John 18:1-14 The Lion who is King, is bound as a Lamb, so You Can God Free!
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The Lion bound as a Lamb, so You Can Go Free!
The Lion bound as a Lamb, so You Can Go Free!
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
If almost half of the gospel’s given to the last week of Jesus life, even more attention is paid to the last 24 hours before the Cross. These 24 hours from sundown Thursday night till Christ gives his last breath, and his body is laid in the tomb just before sundown Friday, I don’t hesitate to call the most important day of the world had yet seen! Yes resurrection thre days later - equal imoprtance, His return in glory! But for us to see that if Christ whole life was the Son coming in the fulness of time - this is the fullness of the fulness of time. This time before he departs to the Father with the mission sacomplished. these 24 hours is the heart of the mission!Really the rest of the NT revealation is an explanation of what it all means. It is no wonder thne that both the literal historical events are described with equally powerful imagery that explains the heart of slavation for us.
Key Truth: Go with Jesus in Gethsemane and on the way to Gabbatha, and claim him as your Lion & Lamb!
And three of those images I’d like to focus on this morning - are Jesus surprising protection in arrest; His compassion in drinking our cup of judgment; His sacrificial love in willingly being bound so we might go free. In the first two you will see the majesty of your king, in the second the humility of the Lamb!
Scene I: Behold His Majesty of Protection on Display for You in Gethsemane
Last Sunday night we saw that it was not just Jesus and Judas in that upper room, as Judas rejected Jesus final offer - hardenes his heart to carry out what Satan had influenced, put in his heart todo… to the end Jesus extending love, that drives judas crazy. In final rejection, becomes not only the traitor, but Satan indeed enters him. It was not just Jesus and Judas in that upper room, but Christ the Son of God, and Staan the AntiChrist. And jesus says , What you are about to do, do quickly! Satan jumps at the opproutnity - can’t understand his love nor his …
And now it is night. The hour of the power of darkness, as Jesus called it. And now Judas knowing that Jesus and the apostles were gathering in the evenings in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas, in ocoridnation with the temple guards and priests, they have gone to Romans, the Antonia Fortress, were every Passover a band, a cohort, the Green Barrets, the Marines, the most highly ttrained division s of the Roman army would be brought in to make sure no trouble was stirred in the great mob of people came every year. Judas having procured some of that cohort to come with the temple servants/guards. Is at he head of the pack. They are armed to the teeth, and carry lanterns and torches for judas know just where Jesus willb e hiding!
And now it is night. The hour of the power of darkness, as Jesus called it. And now Judas knowing that Jesus and the apostles were gathering in the evenings in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas, in ocoridnation with the temple guards and priests, they have gone to Romans, the Antonia Fortress, were every Passover a band, a cohort, the Green Barrets, the Marines, the most highly ttrained division s of the Roman army would be brought in to make sure no trouble was stirred in the great mob of people came every year. Judas having procured some of that cohort to come with the temple servants/guards. Is at he head of the pack. They are armed to the teeth, and carry lanterns and torches for judas know just where Jesus willb e hiding!
But what is this, as they’ve crossed the Kidron, enter the garden, the group isn’t hiding at all. And watch now, the leader with an air of authority -steps into the moon lit night infront. With a voice steady and unafraid: Whom do you seek? It is a question you must answer for yourself this morning - It is one of critical importance that Jesus asked at the turning point of the gospel - You are teh Christ, the King,l the Messiah, the Annointed One Saviour, You are Son of the Living God! Do you believe that who was in the garden, who will be on the Cross?
They mock him, Jesus of Nazareth - backwoods rebel - whom we doubt anything good or even powerful can come out of!
