A Sovereign Sacrifice

ME:

Now that we’ve gotten snow, it seems appropriate that we would talk about the beach

If you know my wife, you know she loves the beach

This past summer, we were fortunate, her parents invited us to the Outer Banks

So we got to go to the beach

And she could just sit out on the beach and cook all day long and be as content as can be

I’m not that way, I need to be entertained somehow

So I bring fishing stuff and try fishing, unsuccessfully I might add

Because the waves were making that quite difficult

So instead of fighting the waves

I decide I’m going to ride the waves

Now I am not a surfer by any stretch of the imagination, so I don’t know all the technical aspects of the sport

But I’d like to consider myself an above average boogie boarder, for whatever that’s worth

And what I’ve learned when boogie boarding is to look out past the waves that are crashing against you to spot the big wave

It requires you to see it coming from far off

But when you spot it, it’s unmistakeable

You can see the current pulling the wave in

The water, starting low, just gradually grows and grows as it gets closer and closer

Then, just as the wave reaches it’s highest point

A tower of water breaks at the top

So that when that wave is at

and crashes down with a powerful and unstoppable force

Well, if salvation were a wave

It would be one of those massive waves, seen far off

It began forming as far back as , When God told the devil after sin entered into the world;

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

This verse is known as the protoevangelium

When Jesus began performing miracles by turning water into wine

The first gospel

Which was also the first reference to his hour

So this is where the wave of salvation started

Then the momentum of this wave continued to grow and grow through Abraham and Isaac, and Israel, and Moses, and the series of Kings like David, and the series of prophets like Elijah, and through John’s Gospel all the way to where we find ourselves this morning in

The wave is at it’s highest point

The top is breaking and it is crashing down as a powerful and unstoppable force

All of human history had been moving to this point

And when this wave breaks and crashes

It draws a line in human history

Even secular historians would acknowledge, that nothing in human history has had such an impact as the death of Jesus Christ on the cross

Everything before was moving toward it

and everything since looks back at it

And for the Christian, the cross is central to everything

everything we think and believe

everything we do and everything we are

The reason for this is not because God is good at marketing a logo

It is because the cross is where the Father sacrificed His Son to pay the penalty for our sin

It is where mankind was reconciled to God

Where sin and death were defeated

Where God extended peace at the cost of Christ’s life

It is impossible to overstate the impact of the cross

Let’s go before our Lord in prayer before we go any further this morning

WE:

In college, there was a Christian club called the truth study that made flyers that were meant to have a shock factor to them

It was a simple flyer that in bold letters said “God Killed Jesus”

I remember reading that and thinking

Did He? Did He really? Is this an accurate flyer?

If not God, then who is responsible for the cross?

Because Jesus was murdered on the cross

So who did it?

Who murdered Jesus?

Was it the Romans?

They were the ones who utilized the inhumane method of death

They were the ones in charge during His murder

We will read this morning, it was one of their governors who ordered the death of Jesus

and next week we will read, it was Roman soldiers who hammered the nails in

Or, maybe it was the Jews?

I mean they are the one’s who brought Jesus to the Romans and were demanding the Romans to kill Him

That roman governor even tried to release Jesus but the Jews nearly rioted and started chanting to crucify him!

Historically speaking, sure, it may be easier to blame the Romans or the Jews

But the question was, who is responsible?

says;

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We have all gone astray

It is our iniquity, our sin, that was poured out on Jesus

So, when we look at who is responsible

yes, the Romans sinned, they ordered His death and followed through with it

and yes the Jews sinned, they provoked the death of Jesus

and yes, we have all sinned, so it was our iniquity that was poured out on Christ

So all of us are partly responsbile

But John’s Gospel doesn’t really focus on the human responsibility

This has been a frequent theme throughout the entire Gospel

God’s sovereignty is highlighted much more

as we will see this morning, and the rest of this month, Jesus orchestrates every step of His death on the cross

Recall what He said back in ;

John 10:17–18 ESV

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 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.”

So it may seem like the Romans are responsible, or the Jews, or us for our sin

But Jesus planned every encounter and every event

to reveal that He is not a helpless victim, nor is He a stubborn Martyr

Instead, He is a Sovereign Sacrifice Down to Earth to save the world

So sure, if you wanna shock people, you can say “God Killed Jesus”

But John MacArthur says it so much better

“As God incarnate, Jesus was always in absolute control of all the events of His life. That control extended even to the circumstances surrounding His death. Far from being an accident, Jesus’ sacrificial death was the primary reason He took on human life in the first place; it is the pinnacle of redemptive history.”

