Submission To God’s Will

A man came into a shop with a ‘Salesman Wanted’ sign in a window. He went up to the owner and said, “I-I-I w-w-waannn-t the j- joooob-b.”

“I don’t know if this job would suit you because of your speaking impediment,” said the owner.

“I h-h-havvve a w-wi-wiiiife and s-s-s-six k- kkkids, iiii-I re-really neeeed thi-thi-this j-j-job!” said the man.

“O.K. Here are three Bibles. Go out and sell them.” said the owner.

So the man went out and came back an hour later. “H-here-sss your m-m-money.” said the man.

The owner was impressed, so he gave the man a dozen more Bibles and sent him out. The man came back in two hours and said, “Her- ers y-yooour m-m-money.”

The owner said, “This is fantastic. You sold more Bibles in three hours than anyone has sold in a week. Tell me, what do you say to the people when they come to the door?”

“W-welllll,” said the man, “I r-r-ring the d-door bell, a-a-and s-s-say ‘H- Hel-Hello, M-m- maaaaddam, d-d-do you w-w- want t-t t-to buy thi-thi-this B-B-Bible, oooor d-d-do y-you w-w-want m’me t-toooo read it t-t-t-t-to you?”

Historical/Cultural Context -

The Gospel of John was written between 90 AD and 100 AD. Scholars also believe that John wrote the three Epistles and the book of Revelation around the same time-frame as he wrote this Gospel. The Gospel of John was written after Matthew, Mark, & Luke had been written and circulated. John has been dubbed by most scholars as “The Spiritual Gospel.”

Biblical Text -

John 18:1–11 NKJV

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - No Matter The Cost, We Must Submit to God’s Will & In That Submission There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus.

Life Point - There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus

Exegetical -

John 18:1–6 NLT

After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. 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. 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 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!

Homiletical -

There is some interesting things going on in this recounting. Last week we talked about Jesus’ prayer for the disciples and not only for the immediate disciples but for us who would follow them as well. Here we see the culmination of the work of Christ, that being the work of the Cross. It is coming up.

Jesus crosses the Kidron Valley and goes to an Olive Grove a place that is familiar to Him and a place that would be familiar to all the disciples because He had spent a lot of time there.

Judas knew where He was because he would go there with the disciples. Notice that this is kind of written, even across translations, in such a way that Judas isn’t really counted as a disciple at this point but as someone outside of the disciples. Outside the faith, as it were.

So Judas knew where He was and went there with a detachment of Roman Soldiers and Temple guards. Because it is night they go with torches and lanterns. They also brought their weapons.

Jesus knew what was going to happen. He didn’t have an inkling or a maybe, no the scripture says He fully knew what was going to happen to Him, but He also knew that it was the Father’s Will. What does He do?

Does he run away? Does He hide? No, He steps forward and asks “Who do you want?”

He asks whom they are looking for and He says “I AM” the term “he” for the phrase “I Am He” is actually not in the Greek. He simply replied to them “I AM” This is significant because when Moses met with God and He asked God’s name, God responded I AM that I AM. God is known as the Great I Am. Jesus is again putting Himself on the same level as God the Father.

Exodus 3:14–15 NLT

God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

I am that I am is a deep and very meaningful response to Moses. Moses asks who should I say sent me and God replied I am Who I am, which can also be translated I will be whom I will be and can be translated I am that I am.

This statement tells us a few things about God’s nature.

He is immutable. Nothing can stop Him.

He is “other” meaning that He is completely beyond our understanding and experience.

He does not change. We are also told that Jesus doesn’t change:

Hebrews 13:8 NLT

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He cannot be contained by human words or names.

It was common during this time that if you knew the name of the idol you were worshipping you would have power over that idol. God will not allow anyone to even think they have power of Him.

His wisdom is beyond ours

I am that I am denotes no beginning and no end. That means God is infinite and as such is infinitely beyond us and our understanding. No matter how deep we go into His Word, no matter how much we learn and apply there is always more to plum from His depths and from the depths of His Word.

This name is powerful and very deep. In it we find the power and mystery that is God.

So Jesus responds I AM. When He does this, something truly supernatural takes place. The Power of that name takes precedence and the men draw back and fall to the ground because of the power that was communicated in that two word response. I AM.

There is power in the name of God. There is power in the name of Jesus, for the believer. To use the name of Jesus as a believer is powerful. It means you are stepping outside of your authority and stepping inside the authority of Jesus. The power of Jesus.

But you better make sure you are a believer and have the right to use that name and the power that is behind it or you might find yourself beaten up and stripped like the seven sons of Sceva Did.

Acts 19:14–18 NLT

Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.

Life Point - No Matter What, We Must Submit To God.

Exegetical -

John 18:7–11 NLT

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.” He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”

Homiletical -

So after they had fallen to the ground Jesus asks them again whom they are looking for. There reply is the same, they are looking for Jesus.

Jesus even in this time shows His selflessness. He affirms that it is He whom they are looking for, but also replies to let His disciples go, which fulfilled the prayer and prophecy “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”

What does that mean? Does it mean Judas was a disciple and then lost his discipleship due to his own actions? No, it means he was never really apart of the disciples. His motives for joining the crowd were his own and not that of getting to know Jesus. Remember we discussed that He was looking for the things he could steal from the money-box. He was a thief and a crook. Not a true disciple.

This happens today in churches all across the world. That is, false converts. They go to church for some reason but it ain’t for worshipping Jesus.

1 John 2:18–20 NLT

Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.

I love Simon Peter, He is brash and gets caught up in the moment without much filter and without much forethought. What does he do?

He draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s slave. Now we know from other accounts that Jesus healed the ear, but that isn’t what is important here.

Peter made a mess and even at this final hour Jesus will end up cleaning it up for Peter. Jesus does the same thing today. We make a mess and Jesus helps to clean it up.

Jesus then tells Peter to put the sword up for this is the will of God for Jesus.

John 13:16 NKJV

Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

You notice something here? It was not God’s will that Jesus live a rich life and live in a mansion. It was The Father’s will that He would suffer and die.

It was also God’s will that all the disciples, save one, would die a martyrs death. They didn’t live a rich man’s life either. They went and told the world about the Good news that there can be peace between God and Man. That the kingdom of God has come.

This kind of blows a hole in the word faith movement. You see Jesus and His followers according to that teaching would be considered to not have enough faith. Because they all died a martyrs death.

Like I said last week. God’s will may be that you live a hard life and praise Him through it. This would be a most tremendous testimony to God. Even amongst all the pain of life and things that cause burdens, the fact that you can have peace and joy during it will show the world what God has done in your life.

Will you have the Brashness of Peter, fighting God’s will or will you submit to Him in all humility no what that looks like?

Life Principle– No Matter The Cost, We Must Submit to God’s Will & In That Submission There Is Power In The Name Of Jesus.

Call to Action – altar call….