But what is this
But listen to Jesus answer, not in a whimper but in a voice as loud as thunder! Ego Eimi - ten timesJesus had used that title in John Gospel - I am the bread of life, I am the way truth and the life, I am the gate, I am the good shepherd, - each time not just explaining who is and what he does - but . Thisi s the question Moses asked in the OT - who shall i say sent me to your peope, what is your anme, Whom shall I tell Pharaoh and the world that You are seetting slaves free -
But listen to Jesus answer, not in a whimper but in a voice as loud as thunder! Ego Eimi - ten timesJesus had used that title in John Gospel - I am the bread of life, I am the way truth and the life, I am the gate, I am the good shepherd, - each time not just explaining who is and what he does - but . Thisi s the question Moses asked in the OT - who shall i say sent me to your peope, what is your anme, Whom shall I tell Pharaoh and the world that You are seetting slaves free -
I AM … Jehovah, Yahweh - I Am WHO I I AM -s ent you. Whether anyone realized it our not at the time. jesus is answering that He is the Living God But unlike the time the jews udnerstood and cahrged him with blasphemy - mere man claiming to be god! Look at the response this time!
When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Most highly trained forces on the planet, and with the authority of the Living God, messiah shining through - they are on their knees beforethe king of the universe, the Saviour of the world, before whom in the end every knee will bow and tongue confess - that he is Lord.
The same influence of Christ’ majesty and kingship that He exhibite on his first day of public ministry in syangogue in Capernaum - words of - they want a Messiah who will bring vengeance on their peersonal enemies, not forgive their sins - they are going to stone - him - majestic influence walk right through them unharmed. Same influence upon those children on Palm Sunday - majestic entrance on the back of an ass’ foal -donkey - they want to seize him - but power of the king of the univrese - few had spiritual vision to see it - but in his weakness he was showiong the strength of the LORD. Can you see it>? It is what knowcks down the temple guard. Will you trust hIM NOW AND FOLLOW THIS KING TO hIS cORSS?
Do you remember when they found strong man of Iraq Sadam Hussein? Cowering in a pit of mud, hiding. Some think that is Jesus caught in the jaws of human evil can’t escape … cowering, think the cross a tragedy of evil. Make no mistake it is humanity at our worst - injustice, travesty, weakness of his followers, greed, …
But it is more than that! This is not only the hour of the power of darkness and Satan’s hour. Look at the words John uses to describe the beginning of the most important day on earth:
But it is more than that! This is not only the hour of the power of darkness and Satan’s hour. Look at the words John uses to describe the beginning of the omost important day on earth:
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
Like Peter describes the day in Acts, you with help of wicked men put Jesus to death - but according to God’s foreordained plan! He is willingly going as a king on a mission to his arrest, and execution for a God purpose you must embrace!
And now we get to watch him in action again, for they’ve found the swords and spears and lanterns they’ve dropped before his glroious authority. And he asks them again: Whom do you seek. And listen to how Jesus addressee them a second time - because he’s telling ussomethin about God’s polan for his suffering and death!
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”
Oh, you who felel unworthy, who read of Peter’s betrayal and the Lord looking him in the eye, You who feel that your repeated sins are a hundred Judas’ kisses to your Lord. Listen to jesus heart for you. He doesn’t look upon us - and say you do that to me, you aren ot worth, I’m suffering all this for you - and you do that to me - forget it I’m not going to the Cross.!
No, look into the heart of jesus and why he goes to the Cross for you. In Luke we read he was in Gethsemane sweating as it were drops of blood. Do you get that - contmeplate his suffering, cup he had to drink , not just the betrayl, arrest, the physical pain, but the becoming sin, the forsakenness, enduring the wrath of God - blood of Gethsemane contemplating all of that - he was praying for you and me and all for whom he had to die! And at the critical moment of his arrest he is thinking not of himself, but of your protection. he knew their weakness, knew what this wrold would do to them, they coudlnt’ stand that fiery furnace of affliction - and he is speaking for them - let them go free!
By way of application - any one here, under the yoke of affliction? Feeling life is too hard, unfair? Here your Saviour’s explanation of His care to you in trial:
This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”
This love and concern even for the ones who would betray and kill him, heart of that loved just hardened their hearts, but for those who know HIm ass Saviour it melts there hearts, and steels their nerves: Listen: to how compelte this Saviour and King’s concern but Soverreign care is for those the Father has committed to him: He says we will undergo trial, but not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your life. . H
But not a hair of your head will perish.
