All He Does is Win!
Text: John 18:12-27
Before we get into our text this morning, I’m just going to tell you that what we’re going to be looking at sounds like something that could be pulled from our modern-day news cycle. Solomon said, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” So, the next time someone says to you that the Bible isn’t relevant for today – share this sermon with them.
We’re in John chapter 18 this morning, and we’re going to be looking at verses 12 through 27.
(READ John 18:12-27).
Now what John has done here is completely demolished Peter. Not out of a maliciousness, or evil intention. But he’s just shown us, and everyone else, that Peter – as influential as he was in the early Church – was a sinner just like everyone else. He may be influential, but he’s not flawless. He’s not holy. He’s not without sin. In-fact; this is where Peter really blows it. And again, John’s not trying to throw Peter under the bus. He’s showing us that if not for the grace of God, and a faith founded on the knowledge and proper understanding of the truth… then even someone as bold, and boisterous, and influential as Peter is nothing more than a cowardly sinner. And it’s set in direct contrast to Jesus. Jesus – facing all these false accusations and allegations. Knowing that the whole thing is a sham, a mockery of truth and justice. And yet He willingly endures it. Knowing that the end result will be the cross, or rather, I should say, what the cross will accomplish. But He does not sin, and He submits to the eternal plan of redemption, willingly… even though He could have easily said, “Nope! Let’s just destroy the whole world again, like we did back in Noah’s day.”
So… here’s where this thing begins to look like a modern news cycle.
Jesus has celebrated Passover with the disciples. He’s prayed His High Priestly Prayer, and He and the disciples have gone out into the Garden of Gethsemane. And Eric brought up a great point to me last Sunday… Jesus could’ve easily remained in town – but that might have resulted in a riot, and a lot of people would have been killed or hurt. He also could’ve left town, got away from their jurisdiction, and put an end to their evil plans. But instead, He went to the Garden, again – knowing that Judas would know that’s where He went.
And out text tells us that the soldiers came (Both Roman soldiers, and Jewish temple guards, along with temple officers) and they arrested Jesus. And not only did they arrest Him… they bound Him?
Now why did they bind Him? He wasn’t resisting arrest or anything like that.
Well part of the reason they did is because He had just knocked all of them to the ground with the Word of His mouth just a few seconds earlier… but also, so that the Word of God would be fulfilled.
In Psalm 118 – the Psalmist talks about how the Festal Sacrifice was bound with cords. And God even gave us an earlier picture of this in Genesis 22:9, where Abraham bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar.
So, God’s Word is being fulfilled… and Church – God’s Word is always and will always be fulfilled. If He says it, it will come to pass!
Now after Jesus is bound, He’s led away to Annas, the father in law of Caiaphas – who was the High Priest. Now there’s some confusion about this for some folks, because other places in Scripture seem to say that Annas was the high priest, but here it says Caiaphas was. But it’s not a contradiction. You’ve got to understand the legal and political realities that were going on at that particular time.
Legally speaking, the Jews could only put someone to death for religious purposes – like blasphemy… and in order to do that, they would stone them. But sometime prior to this, the power to execute a civil criminal was taken away from the Jews by the Roman government. So, judgment for crimes like murder, and treason were to be executed by the Roman officials. Not only that… just a few days before this the crowds were singing “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”
It would’ve been a bad idea for them to carry out the sentence of execution.
So, they take Jesus to Annas’ house.
Now, Annas had been the high priest of Israel from 6 A.D. to 15 A.D., and he very well may have been in the lineage of Aaron – Moses’ brother. But in 15 A.D. Valerius Gratus, the Roman governor before Pilate removed him from office. So you have this guy who held a position of power and authority, but he’s been removed from office. Now to the Jews, they probably… most likely… still saw Annas as the rightful high priest – because according to Jewish law, that was a position they were to hold for life.
But, like I said, the Romans had removed him from office. But that really didn’t matter. Because he still had all the power and authority, and the all the networks moving behind the scenes, working to accomplish what he wanted. In reality, Annas was far more powerful than Caiaphas. Caiaphas was just his puppet.
In-fact; Annas was so powerful, and so well connected, that when he was removed from the office of high priest, five of the high priests that followed after him were his own sons, Caiaphas was his son-in-law, and later his grandson would get the position as well. How did that work? Well… the Romans would pick a new high priest about every 10 years or so, and the way they decided who that would be was based on who gave them the biggest bribe.
