Jerusalem on Trial

WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:06.559 We pray this in his name. On Him. Let's turn in God's Word 2 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:13.310 to the gospel of John. I'm going to be preaching from Chapter Eighteen, 3 00:00:13.390 --> 00:00:18.269 Verses Twelve through twenty seven, but I'd like to begin reading today from Chapter 4 00:00:18.350 --> 00:00:32.100 Eleven. So let's turn their first John Chapter Eleven, and I'm going to 5 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:40.530 read from verses forty five to the end of the chapter. So I'll give 6 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:43.409 you a moment to turn there. That's John, Chapter Eleven, Verse Forty 7 00:00:43.490 --> 00:01:03.039 Five. Our kids are looking diligently for the word of the Lord. Let's 8 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:18.579 not hinder them. Thank you children. John Chapter Eleven, Verse Forty Five. 9 00:01:18.659 --> 00:01:23.700 I'll remind you that this follows Jesus is raising of Lazarus from the dead. 10 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:34.290 Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had 11 00:01:34.329 --> 00:01:38.209 seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to 12 00:01:38.290 --> 00:01:42.450 the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done, as if it were a 13 00:01:42.650 --> 00:01:47.680 bad thing. I don't understand that, but perhaps I do. Verse Forty 14 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:51.920 Seven. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, 15 00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:56.719 what are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we 16 00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.159 let him go, on like this, everyone will believe in him and the 17 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:05.069 Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. But one 18 00:02:05.109 --> 00:02:07.270 of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them 19 00:02:07.909 --> 00:02:12.270 you know nothing at all, nor do you understand that is better for you 20 00:02:12.469 --> 00:02:15.340 that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should 21 00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:21.180 perish. He did not say this of his own accord, but being high 22 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:24.659 priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and 23 00:02:25.500 --> 00:02:30.770 not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of 24 00:02:30.849 --> 00:02:36.969 God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to 25 00:02:37.050 --> 00:02:42.129 put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, 26 00:02:42.210 --> 00:02:45.759 but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called 27 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:50.280 Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the passer of the 28 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:53.039 Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before 29 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.590 the past over to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to 30 00:02:58.669 --> 00:03:01.550 one another as they stood in the temple, what do you think? That 31 00:03:01.669 --> 00:03:06.469 he will not come to the feast at all. Now the chief priests and 32 00:03:06.550 --> 00:03:08.990 the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should 33 00:03:08.990 --> 00:03:17.699 let them know so that they might arrest him. Now, turning to chapter 34 00:03:17.819 --> 00:03:29.930 eighteen, we see that plan come to fruition, this plan to arrest Jesus 35 00:03:30.449 --> 00:03:37.050 and put him to death, comes to fruition, and it comes because someone 36 00:03:37.250 --> 00:03:43.759 obeys their orders. Someone knows where Jesus is and he comes and he tells 37 00:03:43.879 --> 00:03:47.960 them so that they can arrest him. And that someone, it turns out, 38 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:57.069 is Judas. Judas betrays his Lord. He is arrested and now we 39 00:03:57.270 --> 00:04:03.349 continue with the trial as he faces those very men who plotted this plot back 40 00:04:03.389 --> 00:04:10.099 in Chapter Eleven, John, Chapter Eighteen, verse twelve. So the band 41 00:04:10.139 --> 00:04:14.620 of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound 42 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:17.779 him. First they led him to honest, for he was the father in 43 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:23.860 law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was caiaphest who 44 00:04:23.899 --> 00:04:28.329 had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for 45 00:04:28.410 --> 00:04:33.170 the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple, since 46 00:04:33.290 --> 00:04:38.959 that disciple was known to the high priest he entered with Jesus into the courtyard 47 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.600 of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the 48 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.240 other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke 49 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:49.839 to the servant girl who kept watch at the door and brought Peter in. 50 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:55.870 The Servant girl at the door said to Peter, you also are not one 51 00:04:55.910 --> 00:04:59.509 of this man's disciples, are you? He said, I am not. 52 00:04:59.790 --> 00:05:03.310 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, 53 00:05:03.350 --> 00:05:09.459 and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter was also with them, standing 54 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:15.620 and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his 55 00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:19.339 teaching. Jesus answered him. I have spoken openly to the world. I 56 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:24.810 have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come 57 00:05:24.889 --> 00:05:28.930 together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? 