Trials, Testimonies & Truth
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Take your bibles and turn with me to this morning.
PAUSE
Introduction
I fear, that a major problem in the church world, especially in our neck of the woods, is a desire to identity with Christ, but at a level that doesn’t trouble the waters around us too much.
I fear, that for many in the professing church, it would be the latter.
In 2018, Ligonier Ministries conducted a survey on “The State of Theology.” I have referenced this survey before, but wanted to here again in light of the text we’re in today.
In the survey, they they highlighted the results of evangelicals. Evangelicals being those who identify as “Christian” and supposedly hold more closely to the Bible.
Evangelicals can be from different denominations, but they all claim to prioritize the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ.
Among many others, they were asked to respond to this statement: “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”
Strongly Disagree: 36%
Somewhat Disagree: 6%
Not Sure: 7%
Now…we know already, those numbers should be A LOT higher. But, here’s the really shocking part.
“God…ACCEPTS...the worship....of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”
Somewhat Agree: 14%
Strongly Agree: 37%
37% of evangelicals polled, people who claim to stick to the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ, rejects one of the foundation principles of this gospel…the exclusivity of Christ.
- That there is only ONE way to the Father, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is only ONE way to the Father, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
- That those who come to God, must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
Those who come to God, must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
- Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.
There are many reasons for such percentages…but at least one of them is, there are many, especially in areas like our own where nominal Christianity still has a strong presence. Where you have people who want to identify with Jesus and Christianity, but from a safe distance. They want to be able to say to others, “I’m a Christian.” When tragedy strikes they want to claim, “I’m praying for you.” But they also desire, and prioritize, their own personal comfort above and beyond identifying clearly, and closely with Christ.
And in our next passage in Mark’s gospel, this is what we see Peter doing. He fulfills the prophecy of Jesus. He denies Him 3 times. Jesus, on the other hand, fulfills the Father’s will in suffering through a kangaroo court trial as the innocent Lamb of God.
Jesus lives selflessly, carrying out the Father’s will…Peter lives selfishly, carrying out a desire for personal comfort above theological fidelity.
LET’S READ OUR TEXT...
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.
54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.
55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.
56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.
57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying,
58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ”
59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?
64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.
65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,
67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.
69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.”
70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.”
72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Mark 14:53-
In this passage, we see a willing Savior standing firm in the midst of opposition, boldly declaring His own identity, suffering all the Scriptures foretold, and doing so for His people. And we see Peter, whose heart and mind were occupied more so with comfort and self-preservation, rather than the glorious Christ.
Drawing from the Garden scene from a couple of weeks ago, and seeing in this scene the trials, the testimonies, and the truth delivered…we are called to...
or.....
LIVE CHRIST-CENTERED, NOT MAN-CENTERED (REPEAT)
I think the best way to help us grasp this in the text, is to divide this into 2 trials: Jesus’ trial and what we’ll call Peter’s trial.
And I want to go back and forth between the two, as we go through 3 somewhat parallel scenes during the trials. )Testimonies; 2)Judge’s statement; 3)Verdict
1. Testimonies
1. Testimonies
Consider first, the testimonies at Jesus’ trial
Testimonies: Jesus’ Trial
Testimonies: Jesus’ Trial
Verse 53, tells us Jesus is led to what appears to be the residence of the High Priest
You can draw from the other gospels to see the order of events and some that Mark leaves out in his record.
Here, Jesus is brought to the High Priest, and the Sanhedrin (that ruling Jewish body made up of the groups listed in v. 53) gather for this trial.
And this trial is flawed from beginning to end. Whether it’s 1)the hasty nature in which it was brought about; 2)Its location; 3)It being at night; 4)The nature of the witnesses…there was certainly no motivating factor for truth, justice, and fidelity to the Law of God.
In verse 55, we see the Sanhedrin’s motivation
55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.
Early on in Mark’s gospel, then again clearly in 14:1-2, this has been their desire…and nothing has changed.
They were seeking, death penalty worthy testimony…but could not find it. Why? Because Jesus has never sinned. They found witnesses…false witnesses giving false testimonies who couldn’t all come together and give one united statement.
56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.