So this is the first thing you must come to grips with in Gethsemane - maujesty of Christ. Augustine said if like thisin His usffering, going to the Cross - what in His Second coming? See that majesty then not as cowering soldier and priest, but thankful disicples -watching their king go to bat for them - long for his comiong in glory!
But it is even more amazing than a king’s majesty now. King is also healing preist even as he goes to the Cross!
Scene II. The Compassion of Gethsemane to Slaves (like Malchus & You & Me)
But it is even more amazing than that. For now you must watch the compassion of jesus in the closing scene of Gethsemane. And this time not for one of his disciples but for one who was a slave, a servant ot he high priest. This is Jesus last miracles, his last miracaulous sign that propethically taught who he is and what he’s about! Watch Peter not udnertandign jesus mission, draw his sword and in a desperate act of living not by loe and serivce, butin self=-defence and you areest me I’ll go down swining killing you. He goes for the head but seemingly misses, perhaps cutting lamchus’ ear clean off, or perhaps bloodily hanging on by the skin. Last sign, is a sign to a slave. Temple priest ought not to have slave… read but Jesus sets the captives free. Cain’s sins seeking vengeance, ABel’s blood cries out. Jesus teakes that ear, restores the slave as his last miracle - As Schildre puts it holds out the cup of water to Cain, even as he wilingly goes on to be forsaken! He is healing wounds as he goes to the Cross - that is his kingly work, and what a wonder that the no-name slaves name is recorded in the gospel. Whether he responded in faith or not is not the question - it is whetehryou and I do!
For now you must watch the compassion of jesus in the closing scene of Gethsemane. And this time not for one of his disciples but for one who was a slave, a servant ot he high priest. This is Jesus last miracles, his last miracaulous sign that propethically taught who he is and what he’s about! Watch Peter not udnertandign jesus mission, draw his sword and in a desperate act of living not by loe and serivce, butin self=-defence and you areest me I’ll go down swining killing you. He goes for the head but seemingly misses, perhaps cutting lamchus’ ear clean off, or perhaps bloodily hanging on by the skin. Last sign, is a sign to a slave. Temple priest ought not to have slave… read but Jesus sets the captives free. Cain’s sins seeking vengeance, ABel’s blood cries out. Jesus teakes that ear, restores the slave as his last miracle - As Schildre puts it holds out the cup of water to Cain, even as he wilingly goes on to be forsaken! He is healing wounds as he goes to the Cross - that is his kingly work, and what a wonder that the no-name slaves name is recorded in the gospel. Whether he responded in faith or not is not the question - it is whetehryou and I do!
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Schilder puts it this way: there are no small wounds to Jesus; and there are no insiginifcant people! If Jesus stops Peter, and says not by spilling more blood that Abel will be avbengd, But by My Sacvridifical blood, that true healing comes !…
and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
If he does this miarcles as he goes to the Cross, asking what are your small wounds, big ones, do you think you are insignficant to the Svoiur of the World - turn to Him turn to HIs Cross and you will be healed! This Abel puts the ear back on the armbearer of Cain’s army, for He must spill His sacrficial blood in a different way that will bring healing - He is calling come under my healing and my portection, even as he goes to the Corss! Do you get this as he rebukes Peter, and heals Malchus - he is calling both of them and all the Romans, and all the Priests, and Malchus himself about to the dastardly deed - calling us all to repentance! YOu don’t have to keep on sinning - Jesus is syaing: “I am the preist and the king, who would become a slave, in order to convert you who are servants to sin and to self into lords in God’s kingdom!”
If he does this miarcles as he goes to the Cross, asking what are your small wounds, big ones, do you think you are insignficant to the Svoiur of the World - turn to Him turn to HIs Cross and you will be healed!
But we must hasten on out of Gethesemane, for they arrest him. And rush him back over the brook of the Kidron, through the sheep Gate, by the temple to the high priests palace, on to Pilate blood spilt on the pavement of the judgment sea - G. And to get him there they must arrest and bind him!
Scene III: The Lamb Bound on the Way to Gabbatha that you might go free!
