Devotion Triumphs Over Betrayal
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· 9 viewsJesus welcomed His betrayal and arrest because none of it was outside of His sovereign control.
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TITLE: Devotion Triumphs Over Betrayal
TEXT: John 18.1-14, Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest
INTRODUCTION:
LAST WEEK: John 17.20-26, Jesus Prays for the Church
Jesus expands the focus of His prayer for the 11 disciples before Him to you and to me. And what does He pray for us?
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
He prays that the unity of His church, that is reflective of the unity between the Father and Son, would serve for the advancing the name of Christ into the world.
Such unity is rooted in the love of Christ and it endures only in the truth. Thus, our LORD prays for us, His people, His church, that we might know Christ and make Him known.
THIS WEEK: Jn18.1-14, The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
This morning, our text is the beginning of John 18. In studying this passage to preach this morning, I am reminded of some of the major commitments I have made in my life.
MARRIAGE - More than 11 years ago now, I stood before many people, including many of you, and committed to my wife, to love her as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.
FIRST JOB - More than 10 years ago now, I commited to my first engineering job to fulfill the requirements of that job every day that I woke up and came to work.
MORTGAGE - Almost 5 years ago now, I committed to the bank that I would pay them the money (with interest) for funding the building of our new home.
PASTOR - Pretty close to four years ago, I commited to the Lord and to you all to serve as one of your pastors. To teach truth, to shepherd the flock, and to equip you all for the work of ministry.
There were many things about these commitments that I fully understood at the time, but since I am not all-knowing, other aspects of what these commitments entailed were revealed over time.
As I grew in knowledge and wisdom over the years surrounding these specific commitments, I grew in my appreciation of them. Some of the learning over time came as immediate blessing, while others were may be blessings in disguise or challenges that I did not expect.
Then… There Are Other Commitments
Then, there are other commitments that we make in our lives that maybe later we begin to question. Sometimes when we make a commitment to something and then learn something later, and potentially find ourselves thinking “Well… this would have been good information to have before I made this commitment.”
Some truth comes to light that changes everything. Maybe…You decided the head up the HOA, and now you know that your neighborhood is filled with a bunch of crazies that care what too much about things that do not matter.
A Consideration For Us Today - What of Jesus’ commitment to the Father’s Will?
This is what we will primarily be looking at this morning - Jesus’ unwavering commitment to the mission He had been given in His incarnation. As Jesus is betrayed and arrested in John 18, it is crucial for us to understand our LORD was not a victim of circumstance or poor planning to remain hidden.
Instead, we see that He was walking faithfully in accordance with the Father’s will who had planned the just judgment of sin and the justifying of sinners through His Son before the foundation of the world.
Does our commitment to Christ, His church, and His mission reflect our LORD’s commitment to the Father’s will?
MAIN IDEA:
Knowing all that would happen to Him, Jesus was resolute to the Father’s will and to His love for His own. We honor our LORD by reflecting such a devotion to Him.
Outline:
We Seek the Father’s Will (v.1-3)
We Stand on the Son’s Declaration (v.4-9)
We Trust in His Sovereign Control (v.10-11)
We Live Because of His Love (v.12-14)
PRAYER
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 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.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Devotion to Christ means…
We Seek the Father’s Will (v.1-4)
We Seek the Father’s Will (v.1-4)
John 18:1–4 “1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?””
Our opening statement in verse 1 this morning marks another point of transition within the Gospel of John. As we have discussed at length over the last several weeks, John 13-17 is an extended time of instruction from Jesus to His disciples in the Upper Room and then on their way to the garden, which is where we pick things up this morning.
Beginning here in John 18 and extending almost to the end of John 19, we are finally entering into the portion of the narrative that at large deals with the Crucifixion of Christ.
(v.1) The Garden
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.
His time of instruction concludes, and “His hour” that has come continues to unfold. Jesus and His disciples travel on foot “across the brook Kidron” and into a garden.
KIDRON - This is known as a valley to the East of the walled city of Jerusalem that separates it from the Mount of Olives.
And it is here that John tells us that Jesus and His disciples entered a garden. The Gospels of Matthew and Mark specifically call this place GETHSEMANE, which means “oil press”.
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The Benefit of the Gospels
I want to take a moment here to praise the LORD for the different Gospel accounts that we have received concerning the same event. Some use this as an opportunity for welcoming skepticism saying “What did Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John’s Gospel accounts not perfectly match one another? Why does John not give us detail that is found in the other Gospels?”
Simple Answer - Bc the Gospels were written by different men, at different times, and for different audiences. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit of God who carried these men along as they penned the Scriptures is far wiser than ourselves and determined what details were needed where.
