Jesus and Peter on trial
Notes
Transcript
WELCOME:
Welcome! We are glad to see everyone here today!
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads here today! There’s no better way to start off Father’s Day than in the Father’s house.
We do want to honor our fathers today and by doing so I would like to share a few quotes that I found about fathers:
John MacArthur: “The greatest mark of a father is how he treats his children when no one is looking”
Charles Spurgeon said, “A father’s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons”
George Herbert: “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters”
D.L. Moody: “A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian…and most of all, his family ought to know”
Charles Spurgeon: Train up a child in the way he should go—but be sure you go that way yourself”
Billy Graham: A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society”
Proverbs 20:7 “A righteous man who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him.”
What an honor to be a father. Thank you to all the dads here who play a vital role in the faith of your families.
CALL TO WORSHIP:
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Let’s not just go through the motions today. Lest be genuine before the Lord and worship Him in spirit and in truth.
LET US STAND AND WORSHIP!
“The Goodness of God”
Words and Music by Hillsong’
PRAYER OF PRAISE FOR WHO GOD IS
Lord, thank you for your constancy. For never turning Your back on us, for never getting frustrated with us, for forgiving our sins, for allowing us to be part of Your plan. We ask that You would look down upon this gathering of people and fill our hearts with great joy today as we focus on You. Amen!
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
“What a beautiful Name”
Words and Music by Hillsong
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION TO OPEN OUR HEARTS
Lord, give us ears to hear Your voice and eyes to see Your glory. Would you this morning illuminate Your Word and make it known to us? Help us no to make application to others peoples’ lives, but to apply every Word to our own lives. Amen
SERMON
INTRODUCTION:
John chapter 18 this morning. We are going to look at two trials both interwoven in this passage: the trial of Jesus and the trial of Peter. Last week we read that Jesus was arrested in the garden, bound like a Lamb, and carried off. The very next verse says that he was carried off to Annas to be questioned.
As John records the Jewish trial of Jesus, he does so quite differently than the other gospels. The other gospels record far more details in the interrogation, the false witnesses brought in, and Jesus’ confession that He is the Christ.
John’s focus is not just on Jesus, but on Peter as well. In fact as we read about what is going on with Jesus, we also read what Peter is doing on the outside, and his denials of Jesus.
THE TRIAL OF JESUS
THE TRIAL OF JESUS
and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
Explanation:
This is often referred to that the Jewish trial. Jesus being a Jew, will have to be tried under Jewish law before He is taken and tried before the Roman governor Pilate. And what they were wanting to get out of this trial was a confession from Jesus to testify against Himself and therefore give them a reason to put Him to death.
The Jews had laws on how they had to conduct these kinds of trials. There were to be a certain number of officials involved and there were supposed to be witnesses of the crime rather than an attempt to get a confession out of the accused. It was also unlawful for them to put someone to death (the Romans had to do that). The Sanhedrin which would be made up of 71 priests, scribes, and elders would act as both the judge and the jury in cases like this.
John is not nearly as interested in showing us that things were not done properly here as he is in showing us that everything was done, was done exactly the way God had planned it all along.
And John makes that clear when he reminds us of what Caiaphas said in verse 14, “Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people”
I want to put on the screen that statement of Caiaphas from John 11: 49-50 because it has a little more detail than what John includes here:
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Bridge:
This plot of the Jews was to put Jesus on trial is NOT ONLY their plan, but it was also God’s plan! The climax of Jesus’ mission is to sit before this council as an innocent man, be prosecuted as a criminal, to be sentenced to death, and to die on behalf of the people as a substitutionary sacrifice to save the nation. But not just the nation of Israel, but to die for all the “children of God who are scattered abroad”
And that includes people who were here plotting His death right now, with evil thoughts and intentions.
I want us to jump forward to the book of Acts 6:7 after the death and resurrection of Jesus:
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
This is after the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is after the church was birthed and began to grow. That “a great many of the priests” began following Jesus..
Now we cannot be absolutely certain of this, but it seems very likely that some of these priests who had a hand in this trial in condemning Jesus, who are e enemies of Jesus, who have zero intentions of every following Jesus are some of the ones who will be shockingly converted and committed to Jesus.
And I think Acts 2 supports also supports that:
Acts 2:23 “this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”
Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?””
Bridge:
Here’s the point I want to make: in the midst of their hatred and rebellion of Jesus, He knowingly and willingly surrendered His life to die for their sins too. On behalf of these people!
