Easter 2023 Message 1
Notes
Transcript
A Sovereign Savior
A Sovereign Savior
John 18:1-32
Me:
MapQuest
MapQuest
a. Road Atlas
i. I like to travel.
ii. To just get away.
iii. When I travel, I need to have a plan.
iv. I would break out the atlas and plan the route
v. I think atlas are cool
b. Some years later came MapQuest.
i. I would print out the route and map
c. Now days we have Google Maps / Apple maps and Waze.
i. Just plug the address in and go
God always has a plan.
God always has a plan.
We:
Who murdered Jesus?
Who murdered Jesus?
a. The Romans?
i. Crucifixion, though probably not a Roman invention, was certainly perfected under their reign.
ii. They were the ones in charge when Jesus was crucified.
iii. Pilate, a Roman governor, ordered his death.
iv. It was a Roman soldier that beat Jesus within an inch of his life.
v. It was Roman soldiers that pounded the nails into his hands and feet.
b. The Jewish leaders?
i. They brought Jesus to Pilate and demanded he be killed.
ii. When Pilate wanted to release Jesus, the Jewish leaders incited the crowds to chant, “Crucify him!”
iii. Luke 23:21 (NLT) — 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
iv. They were willing to accept responsibility for his death. “His blood be on us and on our children!” they said.
v. Matthew 27:25 (NLT) — 25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”
And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!”
Us?
i. You?
ii. Your sin?
iii. Isaiah 53:6 (NLT) — 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
iv. We are not guiltless.
v. Jesus died because of our sin.
Here’s a wonderful truth.
God:
Not a Helpless Victim
Not a Helpless Victim
a. Nor is He a Courageous Martyr.
i. From a human perspective, it seems Jesus is swept to the cross by forces outside his control.
ii. Jesus orchestrates every encounter, and every event reveals his sovereign control.
iii. John 10:17–18 (NCV) — 17 The Father loves me because I give my life so that I can take it back again. 18 No one takes it away from me; I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”
The Father loves me because I give my life so that I can take it back again.
No one takes it away from me; I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”
b. Jesus lays an ambush.
i. Jesus doesn’t select Gethsemane as a place to hide but as a place to be found.
ii. John 18:2 (NLT) — 2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.
Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.
iii. Jesus may look like he’s being hunted, but he’s the one laying an ambush.
iv. Judas leaves into the night (John 13:30).
v. He comes to the garden with the group.
vi. John 18:3 (NLT) — 3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.
The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.
c. Jesus takes the initiative.
i. John 18:4 (NLT) — 4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.
ii. Nothing is a surprise.
iii. Nothing catches him off guard.
d. Who is really in charge?
i. John 18:5–6 (NLT) — 5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.)
As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!
ii. Jesus is not a victim waiting for instructions.
iii. He is the one directing every movement.
iv. We don’t know what exactly makes the soldiers fall to the ground.
v. The point isn’t how it happens, but why it happens.
vi. Their collapse reveals Jesus is not arrested in weakness.
vii. It was Jesus that was in control.
e. Jesus gives a command.
i. John 18:7–8 (NLT) — 7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”
Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
“I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”
ii. These men who were trained to take orders from their superiors not obey the instructions of their captive.
What’s the lesson here?
You:
Sovereign Savior
Sovereign Savior
a. God is never surprised.
i. Sovereign = Possessing supreme or ultimate power.
b. Things didn’t go as planned.
i. Do you never travel somewhere, and find the road is blocked?
ii. You have to change your plans and go on a detour.
iii. Not God.
iv. God never takes a detour.
v. Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) — 9 We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.
c. God is not surprised by the struggle you are going through.
i. Matter of fact it’s probably planned by God.
ii. As Jesus directed the events of His arrested and crucifixion
iii. He is directing the circumstances of your life.
Faith.
Faith.
i. You must trust he is at work in your life.
ii. Are you passing the test?
iii. It’s not trying harder it’s trusting more.