From v.1 to v.2, John does not include the details concerning any of the time spent in prayer by Jesus and his disciples in Gethsemane. But praise the LORD we have that information from the other three Gospels that better help us understand John 18.
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From the other Gospels… what do we need to know?
Jesus’ time in prayer is the centerpiece of the time in Gethsemane.
Bring Peter James, and John with Him and moves further into the garden. After telling them to remain and watch with Him (meaning keep awake and aware), He moves further into the garden to pray. Our LORD is filled with sorrow and is troubled. WHY?
39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
Jesus prays this three times, that the “CUP” might pass from Him if possible. Previously it was the mother of James and John that came to Jesus saying - Matthew 20:21 “21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.””
Jesus’ Response
22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?”
THE CUP - Psalm 11, Psalm 75, Isaiah 51 and Revelation 14 all use this imagery of the cup to symbolize the wrath of God against sin and wickedness. Revelation actually speaks of it as - Revelation 14:10 “10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger,...”
So...why was Jesus sorrowful and troubled? Because soon He, being fully God but also fully human, would bear your sin and my sin at the cross and receive on our behalf God’s righteous judgement upon sin.
(v.2-4)
We see in the next 2 verses that Judas knew exactly where they would be. Judas, the betrayer, rallied his troops to fulfill his end of the bargain. There are mixed opinions about the size of a “band of soldiers”, but this was certainly intended to be a show force and authority. Judas comes also with representatives from the chief priests and the Pharisees.
He knew the place where Jesus and the disciples would likely be gathering… because he had been there countless times. He likely sat there on a number of occasions with these other men and received teaching, instruction, encouragement, rebuke, correction, training from our LORD.
The very location where Judas and the other disciples were often being trained for the work of the ministry would be his chosen location to ultimately reject the LORD for a mere 30 pieces of silver.
ILLUSTRATION:
Reading this text, I am reminded of a common feeling that happens when watching a movie. Something is unfolding in a manner that is clear to us, the viewer, that is not going to end well. Something happens like “Woah… that was a weird noise from that dark scary house. I should probably go check that out.”
When it comes to this crucial moment of Jesus’ ministry, we need to be careful not to view our LORD in this same manner. “If only Jesus would have not gone to Gethsemane, He would have been fine. If the disciples would have only been awake and watching, they could have prevented Jesus’ betrayal and arrest.”
Though these thoughts may be “well intentioned”, it may prove that we do not truly understand the Will of the Father at all.
Jesus Willingly Steps Forward
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
As Judas Approaches
46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Our sovereign LORD was not a victim here of unfortunate circumstances and poor planning. Judas and the rest that came to arrest Jesus of Nazareth did not take Him by surprise!
His hour had come, and He voluntarily steps out of the darkness of the garden at Gethsemane into the light of the mob’s torches and says “Whom do you seek?”
Looking forward quickly to the cross… turn with me to Isaiah 53.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Other translations say it pleased the LORD to crush Him. WHY? Because in His perfect plan of redemption, the Son of God was the only one that could fulfill the perfect standard of God’s Law.
Thus, when He steps boldly into the light of His captors, He knew two things - 1) He knew what awaited Him 2) He knew that the Father’s will was being fulfilled.
Jesus on the Road to Emmaus
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
APPLICATION:
Devotion to Christ means… We Seek the Father’s Will.
Jesus faithfully walked in the Father’s will knowing what awaited Him, and with the joy of His people being eternally secured by His sacrifice, He endured the cross, despised the shame, and He is seated at the right hand of the Father now, His work at the cross finished.
Now we… the body of Christ… His church… His disciples.… we are called to be imitators of our LORD. Everything that He is revealed to be in the Scriptures is our aim in this new life. Thus if Christlikeness is our aim, then we must seek His will.
What is His will?
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
As the LORD Jesus was resolute to the completion of the Father’s will, so must we be devoted to the will of God being accomplished in us.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Devotion to Christ means…
We Stand on the Son’s Declarations (v.5-9)
We Stand on the Son’s Declarations (v.5-9)
John 18:5–9 “5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.””
(v.5-6) Jesus’ Declaration of Authority
The soldiers then answer our Lord’s question — “Jesus of Nazareth” was whom they were seeking. These men had received plenty of information from Judas, and from the other Gospel accounts, we know that Judas actually greeted Jesus with a kiss on the cheek to signal the captors who Jesus was.
But… that is not what John records here. Instead, Jesus gives them a response that shoud be all too familiar to us at this point in John’s Gospel.
John 18:5 (ESV)
5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
None of the other Gospel accounts records this, only John.
Furthermore….In the Greek, the proclamation here is simply “I AM”. This is a familiar response from our LORD originating back in John 8 when he declares “before Abraham was, I am”.