Knowing that these people are voting to put Him to death, in the very near future after the resurrection, He would save them, and even though they hate him now, they will love Him later.
Application
And isn’t that our story too? That in the midst of our lives at some point so very unexpectedly, most of us and I might say every one of us had no desire whatsoever of turning to the Lord, found ourselves turning from our sinful ways and committing ourselves to Jesus Christ.
No one wakes up one morning and thinks to himself, you know what, I do not want to put myself first anymore in my life. I have decided that I want to serve and follow Jesus, forego all my rights to make this life about me, and surrender to the will of God.
No one on their own decides one day to give up the pleasures of sin, and desire to love a righteousn and holy life
No one on their own who is walking down the broad road in life, the life of comfort and pleasures and self indulgence, just decides one day that they would like to jump over on the narrow, difficult road in life and become a Christian.
No that’s not how it happens.
What happens is God unexpectedly reaches down into our lives and does something to us and at some point in our lives, we no longer want to live as rebels against God, but desire to live our lives for Him, worship Him, serve Him, desire righteousness, want to make sacrifices for Him, give up our own will to be in His will
God does this! And He does it unexpectedly, suddenly, and it’s the same for all of us
The Bible says, “we love Him, because He first loved us”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Maybe your here this morning and maybe you have been coming here for a while and you don’t know how it all happened.
Its God at work in you
There’s one more thing I want us to see about Jesus’ trial that John seems to be hinting at in these verses:
(v 13) “and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.”
Make a mental note: Caiaphas is the high priest
(v 19) “The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.”
Caiaphas (who is the high priest questioned Jesus)
(v 24) “So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.”
Now hold on! I thought Caiaphas was the high priest?
Now it seems like Anna’s is the high priest!
Leviticus 21 says there can only be ONE high priest
It seems like John is a little confused here…
There is even a very old manuscript that moves verse 24 in between verses 13 and 14 so the whole thing makes sense
But I think this confusion is making the point! Who is the real High Priest?”
The real High Priest is neither Caiaphas nor Annas, but the one who’s on one trial: Jesus.
Jesus is the only true High Priest. He is the One who has unlimited access to God the Father in the holy of holies. He is the One who can make atonement on behalf of the people. He is the one who intercedes on behalf of the people and the only one who can make us right with God.
What is a high priest?
The high priest was the only priest who could enter into the holy of holies where the ark of God rested. There was a large veil or curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. And if anyone went into that room other than the High Priest, on the Day of Atonement, he would be killed instantly. The High priest was the mediator between God and man and part of his office was making sacrifices on behalf of the people every morning and every evening all year long.
The book of Hebrews teaches us about how Jesus has become our High Priest. And these verses give us some details about what that means for us:
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
There is no access to the Father, no relationship with God, no forgiveness of sin, no cleansing, without the Great High Priest Jesus Christ.
Some people think there are many ways to God the Father. that we must just find what works for us. No, there is Jesus and HE IS IT!
The Catholic church cannot do it
The Catholic priest cannot do it
The Baptist church cannot do it
1-on1 discipleship groups cannot do it
Bible study cannot do it
The only ONE that mediate us with God the Father is Jesus and He is our hope.
THE TRIAL OF PETER
THE TRIAL OF PETER
Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. Then the slave-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.”
Explanation:
The focus shifts here from Jesus to Peter. And even though Peter doesn’t know it, he is on trial too. But he is not on trial by the Jewish leaders, he is on trial by God himself.
And God will test Peter here, not by way of questioning from the priests, but by people who question whether or not he is associated with this Jesus.
Notice how this section begins: “Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple”.
That word “follow” is a discipleship term. That’s what disciples do, they follow Jesus. That is what John was doing. =And that is what Peter is doing. They are following Jesus
When Jesus first called Peter and Andrew, James and John all fishing in the Sea of Galilee, what did he say to them: “Follow Me”.
Matthew 16:24 Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
And what we see first in Peter’s trial, is a test of his discipleship.
We know the tension in this scene. Peter had just watched Jesus be arrested in the garden. In fact, Peter was right there in the middle of it all! He knew that this was a potentially dangerous situation to even be associated with Jesus who is now being treated like a criminal. And he also had cut off the ear of Malchus making himself even more vulnerable to trouble.
They see Peter, recognize him as one of those with Jesus, and instead of Peter acknowledging his relationship to Jesus, he denies him.