Some did draw from statements similar to what Jesus made (John 2:19), but even they couldn’t get their stories straight (v.57-59)
The problem that this produces for them, is that the Sanhedrin needed two or three witnesses that were aligned in their testimony against Jesus.
6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
They need multiple testimonies
How does Jesus respond to multiple false testimonies against Him?
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”
61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
He remained silent, He made no answer....fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of Him...
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
He had the evidence to contradict these testimonies, the power to prove who He was…He could’ve exposed THEIR sinfulness at that very moment…yet He remained silent and chose to let the Father vindicate Him in the resurrection instead of seeking vindication on His own in the moment.
Which, if we’re honest, is often the opposite way we tend to respond to accusations against us...
And it’s the opposite way Peter responded as well…consider Peter’s trial
Testimonies: Peter’s Trial
Testimonies: Peter’s Trial
It wasn’t before THE Sanhedrin, instead it was before some servant girls and bystanders
The testimony given concerning him wasn’t false, but true
He didn’t respond in silence, but in denial and self-preservation
Verse 54 tells us, Peter followed Christ at a distance. Sproul does a fantastic job in his commentary on comparing the way many often attempt to follow Christ in our day....at a distance, without getting too close, without committing too much.
Peter sits at the fire with the guards and other bystanders in the courtyard of the High Priest…and in verse 66
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,
66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,
67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”
There is nothing untrue about that statement. Peter could have simply not answered. Or, he could have acknowledged its validity. Or simply left. But no…how does he respond?
Mark 14:
68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.
From the outside looking in on Peter…we can see this tragic situation unfold. Yet, he seems oblivious.
And here comes the servant girl again
Mark 14:69-70
69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.”
70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
The contrast is quite obvious:
Jesus is on trial before a ruling body with authority…Peter is before a servant girl
Jesus listens to false witnesses…Peter’s witness tells the truth
Jesus responds with silence…Peter responds with lies
And the difference is of course, if you’ll remember the scenes leading up to this one....one is walking in the power of the Spirit to live perfectly obedient to the Father’s will…the other is walking in the power of his flesh to live for his own comfort and self-preservation.
Apply
What about you?
Are you walking in the Spirit dear Christian? Because, yes it’s true, we shouldn’t look down on Peter, for we are often like him…it is also true that we should never lose sight of the heinousness of this sin.
When we’re fearful to identify fully with Christ and His Word, because we’re fearful of the repercussions from family members
When we follow at a distance, because to follow too closely would cause us to lose a relationship
It would tarnish our reputation; it would cause us to lose the promotion at work
When we’re attempting to walk in the power of the flesh and not in the Spirit, that’s when we’re more apt to vindicate ourselves; misrepresent who we are in Christ because of an unwillingness to pay the price…that’w when we’re more apt to live like Peter in this scene
May God help us see, in all those moments, we are sinners just as Peter was here
May God help us live Christ-centered, instead of man-centered
So, we see the testimonies and responses…see next...
2. Judge’s statement
2. Judge’s statement
Judge’s Statement: Jesus’ Trial
Judge’s Statement: Jesus’ Trial
Judge’s Statement: Jesus’ Trial
Judge’s Statement: Jesus’ Trial
Jesus’ Trial
The High Priest asked Him for a response to the witnesses, to which Jesus responded in silence…then the High Priest addresses Him again
The High Priest asked Him for a response to the witnesses, to which Jesus responded in silence…then the High Priest addresses Him again
Mark 14:
61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”
Son of the Blessed, is another way of asking, “Are you the Son of God?”
Here is a straightforward, no nonsense question that is twofold: 1)Are you the Christ? The Messiah? The Anointed One? Are you the one prophesied in the Old Testament to come and save His people? 2)Are you the Son of God? (Debatable whether or not he was asking about divinity, but regardless, we see Jesus’ clear answer)
62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Here is a straightforward, no nonsense answer…I am.
He then brings back His favorite way of describing Himself, “Son of Man.” That title drawn from , of the prophesied one to rule and reign, crowned by the Father Himself. Jesus says, “I am the Christ. I am the Son of the Blessed. And you’ll see me, as the Son of Man, seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
He is the One to whom the Psalmist was referring...