Jesus knew he had come into the world for this hour. He was born to die as our subsitute - in the garden Father said no other way. This was the cup that jesus referred to as he told Peter not to put away his sword!
So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Cup of judgment for the sins of the nations and the sins of t\god’s people- -w rath poured out on sin that whole world deserves - foaming wine - to be drunk to the dregs - cup of judgment . And don’t need paragraph break. Ther word is therefore …because trust Father, good but hard plan of the Cross ,,,therefore v.12 they bound him!
Usually done with rope or leather bands. Quite adept at doing this, so much so that in order to prejudice the trial against the arrest the soldiers would often wrech those bands so tight blood would burst from the finger nails, making the accused look like he does indeed have blood on his hands. Thnk not only of the pain then, but of the statement that Jeuss is making in giving himself to arrest and the boundss to be judged guilty, sinful cursed publicly by both courts.
God ha reserved this hour, the power of Satan to show the Son of God condemned and this binding became God’s pwerful symbol explainign why! It wasn’t just peter’s sword that was stayed from defending jesus in the garden, imagine as Satan has his hour - and then holy angels of God that minsterd to him hours before, they now with their swords drawwn want to defend the precious innocent son, as not only Rom and jersusalem come down on Him, but Satan Himself.
But God says no. The devils come and jesus is abandoned! God is blowing the fires of judgment.
And look at His route - from the Garden -through the Sheep gate. Those sheep grazing on Kdorn valley - led through the same gate - to go to sacrfice. From there to Caiaphas to Annas, to Pilate in the morning at Gabbatha, to Herod - all the time arrested, bond, condemn, like sheep toslaughter! Why is he bound?
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Christ in His human knoweldge was conscious that God was sending him into this hour and that he must bear it silently without any resiteance. This wil be his struggle to the death and beyond, to deal with the sin of the world the wrath of God upon it, the salvery to the Devil! And he must accept it - Malchus and Peter and you and me can go on free; but now Jesus is bond, made an alien - rejected by heaven and rejected earth.
He would not break those bonds. Indeed as God he could, but as God-man, sin bearer - rescuer - he coudn not. He truly became sin for us, and those bonds - were the bonds that tie death , punishment and curse to sin! They were the bonds that tie guilt to your soul wiht a stqained conscience when you sin. But it is even worse for sinners like you and me: corruption and borkenness bound to our souls, so that we are bound under the power of Satan. Jesus said Whoever sins is aslave to sin! Nothing can break those bonds - bonds of God’s holy justice.
But more than justice they were bonds of everlasting love that bond Christ to His people! God’s will is perfect justice and it is perfect love - and in Christ bound and suffering as the sacrificial lamb - he will break our bonds because he himself has taken them!
He would not break those bonds. INdeed as God he could, but as God-man, sin bearer - rescuer - he coudn not. He truly became sin for us, and those bonds - were the bonds that tie death , punishment and curse to sin! They were the bonds that tie guilt to your soul wiht a stqained conscience when you sin. But it is even worse for sinners like you and me: corruption and borkenness bound to our souls, so that we are bound under the power of Satan. Jesus said Whoever sins is aslave to sin! Nothing can break those bonds. But more they were bonds of everlasting love that bond Christ to His people! God’s will is perfect justice and it is perfect love - and in Christ bound and sfuferign as the sacrfiical lamb - he will break our bonds because he himself has taken them!
Do you undertand this? Can God make a rock too heavy to lift? Not a paradox, Stupid question - God can’t do illogical. No God can do everything in keeping with his nature! So too Jesus cannot and will not break those bonds - out of keeping with Gods’ nature - kcompelte justice , yet comopletely loving - jesus is proving it in those bonds - as he doesn’t just forget about sin, but I will pay for it, and more by taking our bonds, He will undo the bonds of sin for us!