So you’ve got a lot of people, being placed into positions of power and authority, through fraudulent and illegal means, and they’re making a lot… and I mean a LOT of money, through fraudulent and illegal means. Whether it’s the corrupt “temple tax” system, or political favors, or you name it.
THE GRIFT WAS REAL.
In-fact; when you go and read through the Jewish histories, they called the area of the temple where they exchanged money and sold the sacrificial animals… they called it the “Bazaar of Annas.”
And this is who Jesus is brought to. Annas, the corrupt, wicked man. A lover of money. An evil man who was supposed to be serving God, but who was instead defrauding God’s people.
And Annas had it out for Jesus… Remember, Jesus had gone into the temple and turned over the tables and chased all the money changers out. So, to Annas, Jesus was a real threat. He was a threat to his way of life. He was a threat to his bank account. He was a threat to Annas’ position of power and authority… and he couldn’t get Jesus to focus on Rome like he could the masses. He couldn’t distract Jesus with all these grievances against the Roman Empire. So… in Annas’ mind, he was like, “We’ve got to kill Him.”
Now Caiaphas said the same thing just a few chapters back. Remember, he was the one who said, “It’s better than one man die than all of us.”
So, they bring Jesus in. They question Him about His disciples and His teaching. And Jesus says to them, “Everything I’ve said, I’ve said openly. If you’ve got a witness whose making this accusations against me, bring them forward and let them make them.” Then one of the guards hits Jesus, and they send Him on to Caiaphas… basically saying, “Let’s make this official.”
Now while all of that was going on, there was another drama unfolding outside.
Peter and John have followed Jesus, and somehow John was known by Annas, maybe because his father was Zebedee – a well-known fisherman… you know… sometimes business owners have to grease the palms of the corrupt officials. We don’t really know how, but somehow John was known, and so he and Peter are allowed into the courtyard. And big, strong, brave Peter… Peter who cut off the ear of one of the temple servants. Peter who boldly said, “I’ll follow you even to death Jesus.” Gets confronted by a servant girl and denies the Lord.
Look at verse 18 (READ), and now jump down to verses 25-27 (READ).
So Peter has moved away from the servant girl, and he’s standing next to the fire, and he gets confronted again. There’s an old saying that goes, “Be careful when you seek warmth at the enemies fire.”
And I don’t want to be too hard on Peter. John’s there in the courtyard… but where are the other 10?
Only Peter and John had the courage to go that far. Only Peter was willing to fight all the Roman and temple guards when they came to arrest Jesus.
So yes, Peter failed. He failed miserably. But we’ve got to remember – this is before the resurrection. This is the Peter who had a wrong idea about what Jesus had come to do. Peter exhibited bravery, and was willing to fight… and even willing to go to Annas’ courtyard… but then the reality started to set in. You see; Peter thought of Jesus as the Messiah in earthly, temporal terms. He truly believed that Jesus was going to usher in a golden age for Israel. He truly believed that Jesus would be like King David – that He would raise an army, and throw off the yoke of Roman bondage, and that the people would be free and prosperous again.
Peter has just been struck with the reality that Jesus didn’t come to give him his best life now.
And when that reality hits, self preservation kicks in.
Church, like I said, right here in John 18, we’ve got all the makings for a modern day news story. You’ve got corruption and greed. You’ve got wicked men in positions of power, fearful that they’re going to be exposed and lose that power. You’ve got lies and false charges brought against an innocent man, simply because He’s seen as a threat to their power and authority. You’ve got wolves in sheep’s clothing defrauding and abusing the people of God. You’ve got a couple of guys whose professions of faith are being challenged. They’ve been brought to a point where they say, “I have faith.” But then they have to ask the question, “Faith in what exactly?” Is it faith in the Biblical Jesus as He has been revealed to us in Scripture? Or a Jesus of our own design. A cultural Jesus who only blesses and does what we want Him to do? Or a Jesus who takes up His cross and commands us to do the same?
Here's the amazing thing… Peter failed miserably. But just like Jesus knew all that would happen to Himself – He also knew all that would happen to Peter.
Let me just read to you quickly from Luke 22:31-34, This was Jesus speaking to Peter. He said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED AGAIN, strengthen your brothers. Peter said to Him ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you knew Me.’”
Jesus had prayed for Peter. And because He had prayed for Peter, He knew that Peter’s faith would not fail. And when Peter had turned again – when he repented – he was to strengthen his brothers. Peter failed. But Peter’s failure was not final. And the reason that Peter’s failure was not final is because JESUS NEVER FAILS!
CLOSING
