The Kingdoms that Confront Us

He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified (John 19: 9-16).

 Today’s text presents a scene that has rightly been called the confrontation of two kingdoms. Perplexed by the Jews’ claim that “He has made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7), Pilate asked Jesus to affirm or reject the accusation by revealing where He came from. When He did not answer, Pilate confronted Jesus with his Roman authority. Jesus replied with two very important truths about authority. He taught here that authority is granted by God and that it can be used rightly or wrongly. Pierced by the truth of Jesus’ words, Pilate turned again to the crowd. In Christ they were confronted by the beaten and abused King of the Jews and in Pilate they saw the glory and splendor of Caesar. With a boisterous declaration, “We have no king but Caesar” the crowd made their choice. When confronted by the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Caesar, the crowd chose the more carnally attractive and sensually appealing Rome. And Pilate, seeking to appease the mob and remain a friend of Caesar followed the crowd in making a terribly wrong choice between the kingdoms that confront us.

Diligent disciples living in a rebellious world are constantly confronted by two kingdoms. There is the kingdom of this world that is relentless in immersing us in its familiar, comfortable, and attractive ways. Then there is the Kingdom of God that challenges us to live above and beyond the temptation of the natural world and to impact this world with the truth and gospel of Jesus Christ. Today our Teacher, the Holy Spirit shows us that whenever we are confronted by these two kingdoms and we chose rightly, we are fulfilling Christ’s prayerful desire and advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth… “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Let’s ask the Spirit to lead us into truth about these two kingdoms and to empower us to discern and choose rightly when we are confronted with this choice.

The kingdom of the world is carnal, temporary and in opposition to the Kingdom of God… “Do not love the world or the things in the world… For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17). Diligent disciples are not conformed by the culture of the world… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Earnest disciples heed the Spirit’s exhortation to avoid compromising friendship with the world… “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Maturing disciples transform this rebellious world by living as culture-shaping citizens of God’s Kingdom… “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). True disciples conquer the darkness of this world by living in the Light of Christ… “That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

As we grow up into Christ His kingdom advances whenever we choose rightly between…

The Kingdoms that Confront Us.

The Humility that Astounds Us

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid (John 19: 1-8).

Although he found “no guilt in Him” Pilate had Jesus flogged and presented to the clamoring crowd. He hoped they would be appeased at the undeserved punishment so he could set Jesus free and be done with this troublesome matter. But something about the severely beaten man with the bloody “crown of thorns” dressed in a blood spattered “purple robe” incited the unruly crowd to even higher levels of anger, and they intensified their demand to “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”. Pilate’s heart was pierced by the accusation of the leaders of the Jews, that Jesus “Made Himself the Son of God”. We, like the angels in Heaven look on in amazement as the Son of Man is abused and molested by men and our Teacher, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the humility that astounds us.

Understanding and practicing humility clearly defines us as true disciples and not mere Christ followers. In today’s reflection on Jesus’ mistreatment by Pilate, we note the large crowd of Christ followers. They all were following Him to the cross, though the overwhelming majority of them were His enemies, in the crowd to accuse Him and speed His journey toward an early death. There were some true disciples in the crowd. Among them was John the Evangelist, used by the Holy Spirit to record these events. Here Christ continued His strategy of confronting the crowd of followers with truth in order to prompt followers to step away from the crowd, embrace the truth revealed by the Living Word, and become His disciples. Every time we read God’s word we are confronted by His truth and invited by His Spirit to mature from Christ follower into disciple… “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).

In today’s text, the crowd is confronted by an astounding illustration of humility. The bloody crown of thorns on Christ’s head echoed the truth He taught about servant leadership… “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). The purple robe covering the abused body of Christ illustrated the truth Jesus taught about true authority being submitted to the purpose and will of God… “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” (John 10:17-18).

The crowd of followers was confronted by a bloody crown of thorns and a purple robe. Pilate was confronted by the crowd-inciting accusation of the Jewish leaders… “He has made himself the Son of God”. This was not a totally strange declaration to Pilate. As a Roman governor he was aware of the rich tradition of his culture that maintained a history of myths and fables of human beings born of gods. But this Man was different. He was not the typical arrogant, prideful son of a god. Jesus was humble to the point of silence… “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” (Isaiah 53:7). The encounter with this humble King greatly troubled Pilate’s heart.

