195 Inverted Kingdom; John 13:21-38;

Intro

tarraso - prayer

NT Wright - do not imagine

Embrace the presence of Jesus

Embrace the rebuke of Jesus

Embrace the ways of Jesus

Embrace the grace of Jesus

Intro

Trust Jesus’ grace

Embracing Christ’s Grace - john 21

Bootcamp messup!

Our weakness/failure causes us to experience...

Sin struggle

Divorce

Bankruptcy

Failure

They make us feel like damaged goods. We slide out under the door and think it just may be easier to stay away.

Inverted Kingdom

Death brings life

Humility brings exaltation

Weakness brings strength

We’ll see two acts of betrayal that end in very different ways. Your weakness may not be a betrayal so I want to focus on the response to the weakness or failure.

Acts 1:25 NIV

to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”

transition

transition

John 13

His hour has come and Jesus wants to celebrate the passover.

Jesus wants to celebrate the passover

Show Da Vinci’s Last Supper

Dan Brown

Correct the scene

In an incredible display of humility and purposefulness, Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.

Jesus’ ministry is coming to it’s climax. Reclining at this table we witness two kingdoms in conflict here: the kingdom driven by power as seen in Satan/Judas and the inverted Kingdom as seen Jesus/Peter.

The Devil really is in the details. In John’s account of the Gospel, there are no exorcisms or demons. Satan/Devil only mentioned four times. It’s a very big deal!

Satan has thrust this idea into Judas’ heart. The heart that desires what Satan’s desires, wills what Satan’s wills.

Judas will betray Jesus but we will see two betrayals that have very different endings. It’s not so much about the betrayal, it’s what happens in response. We all mess up, what do we do in response?

Betrayal # One

The

John 13:21

John 13:21–24 NIV

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Jesus was troubled - ταρασσω. This is a mixture of horror, shock, and indignation.

Herod was troubled (ταρασσω)when he heard the new King had been born.

The disciples were terrified (ταρασσω) when Jesus came walking across the water.

When Zechariah saw the angel in the Temple, he was terrified (ταρασσω).

Jesus is feeling this incredible storm of emotions. One of his disciples is going to betray him.

baseball signal

Peter wants to know though. So he gets John’s attention. Maybe he uses baseball signals.

John 13:26–27 NIV

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Jesus seems to have leaned over to John and quietly said, “Watch this”

Notice the seating arrangement; John and Judas are in the places of honor.

Jesus had just washed his feet and now he seems to offer one last opportunity.

The final act of love becomes the decisive moment of judgment. Satan has sifted Judas and now he is separated out. Judgment has been a main theme of John. . Judas no longer believes. So the last gesture of affection brings Judas to the point of surrender of to the darkness. Remember John said; the light shines in the darkness

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus Predicts His Betrayal (13:18–30)

And that final act of love becomes, with a terrible immediacy, the decisive movement of judgment. At this moment we are witnessing the climax of that action of sifting, of separation, of judgment which has been the central theme in John’s account of the public ministry of Jesus … (3:16–19). So the p 475 final gesture of affection precipitates the final surrender of Judas to the power of darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has neither understood it nor mastered it. (Newbigin, p. 173)

Judas received the sop but not the love. Instead of breaking him and urging him to contrition, it hardened his resolve. At that point Satan (only here mentioned by name; cf. v. 2) entered into him: the expression probably signifies thorough possession.

And that final act of love becomes, with a terible immediacy, the decisive movement of judgment. At this moment we are witnessing the climax of that action of sifting, of separation, of judgment which has been the central theme in John’s account of the public ministry of Jesus … (3:16–19). So the final gesture of affection precipitates the final surrender of Judas to the power of darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has neither understood it nor mastered it. (Newbigin, p. 173)

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary; Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 474–475.

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John (The Pillar New Testament Commentary; Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 474–475.

Judas took the bread but not the love. At that moment he becomes possessed by Satan himself.

Make no mistake, Jesus is still in control of the scenario. He says, “what you are about to do, do it quickly.”