58 00:05:29.490 --> 00:05:31.290 Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. They know what 59 00:05:31.329 --> 00:05:35.639 I said. When he had said these things, one of the officers standing 60 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:41.560 by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, is this how you answer the 61 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:46.120 high priest? Jesus answered him. If what I said is wrong, bear 62 00:05:46.199 --> 00:05:50.029 witness about the wrong. But if what I said is right, why do 63 00:05:50.110 --> 00:05:55.949 you strike me honest? Then sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. 64 00:05:57.149 --> 00:06:00.149 Now Simon Peter was standing warming himself. So they said to him. 65 00:06:00.550 --> 00:06:04.579 You also are not one of his disciples, are you? He denied it 66 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:09.899 and said I am not one of the servants of the high priest. A 67 00:06:10.540 --> 00:06:15.220 relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off asked, did I not 68 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:19.129 see you in the garden with him? Peter again denied it, and at 69 00:06:19.170 --> 00:06:38.639 once a rooster crowde well then there God bless his word to us. So, 70 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:44.519 as we go back to chapter eleven, but this plot to kill Jesus, 71 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:53.829 we understand something of the reasons of the psychology behind this moment. There 72 00:06:53.870 --> 00:06:59.029 are a couple reasons given in God's word for why all of this is happening. 73 00:07:00.230 --> 00:07:04.660 What was the problem with Jesus raising people from the dead, healing people, 74 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:12.779 offering forgiveness? Why were these men so threatened by these actions that they 75 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:17.889 were willing to go through this false trial, to stir up trouble, to 76 00:07:18.730 --> 00:07:24.370 even bring this eventually before pilot, and on and on and on. Why 77 00:07:24.449 --> 00:07:28.290 not just let Jesus do what he was doing, to teach what he was 78 00:07:28.449 --> 00:07:34.000 teaching. Well, they say in Chapter Eleven, this man performs many signs. 79 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:39.240 Jesus is enemies never denied that he was doing these things. They never 80 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:44.389 called him a charlatan, a faker, a tricker of people. They said 81 00:07:44.430 --> 00:07:49.189 he is performing a lot of amazing signs and this is a problem. What 82 00:07:49.389 --> 00:07:53.870 do we do? And the reason they say this is a problem is that 83 00:07:54.189 --> 00:07:57.949 they give two reasons. If we let him go on like this, everyone 84 00:07:58.110 --> 00:08:03.180 will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place 85 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:09.300 and our nation. Now, believing in Jesus from our perspective is, of 86 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:13.689 course, a good thing. It's an important thing, it's a life giving 87 00:08:13.810 --> 00:08:18.529 thing. God sent Jesus in the into this world so that we would believe 88 00:08:18.569 --> 00:08:22.730 in him, and by believing him, we have life. In his name, 89 00:08:22.850 --> 00:08:28.079 we have this everlasting kingdom that we've spoken about. But you know, 90 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:35.240 what we don't have is power in this world. We might lose treasures of 91 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:39.600 this world, Jesus tells us we might even be divided from family members and 92 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:45.389 friends, the things of this were world. Those things will pass away. 93 00:08:45.750 --> 00:08:52.110 We will inherit what is imperishable and unfading and unshakable, but we won't have 94 00:08:52.669 --> 00:08:58.419 forever and ever the things of this world. Of course, no one does. 95 00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:03.500 But those who tie themselves to the things of this world, those who 96 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:05.980 make idols out of the things of this world, they are of course very 97 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:13.289 threatened by teaching like this. Those who see themselves and the powers of this 98 00:09:13.490 --> 00:09:20.009 world as man's chief end will of course fight for those things, will die 99 00:09:20.730 --> 00:09:26.720 for those things, even in the judgments of God, and that is what 100 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:33.200 they are concerned about. They are concerned to protect their power, to protect 101 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:37.480 their place in the position