As we grow up into Christ we should become more like Him, reflecting to others…

The Humility that Astounds Us.

The Innocence that Paid for Our Guilt

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber (John 18: 38b-40).

 Pilate did not wait for the answer to his penetrating question… “What is truth?” (John 18:38a). Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse into Pilate’s heart through the pens of the gospel authors. Matthew recorded that Pilate valued peace above truth… “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves” (Matthew 27:24). Mark recorded that Pilate wished to please the crowd more than to know and expose the truth… “So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified” (Mark 15:15). Luke recorded that Pilate prized political alliances more than the pursuit of truth… “And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other” (Luke 23:12). John recorded that Pilate wanted to hold onto temporal authority and power more than he wanted to know the truth… “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, ‘If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar’” (John 19:12). When he abandoned truth, Pilate became especially vulnerable to deception. The option of substituting Barabbas, a thief, terrorist, and murderer for the innocent and politically harmless Jesus of Nazareth became an attractive way for him to appease both the corrupt motivations of his heart and the easily swayed crowd. He was unaware that the sovereignty of God was at work fulfilling His perfect plan to provide the innocence that paid for our guilt.

We can identify with several characters in today’s text. There is Pilate, whose lack of desire for truth left him vulnerable to deception. When we do not love truth we make ourselves an easy target for deception. Although it is a hard truth to grasp, the Spirit shows us that God sometimes sends deceiving spirits into the lives of those who do not love His truth to accomplish His will… “Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you” (1 Kings 22:23). The Teacher moved Paul to write that shortly before the revelation of the antichrist, the love of unrighteousness will be so prevalent and the love of truth will be so absent, God will send a strong delusion that separates true disciples from the rest of the world… “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). The Spirit exhorts us today to maintain a growing love for God’s truth.

There is Barabbas, whose criminal activity brought his life to a very fitting conclusion, death by crucifixion. He was a murderous rebel… “And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas” (Mark 15:7). He was a thief… “Now Barabbas was a robber” (John 18:40). Jesus shows us how much like Barabbas we are… “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:21-22). The Spirit convicts us today of our guilt that deserves the just judgment of God.

Then there is Jesus, who willingly took Barabbas’ place, and our place on the cross, exchanging His innocence for our guilt… “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). We are reminded of how great this precious exchange really was.

As we grow up into Christ loving and pursuing His truth, we are evermore thankful for…

The Innocence that Paid for Our Guilt.

The King that Reveals Truth

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” (John 18: 33-38a).

 Pilate returned to Jesus with some probing questions. The governor of Judea confronted the King of the Jews. The power and authority of Rome questioned the King born to reveal the grace and truth of God… “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). And in this great confrontation between two kingdoms, disciples find exhortation to trust and obey the King who reveals truth.

The Spirit of Truth confronts us with two kingdoms today. Mere Christ followers are not always sensitive to the many times the laws of this world contradict the laws of Heaven. Maturing disciples recognize this confrontation more often as we grow in truth. The laws of man do not respect life as a gift from our Creator, encourage freedom to worship our Redeemer, or promote reliance on our Sustainer. Often the laws of the church attempt to protect the power of leadership rather than promote the spiritual growth of truth seeking disciples. When confronted by the collision of the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of man, which authority do you submit to in an ultimate way? When confronted with the conflict between obeying God or man, which king do you choose? Our Teacher inspired Luke to record a story and a strong exhortation from the apostles to respect earthly authority but to submit to God’s authority when faced with the confrontation of these two kingdoms… “And the high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:27-29). In today’s text the Spirit exhorts disciples to imitate the apostles with two more reasons to obey God rather than man.

First, there is the superiority of Christ’s authority. God promises that true disciples will share in Christ’s Kingdom… “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27) and Christ’s dominion is not of this temporal world, therefore Christ’s sovereignty is universal and eternal… “His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him” (Daniel 7:27).