It’s one of the saddest verses in Scripture. Judas steps out into the darkness.

Judas will only be mentioned in infamy from this point forward. In just a few weeks Peter will remind everyone about how David prophesied about Judas’s betray. Listen to how he ends the speech.

Acts 1:25 NIV

to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”

Incredibly sad. Judas, chosen to follow the Lord, is gone.

Betrayal # Two

John 13:28–38 NIV

But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

John 13:1

It was bad enough that Judas betrayed Jesus! Now Peter?

Luke lets us in on a bit of the dinner that John doesn’t record. Jesus says to Peter:

Luke 22:31–34 NIV

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

In English the singular and plural of “you” are the same. In Greek there is a you and a y’all. The NIV is more helpful than the older translations.

The text reads, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift y’all as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon…when you turn back (after your betrayal), strengthen your brothers. Jesus didn’t pray that Peter would get out of the trouble, he prayed that Peter’s faith would stand strong so he could help the others.

Why? God uses weakness to do strong things. The person who has swam the deep waters has the experience to help others in similar situations.

When you’ve messed it up and you’ve experienced forgiveness and you’ve been placed on solid ground, you are uniquely ready to help other in strong and powerful ways.

I wonder how many times Jesus has prayed for you or me to strengthen a brother or sister in faith who was going through trials? I wonder how many times God has sought to use our weakness to demonstrate his strength?

He

If you’re familiar with your Bible, Peter does indeed deny that he knows Jesus. As a matter of fact, Peter flat-out tells people off when they recognize him.

I don’t think its coincidence that in Matthew, we read about Peter weeping tears of repentance and then we read about Judas’ demise.

Let’s jump back in Peter’s story. After the resurrection, Peter let’s everyone know that he’s going fishing. Peter was a fisherman by trade. When you fail, you go back to what you did before! But they see an unexpected visitor.

John 21:7–9 NIV

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Peter jumps in! Here, probably more than anywhere, you see Peter’s heart. Instead of letting his failure keep him from Jesus, Peter runs (swims) as fast as he can to Jesus.

There is an important detail, it’s the charcoal fire that Jesus builds. That may seem inconsequential until you realize the word for charcoal fire is only used in one other place in the NT; when Peter warmed his hands by the charcoal fire as he denied knowing Jesus.

Jesus is intentionally recreating the scene for Peter.

John 21:15–17 NIV

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

John 21:

John 21:15–19 NIV

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Charcoal

Jesus told Peter that he would deny knowing Jesus three times and three times Peter denies knowing Jesus. I love that Jesus doesn’t act like it didn’t happen - he doesn’t sweep it under the rug. Healing rarely happens by ignoring the problem. So Jesus makes him face his failure. And don’t miss something obvious; Peter boasted of his reliability in front of the other disciples, Jesus sets this scene right in front of everyone else.

So many times we want to avoid the pain owning up to our sins, but we end up avoiding the true pathway of healing.

Here we see Jesus, the master builder, the Savior, taking what is weak and building strength.

Peter will continue to struggle but it is an upward struggle.

Weakness Brings Strength in Jesus’ Kingdom

We want to follow the pattern of Peter rather than Judas

Embrace the presence of Jesus (Peter jumps out of the boat)

Don’t let sin and failures keep you from the work God has planned for you. Judas ran away, Peter ran toward Jesus.

When you struggle, don’t avoid church or your church family.

Get involved in a small group

Begin to serve on a regular basis

Embrace the rebuke of Jesus (if it is a sin struggle)

Take to heart what Scripture says about the choices you’ve made.

Don’t disconnect your situation from the sermon.

In humility, listen to counsel of mature Christians.

Embrace the grace of Jesus

Your sin is not greater than Jesus’s sacrifice. Know the freedom forgiveness and acceptance.

1 John 4:9 NIV

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Psalm 103:12 NIV

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

4. Embrace the mission of Jesus

Serve! Be involved in the work of Jesus.

Share

Love others who are struggling with…it’s more blessed to give than to receive

Just watch as God takes your weakness and does strong things through it.

Gospel -> prayer