of Rome. It might help to remember that Hon 102 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:43.950 us the father in law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, 103 00:09:45.350 --> 00:09:52.059 who we hear mentioned in chapter eighteen. He was appointed by the Romans when 104 00:09:52.139 --> 00:09:56.059 Rome came in and took over Jerusalem. They said, we need am our 105 00:09:56.259 --> 00:10:05.580 man, we need a man to control these people, and he put pilot 106 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:13.809 in place as a secular authority, and Rome put honest in place as a 107 00:10:13.889 --> 00:10:20.759 religious authority. Honest was there as a representative of God, maybe, but 108 00:10:22.039 --> 00:10:26.919 really he was there as a representative of Rome, and that's where honest is. 109 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:31.399 Power, is fun, that's where honest is control and desires were tied 110 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:39.149 to and not just him, but five of his sons were also chief priests, 111 00:10:39.309 --> 00:10:46.590 and his son in law. This family, this family of high priests 112 00:10:46.789 --> 00:10:52.419 of Roman, ruled Roman, controlled in love with Rome priests. This was 113 00:10:52.539 --> 00:11:00.259 who wanted to kill Jesus because they were not first and foremost servants of the 114 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:05.129 Most High God, they were servants of the one who wanted to overthrow the 115 00:11:05.210 --> 00:11:13.970 most high God. And so they convene this counsel together. Jesus was a 116 00:11:13.250 --> 00:11:18.570 very real threat to them, if people believed in him. They were concerned 117 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:24.000 that one day he would establish this kingdom which would overthrow Rome, and indeed 118 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:28.399 it would, but not exactly in the way that they thought it would. 119 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.950 Jesus would allow Rome to go on many, many more years. He would 120 00:11:31.950 --> 00:11:37.830 allow other governments to rise and and fall as well. For thousands of years 121 00:11:39.029 --> 00:11:43.789 this world has has continued on, not because Jesus is not in control, 122 00:11:43.029 --> 00:11:48.500 but because Jesus is being gracious to us, calling us in, calling more 123 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:54.139 and more people into this everlasting kingdom. So this is the thought that they're 124 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:58.700 under. They are under the threat of Jesus as the most High God, 125 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:03.450 as this one who claims to be God, and indeed was performing these signs 126 00:12:03.529 --> 00:12:11.289 and miracles, and so Caiaphas, maybe trying to impress his fatherin law, 127 00:12:11.330 --> 00:12:15.960 maybe trying to impress Rome. Either way, holding true to the idols of 128 00:12:16.039 --> 00:12:22.200 his heart, he comes up with a plan kill him. Sure he hasn't 129 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:24.840 done anything wrong, sure it's going to be difficult to pull this off, 130 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:30.269 sure the people are in love with him, but what else are we going 131 00:12:30.309 --> 00:12:33.590 to do? If we don't kill him, will lose the whole people, 132 00:12:33.710 --> 00:12:37.750 will lose the whole nation. Better that one man would die than all of 133 00:12:37.870 --> 00:12:48.940 us right now, the amazing providence of God, the Lord uses these words 134 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:54.620 of evil intent, this plot to kill Jesus, this plot to preserve their 135 00:12:54.100 --> 00:12:58.690 favored position and power with the people in and of Rome. He uses this 136 00:12:58.889 --> 00:13:07.809 evil intention as a prophecy of what actually would happen, that Jesus would not 137 00:13:07.169 --> 00:13:13.399 die and and what would happen is that Jesus would not die to preserve the 138 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:20.639 Roman government, into preserve these Jewish leaders within that government. Jesus would die 139 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:26.870 to save the whole world from its sins, to establish a kingdom that was 140 00:13:28.389 --> 00:13:33.870 more perfect than Rome or any other kingdom could ever imagine. And so that 141 00:13:35.029 --> 00:13:41.539 brings us, then, to chapter eighteen. Chapter Eighteen, they bring Jesus 142 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:50.379 to on us, the father of this family. They bring him to on 143 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:54.220 us and they say what do you want us to do? How are we 144 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:58.049 going to handle this? And we read how he handles that. In Verses 145 00:13:58.169 --> 00:14:07.889 Nineteen through twenty four, the high priest on US questions Jesus about his disciples 146 00:14:07.009 --> 00:14:13.759 in his teaching. Now remember, honest does not care about Jesus as disciples 147 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:20.159 in his teaching. Honest simply wants to put Jesus to death. That's why 148 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:24.070 he's there, that's why he's arrested. So why all of this stuff about 149 00:14:24.149 --> 00:14:28.870 his disciples in his teaching? Well, it's the same reason that wicked rulers 150 00:14:28.950 --> 