Trust Jesus In The Difficult Times

A wife died suddenly on a trip to Jerusalem. The funeral director says, "Sir, it is going to cost about $4,500 if we send her home back to the states or $500 if we bury her here in Jerusalem."

Husband: "Ship her home."

Funeral director: "But sir, why don't you bury her here in the Holy Land and you can save some money."

Husband: "A long time ago a man was buried here and 3 days later he rose from the dead, I can't take that chance."

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 18:12–23 NKJV

Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle -

Life Point- Trust In Jesus’s Sacrifice For Sin

Exegetical -

John 18:12–17 NLT

So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.” Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.”

Homiletical -

We have finally come to the point of the matter. Jesus has been arrested and led to his first questioning. by the father-in-law of the high priest, Caiphas.

Caiphas had already told the people it is better that one man die, once for all.

He didn’t know how right he was. Caiphas meant it in a way that would eliminate Jesus and get rid of their problems, but God meant it a different way.

When Christ died, he died that sin should no longer reign in our bodies and lives but that it should be brought under control of the new nature that Christ has given the believer.

Romans 6:5–14 NLT

Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Jesus death and resurrection was done to free us from sin and evil and because of it God’s wrath was satisfied.

Isaiah 53:5–6 NLT

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 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.

Isaiah 53:10–11 NLT

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.

1 John 4:9–10 NLT

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

A Roman Cross was a torture device and who could ever thought that a torture device would become the symbol of true love and sacrifice.

Looking back at our original text we find that Peter is let in the gate and we find that he does something that in our consciences we would say “I wouldn’t do that.” Are you sure? Are you sure that given the circumstances and the sorrow of your souls you wouldn’t deny Christ?

Here you have Peter who pulled a sword out and faced down the temple guard and the people who tried to arrest Jesus, who showed such confidence and such brashness. Who was ready for fight. Here he is now and what does he do? He denies Christ.

What a major turn around we find has happened in his life, in just a short amount of time. We can only guess at the hopelessness he feels in that moment of denial.

Illustration -

The first of the ten persecutions was stirred up by Nero about AD 64. His rage against the Christians was so fierce that Eusebius records, “A man might then see cities full of men’s bodies, the old lying together with the young, and the dead bodies of women cast out naked, without reverence of that sex, in the open streets.” Many Christians in those days thought that Nero was the antichrist because of his cruelty and abominations.

The apostle Peter was condemned to death during this persecution, although some say he escaped. It is known that many Christians encouraged him to leave the city, and the story goes that as he came to the city’s gate, Peter saw Jesus coming to meet him. “Lord, where are You going?” Peter asked.

“I am come again to be crucified,” was the answer.

Seeing that his suffering was understood, Peter returned to the city, where Jerome tells us he was crucified head down at his own request, saying that he was not worthy to be crucified the same way his Lord was.

Life Point - Trust In Jesus In Persecution

Exegetical -

John 18:18–23 NLT

Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself. Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.” Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded. Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”

Homiletical -

Caiphas, the high priest himself, now begins to question Jesus. He asks him about his followers and his teaching.

This is like being brought to the governor. You honor the man because of the office. You certainly don’t say something boldly and what would be considered rude.

Neither does Jesus here, but it was taken that way.

Jesus answers Caiphas “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the Synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”

In others words, you know what I have taught your people were there, and so were throngs of others. Go ask them what I teach if you really don’t know.

So what does Jesus get for His answer? He gets slapped across the face for answering in what the Temple Guards considered rude.

Jesus’ answer to that is that He has said nothing wrong, you can’t prove He did because He didn’t and then asks them why they are beating Him because He told the truth.

Remember Jesus said:

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.

John 15:18 NKJV

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Folks throughout history the christians have been persecuted and killed for telling the truth. For the sake of Jesus. We have had a time of relative peace here in the United States but that time is quickly coming to an end. There will be persecution, prison and finally death to Christians once again if we speak the truth.

You know how it will start? You will be told that the Gospel is hate speech and as such should be banned.

There are already over 10 countries in the world where Christianity in all its’ forms are illegal and many more where the persecution of Christians is very high. Where citizens will often murder Christians.

Illustration -

The following story happened in the 1400s but man has not changed and persecution of Christians in our world will spread and stories like this one will become the norm once again.

William Thorpe was a valiant warrior under the banner of Christ. He was examined before the archbishop of Canterbury in 1407, accused of traveling through England for over twenty years, preaching his reformed beliefs to the people.

The archbishop not only demanded that Thorpe deny his beliefs and return to the Catholic Church, but that he turn in anyone he found holding similar beliefs in the future. He was also forbidden to preach until the archbishop was sure he was truly converted.

“Sir,” Thorpe replied, “if I agree to this, I would have to be a spy for every bishop in England.” Thorpe refused to pledge unconditional submission to the church. “I will willingly obey God and His law,” he said, “and every member of the holy church that agrees with Christ.”

What happened to Thorpe after he was committed to prison isn’t known. There is no record of his being burned, so he may have died in prison or secretly escaped.

Poor Christians were being oppressed everywhere, but especially in England at this time, where the king supported the Catholic Church. The church was so strong there that no one could stand against it; whatever it decreed was obeyed by all men.

Life Principle–

Call to Action – altar call….