You Can't Always Trust What You See

THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM TO BE!

Subject: Jesus

Theme: Jesus going on ahead of us!

Text: John 18:15-27

Time: Sunday morning October 22, 2000

Introduction:

It’s not always what it seems to be.

Our national pride is not always what it seems to be:

On the sixth day God turned to the Archangel Gabriel and said, “Today I am going to create a land called Canada. It will be a land of outstanding natural beauty. It shall have tall majestic mountains full of mountain goats and eagles, beautiful sparkly lakes bountiful with carp and trout, forests full of elk and moose, high cliffs overlooking sandy beaches with an abundance of sea life, rivers stocked with salmon.

God continued, “I shall make the land rich in oil so to make the inhabitants prosper. I shall call these inhabitants Canadians. They shall be known as the most friendly people on the earth.” “But Lord,” asked Gabriel, “don’t you think you are being too generous to these Canadians?” “Not really,” replied God. “Just wait and see the neighbours I am going to give them!”

A story that makes you think about how we perceive things:

An old story talks about a merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to the market. Before very long, the servant came back white and trembling. Servant said to his master, “Down at the market place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd, and when she turned around I realized it was the face of death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture - master, lend me your horse so that I may hasten away to avoid her. I will go to Sumarah and hide so that death will not find me.”

The merchant lent him the horse and he galloped away in haste. Later the merchant went down to the market place and standing in the crowd he saw the woman - death. He went over to her and implored, “Why did you threaten my servant? Why did you make such a threatening gesture?” “That was not a threatening gesture but a only a start of surprise.” replied the woman. “I was astonished to find him here in Baghdad for I have an appointment with him in Sumarah tonight!”

In John 18:15-27 - John paints the picture for us - misunderstandings by Jesus’ disciples concerning his arrest, misunderstandings by rulers and authorities about who Jesus is. Things are not what they seem to be as John recounts for us the last moments of Jesus’ life on earth.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and sohe went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in. The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?’ He said, “No, I’m not.” The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them trying to get warm.

Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a conspirator? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.” When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!” Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the truth, why this slapping around?”

Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas. Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” He denied, “Not me.” One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.”

Objective: We, above all, must trust who Jesus is, because on our own, things are just not what they seem!

Transition: First of all, in Peter’s denial we see

1. A DEFEATED AND A DISPLACED JESUS!

a. At least in the eyes of Peter - Jesus seems this way

Confusion about what Jesus was thinking - denying him the opportunity to step in and protect Him from those seeking His arrest. Letting Himself fall into the hands of those who desired to kill Him - all this was confusing for Peter.