Second, there is the purpose of Christ’s Kingdom. Jesus plainly declared that He came to “bear witness to the truth”. While men exercise power in order to acquire and maintain more power over men, Christ exercises power over all of creation in order to reveal God’s saving, redeeming truth to perishing mankind… “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). In fact it is God’s perfect order for disciples to respect and support the world’s authorities so that His superior authority might advance as we share His saving truth here in the world… “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Jesus made it clear that only those submitted to His authority can discern and receive His truth.

As we grow up into Christ we respect man’s authority but ultimately submit to…

The King that Reveals Truth.

The Hypocrisy that Deceives Us

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 (John 18: 28-32).

 Having been interrogated and physically abused by the religious authorities, Jesus appeared next before the secular powers on a criminal charge. Here the Holy Spirit moved John to note the hypocrisy of the Jews. They were careful to keep themselves ritually clean so they could continue to observe the Passover, yet they were so internally corrupt they could interrupt the Passover to unjustly condemn an innocent man to death. Here we also note the hypocrisy of Pilate. He was aware of no charge worthy of capital punishment yet he was willing to turn Jesus over to the very accusers whose demand for His death rested solely on their unsubstantiated word. Truly, this next encounter with the world’s authorities on the way to the cross reveals the danger of the hypocrisy that deceives us.

Today we reflect on another confrontation between Christ and the religious and secular leaders of His day. They had power to enforce justice and power over life and death in criminal matters. From each of them we can learn much about hypocrisy, an insidious disease that can creep into our heart and corrupt our ability to build and maintain healthy relationships with God and with others. It’s really all about what fills and controls the heart. God created us with only one heart and He wants it to be undivided and wholly devoted to Him… “I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them” (Jeremiah 32:39). Only an undivided heart can produce whole-hearted devotion to the Lord… “I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Corinthians 7:35). Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit shows us today how to discern and resist the spirit of hypocrisy that we might remain fully devoted to Christ.

First, we notice that the Jewish leaders were concerned about external righteousness. Appearing in the home of a Gentile made no real difference in the heart of a pilgrim. But if a Jew was seen entering or exiting a Gentile home during the Passover week, then others might conclude that they had been defiled, and thus disqualified from participation in the Passover Feast. But Jesus taught clearly that it is not what goes on outside of us that defiles, but it is what we store up in our heart… “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” (Matthew 15:19-20). While externally clean, the hearts of the Jews were thoroughly polluted with thoughts of murder. So the first step in guarding our heart against the subtle seed of hypocrisy is to store up God’s truth and be filled with love for Him. If we keep our heart immersed in the Love of Christ, there will be no room for the seeds of hypocrisy to take root, grow, and produce words and deeds that deny our faith in Christ. And with our hearts filled with truth and love for Christ we will be equipped to discern hypocrisy in others by close observation of their words and deeds… “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).

This leads us to the second lesson about hypocrisy in today’s text, the hypocrisy of Pilate. He was sworn to uphold justice but too easily caved into the will of the Jews. The true disciple has a heart that is resistant to compromise with the world and fully devoted to the righteousness of God… “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings” (Isaiah 51:7).

As we grow up into Christ our hearts become more fully devoted to Him and there is no room for…

The Hypocrisy that Deceives Us.

The World that Seduces Us

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” (John 18: 25-27).

 The Holy Spirit moving through the pen of John the Evangelist returns our attention to Peter. He followed Jesus into the courtyard of Annas, the unofficial high priest of the Jews. Peter missed the Savior’s replies to Annas’ probing questions because he remained just outside the door of the house, in the courtyard, warming himself by a fire in the company of the officers and servants of the Jews… ”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 18:18). Peter’s distance from the Lord and comfort in the presence of the Lord’s enemies led to his threefold denial of the Savior. Each accusation was more piercing than the one before, with the final attack coming from an eyewitness, a relative of Malchus, whose ear suffered a blow from Peter’s sword in the garden arrest. Each denial was easier and more forceful than the previous one. The Spirit moved the Apostle Mark to record that Peter actually lied and spoke a curse on himself in his final denial… “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). John noted the crowing of a rooster immediately followed Peter’s third denial. Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit gathered all these facts together in this scene to show us the danger of the world that seduces us.

It’s not easy striving to live a holy life in this unholy world. Every honest disciple will admit we have given in to the strong temptation of the world around us… “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Though they may be fewer and farther between as we are maturing in our walk with Christ, we can remember moments of doubt and perhaps even a few times when we have denied being a disciple. Honest reflection on these times will often reveal that like Peter, we were seduced by the world.