00:14:35.389 often use. They use a lover of good, a cover of righteousness to 151 00:14:35.470 --> 00:14:39.860 hide evil things, and so they, perhaps to quiet their own hearts, 152 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:43.820 perhaps to quiet the people, they put on kind of a show trial, 153 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:50.100 but it's, of course falling apart all over the place. They questioned him 154 00:14:50.100 --> 00:14:54.289 about his disciples and his teaching in this kind of fake trial and Jesus answers 155 00:14:54.409 --> 00:14:58.730 them in accord with the fake trial that is going on. And he doesn't 156 00:14:58.769 --> 00:15:05.090 answer them. He says I've spoken openly to the world I have always taught 157 00:15:05.129 --> 00:15:07.879 in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I've 158 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:13.200 said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me this? Ask those who 159 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:15.919 have heard me. Jesus is not going to get into it with them. 160 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.159 He's not going to get into a back and forth. Will let me teach 161 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.830 you again. Let me tell you again. He knows why this is happening. 162 00:15:22.870 --> 00:15:26.509 He's not going to he's not worried, he's not going to try and 163 00:15:26.950 --> 00:15:35.620 change their minds. He is handing himself over so that God's will would be 164 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:41.740 done, so that through the coming crucifixion and his curse of death on a 165 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:50.850 cross, he would say these people and other people like them. Jesus answers 166 00:15:50.929 --> 00:15:56.009 them. And when he says these things, one of the officers standing by 167 00:15:56.289 --> 00:16:00.330 strikes Jesus with his hand again. This shows you the true nature of this 168 00:16:00.929 --> 00:16:06.679 socalled trial. Is this how you answer the high priest? And Jesus Answers 169 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:10.679 Him in righteousness. He says if what I said was wrong, tell me. 170 00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:17.039 You asked me a question. I answered you truthfully. Everything I've said 171 00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:21.990 has been openly known. Jesus impresses on them, on their hearts, what 172 00:16:22.149 --> 00:16:26.269 is really going on their witness about the wrong boat. If what is said 173 00:16:26.350 --> 00:16:29.110 is right, why do you strike me? Of course they don't answer. 174 00:16:30.070 --> 00:16:33.340 In a very interesting way. What we see here is that, though Jesus 175 00:16:33.379 --> 00:16:41.220 is on trial, it's really us, it's really Jerusalem, it's really Peter, 176 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:44.980 as we see in a moment. Jesus has done nothing wrong. Jesus 177 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:49.490 has taught all of these things openly. Jesus is only healed forgiven given life 178 00:16:49.529 --> 00:16:56.850 to people. He's lived his life and holiness. He lived his life as 179 00:16:56.850 --> 00:17:02.159 a servant of the Lord, as a prophet, as a priest, as 180 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:10.920 a good king. But the world, the darkness all around him is very 181 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:18.549 evil and we see that here. So honest sends him bound to Caiaphas, 182 00:17:18.750 --> 00:17:22.549 the high priest, on is his son in law. Now, surrounding this 183 00:17:23.710 --> 00:17:30.259 false trial, we have another trial will going on, the trial of Peter, 184 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:38.980 one of Jesus's disciples. It begins as Peter Follows Jesus. I'm with 185 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:45.650 another disciple, who is very, very likely John, who writes this book, 186 00:17:45.650 --> 00:17:49.490 and so we hear John, who is the other disciple mentioned here. 187 00:17:49.930 --> 00:17:57.049 John and Peter a going in to follow after Jesus. What's going to happen 188 00:17:57.089 --> 00:18:03.119 to him. John is able to get access into this place because he knows 189 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:07.920 the high priest. Peter, however, has to stand by the door. 190 00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:12.750 Seeing this, John Goes. He goes to the servant girl who keeps watch 191 00:18:12.829 --> 00:18:19.549 of the door and he has Peter. He has Peter brought in. Nothing 192 00:18:19.630 --> 00:18:25.309 unusual going on here yet, but it's at this moment, and John must 193 00:18:25.349 --> 00:18:30.299 have heard this, the servant girl at the door says to Peter, you 194 00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:34.660 also are not one of this man's disciples, are you? A servant girl 195 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:44.609 who asked him this question, and Peter Says I am not. This is 196 00:18:44.690 --> 00:18:48.410 very striking difference, isn't it, compared to moments before in the guard and 197 00:18:48.450 --> 00:18:55.880 with Peter takes out a sword and lops off a guy's ear as Jesus was 198 00:18:55.960 --> 00:19:03.359 being arrested. What's going on? Certainly this servant girl poses no threat to 199 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:11.109 him. If she, well, just leave it at that. It would 200 00:19:11.150 --> 