Threats From Without, Threats From Within

John 11:45-12:11

The threat from without

Some of them go to the Pharisees

The Pharisees find out about what Jesus has done

“What are we to do?”

Caiaphas speaks up

He speaks better than he knows

His point is that Jesus should die so that the Romans don’t come and crush the Jews

He was actually being led by the Spirit to proclaim something far greater

The Jews also seek to kill Lazarus (12:10)

He had done nothing against them

All he was guilty of was breathing

His association with Jesus and His powerful testimony was all they needed to hate him

The world will hate you

John 15:18-20a- “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Acts 14:21-22- When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:12- Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

The threat from within

Jesus at the center of the scene

Martha served

Lazarus reclined

Mary anointed

Genuine love for Jesus Himself was at the heart of all three

Judas objects

He says that this ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor

John tells us that Judas cared nothing for the poor

He was a greedy thief and cared only for the money

He is consistently referred to as the one who betrayed Jesus

There is an important point here

He may have been among them, but he was not ultimately one of them

1 John 2:19- They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

He was so good at playing the part

Those closest to him did not know the truth of his heart

They did not know the sin and unbelief that would lead him to betray Jesus

The twofold threat from within

Our own sinful hearts

My sinful heart is one of the biggest threats to our church

Crossway article: Dear Pastor by David Mathis

Your sinful heart is a threat

Wolves who look like sheep

Acts 20:28-32- Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

2 Timothy 3:1-7- Bible

Vigilance and faithfulness

Be vigilant

Keep a close watch on your life

1 Timothy 4:16- Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

This includes keeping one another accountable

We desperately need faithful, biblical, gospel-saturated relationships in our church to keep one another accountable and spur one another on to Jesus

Keep watch for wolves

2 Timothy 3:14-17- Bible

He will be faithful

He has promised that He will build His Church

Matthew 16:18b- …I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

He has promised to be with us always

Matthew 28:20b- … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

He has promised that by His Spirit we can put our sin to death

Romans 8:13b- if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

He has promised to provide what we need

Philippians 4:19- And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

He has promised to keep us

Hebrews 10:23- Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

He will be faithful forever

2 Corinthians 1:20-22- For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

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What do you believe about the faithfulness of God? I’m not asking for you to give the answer that you think I’m looking for. I’m asking for you to answer the question truly and genuinely for yourself. It seems to me that the way that many of us would answer this question and the way that we talk and act are worlds apart. For example, think of how we sometimes talk about what we see in the Church post-COVID. We see churches closing their doors, others struggling, and many more empty seats during our worship gatherings as well. How do we normally talk about this reality? Far too often I fear that we talk as if the Church is in danger of shriveling up.

The threat from without

Here is the scene of the passage that we just read together. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the grave, which He traveled back to Judea to do. After witnessing Jesus’ power on display, John says that the crowd divides into two groups. Some of them believe in Jesus. They see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ and believe He is who He said He is. But some of them go to the Pharisees and tell them what they have just witnessed. And, of course, this is not to commend Jesus to them, but to get Jesus in trouble with them. So, because of these unbelieving witnesses, the Pharisees find out about what Jesus has done.

The Pharisees respond exactly as we would expect based on everything else that we have read so far in John’s Gospel. They are upset by the report and ask one another “What are we to do?” They are panicked and worried about might come of Jesus’ ministry if it continues because the Romans might look on this “Jesus” movement as a Jewish uprising against Ceasar. Caiaphas, the High Priest, speaks up with a rebuke and a suggestion. He says that they know nothing and then he speaks better than he knows. He says it is better for one man to die than for the entire nation to perish. His point is that Jesus should die so the Romans don’t come and crush the Jews. His concern is not for the spiritual well-being of the people, but for the preservation of the Pharisee’s little worldly domain of influence. But this is the amazing thing: John says that in saying this he prophesied about Jesus. The Spirit was leading him to proclaim something far greater than Caiaphas could have imagined. The point of the prophecy is that Jesus would die for the people, not simply to preserve a political entity, but to save the eternal souls of sinners. As we read the wicked words of Caiaphas pour from his mouth, we all at once witness the sovereign God who created Caiahphas’ mouth use his words to accomplish His purpose. Therefore, brothers and sisters, do not despair when we witness blasphemies pour from the mouths of unbelievers. Trust that God is in the heavens and accomplish all of His purposes. Even through the mouths of blasphemers.

However, this is not where the external animosities and threats to Jesus and His followers stop. The Jews also seek to kill Lazarus. Because many people believed in Jesus because the dead Lazarus now lives, they want him gone. He had done nothing against the Jewish leaders. All he was guilty of was breathing again after 4 days in the grave. His mere association with Jesus and the powerful testimony of Jesus through him was all they needed to hate him. Do you see? Sinful men do not live as neutral people. They hate the Truth of Jesus in their rebellion, and they will hate all who follow Him. This means that the world will hate you. Not maybe or if or probably. The world will hate you with 100% certainty. Jesus makes this point in John 15:18-20a- “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” Paul says the same thing in Acts 14:21-22- “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” and again in 2 Timothy 3:12- “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

The Church in America needs to quickly wake up to this reality because she has been so entranced by the mirage of peace with the culture that many Christians have begun to act as if a loss of cultural acceptance and prominence is the worse thing imaginable. But what about the Bible? This is not the teaching of Jesus and the Apostles. They have promised us that the world will hate us. In fact, throughout nearly 2,000 years of Church history, God has proven faithful to grow His Church through the blood of the saints. Therefore, we must beware of the threats and dangers from outside the Church, but trust that God will be faithful to us as we walk as strangers and aliens here.