The world seduced Peter with warmth and comfort. Because we are creatures of the flesh, the natural world feels very familiar and comfortable to us. It is only as we grow older that we begin to look forward to leaving this natural world and going to our real home in heaven… “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21). Until then we must guard our hearts against the attractive lure of this natural world.

The world seduced Peter with lies and doubt. Peter had once been so sure of his faith in Christ that he promised he would die for his master… “Peter said to him, ‘Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!’” (Matthew 26:35). But on this dark night it was not the promise of the disciple but the prophecy of the Master that was fulfilled… “Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times’” (Matthew 26:34). Why did Peter believe the lie that he was not a true disciple of Christ? Peter was not yet strong enough to resist the temptation of the enemies of Christ. The Spirit moved Luke to record that even as Peter yielded to the seduction of the world and confessed the lie of Christ’s enemies, Jesus came close and confronted him with a look of love and compassion that convicted his heart and would lead him to repentance and forgiveness… “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times’. And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62). The world will relentlessly attack our faith by telling us we are not real disciples at all. The world will plant doubt in our hearts by pointing to our failures and weaknesses as we strive to live for Christ. But if we stay close to Jesus and confess our sins He will always be quick to forgive and restore us as our faith matures… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

As we grow up into Christ, staying close to Him, our faith matures and we experience victory over…

The World that Seduces Us.

The Word that Confronts Us

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: 19-24).

 Don’t miss the irony of this moment. Annas, unofficial high priest of the Jews questioned Jesus, the High Priest of Heaven… “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14). Annas was not the true high priest of the Jews. He had conspired with the Romans to have his son-in-law Caiaphas installed as high priest and he served as Annas’ puppet. Everyone knew this to be true. That’s why the soldiers and officers brought Jesus to Annas before He was sent to the real high priest Caiaphas, who had already decided that Jesus must die… “It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people” (John 18:14). This was a God-ordained opportunity for the incarnate Word of God (see John 1:1, 14) to reveal some very potent, encouraging truth about the spoken Word of God. Today the Holy Spirit teaches earnest disciples about the word that confronts us.

Jesus told Annas that His word is for the whole world. One of the most profound truths of all eternity is that God loves the whole world… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). It is God’s will that His gospel be preached openly to every living person… “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Jesus calls every true disciple share the words He spoke about forgiveness and salvation with every living creature… “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation’” (Mark 16:15). Jesus spoke openly so God’s word might confront the whole world.

Jesus told Annas that His word is revealed in the lives of true disciples. The clearest evidence of the truth of God’s word is not found in books, letters, or sermons. Instead of answering Annas’ question directly, Jesus pointed him to the lives of those who heard and embraced the truth of God’s word. The best illustration of the power of God’s word is in the words and deeds of Christ’s disciples… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31). There is irrefutable, undeniable evidence of the power of God’s truth in the transformed lives of those who hear and believe His word… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). Jesus calls His disciples to be clear reflections of His truth so that His word might confront the world.

The officer that struck Jesus revealed that His word provokes anger in the hearts of unbelievers. While believers are transformed into disciples by its truth, unbelievers are convicted and their hearts are hardened when confronted by God’s word… “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Disciples who are immersed in the truth of God’s word, speaking God’s word, applying and living according to God’s word are a constant reflection of His word that confronts the world around them… “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). Christ’s word provoked the officer to strike Him and Annas to dispatch Him to death at the hand of Caiaphas. Jesus’ true disciples still confront and provoke unbelievers as we abide in His word today.

As we grow up into Christ we are being transformed as the world is convicted and provoked by…

The Word that Confronts Us.

The Fellowship that Builds Our Faith

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: 15-18).