00:19:14.869 be very easy to affirm that he is one of the disciples. He's not 201 00:19:14.990 --> 00:19:18.950 being asked anything difficult. He's not being asked to defend Jesus. Why does 202 00:19:18.029 --> 00:19:22.630 Jesus do these things? What's going to happen? What's the real plan? 203 00:19:22.710 --> 00:19:27.900 Just are you one of his disciples? He could have said I am just 204 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:33.180 as easily as he said, and sadly said in a way that would break 205 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:45.769 his heart. He said I am not. The boldness that Peter had in 206 00:19:45.890 --> 00:19:48.890 a public way, when it was before the Lord and before the other disciples, 207 00:19:49.049 --> 00:19:55.960 all of a sudden vanishes in this sort of doorway scene with this servant 208 00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:04.039 girl. What does Peter Truly love at this particular moment, and Peter might 209 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:11.750 say this in his own heart, is what do I truly love? Where 210 00:20:11.789 --> 00:20:18.789 is my boldness now? It's a reminder to us that it's not so much 211 00:20:18.829 --> 00:20:22.859 what we do when people are watching, or, in particular, when the 212 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:26.180 Lord is watching, when the Lord is right there and we feel his presence 213 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:32.579 and we know him or his representatives are there, but it's what's going on 214 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:37.650 on our hearts that really matters, what's going on in the hidden moments, 215 00:20:37.690 --> 00:20:41.730 what's going on when we're not seen, when it quieter, when there isn't 216 00:20:41.730 --> 00:20:45.490 an opportunity to make a big, bold claim for Jesus, but it's simply 217 00:20:45.529 --> 00:20:49.720 standing strong and a little moment in a hidden moment, they are often our 218 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:57.119 hearts are revealed, and Peter's are revealed here. He's afraid. He says, 219 00:20:57.240 --> 00:21:03.400 I am not the Lord's disciple. And then again is Peter stands there 220 00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:08.029 warming himself. He's pressed further. Are you not one of the Lord's disciples? 221 00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:12.829 And he denies it. Again, he says I am not, then 222 00:21:14.470 --> 00:21:15.990 the sort one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the 223 00:21:17.069 --> 00:21:21.099 man who's ear he cut off, presses him again. Did I not see 224 00:21:21.099 --> 00:21:26.180 you in the garden? There's so many observations we might make about the nature 225 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:32.180 of sin. One is that as we get going, it's kind of hard 226 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:37.329 to stop. It's a nature of lies to once we say one we feel 227 00:21:37.329 --> 00:21:41.130 like we have to give another to back it up, and then another to 228 00:21:41.250 --> 00:21:42.730 back it up and another to give it back and up and where does it 229 00:21:42.809 --> 00:21:47.480 stop? And the more we lie, the harder it is to stop. 230 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:55.799 Peter Finds himself in this situation and we read that the Rooster Crows. You 231 00:21:55.880 --> 00:22:00.400 remember why this is important, don't you? Because in Peter's boldness he proclaimed 232 00:22:00.430 --> 00:22:03.190 to the Lord, I'll never die with you, I'll never lie or I'll 233 00:22:03.269 --> 00:22:07.549 never deny you all. I'll go to the death for you. And Peter 234 00:22:07.150 --> 00:22:12.509 is told by his Lord before the Rooster Crows, you will deny me three 235 00:22:12.670 --> 00:22:17.940 times even the night. Oh, I won't, and then he does. 236 00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:21.740 Oh this is rips up my heart because I know this is true of me 237 00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:26.660 too, times when I have promised the Lord I will serve you, I 238 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:37.690 will do this thing, and then I didn't do it. I feel bad 239 00:22:37.730 --> 00:22:41.849 for you because I know it's true of you two. We're all just feeling 240 00:22:41.930 --> 00:22:47.119 bad for each other and with Peter. We know this is awful stuff, 241 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:59.470 there's no way around it. And there is our Lord pouring out his love 242 00:22:59.589 --> 00:23:04.269 for the world as the world strikes him and beats him and accuses him and 243 00:23:06.589 --> 00:23:15.859 denies him his own friends. This is a reminder to US loved the the 244 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:26.460 in the Lord's death we see our sin. You can't avoid that, because 245 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:33.410 he didn't sin, but he is there because of our sin. But we 246 00:23:33.490 --> 00:23:38.089 are also reminded in the of the in the Lord's death, of his amazing 247 00:23:38.369 --> 00:23:47.000 love for us. I can imagine that if I were in Jesus situation, 248 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:51.400 there are a lot of moments here where I would have walked like enough of 249 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:56.950 this. This is ridiculous. Maybe even back in chapter eleven, Jesus does 250 00:23:57.190 --> 00:24:02.950 go to the countryside, but only because it was not his time yet to 251 00:24:03.069 --> 00:24:07.390 go to the cross. And in between that moment in this moment, we 252 00:24:07.509 --> 00:24:11.460 have all these amazing teachings that he gives to his disciples in which he prepares 253 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:18.539 them and he prepares us for this death. They're all kinds of moments where 254 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:21.900 he was. You know, I am teaching these things. You guys don't 255 00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:26.930 want me here, fine, I'm out. There's a little world of gentiles 256 00:24:27.009 --> 00:24:33.130 out there who would love to hear this, who would clamor to hear this. 257 00:24:33.210 --> 00:24:38.400 And yet Jesus stays and he stays and he stays and he stays. 