one of the disciples, what did he respond in verse 17? “I am not.” Peter denied with very simple words without hesitation as to his identity. We will see those words again from Peter later in verse 25 and they are implied in verse 27.
I wonder, if I were in Peter’s position, what would I say?
I wonder, if you were in Peter’s position, what would you say?
May you and I be surer of our answers than was Peter.
READ JOHN 18:19-27 (ESV)
“The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. 20 Jesus answered Him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When He had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how You answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike Me?” 24 Annas then sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.”
The officer who struck Jesus in the face had better be glad that Jesus practiced what He preached to turn the other cheek because the man could have been struck blind or the hand could have withered or he could have been struck with leprosy or who knows what else!
The high priest and those in charge of the Jewish religion were trying to find reason to charge Jesus, but they had nothing. They had no case for Jesus was innocent. They tried to trip Jesus up in betraying something He said, but Jesus taught nothing against God or the Scriptures. The Jews sent Him to Pilate who was the Roman governor at the time. They sent Him to Pilate because only Pilate had the power to sentence a person to death. The Jews wanted Jesus dead. Verse 14 already told us that the Jews were manipulating and angling for the death penalty for Jesus.
READ JOHN 18:28-40 (ESV)
“Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 30 They answered him, “If this Man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered Him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death He was going to die. 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You over to Me. What have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in Him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.”
There are several important truths present in this passage. The first truth is that Pilate knows that Jesus was handed over for some nefarious purpose and is not manipulated in the slightest. He wants to release Jesus because he isn’t unaware of what the Jews are doing. The second truth is that Jesus not only affirms that He is a king, but that His Kingdom is not of this world. His Kingdom is something other than an earthly kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom that crosses all boundaries and languages and people. What is going on in this passage is not just something that impacts people on earth, but impacts the spiritual world as well. The third truth is that Pilate declares that Jesus is not only not guilty, but that He is innocent. In a court of law, Jesus is innocent and should have been released. He was innocent by law and morally. That is important.
I have one other thought that I also think is true. I have often wondered what Jesus reaction was when Barabbas, a known thief and criminal, was released instead of Him. I think He was pleased. You see Jesus came to save everyone including robbers, criminals, and people we think don’t deserve it. Jesus came to seek and save the lost including notorious Barabbas.
READ JOHN 19:1-16a (ESV)
“Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head and arrayed Him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck Him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing Him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law He ought to die because He has made Himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, “You will not speak to Me? Do you not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from Above. Therefore, he who delivered Me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this Man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered Him over to them to be crucified.”
The first part of John 19 is all about pain. The words that mean pain: flogged, thorns, struck.
The first part of John 19 also confirms for us what Jesus had said about Himself. Did Jesus claim to be the Son of God? Yes, He did! Verse 7 tells us that the Jews were furious with murderous rage because Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Don’t let anyone ever tell you that Jesus did not claim to be the Son of God. He did and that is why they killed Him!
READ JOHN 19:16b-37 (ESV)
“So they took Jesus, 17 and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This Man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also His tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on Him whom they have pierced.”
I would like to highlight a few truths from this passage.
First, the reason the soldiers were casting lots for Jesus’ clothing was because He wasn’t wearing any. Jesus was naked on the cross. Nakedness in human life is often associated with shame. It is in the Bible. Make no mistake, crucifixion was a shame-filled way to die. Jesus died in a shame-filled way to take away our shame. May that truth not be lost on us.
Second, it is not possible that Jesus survived His time on the cross. In verse 30, it says Jesus gave up His spirit. He did not just faint or appear dead. He was dead. Verses 34-37 are there to confirm for us that Jesus died. The spear that pierced Him brought forth blood and water which to my understanding happens when the heart is pierced in a human body. They literally pierced Jesus through the heart to make sure He was dead. The verses emphasize the truthfulness of the testimony because we can be assured that Jesus physically died on the cross.
READ JOHN 19:38-20:29 (ESV)
“After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away My Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell Me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that He had said these things to her. 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place My finger into the mark of the nails, and place My hand into His side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, His disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and My God!”
Jesus doesn’t stay dead!
Jesus doesn’t get conquered by sin and death!
Jesus doesn’t allow Satan to remove Him as an authority over us!
I do not know how many ways to say that Jesus’ resurrection proves that He is Who He says He is. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that the resurrection of Jesus proves He is the King of Kings and that His Kingdom is not of this world. The resurrection of Jesus proves that He truly was and is the Son of God.
THE PURPOSE OF CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS TO HELP PEOPLE FIND AND FOLLOW JESUS.
Finding Jesus means believing in the Good News about Jesus Christ. What is the Good News? Everything we have read this morning. Everything we have read this morning is about how Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing we have life in His Name. That is not just my opinion, but is the statement of Jesus and also the statement of the Apostle John because that is how John 20 ends.
READ JOHN 20:29 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Blessed is the person who believes that Jesus died and rose again.
Happy is the person who believes that Jesus died and rose again.
Saved is the person who believes that Jesus died and rose again.
Adopted is the person who believes that Jesus died and rose again.
The person who believes that Jesus died and rose again has forgiveness of sins.
The person who believes that Jesus died and rose again has restored life now.
The person who believes that Jesus died and rose again has a restored relationship with God.
The person who believes that Jesus died and rose again has eternal life in Heaven.
Freedom from guilt and sin is for those who believe in Jesus.
Freedom from purposelessness is for those who believe in Jesus.
Freedom from shame and doubt is for those who believe in Jesus.
Freedom from condemnation and judgment is for those who believe in Jesus.
READ JOHN 20:30-31 (ESV)
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.”
Today, right now in this place at this time, if you have never publicly stated that you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life in His Name, today is the day. Start this new year out by finding Jesus!
Today, right now in this place at this time, if you already publicly stated that you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life in His Name, but you have wandered away and maybe aren’t even sure if you meant it at the time, today is the day for you to recommit yourself to Him. Start this new year out by recommitting to Jesus!
Today, right now in this place at this time, if you already publicly stated that you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life in His Name, and you still wholeheartedly believe in Him, take this time to reaffirm your commitment to the Lord and rest and abide in Him in this new year Start this new year out by abiding in Jesus Christ!
PRAYER