So in acknowledging himself as the one they seek, He also proclaimed, declared His own glory.
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
With that in mind, this detail becomes all the more important for John to mention. Even at His betrayal and arrest, Jesus was not shying away from His mission nor was He missing an opportunity to proclaim His true identity - He is Yahweh.
The Response (v.6)
When Jesus both acknowledges His identity and proclaims His deity, another interesting thing happens that is only recorded here in John’s Gospel. John says - John 18:6 “6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”
What would spark such a response?
Well, I understand this as a similar response to what we see from the people at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, but with one distinct difference.
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The people were amazed… at His authority which was evidenced in His teaching. Here in John 18, Judas and his soldiers were also amazed by His response, but their amazement was not absent of fear.
I can only imagine this expereince for the soldiers. When they go out to arrest someone for their crimes, they are the authority present! They are the ones that exercise their authority over the people. But not here!
Their falling back in fear when our LORD declares “I AM” shows they were not ultimately in control of this situation. God alone was the author and director, sovereignly in control of His own arrest.
I Am the Good Shepherd
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
The words of Jesus’ captors had no authority over Him!
(v.7-9) Jesus’ Declaration of Protection
Jesus, the captive here, then goes on in His unparalleled authority to issue commands to His captors.
8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”
His declaration of “I AM” is the firm foundation for the statement that follows, that He would lose none of those given to Him.
We stand on His declaration here as one of certainty, specifically a certainty in His finished work and His securing the salvation of His people. “You have me” he tells them, so you must let these men go. And they obey Him! John tells us that this was to fulfill Jesus’ own words.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
You can take me, but they are my own! And they have much work, much laboring, much suffering for the sake of My name and their good that is planned for them, so you cannot have them!
This is what He commands His captors, and such a declaration comes from the idea that His disciples too would walk faithfully in the will of God for the sake of Christ and His church. He temporarily protects them for arrest and persecution so that, once again, God’s will might be accomplished in them.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
APPLICATION:
So we have two declarations to stand upon this morning. The Declaration of His Authority and of His Protection.
How do we, COTV and the modern church, share in His declarations?
This is a great question that should lead us to ask another question - Has Jesus’ authority been diminished in some way? Did He have the authority to make such declarations when He was physically on earth, but now His word somehow carries less authority!
BY NO MEANS!
Daniel Speaks of the Son of Man
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
Thus, all authority forever belongs to Him! So… that means that His declaration of “I AM” still carries the same weight today.
He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Rev 22.14). So His declaration here of preserving His disciples for His purpose and will also belongs to you today.
3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
(CCE Summary, p354) Just as Jesus is in control of every aspect of the physical world—his arrest, betrayal, and crucifixion, including protecting his disciples from persecution—he’s also in control of everything in the spiritual realm, including preserving his disciples until that final day. What a wonderful picture of his love and power! What reassurance to his disciples in the coming difficult days. What hope for us. Just as Jesus protects the disciples on that dark day, he will protect and preserve all who follow him.
Devotion to Christ means… we stand on the Son’s Declarations. We cling to them knowing that He will surely carry us through by His Spirit and equip us by His Word to walk faithfully in accordance with His will.
Devotion to Christ means…
We Trust in His Sovereign Control (v.10-11)
We Trust in His Sovereign Control (v.10-11)
John 18:10–11 “10 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.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?””
Now the wording of out third point this morning falls in line with much we have already discussed, but now in accordance with verses 10-11 the meaning of trusting in His sovereignty becomes more personal when we consider the actions of Peter and our LORD’s response to Him.
10 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.)
Across the Gospels, Peter is known for many things - Devotion, Zeal, Commitment, and one of the first proclamations that Jesus is the Christ. What Peter is not known for is THINKING.
Peter is often quick to action and slow to remember the words of the LORD that have been proclaimed to Him and the disciples.
Peter’s Perspective
Based on what Peter does here, what could he have been thinking? Things are out of control! This is evening is unraveling quickly, and Peter needs to jump in and saved the day, he needs to protect Jesus! Certainly Peter thought this would be helpful.
ILLUSTRATION:
This reminds me of a situation many years ago when we were at my cousin’s lake house, and I was managing the grill for that evening. Now this was an old grill, and something grease from former grill operations builds up and then catches fire and starts to burn. As you can imagine, this created somewhat of a large fire in my grill area, which was undesirable.
Now in my quick thinking here… I quickly tried to take control by adding some water.
The problem is, the worst thing you can do to a grease fire is add water! The water immediately sinks below the grease, vaporizes, and then sends hot grease flying.
I was trying to help right??? I jumped into action quickly and my intention was pure, right??? But the truth is I cause more damage than I actually helped.