258 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:45.160 Jesus, as the Devil himself tells us US truthfully, could have called down 259 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:53.029 a whole host of angels just destroy it, a whole city, and he 260 00:24:53.269 --> 00:25:00.029 stays and he stays and he stays. Why not? Because he's weak, 261 00:25:00.470 --> 00:25:07.140 because he's strong, because he's going to be the victor, because he loves 262 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:15.259 you that much. What we often forget, beloved, is that we are 263 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:21.420 not to judge and be the judge over God, as the people try to 264 00:25:21.450 --> 00:25:27.569 do here. We are to receive the word of the Lord, to come 265 00:25:27.650 --> 00:25:33.089 under the Lord of the Lord, to submit ourselves to the Lord. When 266 00:25:33.130 --> 00:25:38.880 we forget that, we get ourselves into this kind of trouble. The second 267 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:45.480 thing we forget is that man is often all talk. God does what he 268 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:51.789 says. He will do all due all. I'll serve you until the end 269 00:25:51.789 --> 00:25:56.470 of my days. I promise to never sin again. I promise to never 270 00:25:56.630 --> 00:26:02.309 deny you. We're going to put him to death. Man is all talk. 271 00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:07.819 God will do what he will do. No, he is going to 272 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:11.700 rise from the dead. No, P her, you will deny me, 273 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:21.769 and then again you will also proclaim me before the nation's isn't it amazing how 274 00:26:21.890 --> 00:26:27.769 the Lord will reclaim Peter, how the Lord will take this this brokenhearted disciple 275 00:26:29.809 --> 00:26:34.039 and bring him to himself yet again, and then take in this man who 276 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:42.359 was once a coward and afraid and make him one of the most bold proclaimers 277 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:48.509 of the Gospel there ever was? I want to read to you a little 278 00:26:48.509 --> 00:26:52.109 bit more of the Scriptures now from acts chapter four, and we'll close with 279 00:26:52.230 --> 00:26:55.789 this. And as we read this, I want you to reflect on the 280 00:26:55.950 --> 00:27:03.059 Lord's grace and mercy and the lives of his disciples and know that that same 281 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:10.779 grace and mercy is promised to all of his disciples what we have an act 282 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:18.970 for our Peter and John, these same two men going before this same group 283 00:27:19.009 --> 00:27:32.359 of people, honest and Caiaphas and all the other muckety mucks. So I'm 284 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:34.720 going to read a lot here and I hope this is encouraging to you. 285 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:38.599 I'm going to read at the beginning of chapter four and read through Verse Thirty 286 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:45.509 One. And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the 287 00:27:45.630 --> 00:27:48.950 captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they 288 00:27:48.990 --> 00:27:56.630 were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, and 289 00:27:56.789 --> 00:28:00.700 they arrested them and they put them in custody until the next day, for 290 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:04.380 it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed 291 00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:10.579 and the number of the men came to about five thousand. On the next 292 00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:15.890 day, their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with honest, 293 00:28:15.009 --> 00:28:19.450 the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and all who were of 294 00:28:19.569 --> 00:28:25.289 the high priestly family. And when they had set them in there in the 295 00:28:25.410 --> 00:28:30.319 midst, they inquired by what power or by what name did you do this? 296 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:36.119 Then? Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 297 00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:41.109 rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined a day concerning 298 00:28:41.190 --> 00:28:45.589 a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has 299 00:28:45.630 --> 00:28:48.589 been healed? Let it be known to all of you and to all the 300 00:28:48.670 --> 00:28:53.750 people of Israel that by the name of Jesus, Christ of Nazareth, whom 301 00:28:53.910 --> 00:29:00.539 you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by him, this man is 302 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:07.220 standing before you. Well, this Jesus is the St own that was rejected 303 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:11.009 by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is 304 00:29:11.089 --> 00:29:15.130 salvation in no one else, for there is no one, under the name 305 00:29:15.250 --> 00:29:21.609 of Heaven, given among men by which we must be saved. Now, 306 00:29:21.769 --> 00:29:25.880 when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were 307 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:33.559 uneducated common men. They were astonished and they recognize that they had been with 308 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:38.630 Jesus, but seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had 309 00:29:38.750 --> 00:29:44.190 nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the 310 00:29:44.309 --> 00:29:48.069 council, they conferred with one another, saying what shall we do with these 311 00:29:48.230 --> 00:29:52.500 men? For that a noble sign has been performed through them is evident to 312 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:57.420 all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order 313 00:29:57.460 --> 00:30:00.779 that it may spread no further among the people, let us warned them to 314 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:07.250 speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charge 315 00:30:07.329 --> 00:30:11.769 them to speak, to not speak or teach at all in the name of 316 00:30:11.890 --> 00:30:15.970 Jesus. But Peter and John answered them. Whether it is right, in 317 00:30:17.009 --> 00:30:21.089 the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to God, you 318 00:30:21.170 --> 00:30:25.720 must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. 319 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:30.480 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go. They 320 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.839 got nothing right. Then, when they had further threatened them, they let 321 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:37.509 them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for 322 00:30:37.589 --> 00:30:41.230 all were praising God for what had happened, for the man on whom the 323 00:30:41.349 --> 00:30:47.509 sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. When they were 324 00:30:47.630 --> 00:30:51.940 released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and elders 325 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:55.339 had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted up their 326 00:30:55.380 --> 00:31:00.539 voices together to God and said, sovereign Lord, who made the Heaven and 327 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:03.809 the Earth and the sea and everything in them who, through the mouth of 328 00:31:03.890 --> 00:31:08.369 our Father David, your servants said, by the Holy Spirit. Why did 329 00:31:08.450 --> 00:31:14.210 the gentiles rage and the People's Plot in vain? The kings of the Earth 330 00:31:14.369 --> 00:31:18.640 set themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. 331 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:26.039 For truly, in this city they were gathered together against Your Holy Servant, 332 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:30.799 Jesus, whom you anointed both Herod and conscious pilot, along with the 333 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:37.190 gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your planned 334 00:31:37.509 --> 00:31:44.509 had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats 335 00:31:44.950 --> 00:31:51.819 and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 336 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:57.420 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed 337 00:31:57.660 --> 00:32:02.690 through the name of Your Holy Servant, in Jesus. And when they had 338 00:32:02.809 --> 00:32:07.609 prayed, the place in which they gathered together was shaken and they were all 339 00:32:07.769 --> 00:32:15.170 filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 340 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:22.160 In that just amazing. And, as they themselves say, who could 341 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:29.160 do this but God alone? Who could do this except the God who sent 342 00:32:29.559 --> 00:32:32.230 the Lord, Jesus, Christ, God of God, very, God of 343 00:32:32.269 --> 00:32:37.109 very, God, led of light, into this world to shine in the 344 00:32:37.150 --> 00:32:43.029 darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it. They may kill, they 345 00:32:43.109 --> 00:32:49.819 may just threaten, but the Lord will protect his servants, he will cause 346 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:53.460 them to succeed, he will cause the Gospel to go forth and he will 347 00:32:53.500 --> 00:33:02.809 even cause them to raise from the dead. Honest and his household pet proceeded, 348 00:33:04.049 --> 00:33:09.329 watched over the death of Jesus, the death of Stephen, probably the 349 00:33:09.410 --> 00:33:16.000 death of James and perhaps others as well. But no matter, the Gospel 350 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:22.680 will and did go forth. Praise be to the glory of God. Amen. 351 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:25.279 Let's pray our heavenly father. We do