Is He Lord?
Who is Jesus ? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Who is Jesus? He is The Sovereign King
Introduction
Simultaneous Arc: Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very bad
day.
The people surrounding Jesus all have simultaneous arcs that collide during His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
Since that day, the church, Jews, and Gentiles have all pointed the finger at who was responsible for Jesus’ death.
However, we will see from Scripture that Jesus was writing a script for all those involved, and they all played right into his hand.
That is what we call the Sovereignty of God
After Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it.
Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples.
So Judas took a company of soldiers and some temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?”
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them.
When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.
“I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.”
This was to fulfill the words He had said: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
Prayer
Let’s define the Sovereignty of God
It is the same as the Lordship of God. Meaning He is Lord over all things created in heaven and on earth. The major components of God’s sovereignty are exercised in His authority, control, and presence in all things created.
God is Lord over all creation, He exercises His rule over creation and His kingdom is both eternal in scope in boundless in space. The divine name of God in Hebrew is Yahweh, which includes the concept of master. Not only is God's sovereignty matchless to any other power, but He also has mastery over relationships. He harnesses those relationships for the good of all. He is a triune God meaning He is the sum of three parts the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I, Yahweh, do all these things.
“Heavens, sprinkle from above, and let the skies shower righteousness. Let the earth open up so that salvation will sprout and righteousness will spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.
“Woe to the one who argues with his Maker— one clay pot among many. Does clay say to the one forming it, ‘What are you making?’ Or does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
I know that You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it?
Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?
Why should any living person complain, any man, because of the punishment for his sins?
No doctrine in the whole Word of God has more excited the hatred of mankind than the truth of the absolute sovereignty of God.
Charles Spurgeon
The idea that God can and does use His power to maneuver people toward the desired outcomes or purpose He sees fit enrages some.
It is not freedom that is canceled out by sovereignty; it is autonomy that cannot coexist with sovereignty.
R. C. Sproul
We are limited in our free will to choose. We cannot choose to jump into outer space and land on the moon because we are limited by the powers of physics (which God installed)
We also have limited free will to choose in the spiritual realm.
You may wish that there were no God, or that you could choose to be God and rule over all creation yourself but, you would only be tricking yourself to believe you had the will to choose that route because we have limited powers over the metaphysical world.
God is neither limited to the physical laws He put into place nor is He limited to anything within the spiritual realm. He uses that power for His glory, which can at times offend people who are seeking their own glory.
Illustration
It’s a risk to use parenting as an example because our parents have all made mistakes and we have all failed ourselves as parents, but the picture is the still best illustration,
I want my girls to choose what is right, so I teach them, guide them, support them, and encourage them to make the right decision. That is sometimes seen through gentle love and other times tough love.
This puts them in the best place to make the best decision. They have to still make the decision
They know better than to sneak a boy into our home.
If they ignore all those lessons, guidance, and encouragements we gave them and they choose to do so anyway, you'd better believe my rule still stands and he's getting tossed out of my house and there will be tough love in their future.
Now, a teenager might think that I am heartless, that I do not understand their desires, that I am not respecting their will, or that I don’t love them.
People feel that way about God’s sovereignty too.
Why does it have to be God’s way?
What kind of loving God would treat me this way?
Limit me this way? and impose rules like these on me?
And we question God’s motives because we fail to see how they are the best option for us.
That is called being selfish. Self-seeking.
Illustration
Dogs vs Cats
I must be a God!
We exist to please God.
Did you know, 66% of teenage mothers never live above poverty?
Did you know 78% of their children will never live above poverty?
Even though it appears that God is at times unloving, cruel, or spiteful we learn over time that He was protecting us from outcomes we had know Idea would happen.
In other words, God is sovereign He executes his sovereignty for His own Glory, but a part of His glory is in his care for his creation. He wants what is best for you. And nothing or no one will stop Him from doing whatever that takes.
In today's passage, we see that Jesus uses His sovereignty by:
1. Using the sins of people to accomplish His will.
2. [by] Correcting those who oppose His will
All for the glory of God which brought salvation to all who believe.
The King’s Sovereignty Seen at His Arrest and His Trial
Verse John 18:1-3
After Jesus had said these things, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, and He and His disciples went into it.
Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with His disciples.
So Judas took a company of soldiers and some temple police from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.
Key points
1. Jesus and His disciples went to a place where they’d be found.
2. A company of soldiers 600 Roman military
3. Judas rejected Jesus’s sovereignty and turned to the world for help.
Main point: Jesus knew Judas would find Him. Judas failed to see how God’s sovereignty was better than his own plan. He sought the way of the world for help to usurp Jesus and be powerful in his own way. Jesus was not running from Judas He was bringing all their stories together.
Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for?”
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them.
When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they said.
“I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.”
This was to fulfill the words He had said: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
Key points
1. Jesus was not found hiding but he met them knowing what would happen
2. V 5-6 Jesus’s power is not in numbers or weapons but in His words. The holiness of Jesus brought 600 people and Judas to his knees with 3 words.
a. Look at all His conversations during his trial, He is controlling the narrative.
3. V 7-8 “That it would be fulfilled.”
a. Every person’s “Simultaneous Arc” is predicted and made known to us before it happens.
i. Judas would betray Him Matt 26:2-25
When evening came, He was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
While they were eating, He said, “I assure you: One of you will betray Me.”
Deeply distressed, each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”
He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl—he will betray Me.
The Son of Man will go just as it is written about 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.”
Then Judas, His betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” “You have said it,” He told him.
ii. The Pharisees would be used to Kill Jesus Matt 16:21
From then on Jesus began to point out to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.
iii. The soldiers would crucify Him and divide his clothes Is. 53:1-8
Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?
He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him.
Yet He Himself bore our sicknesses, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.
We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, He did not open His mouth.
He was taken away because of oppression and judgment; and who considered His fate? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me.
My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You put me into the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me; they pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones; people look and stare at me.
They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.
iv. Peter was told He would deny Him
“Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”
“Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”
Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”
One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.
Main Point: What seemed like an ambush and total chaos turned out to be purposeful. Jesus had to be betrayed, falsely accused, and put to death to be raised to life.
The will of God does not always make sense to us. But God sees from the best vantage point and in times of uncertainty be certain that God is in control and his Sovereignty is working for you.
Worship team up
Joseph’s story
Had a dream put in his heart by God
His brothers were jealous and beat him
sold him into slavery to Egyptians
once in Egypt he spent time earning his way to powerful houses then Poitiers wife
Thrown in prison for years before the King needs his help. He was given the keys to the city and helps Egypt and all the region avoid certain death from famine.
You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
He could have been bitter, but He knew trusting the true King was better.
