The Cross: A Sovereign Savior

Welcome

Good morning once again everyone, it is good to have you all here as we enter into the Gospel of John for the last time in our series that has been going on for a long time! Today though, we will begin to look at the passion of Jesus Christ. This includes the darkest moment of our world, the death of Christ, but because of his death we have life through his resurrection. So for me these next three weeks are a bit of a challenge. We see the pain and suffering that Jesus went through, yet we know that it was ultimately done for our good. As we go through these last few chapters of John and the passion account, no matter how many times you have heard or read these passages, My prayer is that it would strike all of us in a fresh way and that we might be reminded of how great God’s love is towards us.

Prayer

Intro

As we start, I want to lay out how we are going to be approaching these passages of scripture both today and the following two weeks right before Easter. In John’s gospel there are four major scenes. The first begins in chapter 18 with the disciples and Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is arrested. The scene then shifts to Jesus’ first interrogation, before a man named Annas, who is the father-in-law of the high priest. While this interrogation is taking place, Peter is in the process of denying his relationship with Jesus. This morning we are going to go over these two scenes.

The third scene is Jesus’ trial before Pilate, which we will cover next Sunday. And the final scene takes place at Golgotha, where Jesus is hung on the cross and we read about how Jesus was buried in the tomb.

I know that these are not the most uplifting passages and it can be hard to really abide in them, to spend time on them. But like we did with Ecclesiastes, I think it is good that we don’t rush through the Passion account of Jesus. It is good that we don’t just read these passages on Good Friday. Because within these passages we truly see the depth of love that Christ has for all of us. Let’s begin with the first scene of the passion story then, and dive into John 18 together.

Jesus and Judas

John 18:1–11 NIV

1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. 4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) 11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

John begins by setting the scene for us. Jesus and his disciples finally make their way to the garden and from Matthew and Mark’s gospels we know this as the Garden of Gethsemane. Having left the upper room, Judas now comes to the garden with a group of chief priest, pharisees, and soldiers. Judas knew that this is where Jesus and the disciples would likely be because he himself had gone with Jesus there at other times. This was a spot they would frequently go and listen to Jesus’ teaching and pray. Here we see what John had previously warned us about come to fruition. When John first introduced Judas to his readers all the way back in chapter 6, he warned us that Judas was the one who was to betray Jesus.

John 6:71 NIV

71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

If you can then, try to picture this scene in your mind. Jesus, the man who has been teaching in the synagogues and healing people, is confronted by a group of leaders and soldiers at night while he was praying. This is the part where it would make logical sense to us for everyone to flee. They all know the leaders haven’t exactly liked Jesus, it’s dark out, the logical response would be to try to run away. Perhaps to make it back to Lazarus, Martha, and Mary’s home and regroup. But instead of that, instead of responding like all of us would, Jesus goes out and asks them a question. “Who is it that you want?” Even in this moment, where to all of us it would appear that Jesus is caught in some kind of trap, Jesus demonstrates that he is in control. They say they are there for Jesus of Nazareth to with Jesus responds, “I am he.” In his response we see an echo of statements that Jesus has made throughout the gospel of John, the I AM statements. Jesus makes another I AM statement here and it is so astounding to the group there to arrest him that they actually back away from him and fall down. Many scholars debate on why this would have happened, but it had to be because something dramatic happened when Jesus announced himself. Perhaps the people sent to arrest Jesus had a moment where they truly felt and recognized who Jesus was, only for it to pass as quickly as it came.

After his response Jesus continues to protect the rest of the disciples. The group did not need to harm the disciples or arrest them, already we see Jesus offering himself in their place. He stands before their enemies and says to take him and leave them alone. Once again we are reminded in this of Jesus being willing to be put in front of danger for the good of others.

Perhaps it was this selfless act that prompted Peter to respond, but Peter is not okay with what is about to happen. He pulls out his sword and cuts off the High Priest’s Servant’s ear. In Luke we are told that Jesus heals the servants ear. Jesus then rebukes Peter. Even if Peter was willing to fight for Jesus, Jesus knew that he had to drink the cup God the Father had given him. This was his moment. This was his hour. At different times in the gospel Jesus has told people that his “hour had not yet come.” But here, Jesus makes it plain to the disciples and to all of us that this was exactly the hour that he was sent for.

In this first section then, I want us to see the willingness of Jesus to go to the cross for us.

There is a deep difference between someone who is forced to do something for you verses someone who does it out of love. If a spouse only demonstrates love because you tell them to, it prompts a completely different response than if they do it willingly. If someone willingly puts you ahead of themselves, it will cause us to take notice, we will be changed and impacted because of the love that is offered willingly. This is the same way that Jesus demonstrates his love towards us.

Jesus wasn’t trapped and forced to go, instead he went on his own accord and by his own power. Do not feel like you were an afterthought to Jesus or that he was forced into this situation on your behalf. No, he went willingly for all of us. For his disciples and followers back then and for all of us still today.

Corrupt Priest, Cowardly Disciple, and a Courageous Savior

John 18:12–27 NIV

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. 15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in. 17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” 18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. 19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” 22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. 23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Jesus is then taken first to Annas and we see two different scenes happening at the same time. Jesus is being questioned by Annas who was likely a previous high priest. While he is referred to as the high priest we know that during this time Caiaphas was the high priest. Annas is referenced this way in a similar way to how we address previous presidents. They are still referred to by the title of their former position. But as Jesus is in from of Annas and being questioned, he demonstrates his courage. Jesus is boldly telling everyone what he has done. He has always taught out in the public, in synagogues or at the temple. Jesus is not backing down from the truth that he has spoken and taught about throughout his ministry.

While Jesus is speaking boldly before the authorities though, Peter is crumbling and denying Jesus in front of a slave girl. In Peter, we see a response that we often criticize, yet I believe we can relate to it. Peter goes from willing to fight off the soldiers in the garden to denying that he even knows Jesus in front of a slave girl. As Jesus continued to be questioned and people stood around a fire outside, Peter is once again asked if he was one of Jesus’ disciples, to which he denied it. But another servant of the high priest steps forward and challenges Peter’s denial. This was a relative of Malchus, the servant who Peter had just chopped off his ear, and was apparently out in the garden with the group when Jesus was arrested. “Didn’t I see you out there?” Peter once again denies it, and what Jesus had said earlier comes true. Before the rooster crowed Peter would deny him three times. At this moment in John’s gospel, there is no resolution for Peter. He denies knowing Jesus and has to sit in that failure for days before Jesus would reassure him and comfort him.

Application

So what does this passage mean for us. First, (and we already talked about this) we see that Jesus went willingly to the cross. He was not forced, he was not dragged to it, he went willingly out of his love for the world.

The second point I want us to see, is that Jesus is in control of the entire situation.

Tragedy, hardship, trials, they are a part of life and we all know that. There are two ways that we can view these times as Christians. The first is called Open Theism and that view essentially says that God had nothing to do with the tragedy and that he doesn’t know in advance what is going to happen and as a result can’t prevent tragedy. God feels bad for what you are going through, but he is just as surprised as you are about it.

The other way of looking at this though, is that God is sovereign over everything that happens. This does not mean that God is responsible for evil, those who do evil are responsible for their sins. But at the same time, even though they act in evil, God’s plans and purpose are not changed or altered. Job affirms this in Job 42:2 “2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

This is why it is so comforting and important for us to see Jesus in this way. Jesus is Lord, even over his own death. If we see his control over his own death and trust him to have control over our salvation, then we can and should trust him even in the midst of trials, even when faced with our own death.

Prayer