Doctrine: Substitution (John 18:1-27)

Announcements:

- Janice Marsch- PSCL

- After this week- we are down to only 6 weeks left in our study of John, 7 if you include Sharing Day.

I know that as the weather gets nicer- the temptation to put BSF aside and come out of hibernation from winter and do all the outdoor things can feel so tempting.

I also know you’re tired..I know you have been sick…I know some of you are carrying some heavy burdens- burdens that have been weighing on you for a long time…but a season of rest is coming…If you are struggling- know that you are not alone- ask God for endurance and perseverance to complete the work he has called you to this year in our BSF study of John.

Don’t give up on your ladies or the kids in your class. Don’t stop pursuing them..don’t stop praying for them…don’t stop loving them..It’s tempting to try to just power through in our own strenghth knowing the end is close…

but aren’t you glad Jesus didn’t do that.

Aren’t you glad he did not say- well, it’s almost the end, I’m just gonna power through and hope everyone else just get’s it together. Maybe I will just finish this halfway..

no..as he said in John 17..he loved them till the end..he completed this work

Let’s finish strong together- in Christ’s strength- remembering that without him we can do nothing and remembering that Jesus finished the race laid out before him..and because of that..so can we..

About 15 years ago I was forced to change my diet to gluten free due to some ongoing health issues.

Over the years I have experimented with every different type of gluten free flour out there to find the best substitute for good old all purpose flour.

I can’t even begin to tell you the number of loaves of gf bread I have thrown away because they were simply awful.

And while the GF world has come a long way since I went gf, and some of the substitutes are pretty close…the truth is they all fall short.

as my husband frequently says..it’s ok for GF…

What I need is a better substitute…one that will not fall short…one that will be enough…

My need to be GF comes from a body that is broken…from living in a world broken by sin.

But my biggest problem is not my inability to eat gluten.

My biggest problem…your biggest problem…is your own sin…

You need a substitute…you need something…someone to step in…to be enough.

In our scripture this week..it’s passover…a time when sacrifices were made to make atonement for the sin of the people.

In John 18:1 We are told that Jesus was headed with his disciples to a garden, but before they got there, they had to cross over the Kidron Valley.

The Kidron valley had a drain that ran from the temple altar down to the Kidron ravine to drain away the blood of the sacrifices…

Which means…that when Jesus and his disciples crossed the Kidron Valley- it would have been FULL of the blood of more than 200,000 lambs that had been sacrificed for Passover.

and yet…despite the gallons of blood that flowed, it wasn’t enough.

C

So what we see in John 18 is Jesus…the only one who could be enough…the only one who could cover the sins of all humanity…willingly step forward…and as he did- he said I AM willing to be the sacrifice…

When Jesus died on the cross, bearing sin that was not His own he took on sin’s curse…

Jesus’ substitutionary death was ENOUGH to pay the price of sin’s judgment for ALL humanity.

and All who ACCEPT Jesus as Savior receive His perfect righteousness.

which God credits to them rather than their sin.

When I believe that in love and grace Jesus offered Himself as the substitute for my sin, I am set free from sin’s penalty and power.

I look to Jesus for eternal salvation, strength, and hope while I walk in this world.

and out of my love and because I have been set free, I am then motivated to serve Jesus—my substitute.

When I believe that Jesus’ substitution was enough…then I STOP searching for alternate substitutes…

I STOP striving to try to be ENOUGH because I recognize that on my own, I never will be..and I don’t have to be.

Where are you striving, trying to be enough- working hard to earn something that has already been paid for?

Even as believers- we can fall back into a functionally works based faith by acting as though salvation is dependent on us!

We wrongly believe that God is upset with us when we sin instead of living in his grace.

We work to earn his favor instead of resting in what has already been given to us through Christ and working out of our love for Him.

Jesus bore God’s wrath in your place, against every sin you have ever committed or will ever commit.

Jesus took on punishment He did not deserve to give you righteousness you have not earned.

The doctrine of substitution clearly expresses God’s infinite love and amazing grace toward sinners.

Live in grace…serve out of the grace you have been given…

God’s love for us far surpasses the highest and best expression of love in the human realm.

The doctrine of substitution calls us to unspeakable gratitude and humble worship of Jesus, our perfect substitute.

How does the truth of Jesus as your substitute give you peace for today and bright hope for tomorrow?

The GREAT I AM..The perfect substitute…stepped forward…He was willing…He was able….and He was victorious…

Share a request and then let’s pray.