Bonds are an image that reoccur in Proverbs - dog being drawn into bonds, man chasing prostitute drawn like a fool to bonds. bondage grows in the hands of foolishness. Built in law. And as Christ becomes sin for us - that bondage is what he is taking for us - one put it this way: the suction of God is drawing Christ’s bonds, and the Almightyties Chrsit’s wrists! he alone is the one who can take the sentence, punishment, death, and trusting HIs Father drink that cuop, knowing that He has the opwer to take up His life again, and cmoiong to us having paid for our sins - to set sus free! And you know why he takes the bonds for us? Because he was already bound to the work and ofice f Mediator and Saviour of the world! MHC Already bound to the horns of the altar by the cords of his own love to man and duty to his Father! And so jesus says,
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Great type in the person of Sampson here. Though in bonds because of his own sin, sampson bound with iron chains forced to grind flour in a mill like an ox for the rest of this life … But they take him to feast in temople of Dagon … and he has become weak blinded, gouged out his eyes. But he prays one more time - seeing the disaster his life had become how miserable a servant, recuer of God’s peole - one liast act - Christ like one - sacrfices himself - bringing down the temple of Dagon! Christ bond for you and me and Sampson - takes the sentencfe, but he is about to sacrfice himself,b ringing down the kgndom of sdrakness and Satan, breaking the dominoin of Satan over God’s peole -
Great type in the person fo Sampson here. THough in bonds because of his own sin, samps boudn with iron chains forced to grind flour in a mill like an ox for the rest of this life … But they take him to feast in temople of Dagon … and he has become weak blinded, gouged out his weyess. But he prays one more time - seeing the disaster his life had become how miserable a servant, recuer of God’s peole - one liast act - Christ like one - sacrfices himself - bringing down the temple of Dagon! Christ bond for you and me and Sampson - takes the sentencfe, but he is about to sacrfice himself,b ringing down the kgndom of sdrakness and Satan, breaking the dominoin of Satan over God’s peole -
But hsi method is the Cross And if you have eeys to see it - bond os of jesus -of Gods’ jsutice and his love for his people , not offenseive but beautifyl display of our Kingd\s power, love, justice . And this is why jesus declared fso we would understand that even in His bonds, He is the strong man, who breaks into Satan kingdom- and ties up , binds Satan - that is the Cross and the gospel that binds Satan, and breaks us free, from oursin and guilt, insginance , and just trudging throug this world as servants.! That’s what happening as Jesus is bond, and forsaken by God for your sins! And what is your resonse -to leav them and love him and serve as wit were to be transferred out of the kingdom of bondage to self and sin, into the kingdom of liberty and light , where we freely offer ourselves as slaves to rightoueensess and the Right\eous One!
Listen to how Paul puts it:
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Story is told of a British lord, had gone to Sanfransico in the godl rush mid 1800’s . Coming back went to see the slave block in New Orleans. Beatufiul young balck slave girl on the auction block. Two men going back and forth speaking all the while what they would do tot his girl. Incensed .. got the auctioneers attention - whatever these men are bidding I will give you double, what they have together. Can’t do that - no one has ever paid that much for a slve. You don’t have that knid of money. Showed him. Relucntantly and to awe of the crowd gave the girl to him. Wlked up to her - spat in his face. Wiped it away, waleked to busy part of downtown, enter a small office, argued with a man behind a dsk hold ing pen above official looking papers. Eventually man shook hands, took out some other papers wrote n themsigne dthem more money changed hands! Took that paper and gave it to the beautifuy slave girl. Spat in his face again. Crumpled the papers.. I have just bouth your freedom. What you paid more than any one ever paid before toset me free… Only one question - Can I be your slave.
People it cost jesus inestaiblagbly more - life of the Son f God, fosaken in hellish suffering, infinite wrath of God poured out as he took our bonds, and we so blind to grace and the majesty of our king, continuing in our sins , backsliding as it were spit in His face againa and again - and he picks up the piece of paper the gospel of Jesus Christ and says - no take this you aer free - and we say - let me be your servant your slave - I serve you reely and with love!
Stand back and see your king at work, but peole as he become your lamb, not only stand in awe, but by faith - reach out to him receive his gospel of forgiv3ess, of freedom from sin, and give yourself in love to him.
Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone
Man of Sorrows!