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Stephen, at his martyrdom, would see Jesus at the right hand of the Father…standing
Jesus has already talked about the Son of Man returning with clouds in chapter 13. It is a reference to His power and divinity, drawing back to the Son of Man imagery in , and drawing from the manifestation of the Divine presence in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt.
In response to the High Priest, Jesus BOLDLY proclaims His identity. I am the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man…One day you’ll see me in the clouds; I will be seated at the right hand of Power.
Throughout His ministry, you’ll remember how He kept wanting His identity to remain a secret, because the time had not yet come…NOW..the time has come. THIS, Mr. High Priest, is who I Am.
***
And that should give us great confidence in our Lord. For Him to make a claim like that, He’s either mad, cruel, or right. If He’s not the Son of God, but thinks He is, He’s crazy. If He’s not the Son of God, and knows He’s not, but says He is, He’s cruel. But what if He is the Son of God. Indeed, He IS the Son of God.
He has proved it by His life, His miracles, His death (which He foretold), His resurrection (which He foretold), and His followers spread the message that Jesus is the Son of God far and wide.
Brothers and sisters, take heart…be encourage. The Head of our church is not a fake god, or a dead religious leader....The Head of the church is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the One who rules and reigns and will come back in power and glory
Rest in Him…trust your lives to Him… AND ESPECIALLY if you’re here, and you’ve never done so before
Regardless of why you came, recognize who you are (a sinner); recognize what you’re worthy of (hell); recognize what Jesus has done (substituted Himself in life & death and rose from the grave); and turn from your sins and trust completely in Him....NOW…and you will be saved!
***
In Jesus’ trial…Jesus, the TRUE and GREATEST High Priest, BOLDLY responds to the High Priest’s question...
The truly human Jesus, is not afraid nor ashamed to boldly proclaim His true identity....now that it’s time to do so.
How often are we not bold enough to even identify WITH Him? Like Peter...
Peter’s Trial
Judge’s Statement: Peter’s Trial
Judge’s Statement: Peter’s Trial
There is no judge, necessarily in Peter’s trial. But just like in Jesus’ trial, the witness against Peter (servant girl) has been addressing a particular group (bystanders), attempting to convince them of Peter’s identity. It is that group of bystanders, that then issues a statement to Peter.
70b
70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
The Greek indicates they recognized his Galilean roots, by his language and speech. So how does Peter respond? Like any other sane, rational person....
71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.”
Mark 14:71
Peter is cursing, to prove his Galilean speech, wasn’t proof that he knew Jesus
To invoke a curse: anathematizo; put under a curse;
Peter is cursing, to prove his Galilean speech, wasn’t proof that he knew Jesus
Comes from the same root word as in , that deals with the Galatians classifying preachers who are preaching a false gospel as, “accursed” which there means “condemned”
Peter essentially invokes the curse of God upon himself if he’s lying about not knowing Jesus
Peter essentially invokes the curse of God upon himself if he’s lying about not knowing Jesus
In Sproul’s commentary, he noted, “It is ironic that Jesus was convicted of blasphemy, but in all probability the one who was committing the blasphemy was down in the courtyard—Simon Peter.”
We are now arriving at the bottom of Peter’s downward spiral. We’ve seen it often in Peter’s life, but it has been highlighted as front and center in this 14th chapter.
Alan Cole does a good job at tracing it in his commentary:
“The whole account of Peter’s fall leaves the reader helpless, powerless to intervene, as the story develops, stage by stage, until Peter has passed the point of no return. His rash self-confidence and scorn of others (29); his failure to discipline himself in the garden (37); his panic and flight (50); his following at a distance (54); his close association with the enemies of Jesus (54): all these in turn made the actual denial the logical and indeed almost inevitable result. No doubt Peter was sincere in his initial desires and protestations (31), but the battle against temptation in the high priest’s palace had been lost long before; the time for a Christian to fight temptation is before it is encountered (38).” ~Alan Cole
Apply
And oh how true that last line is...
We know the truth of Mark’s gospel we’ve seen in chapter 8
38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
We get this…but like Peter, we enter into times of temptation unprepared for the fight.
