Time to Choose Sides - Audio
In the trial of Jesus we see Jesus in His roles as Prophet, Priest and King. Why was there such implacable and violent hostility toward Jesus expressed by Jewish authorities and Roman soldiers? We go back to the story of the fall to trace the root of humanity's rebellion against God as the revealer of truth and our rightful ruler. This rejection was what made it necessary for Jesus to come as our Great High Priest, bringing us back into right relationship with God so that we can receive His truth and obey it. There is now a call for allegience - we must either accept our rightful King or continue in our rebellion against Him. God is holding off the day of judgement to allow people time to make this choice, and to allow His children time to offer that choice to those who need to hear of it.
Discovering Jesus in the Gospel of John pt 42
Time to Choose Sides
John 18:28-19:16a
10/07/2011
1) Introduction – The Story so far
a) Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer – Jn 17
b) Departure to Gethsemane
c) Arrest, Illegal night trial before Sanhedrin,disciples scatter
d) Peter’s denials during the trial before Caiaphas
2) Why Did Jesus Come into the World?
a) Down through the centuries teachers in the Church have grouped these reasons together to describe Jesus’ mission in three basic functions:
1) Jesus came to be our Ultimate Prophet
2) Jesus came to be our Great High Priest
3) Jesus came to be our King of Kings
b) All of these functions are included in the wonderful introduction to the book of Hebrews
Hebrews 1:1-3
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Prophet), whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (King). After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Priest).
Hebrews 1:1-3
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Prophet), whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (King). After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Priest).
3) Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King in John 18&19
a) Read: John 18:28-40 – Prophet and King
1) Key verse: Jn 18:37
2) In effect “I am a king, I have told you so (Prophet), if you are on the side of truth you will believe me.”
3) Pilate “What is truth” – rejects Jesus as Prophet, therefore rejecting Him as King even though he still tries to get Him off the hook
4) Believes Jesus to be innocent, maybe even a god-man (Roman superstition), but not the true Prophet and King. Ultimately, his own popularity and preservation matter more.
5) How many people think good things of Jesus but can’t come to the point of saving faith?
b) Read: John 19:1-16 – Sets the stage for Jesus’ Priestly work as they continue to reject Him as Prophet and King.
4) The root of rebellion against our rightful King – the Fall
a) Genesis 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
1) physical serpent is a picture of the spiritual serpent. It’s true that snakes have been a pest to humans and we have mostly killed them whenever able to. That’s just an illustration of the real message here.
2) Satan, taking the form of a serpent in the story of the fall, is the one who will strike at the offspring of Eve. The offspring of Satan will be enemies of the offspring of Eve, but it will be one of Eve’s offspring who will destroy Satan.
b) John 8:42-47
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”[1]
Pretty clear huh! These are the ones that in our passage today are screaming to Pilate to kill Jesus. Through them Satan strikes Jesus’ heel – delivering a fatal blow, yet in fulfillment of Genesis three it is actually Jesus who crushes Satan.
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”[1]
Pretty clear huh! These are the ones that in our passage today are screaming to Pilate to kill Jesus. Through them Satan strikes Jesus’ heel – delivering a fatal blow, yet in fulfillment of Genesis three it is actually Jesus who crushes Satan.
5) The Battle Continues
a) 2 Timothy 2:22-26
b) 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
c) Ephesians 6:10-20
6) Time to Choose Sides
a) First of all, have you accepted Jesus as your Prophet, Priest and King?
b) Having accepted Jesus in these ways, are you putting into practice by
1) are you allowing Him to teach you how to live,
2) free you from sin, and
3) rule over your life?
c) Do you recognise that there has to be an obvious difference between those who live under the authority, instruction and ministry of Jesus and those who are captive to do the will of the devil?
d) Do you remember that even though there is enmity between the Kingdom of God and this rebellious world, we are never to see or treat people as enemies? Our enemy is Satan and his demonic army. We seek to rescue their captives by proclaiming the truth in word and deed; and by praying – primarily for each other that we would proclaim and for the lost that they would repent and believe.
7) Conclusion – The Testimony of Paul to King Agrippa
a) Acts 26:13-19
b) May God grant us the grace to be obedient to the command of Scripture in the same way that Paul was obedient to the vision God gave him – that we will see eyes opened and people turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those sanctified by faith in Jesus.
[1]All Scriptures from The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
