A Night Never Forgotten
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Theme: The Life of Christ
Hope: To draw closer to Jesus through a study of his physical life and teachings here on earth..
Today, we continue in the week Jesus is to be crucified.
In fact, we are on the very day that Jesus will be found guilty by his own special people and hung upon the cross.
It was and will forever be “A Night Never Forgotten.”
It started with Jesus eating the Passover in the upper room with his apostles, continued with prayers in Gethsemane, and concluded with a mock trail of Jesus in the court of the high priest.
For our lesson today we are going to focus on events related to the Passover meal...
To be clear we cannot be certain as to the exact order of some of the events but the sequence we will be following is one of the possible chronologies.
Now last week we discussed a vital moment in this upper room that took place after Jesus’ apostles were once again consumed with who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom.
Jesus took an opportunity to teach them to serve others and not seek their own glory by washing their feet (John 13:1-20).
This act has led some to think “feet-washing” is an ordained or expected Christian responsibility but as J.W. McGarvey put it, “to adopt [feet-washing] because of these words of Christ is to entirely miss his meaning.”
To bolster this point John Carter notes, “there is no evidence that any of the churches of the New Testament ever so practiced [foot-washing] as an ordinance.
So, with his apostles mind refocused on serving rather than seeking glory we find Jesus then make some startling announcements.
His first startling announcement is concerning…
Judas
Judas
A Friend Would Betray Jesus
A Friend Would Betray Jesus
As our Lord and Savior washed his disciples’ feet he made, what had to be, a startling announcement about someone “very close” to Jesus.
Someone, in that very room, would betray him and so fulfill the scriptures.
18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Now, in eastern cultures, during this time, for two people to be eating together implied they were in fellowship and friendship.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Yet, there set Judas eat with Jesus and the rest full well knowing he had already so Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver.
Now the reason Jesus “foretold” of Judas’ betrayal was so that there would be “no doubt” that Jesus “was he.”
19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.
That he is the Messiah, whom they could put their full hope in. Remember, in just a few hours they will all scatter at Jesus’ arrest and think that Jesus “isn’t he.”
Thomas would go so far as to stay unless I can place my fingers in his physical holes “I won’t believe.”
Imagine being in that room for a moment.
You have, for three years, been with each person there.
You have watched Jesus do all these amazing miracles.
You have watched the Jewish leadership try and kill Jesus multiple times.
You have seen Jesus’ love for each of you and you “know he is the Messiah.”
Then Jesus says, “one of you will betray me.”
They, like you would have been, were naturally bewildered by this statement, the eleven at least.
22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke.
They, like you would have been, were naturally hurt by what Jesus said.
22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?”
You can hear and feel the pain in that question.
John, one of Jesus’ closes friends, at the behest of one of Jesus’ other close friends Peter, asks Jesus a question.
23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?”
Now here is where somethings become interesting because Jesus tells them that the one, I give this dipped bread to is the one that will betray me.
One would think that after that point the identity of the culprit would have been apparent, but it was not.
27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
Why were they so clueless?
Judas was “one of them” and held in high regard as one that Jesus choose to be an apostle.
He was the only apostle Judah.
He was appointed to be the treasurer of their funds.
He held the important honor and responsibility of distributing alms on behalf of the group.
Many probably thought that if anyone would betray Jesus it certainly could not be Judas.
After all, as each apostle was asking Jesus “is it I” Judas was amongst those asking as well (Matthew 26:25).
Jesus now having exposed Judas, though it was not understood “yet” by the apostles, now allows Judas to leave by telling him…
John 13:27 (ESV)
27 …What you are going to do, do quickly.
Summary
Summary
Some through the years have tried to “defend Judas” by saying “he had no choice do to predestination” but Jesus would put this to rest in Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:21.
24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”
Judas had a choice and could have not betrayed Jesus but rather chose to betray his Messiah.
This truly was a night never forgotten by the apostles or anyone else who has studied the stunning developments of that historic night.
That brings us to our next “startling announcement” concerning…
New Commandment
New Commandment
Old Yet New.
Old Yet New.
At some point after Judas left Jesus turned to his remaining apostles and spoke about a few things he had talked about earlier.
His glorification and that he would be with them “only a little while longer.”
But after that Jesus tells them…
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Now we know that “loving one’s neighbor” is not a new commandment.
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
So why did Jesus make this great announcement and say he had a “new commandment?”
Let’s look at what Jesus said again.
John 13:34–35 (ESV)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The reality is, never before in history had anyone had such a close relationship with God.
Where God demonstrated over and over his unwavering love for us even though we are so sinful and undeserving.
Loving you neighbor was not a new commandment but how one went about do so was “very new.”
Jesus was telling his apostles and us that if we “love our neighbor” like he loves us there will be zero chance someone cannot see we are Christians.
That doesn’t mean they will like us or obey the gospel, but they will not be able to deny “who we are.”
Summary
Summary
With everything being said, we find Peter picking up on Jesus’ words about “leaving.”
Peter asked Jesus “Lord, where are you going” (John 13:36).
Jesus told him he could not follow him where he was going.
Peter then asked in what appears to be a most hurtful voice…
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Almost like a little child that discovers dad has to go out of town and doesn’t understand it’s for work, “daddy don’t leave, I’ll be good.”
It’s Jesus’ startling announcement to this plea that I want us to focus on lastly here.
Jesus makes his last announcement, and it is concerning…
Satan’s Activity
Satan’s Activity
Sifted Like Wheat.
Sifted Like Wheat.
There are probably very few that have not heard of Peter’s three denials of Jesus before the rooster crowed.
In fact, this account is mentioned in all four gospel accounts.
However, in Luke’s account we are given some interesting insights into why this was going to take place and Satan’s activity in it.
After Peter so hurtfully asked “Lord why can’t I go with you” Jesus tells him in Luke 22:31…
Luke 22:31 (ESV)
31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat
Flour is sifted, as you ladies know, to find and remove any impurities that might be found in the flour.
Satan wanted to “sift Peter” not to remove Peter’s impurities but rather to “find them.”
Satan already had “one defection” from Jesus, Judas, now he wanted more.
Peter would be a prized defection for Satan, not doubt.
After all Peter was one of the undeniable leaders of the apostles.
Galatians 2:9 (ESV)
9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars…
Here in Jesus’ announcement about Satan we learn of a major tactic of his.
He is persistently “sifting” or looking for our spiritual weaknesses.
King of the hill illustration
But thankfully, God had not left us alone in this as we read, Jesus “talks with the Father on our behalf on this matter.”
Luke 22:32 (ESV)
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Now think about that for a moment…
Our Savior (Ephesians 5:23)…
Our King (Revelation 19:16)…
Our Brother (Hebrews 2:11)…
Our Friend (John 15:14)…
Advocates on our behalf to the Father.
Summary
Summary
Satan is going to try and sift us, and just like in Peter’s case he will succeed sometimes.
But like Peter we must also then “with a broken heart” as Jesus put it in John 13:32, “turn again” back to Jesus.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The apostles would no doubt look back at the things we have just studied and replay them in their minds over and over.
Why, because…
It taught them never to assume everyone is spiritually ok, verify.
It taught them “God’s love” is the most powerful force in our lives and those we touch.
And it taught them that Satan is good at what he does, don’t give him an inch, and that Jesus is on our side helping us against him.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.