As we already established, Peter jumps in quickly to defend Jesus seemingly trying to make good on his previous profession in John 13.
37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Peter cuts off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. It is likely that Peter was just excited or maybe poorly trained with the sword, but I doubt an ear removal was his intent.
Peter inserted himself into the situation to defend and protect Jesus! That is a good thing right?
Jesus’ Response
11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
What Peter does not understand is that Jesus knew this moment would come, knew all that awaited Him, and yet He stepped into the light of their torches anyways. Peter thinks that someone needs to stop what is happening, but Jesus in turn offers Him a quick rebuke.
“Put your sword into it sheath.”
Jesus tells him to stop! It is as if Jesus said “You do not understand what you are doing.” In thinking that he was working for Jesus’ good and protection, Peter actually finds himself in a position where he is opposing the will of God. Jesus came to die and be raised!
Peter likely sees Jesus arrest as an unraveling of everything they have been doing together over the last three years, and all the while God’s perfect plan of redemption was unfolding exactly as He intended to to be.
APPLICATION:
Devotion to Christ means… We Trust in His Sovereign Control.
Peter took His eyes off the mission of our Lord, contained even within the meaning of His name - Jesus, and instead Peter inserted what He desired in its place.
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
His death for our lives. He sacrifice for our salvation. Not a moment of His earthly life or ministry was a surprise for Him, but everything was in His sovereign control.
This is what Peter forgot.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
For us this morning — Stay awake, stay alert, and remain in Christ and His Word. If we do not, if we forget or even neglect the promises of God, the will of God revealed in the Word of God, we may find ourselves in a position where we stand opposed to what Christ is working to accomplish either in us or in His church.
We will likely find ourselves in situations where it is difficult for us to understand what God is doing. His thoughts and His ways are so infinitely above our own! In that moment, do not act quickly.
Seek His will in prayer.
Ask Him for wisdom, He who gives generously to all without reproach (James 1.5)
Cling to His promises, primarily that He is sovereignly working out all things as we inch closer towards that final day when His plan of redemption will be complete and He will make all things new.
Devotion to Christ means…
We Live Because of His Love (v.12-14)
We Live Because of His Love (v.12-14)
John 18:12–13 “12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.”
As we come to a close this morning, verses 12-14 do not seem to give us much at first glance unless we take just a moment to did a little deeper. Jesus was arrested and bound, and you can only imagine the joy that this liekly brought the Pharisees who had been plotting how to kill Him for some time now.
Jesus is first led to Annas, a new name for us this morning, and then Jesus is led to Caiaphas, a familiar name from John’s Gospel.
Who was Annas?
From the historian Josephus, we know that Annas was a high priest of the Jews who had built a great influence among the Jewish people. He was elevated to the position of high priest in A.D. 7 and continued in the position until A.D. 15.
Though he was officially replaced then, he continued to be a dominant member of the Jewish religious society by using his family members - Father in Law of Caiaphas.
Many Years After Annas held the official title
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
Who was Caiaphas?
From the historian Josephus, we know that he held the office of high priest from A.D. 18-36. We also know that Caiaphas took a leading part in the trial and condemnation of Jesus. Additionally, we know that the LORD used Caiaphas in a way that he as the chief priest never intended.
14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
The Dilemma
You see, every aspect of Jesus’ ministry was a problem for the Pharisees. Specifically, His words and works that revealed Him to be the long promised Messiah who spoke with the authority of God. Thus, the chief priests and scribes plot to kill him.
Foreseen Troubles with Rome
47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
So Caiaphas gave them their solution. Unknowingly though, Caiaphas was prophesying what would come to pass and he did not understanding the significance of it.
John 11.
English Standard Version Chapter 11
49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
Caiphas told them… Just wait! Soon enough by a single death, they could ris themselves of this dangerous rival to their authority and propitiate the displeasure of Rome. Little did Caiaphas know, God the Father used the man that would preside over His Son’s unjust trial to proclaim the greatest display of love that the world would ever see - The single sacrificial death of the innocent Christ for the justification of sinners from among all nations tribes and tongues.
APPLICATION:
Devotion to Christ means… We Live Because of His Love
This is an active living, not passive. Because of His unparalleled display of love at the cross, we have been made new! Like Jesus told Nicodemus, we have been born again! Our former selves buried with Him and raised to walk in newness of life - BECAUSE of His love.
Paul says it best in Galatians 2.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Live today! Abide in Him today! He loved you and gave Himself for you so that you would experience eternal life in His name now.
MAIN IDEA:
Knowing all that would happen to Him, Jesus was resolute to the Father’s will and to His love for His own. We honor our LORD by reflecting such a devotion to Him.