First, let’s look at , asking if Jesus is a helpless victim?

John 18:1–11 ESV

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. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 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. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 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.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

If you have ever seen the film the Passion of the Christ

This is the scene where the film starts

Our chapter starts, after Jesus finished His prayer we looked at in chapter 17 last week

He leaves the upper room

The same room He dismissed Judas from back in chapter 13

and He goes to this garden, combining what the other gospels record

we know this is the Garden of Gethsemane

It might seem, perhaps Jesus is trying to hide with His disciples

If that were the case, He would not choose the garden where Judas met Him and the other disciples many times

Jesus goes there, waiting for Judas and the band of soldiers, officers, and chief priests Judas procured to find Him there

So here comes Judas, rolling up with his armed posse

and look at vs. 4, Jesus knows all that’s about to happen

So He initiates contact with this group of bandits

Before we go too far, we need to just highlight was is said in vs. 4, that everything from this point forward, Jesus knows about

He won’t be surprised or caught off guard

The temptation is for us to humanly think that He didn’t see something coming

but anytime something unexpected comes up, just realize, Jesus knows

And so what do we see Jesus do when He initiates contact?

He asks who they are looking for, again, He already knows everything

So, He is using this as an opportunity to demonstrate His power and control in this situation

That Jesus is orchestrating His own capture

Knowing they are looking for Him

His response, “I AM He,” causes this brigade of soldiers to fall to the ground

If Jesus wanted to escape His captives, He could have wipe them out, with His words alone

Instead He asks a second time

This time to allow His disciples to flee from being arrested

He had to go the cross on His own

but also, as vs. 9 shows, it fulfills his prayer from the previous chapter

that the disciples whom the Father has given to Jesus have not been lost

And again, Jesus is showing that He dictates who will and won’t be going with these soldiers

Soldiers, who are accustomed to taking orders from their superiors, not the person they are about to capture

But Jesus isn’t a helpless victim about to be captured here

Which is proven once more in the garden before Jesus leaves

This is a high-stress environment

The tension is so elevated that it would seem that the slightest action could have drastic repercussions

And sure enough, what do we see Peter do

He sees things from a humanly frame of reference

Believing that everything is falling apart

so he uses a human measure to take charge and do what he thinks is right

he is going to try and save Jesus

So he pulls his sword and, of all people, attacks not the soldiers, not even the high priests, but Malchus, one of the servants of the high priest

Pull his sword and, of all people, attacks not the soldiers, not even the high priests, but Malchus, one of the servants of the high priest

Then all the soldiers respond by drawing their swords and a brief battle ensues resulting in the death of all the disciples and Jesus is still dragged off to prison

No, that is what we would expect to happen, instead, it would seem the soldiers are even taking their lead from Jesus now

and they wait and allow Him to rebuke Peter

Once again, demonstrating Jesus is sovereignly orchestrating his own arrest

So, even though it would seem that Jesus is a helpless victim in the garden

We see that He does not hide, He initiates with His captors, demonstrates His power, seizes authority over the captors, and prevents Peter’s vain action from escalating

and Jesus allows these men to arrest Him

GOD:

So if Jesus is not a helpless victim, perhaps He is a stubborn martyr?

Let’s read ; , to answer that

John 18:15–18 ESV

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

John 18:12–14 ESV

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

John 18:19–24 ESV

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

John 18:25–32 ESV

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

The Caiaphas reference in vs. 14, is a reference back to , which states,

John 11:51–52 ESV

He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

Caiaphas prophesied more than he realized

He was trying to use his position and influence to snuff out the following Jesus was building

We have seen High Priests and Pharisees use their positions of authority to intimidate and bully other people to back down

the parents of the man born blind for example, they knew they would be cast out if they testified that Jesus healed their son of his blindness so they made their son testify on his own

Here it would be expected that Jesus would back down out of intimidation like those before Him

but He didn’t, instead His responses before the High Priest turns the table back on the High Priest

Which isn’t an example of a stubborn martyr, instead it begs the question, who exactly is in charge here?

The interrogator? or the one being interrogated?