This scene is filled with disappointment and denial. The Holy Spirit inspired John the evangelist to report that two disciples followed Jesus after He was arrested, bound, and brought before the high priest’s father-in-law Annas. That’s what disciples do. Disciples follow their teacher. In fact, we have learned that Jesus said His true disciples not only follow Him but they embrace the truth of their leader… “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples’” (John 8:31). At another time, Jesus taught that maturing disciples who followed Him closely and immersed themselves in the truth He taught would become more like Him… “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). Here are two disciples courageous enough to follow Jesus even into the fortress of His enemies, yet one of them, “Simon Peter” denied being called His disciple. Scholars, preachers, and commentators have speculated extensively about why Peter denied Christ. Today, the Holy Spirit takes us in another direction as He leads us deeper into truth. Our Teacher reveals three truths here that will nurture and strengthen a closer walk with Jesus for diligent disciples. Today we learn about the fellowship that builds our faith.

In this account of Peter’s first denial we see that discipleship is not an event, but is a maturing relationship that is nurtured through close fellowship with Christ. Serious disciples that want to see as Christ does, think as Christ does, speak as Christ does and do the things Christ would do must stay close to Christ. God’s word teaches that when our fellowship with Jesus is close, we are confronted by His glory and the Holy Spirit transforms us and makes us more like Him… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In this account of Peter’s first denial we see the power of fellowship with other believers to encourage disciples to stay close to Christ. As the distance between Peter and Jesus increased, “the other disciple… brought Peter in”. Serious disciples that want to stay close to Christ need to stay close to each other. God’s word promises encouragement and strengthening faith in fellowship with other believers… “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

In this account of Peter’s first denial we see how unholy fellowship with the world drives us away from faith building fellowship with Christ. After his first denial the distance between Peter and Jesus increased and he found it easier and more comfortable to hang out with the servants and officers who had arrested his Savior. In the company of his enemies Peter was, “standing and warming himself”. Serious disciples that want increasing faith to see and reflect the glory of Christ to the world must stay away from the attraction of the world. God’s word warns about the subtle, corrupting power of friendship with the world to drive followers away from Christ… “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

As we grow up into Christ and we stay close to Him and to other disciples, we will be blessed by…

The Fellowship that Builds Our Faith.

The Believer's Final Authority

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: 12-14).

When we consider the power and authority that rested in the person of the Son of God… “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53), it is difficult to understand how a small band of soldiers and officers could so easily arrest Him and place Him in chains. It is hard to watch as the Son of God is dragged before Annas, a man with no legal authority, then Caiaphas, a man with a previously announced agenda of his own. On the surface this appears to be a clash of earthly and heavenly authorities, and it looks to the undiscerning eye like earth wins and heaven loses. But if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us deeper here, we will discover some indispensable truth about the believer’s final authority.

Authority is all about control. Those with authority have real or perceived power to manage and manipulate others. Every group needs a leader who can share the vision, set the course, send the workers, and see the project through to its completion. Most of us feel better about contributing our time, talent, and treasure to something that is moved forward by strong leadership. But authority can corrupt the sinful heart. There are those who won’t be part of the group unless they are in control. There are those who use authority to achieve their own goals instead of the group’s corporate goals. There are those who make authority their primary goal. For such leaders as these, authority becomes an idol. What makes the difference? How do we recognize and submit to healthy authority and discern and avoid corrupt authority? Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit offers some vital truth in today’s review of the arrest of Jesus. In this scene truth seekers will recognize several types of authority.

There is the unhealthy authority of “the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews”. These men exercised no reason of their own but blindly followed the orders of their superiors.

There is the manipulative authority of “Annas”. Annas was no longer the official High Priest. The High Priest served for only one year at a time. But Annas figured out a way to maintain control beyond his legal tenure. He conspired with the Romans and manipulated others to place his son-in-law Caiaphas in the position as his puppet. Annas represents those who exercise authority that is not their own in order to maintain control over people and things through others.

There is the selfish authority of “Caiaphas”. Caiaphas was his father-in-law’s puppet, but he also had an agenda of his own. He did not care about justice. He had already declared that Jesus must die.

There is the final authority of “Jesus”. In this confrontation between earthly and heavenly authority, heaven won… “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” (John 10:17-18). Jesus was completely surrendered to His Father’s perfect will…. “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). He had no agenda of His own apart from His Father’s agenda. To exercise the power of heavenly authority we must imitate Jesus and be completely surrendered to glorifying God in every circumstance and relationship… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:12-13). In every confrontation between earthly and heavenly authority, heaven wins… “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). To experience the power of Christ’s final authority we must speak His name and imitate His God-surrendered and God-glorifying life at all times.