2. The threat from within

But there is yet another threat to the people of God. In fact, this threat is far more dangerous and insidious than the external threat from the world. But I want you to see it with your own eyes in the text. We see Jesus at the center of the scene. Martha serving Jesus, Lazarus reclining beside Jesus with attention and affection given to Him, and Mary anointing Jesus with expensive ointment. Everywhere we look, we see genuine love for Jesus Himself.

But there is one more person in the story: Judas.

What does Judas do in this scene? He objects. He angrily says that this ointment should have been sold and the money given to the poor. I just want to pause here and say this sounds like a common refrain that echoes through the Western Church. Men and women claiming to care so much for the proper use of God-given resources that they use it as an excuse for greed. “What if they don’t use it in the way that we intended for it to be used?” or “what if they buy drugs with the money” or any number of other statements that validate their close-fisted greed. Now, John tells us that Judas cared nothing for the poor. He was a greedy thief and cared only for the money that he could have dipped his greedy hands into. There was no love for Jesus or concern for the poor at all.

In the gospels, including this one, Judas is consistently referred to as the one who betrayed Jesus. Don’t miss this, because there is an important point here. He may have been among them, but he was not ultimately one of them. This is similar to what we read in 1 John 2:19, when Paul says of those who have deserted them: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” He was so good at playing the part that even those closest to him did not know the truth of his heart. They did not know the sin and unbelief that would lead him to betray Jesus.

There is a dangerous threat from within the Church, and it is twofold. First, is our own sinful hearts. This may be somewhat shocking to you, or maybe right now you are asking yourself whether that is really true. Just consider one command in the New Testament: the command for believers to live in unity and harmony. Jesus prays for this in His High-Priestly prayer in John 17, and the rest of the New Testament is filled with commands toward unity. Why? Because the sinful inclination of our hearts is bent toward selfish disunity rather than selfless unity. This is simply one example of the internal danger of indwelling sin in our hearts. And the thing that often causes me much trembling before God and before you is to recognize that my sinful heart sits atop this danger. It is one of the biggest threats to our church if not kept a close watch over. We often talk about God’s providence in our lives, and as I was preparing this sermon this week an article from Crossway was sent to my email. It was written by David Mathis, who has been writing a series called “Dear Pastor”, and I would like to read you a small excerpt from it. He says “the single biggest threat to the life and health of your church is already on the inside of your church walls. That greatest of threats is not external. It’s not slander or persecution or even some terrible act of violence perpetrated by an evil attacker or group in the throes of Satan—not to make light of such trials, however severe…. No, the biggest threats usually come from within. And typically, the worst of them—the deepest, most discouraging, most divisive, most devastating—come from within you, dear pastor. The biggest threat is already on the inside because it’s on the inside of you. Your indwelling sin, if fed rather than starved, if coddled rather than put to death, if given time and space to breath and grow and expand, can wreak havoc not only on your own soul but—because you’re a pastor—your congregation with it.” It is vitally important that we recognize the danger of indwelling sin in order that we might fight for holiness together as a church.

But there is a second internal threat in the Church: wolves who look like sheep. It is worth mentioning that Acts 20 records the final words that Paul spoke to the leaders of the Ephesian church, who he has poured so much of his time, energy, and heart into. Now, we know that the last words of a man who knows he will never see loved ones again are important, so what does he choose to say? Acts 20:28-32 records his words, he said: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” I simply find this to be amazing. He chooses to warn them of wolves who will come among them. And as if this were not enough of a warning to us, we read a very similar warning to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-7, when Paul says: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” Many people cite this as if Paul is talking about those who are outside of the Church, but Paul is specifically talking about people inside of the Church. We must be on guard against those who would masquerade as sheep of God, but who are actually wolves who cause division in the church and lead believers astray.

3. Vigilance and faithfulness

So, what now? If this is true, don’t we have every reason to throw our arms up and say “with so many threats to the church, what hope is there for us?” No. I want to close by giving giving an plea for action and an encouragement to trust God. First, the plea and exhortation: be vigilant. Keep a close watch on your life just as Paul exhorts Timothy to do in 1 Timothy 4:16: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” This includes keeping one another accountable. We desperately need faithful, biblical, gospel-saturated relationships in our church to keep one another accountable and spur one another on to Jesus. In order to do this, you must not be content to come on Sunday morning for an hour each and expect that it will due. No, we must be doing life together throughout the week. We must be in the Word together and in prayer together. We must be involved in each other’s lifes. This is often not easy or convenient, yet it is the design of God for His people.

Also, Keep watch for wolves would would sneak in and hurt the flock. Paul goes on to say in 2 Timothy 3:14-17: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” How will this happen? Paul’s answer is the Word of God. We must be people who are saturated in the Truth of the Bible. How else will you know what is true if you don’t know what God has said?

Finally, I leave you with deep encouragement: God will be faithful. He has promised that He will build His Church (Matthew 16:18b- …I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.). He has promised to be with us always (Matthew 28:20b- … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.). He has promised that by His Spirit we can put our sin to death (Romans 8:13b- if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.). He has promised to provide what we need (Philippians 4:19- And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.). He has promised to keep us (Hebrews 10:23- Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.). He will be faithful forever (2 Corinthians 1:20-22- For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.). He will be with us and for us all of the days of our lives because He has purchased us by the blood of His Son. Therefore, be vigilant bthers and sisters, because He is faithful.