Jesus’ question to the high priest is accused of being disrespectful, resulting in one of the officers striking Him

As we have already discussed, Jesus isn’t a helpless victim

He is innocent, but He is not helpless

If He were helpless, He would have no control over this situation

Which we are seeing time and time again, He has complete control over everything that is happening

He reminded the high priest He had been teaching openly

And the witnesses would come in and say that Jesus taught He was the bread of life and that He was the Good Shepherd

This may raise questions about Him possibly being a stubborn martyr

Perhaps He just believes so much in the following He has gained that He is unwilling to back down during His questioning

The problem with that theory is we don’t see Him defend Himself

He doesn’t even defend Himself

He doesn’t deny the charges, but He also isn’t trying to present a defense of His innocence, continuing His demonstration of His sovereignty

Continuing His demonstration of His sovereignty

You see, the Bible teaches that Jesus took all the punishment of our sin

When Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden, a punishment of their sin was shame, this is what prompted them to cover their nakedness

so a part of the punishment of sin is shame

and if Jesus were to defend Himself here, protest His innocence, He would not have suffered the shame that is part of the punishment for our sin

Then Jesus would not have been able to die the shameful death we deserve

Praise God He was willing to be counted as a sinner, that we might be counted righteous through Him

Jesus could have relieved the shame, but He held back

He could have been the greatest lawyer in history during His trials

walked away victorious from the trial, proving His innocence

but also resulting in our defeat

Jesus has limitless power, He already demonstrated that in the beginning of this chapter when He was arrested by knocking the solidiers to the ground with His words

but instead of being a stubborn martyr here

He continued in His sovereignty

orchestrating the trials to lead to His death

YOU:

So Jesus isn’t a helpless victim, as we saw when he was arrested

and Jesus isn’t a stubborn martyr, as we saw from His trial

No, Jesus is a Sovereign Sacrifice!

Let’s see how all these passages tie together to show Jesus is a sovereign sacrifice in ;,

John 18:15–18 ESV

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

John 18:25–32 ESV

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed. Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

How does Jesus being denied by perhaps His closest disciple, Peter, demonstrate that Jesus is a sovereign sacrifice?

Well, recall back to , where Peter told Jesus,

John 13:37 ESV

Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

and what was Jesus’ response? ;

John 13:38 ESV

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

As John’s gospel revealed to us in vs. 4, Jesus knew this was going to happen

He told Peter it was going to happen earlier that same evening

and the moment that rooster crowed, the realization that everything Jesus had been telling His disciples is coming to pass

The crow of the rooster serves as a siren of confidence that Christ is a sovereign sacrifice

He’s not a helpless victim or stubborn martyr

He is a sovereign sacrifice

This is what John’s gospel has been building too

Jesus predicted his betrayal

Jesus predicted his trial

Jesus predicted the denial of His disciple

the final prediction that remains is His death

The first prediction of His death comes in , Jesus told Nicodemus,

John 3:14–15 ESV

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Jesus doesn’t just say He would die

No, He says He would be lifted up, speaking to the kind of death He would die

again, Jesus describes His death this same way in

John 8:28 ESV

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

and ,

John 12:32–33 ESV

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

This is why Pilate’s role, which we are only just being introduced to this morning, is so vital

You see, the Jewish form of capital punishment was stoning

This was exercised on Stephen the Deacon in Acts

So if the Jews handled Jesus’ death in house, they would have stoned Him

and Jesus would not have been lifted up

but again, Jesus, in His sovereignty, orchestrated His death

Jesus’ death is taking place during Passover, because He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world

But the High Priests and Pharisees do not recognize that

So they are operating in the darkness of night, as ends, Judas went out, and it was night

The Jewish leaders were violating many of their laws and customs to hurry the execution of Jesus in a way that would allow them to stay ceremonially clean during Passover

This is where the usefulness of the Roman law and crucifixion came in for them

So they bring Jesus to the Roman governor, believing it is their desire to have Jesus killed this way

But as Jesus has already revealed He is the One who determined He will die by crucifixion, this is part of His sovereign will

We see here that Pilate initially doesn’t want to deal with it

So the Jews insist

and next week we will see the rest of Pilate’s role and the discussion based around Christ as King

But again, going back to vs. 4 of chapter 18, Jesus knew all the unethical measures the Jewish leaders were taking