So what should we do?
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
You want to overcome temptation when it comes your way? The power of the Holy Spirit is the ONLY way. So…walk in Him. Lean heavily upon the common means of grace: Bible study, prayer, corporate worship, sacraments. For it is only in walking lock-step with the Spirit, that we are more prone to have the desire and the wisdom to know how to respond in the battle.
Battle of a previous bondage is placed before you
Or a tough question like, “You mean you worship a God who flooded the earth to kill men, women, and children only saving 8 people?”
If you never sense the urge to pray, study the Scriptures, and follow CLOSELY to the Lord…what are you going to do when you’re at lunch with your family, and all of a sudden they ask, “So you honestly believe that God destroyed all living people on earth? Men, women, and children? All of them, except for 8 people, and He’s still good? You worship a God like that?”
Or.... “you mean, God allows people to be born that He knows will never go to heaven, yet He still creates them? And you call Him good and worship Him?”
I have a feeling, that our stuttering words, will sound awfully close to apologizing for God’s actions
Which is…pretty similar…to Peter’s outright denials
We are learning from Peter’s experience, precisely what our Lord meant in verse 38
38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We are learning, and we’re being called to, by the Spirit’s power, live Christ-centered, not man-centered. And I pray we take heed to the call.
Both trials had testimonies, and a statement from the presiding officer…
Next, consider....
3. The Verdict
3. The Verdict
First, consider Jesus’ trial
The Verdict: Jesus’ Trial
The Verdict: Jesus’ Trial
Jesus’ Trial
63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?
64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.
4:
Tearing the garments was a symbolic action or expression indicating the High Priest’s horror and intense anger against Jesus…and blasphemy is the charge
There aren’t anymore witnesses needed, since Jesus has just openly blasphemed....according to the High Priest
So he turns to the Sanhedrin, and in the Greek basically asks, “How do you see it?” And the Sanhedrin join in with the High Priest, condemning Jesus as One who is deserving of the death penalty
What follows begins some of the saddest, and simultaneously victorious Scriptures, in all the Bible.
65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
They spit upon our Savior…either disgust, or by way of making Him unclean according to the Law, which would have further separated Him from the Jewish people
They cover His face and strike Him, calling on Him…if He really is a prophet, to prophesy to them as they strike (word means to hit with the fist)
The guards receive, not calmly…but with blows (often used to denote a slap in the face)
The verdict is guilty…they pass the sentence…and although they’ll have to take it to the Roman government since they are the occupying force in the land, the sentence according to their courts is death…the response is to begin the public humiliation and torture.
What a scene this is to begin to consider. Peter has just invoked a curse upon himself in the courtyard, but it is Jesus who is beginning to be made a curse to bear Peter’s sins…including the one he was currently committing.
What a scene this is to consider. Jesus sat silently as the very ones He created, delivered the verdict, the sentence, the humiliation and the abuse against Him. He willingly endured it all.
6 I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
This is something He had predicted before. He knew it was coming…
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Yet…He walks willingly into it.
What a scene this is to consider, that not one blow from the guards, not one spit from the people, not one strike from their fists, was without purpose. Jesus is suffering for our sins. He is bearing our iniquities. He is being tortured to bring us peace. He is healing us, by His own wounds.
This is not just something happening to Him....this is the plan of God, revealed progressively through the pages of Scripture, beginning to come to pass on this night.
Not one blow was meaningless, for there was not one blow that was outside the sovereign design of the Father.
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
God didn’t just KNOW what would happen. He didn’t just look down through time and see that they would kill Jesus and say, “You know, I think I could use that.” No it was the definite plan and foreknowledge of God that designed it…and the hands of lawless men, whose hearts were filled with rage and murderous intentions, were used by God to work the salvation of a group of people that no man can number.
Jesus’ selfless desire to live not in pursuit of personal comfort, but for the Father’s glory and His people’s good, comes shining through in this scene.
His verdict was guilty…but the result was salvation!
What about Peter’s verdict?