As we grow up into Christ, submitted to His will and seeking His glory we will know the power of…

The Believer’s Final Authority.

The Authority He Shares with Us

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?” (John 18: 1-11).

Today we observe one of the most ironic moments in all of history. Judas, a follower of Jesus with circumspect motives along with a large band of soldiers and officers came to arrest Jesus. This group of heavily armed soldiers came with all the authority of “the chief priests and the Pharisees”. They came to place chains on the arms of the Son of God! How could they hope to succeed? The authority of God’s Son is revealed several times during this brief confrontation. While His enemies used their authority to arrest Him, Christ exercised His authority to demonstrate the superiority of His authority. There is a clear revelation here that Jesus Christ is the King above all kings… “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). There is a powerful revelation here of authority under control and in submission to the Father’s perfect will. In the revelation of Jesus’s authority here we see much more than control over His circumstances… “Knowing all that would happen to him…  This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken… Shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” We also see a clear demonstration of care and protection for His disciples and even mercy for His enemies. Today we get a glimpse of the authority He shares with us.

Did you know that Christ's disciples have access to His great authority? Jesus gives us authority through His name, a reflection of His personality and character… “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19). Where do you need to trust and apply His authority today? Do you need heavenly authority over your budget, employment, health, or other circumstance? Do you need Christ’s authority over a broken relationship, failing family ties, or some enemies that oppose your ministry and keep you from pursuing the Lord’s will? Jesus taught His disciples how to trust and exercise His great authority.

With His authority Jesus demonstrated the sovereignty of God. At the simple declaration of His name, Jesus’ enemies fell… “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). With His authority Jesus revealed God’s protection… “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:29). With His authority Jesus sought to accomplish God’s will, not His own… “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). If we imitate Christ by seeking to reveal God’s sovereignty, trust His protection, and pursue His perfect will through all our circumstances and relationships, we will be covered by Christ’s authority.

As we grow up into Christ surrendering situations and relationships to Him, we come to know…

The Authority He Shares with Us.

The Prayer that Unifies Us

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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. 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. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 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” (John 17: 20-26).

Jesus prayed. How profound is this moment when the incarnate Son of God paused to speak to His Father on behalf of His disciples. It is profound when we consider that the Father and Son are one… “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). It is profound when we acknowledge that He prayed for all disciples, present and future… “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word”. It is profound when we recognize that the Holy Spirit inspired John to record the prayer for us… “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). Jesus prayed that all believers would be one, as the Father and Son are one. On His way to the cross Jesus paused and further prepared His disciples for life and ministry in this hostile world with the prayer that unifies us.

Jesus prayed that oneness with His Father would make us one. He asked for a unique kind of unity here, that we… “May all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us”. He prayed for the kind of unity that is born of much time in the presence of God where we experience the oneness of the Father and Son. Then we are to build and nurture close relationships with other believers that mirror this unique unity and reflect it to the world… “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Jesus prayed that God’s glory would make us one. He prayed that we would be so intimate with Him that we will see His glory even in this corrupt and temporal world. He acknowledged in this prayer that He has given the glory of God to us. If seeing and reflecting God’s glory in all we say and do is our top priority, we have a unique, common purpose that unifies us and identifies us as Christ’s disciples to each other and to the world… “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Jesus prayed that deep love for Him would make us one. He prayed that we might know the depth of the Father’s love for the Son… “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35). He prayed that we would have the same love for the Son… “That the love with which you have loved me may be in them”. He revealed in this prayer the power of love for Jesus that can overcome the conflicts and differences that arise between imperfect disciples and threaten the unity of the church. He wants His disciples to know that love for Christ must be our priority because it is indispensable to loving others like He does. He revealed this basic truth in His discourse with Peter as He restored Him to ministry and leadership in the church… “’Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’” (John 21:15). This kind of love binds us together and identifies us as Christ’s disciples… “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

As He prayed, Jesus revealed His heart’s desire for a God-reflecting unity among His disciples. He also taught that unity among disciples depends on intimacy with God, seeking His glory, and sharing His love.

As we grow up into Christ, abiding in His presence, glory, and love, we become one in answer to…

The Prayer that Unifies Us.