Considering Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
What do we take for grated? It’s easy to see the new things, but often the things most familiar are the ones hardest to see.
Lived in Nashville - didn’t do most of the things.
WE love close to Tahoe - how often do we enjoy our surroundings?
But all too often the nearest things are the dearest things. Family, people instead of phones… And Jesus. Does our familiarity with Jesus cause us to respond in a way that indicates lack of love, trust, or value?
I’m going to ask that you hear the story of Jesus’ trial today. Not with familiar ears, but as the first time.
Prayer
How do we consider Jesus’ claims of who He is?
How does Jesus consider us who follow Him?
These two questions sum up two sections we’ll read today. They are both valuable to consider. Maybe the most valuable questions we could ask. But our familiarity with them may lead us to stop considering them.
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
Jesus Under Trial.
Jesus Under Trial.
Adversaries tried to determine His guilt.
Seeking testimony
digging up dirt. (Remind you of politics today?)
Willingness to hear false witness tells of conviction for truth.
Jesus didn’t answer, maybe because there was no admitable evidence.
Direct question
Mark 14:61 “61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?””
This becomes the turning point. Or breaking point.
Jesus bold statements:
“I am...” He chooses to begin His defense with the self proclaiming words that God gave to identify Himself to Abraham.
“Son of Man seated at the right hand” Sitting here isn’t rest, it’s authority. And at the right hand is the place of strength and honor. Jesus is claiming equal authority to God.
“With the clouds of Heaven” Daniel 7:13 “13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.”
This was common language in the ANE referencing divine authority. It was used by many deities to claim power over the lives of people.
Most notably Ba’al.
Jesus is declaring His rightful dominion over creation - physical and spiritual.
Bookend
This trial - of false evidence, declared divinity, and unjust condemnation - is at the bookend of Jesus’ ministry
The other bookend was at the beginning of His ministry...
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
At both He is
Filled up with the Spirit
Led up to the trial
Challenged with false claims, questions, and testimonies.
A conclusive declaration about the worthiness of God.
Jesus Intentional Confrontation
Last week, Jesus proactively approached the crowd to arrest Him.
Here, He know exactly what to say to proclaim His identity and drive them to seek His death.
He isn’t suicidal
But this is ‘the cup’ He prayed would pass from Him.
Strengthen by the Sprit, He walks right into His own death.
In the wilderness and at this midnight impromptu hearing, the question is: Who is Jesus? Is He who he claims? Can He do what He states?
It a question not just for unbelievers, but for followers too. We must answer that question. Let it be always new before you, not just the memory of a decision you once made.
Considering Jesus is something we must do every day… or not. Esteeming Him too lightly leads to considering sin too good an option.
It’s not just us that considers Jesus. He died our death on the cross, taking our punishment, redeeming us. Jesus considers us too.
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Jesus The Good Judge.
Jesus The Good Judge.
What happens when we consider Jesus? Peter stopped his show of valiance, and began to show fear. For fear of the Jews Peter quickly turned from “I’ll die with you” to “Curse me if I ever knew the man”.
Jesus had predicted Peters denial. And here in the early hours of the morning it came. I’d like to reflect on the reaction to this denial by both Peter and by Jesus.
Peter was caught up in a moment. Wanting to be near Jesus, but not wanting to share His fate. What started as ‘How close can I get?’ turned into ‘How can I stay safe?’ Peter took His eyes off Jesus and began to drift.
Just like when Jesus was walking on water and Peter got out to come to Him. All was well until Peter took His eyes off Jesus.
The danger is there for us too! How many things draw our eyes off Jesus. To finances, politics, relationships. Fun or fears - temptations abound to take our eyes off Jesus. Even doing good things - it’s not hard for church work to pull you away from seeing and seeking Jesus.
What drew Peter to realized he was already too far? Two things. Jesus’ words, and His eyes.
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus had told Peter what and when his denial would be. Warnings are odd things. They seem so theoretical, remote possibility, until they are here.
“Watch what you see, hear, read - it will deaden your sense of righteousness.”
“Oh don’t be like that! It’s just entertainment!”
Acts 2:42 “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
“But I listen to K-LOVE!” But if your Bible bookmark hasn’t moved in years, your eyes are not on Jesus.
And it was Jesus’ eyes that confronted Peter. The look from Jesus brought Peter not only back to the truth of Jesus, but also to the person on Jesus. What horrors where happening to his friend and Rabi. And now his own betrayal lay on Him too! How could he do this to his Lord?
Our sin are laid at Jesus feet too. When our eyes wonder and our heart drifts. When sin becomes too close a partner, we betray Jesus in no less meaningful way than Peter. Will we weep over our sin?
Jesus But now lets consider Jesus’ response. This is why Jesus is not like His judges, but He is a GOOD judge!
Jesus saw, and knew this rejection. He knew it was coming, would it have pained Jesus to see it? We don’t see Jesus’ final response to Peter until after the resurrection.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
What do we tend to do when people betray us? We cut them out! Jesus draws Peter back in.
Application
Can I invite you to consider these events freshly? Pull off expectation and familiarity. Allow the emotion and conviction of Peter and of Jesus penetrate your thoughts.
How do you think about Jesus? Consider Him. Reflect.
AW Tozer
And consider Jesus’ love for you. His suffering to take from you your sin. His words to warn you of the temptations of this world. His look toward us. May we never grow cold towards Him!
But most importantly, hear those words of Jesus in response to Peter. We have failed like Peter, and we will again. But we have a good judge who loves us, and His call to us it this...
“Follow me”
Pray