The Verdict: Peter’s Trial
The Verdict: Peter’s Trial
The Verdict: Peter’s Trial
The Verdict: Peter’s Trial
Peter’s Trial
72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
When an individual is on trial, and they are awaiting the verdict…if the verdict is guilty, I’m sure that the gavel noise from the judge’s bench as it comes down to close the case, is a piercing sound into their soul.
But there has never been the sound of a judge’s gavel pierce the soul like the sound of this rooster crowing on this night. When Peter heard the rooster, he was reminded. He didn’t recall it to mind intentionally. He didn’t say, “Now, there was supposed to be something I was to do when I heard the rooster crowing.” The word is in the passive tense…He was reminded.
The rooster crowed....then the memory sprang up within him. The words of the Lord Jesus filled Peter’s mind at this moment, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
He had predicted Peter’s downfall with such accuracy. He saw into the heart of Peter, at a level that Peter himself could not see. And at that moment, the reality of his failure and his sin overwhelmed him.
He broke down. And he wept.
Peter’s verdict, is guilty. He is not only guilty of the true things the witnesses declared, concerning being one of Jesus’ disciples. But all along he was on trial, in a test, that he did not even perceive.
Would he stand with the Lord Jesus, or would he abandon Him? That had been the question....and he has failed…and the rooster sings out his guilt with deafening decibels.
So what is his sentence? What is the end result? Luke’s gospel records Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s fall this way:
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-33
Satan desires you all (you is plural), because he wants to sift you like wheat…BUT…I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And WHEN you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
The sentence isn’t death…even though the wages of sin is death. Peter still lives on in relationship with God…because Christ is taking His death penalty for Him on this very night, and because Christ has prayed for him.
Apply
We too, like Peter, are guilty. We are guilty of sins, not only prior to coming to faith in Christ initially…but like Peter we fail Him miserably far more times than we’d like to admit even now.
Peter’s brokenness over his sins wasn’t out of some sense of worldly sorrow…sorrow he was caught, or sorrow that he may lose some comforts. This was godly sorrow…that leads to repentance
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
His grief over his sins was godly, because Christ had prayed for him that his faith would not fail
If only Christ would have promised us that when we fail, He has prayed for us as well:
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,
2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.
8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
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.
13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
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.
24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
WELL, HE IS TALKING ABOUT HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
7:
Have you believed on Christ, through hearing His Word? Then Jesus prayed for you on this occasion.
And if that’s not clear enough:
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
He is able to save His people, to the very end…to the fullest extent....SINCE....he always lives to make INTERCESSION for THEM!
We are forever guilty by our actions, thoughts, and deeds. Yet, we are forever innocent through the One who died for us.
Just like Peter, we stockpiled sins that made us worthy of the curse of God, the condemnation of God, the wrath of God. But just like Peter, Jesus took those sins upon Himself, and received the blows of just punishment that we deserve.
The Righteous is dying for the unrighteous. God is dying for the ungodly. The innocent is dying for the guilty. We stand righteous, because He who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
And sings louder than the rooster was crowing....
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So when your sin is exposed, praise God for the reminders of His Word that reveal your sins....
Praise God for brokenness over your sins
Pray to God for repentance…and for the grace to live Christ-centered and not man-centered
Because with a Savior like ours…why would we want to live in any other way?
Conclusion
So…I ask again. What do we desire more? Comfort? Or close identity with Christ?
Or is our desire for comfort so great, we’re ashamed of our Savior and His words?
I pray it’s the former and not the latter. I pray that regardless of the percentage of professing evangelicals turning away from biblical doctrine, we’d remember this night in our Savior’s life, and be moved by grace to follow Him closely!
I pray that regardless of the percentage of professing evangelicals turning away from biblical doctrine, we’d remember this night in our Savior’s life, and be moved by grace to follow Him closely!
Two trials…two sets of testimonies....two opposite responses....two verdicts....two sentences.
Through the actions of one, we learn the weakness of our flesh. Through the actions of another, we see the death which brought us life.
Our sins today…are gone…because of this One and the work we see starting to take place in this text.
And that One of course is Jesus....there is no other. May we be moved to lives with Him as the center, and not ourselves.
May we respond with brokenness over our sins…and a giving of ourselves to God, to use our lives for His glory and praise!