But it gets worse:
Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
Notice who Peter sides with: the slaves and the officers.
All the enemies of Jesus were standing outside the court room while Jesus was on trial. Peter is supposed to be Jesus’ most dedicated follower!
And what does Peter do? He blends in around the fire with the very people who had just arrested his Lord.
Peter has become so flaky, he’s now not only denied Jesus but siding with the very enemies of Jesus.
Application:
What happened to Peter?
This does not seem like the Peter who in the Upper Room said, “I will lay down my life for you”. to Jesus. This is not the Peter who said, I will follow you anywhere you will go, I will even die for you! This does not seem like the Peter who pulled out the sword to fight for Jesus in the garden..
Do you know what’s even more amazing here? Jesus told Peter that this exact thing would happen AND HE STILL FAILED JESUS.
Why?
Because Peter is self-confident and has this mindset that he can do it all by his own will power.
I don’t need your warnings Jesus
I don’t need your principles Jesus
I don’t need your church Jesus
I don’t need your Bible studies Jesus
I don’t need thew advice from your people Jesus
I don’t need your people to pray for me..
I got this. Don’t worry about me. I’m peter. I can figure this thing out on my own.
Sound familiar?
Undoubtedly words we have all used at some point and may be some words some in here are using right now
Im fine without all this Christian stuff…i go this thing under control…
And that’s what people say before they fall…and if we could hear the testimony of Peter today, He would say to us: “Don’t be a fool”.
This is what Paul says to the self confident:
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Be careful to not overestimate your ability to stand.
Be careful not to underestimate your ability to sin.
Peter’s guilt announced by a rooster
Peter’s guilt announced by a rooster
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Explanation:
In these last few verses, John shifts back to Peter, around the fire, surrounded by those who just arrested Jesus.
And I guess it wouldn’t take very long around a fire to begin to notice this odd Galilean fisherman standing there awkwardly to begin to wonder who he was and what he was doing there.
So they begin to question him again, and even ask him, aren’t you the one in the garden with Him??
And Peter denies it not once, not twice, but 3 times.
“and immediately, a rooster crowed”.
Now why does John include this?
Because in John 13:37–38 “Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”
Bridge:
Now I want to tell you something about a rooster. We have about 10 right now on our little slice of paradise. And before we really got into raising chickens, we thought roosters will just crow some in the morning and that’ll be it. But that’s not the case.
They will crow at anytime during the day or night without any reason at all. I cant tell you how many times I haver gotten up at 3 or 4 in the morning, and it would be pitch black outside and two or three hours before the sun shines…and I can hear through the window the crowing of one of our loud mouth roosters down there in the yard. And I think oh boy I hope there are not any neighbors up listening to this crazy rooster crow in the middle of the night.
And then we’ll have someone come over to look at a coop or something and your trying to talk to them and guess what’ll happen: one those roosters will start crowing his head off and there is nothing you can do to stop him.
Its amazing that during this entire episode since they were in the garden of Gethsemane, of following Jesus back to the court yard, of talking to the slave girl at the door, of standing around the charcoal fire warming himself AND NOT ONE ROOSTER CROWED THE ENTIRE TIME…Until the very moment Peter denied knowing Jesus that the third time AND THE BIBLE SAYS IMMEDIATELY A ROOSTER CROWED!
No hesitation…no way Peter could ever think it was just coincidence!
There is no doubt that it happened EXACTLY HOW AND WHEN JESUS SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN! And Peter knew it…
Application:
He was guilty. And not only did Peter know it, but he knew Jesus knew it because Matthew says as soon as that rooster crowed he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus in His trial passed with flying colors. He faced his opposition without hesitation. He took unjust abuse from men who hated Him. He allowed them to do what they desired without retaliation.
Peter failed his trial. He was even told before hand that it was coming. The first moment of pressure he caved and renounced even knowing the Lord
Fast foreword to after Pentecost and I want you to see something:
On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,
if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Notice Peter is on trail again
But this time He is standing before the same people Jesus was standing before.
Annas was there
Caiaphas was there
All who were of high priestly decent
And they had already arrested Peter and threatened Him and instead of running and denying, he boldly proclaims Jesus
What is the difference?
The presence of the Holy Spirit
And what may make all the difference in your life, your faithfulness, is not to try harder, but that you need God’s power within you
Come to Jesus today
Not to New beginnings Church. Not to me. Come to jesus the Great high priest
Onoy he can make you faithful
~PRAYER~