Despite all of them, His control is consistent

So before His betrayal and trial took place, He began foreshadowing that He would die by being lifted up

The number of laws that were being broken yet rationalized by Jewish leaders is extensive

Because He is the Sovereign Sacrifice

Because He is the Sovereign Sacrifice

WE:

He has orchestrated everything in His death, even how He would die

So that He could be our savior

As Pastor Matt Carter states;

“In spite of the treachery of Judas, the blasphemy of the Jews, and the brutality of the Romans, Jesus will not allow us to see him as a helpless victim…we can’t look at him and see a courageous martyr. There’s only one proper way to view Jesus. Jesus is the sovereign Savior. His life is not taken from Him. He lays it down willingly. We didn’t need a victim to die in our place. We didn’t need an example to show us how to die. We needed a rescuer who could save us from death.”

The Romans, the High Priests, they didn’t overcome Jesus

Jesus holds power and authority over them

demonstrated in the garden and during His trial

Jesus not once, lost control

He orchestrated His own death as a sacrifice for us all

When a person is a helpless victim, we embrace them in our arms and cry with them

We seek to empathize with them in their suffering

Our hearts break for them

We feel sorry, we have pity on them

But we don’t put our faith in them for salvation

If Jesus were a victim of abuse and murder, the appropriate response would be a compassionate one like I just described

But the profound nature of the cross calls for more

Or on the other end

when we hear a testimony of a courageous person, it compels us to emulate their bravery

The boldness of martyrs stir a desire for greater boldness and bravery for the gospel in our own hearts

But we don’t put our faith in these martyrs for salvation

If Jesus were a martyr, the appropriate response would be a brave one like I just described

but the profound nature of the cross still calls for more

If the cross stirs pity or bravery alone, then it fails to understand the depths the cross reaches in our soul

If the root of our problem was the injustice of the cross, then Jesus as a victim would suffice

If the root of our problem was fear of opposition, then Jesus as a martyr could suffice

But the root of our problem is bigger

the root of our problem is sin

the root of the problem is that we have rebelled against our good and holy God and the result is an eternal death sentence and there is nothing we can do to change that

So Jesus did

That is what Jesus changed on the cross

I came across the story of a young boy who came forward during a pastor’s altar call

when the pastor was meeting with him afterward and asked if the boy understood

the boy responded by saying, “I did my part, God did his part.”

the pastor, fearing the boy didn’t understand asked the boy to clarify

so the boy said, “I did the sinning, God did the saving.”

Jesus was not a helpless victim

nor was He a stubborn martyr

Jesus is the sovereign sacrifice that come down to earth as a man

to orchestrate His own betrayal, arrest, unjust trial, abuse, shameful punishment, and death on the cross

To be our Savior

So we don’t look at Jesus and pity Him

Nor do we seek to die as He died

If we did, His sacrifice would be worthless

The cross calls us to complete dependence on Jesus Christ

Jesus orchestrated His own death as a sacrifice for you

So, we must respond in faith in Christ, in His sovereignty, and in His great love, that He sacrificed Himself to save you.

Just as that boy stated, I did the sinning, God did the saving.

I want to close with a poem written by Joyce Rogers, titled, Never A Word;

Jesus stood before Pilate; His accusers stood near by; They agreed together to tell many things that were not so. But He answered nothing! Pilate asked, ‘Why don’t You answer; Don’t You hear all the things they’re saying?’ Pilate marveled that still Jesus answered nothing! The soldiers then took Jesus to the judgment hall—They stripped Him and robed Him; They pressed a crown of thorns into His brow; They mocked Him and spat on Him—hailed Him as ‘King of the Jews.’ They reviled Him, but—He reviled not! He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter—Spotless and perfect Lamb of God. But as a sheep who protests not before her shearers, so this Lamb opened not His mouth! Pilate marveled greatly that He answered not a word! I, too, can only marvel at this Godlike kind of love. How unlike the Savior I seem to always be—With many words I protest and claim my innocence. ‘Oh, make me into Thy likeness!’ I will never comprehend the Savior’s love for me; that never a word came in defense. He could not explain; They could not understand—Though sinless, He was guilty! My sins were upon Him; I deserved the mocking, the scourging, the awful pain, but He bore it all and answered never a word!

Amen, will you pray with me.