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Confidence in the Trials of Life. John 18:1-19:16a. Admiring the Calm and the Confident. How did Jesus remain so confident during the trial of His life?. The Betrayal and Arrest : 18:1-11. “There was an olive grove and, and he and his disciples went into it.”.
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Confidence in the Trials of Life John 18:1-19:16a
How did Jesus remain so confident during the trial of His life?
The Betrayaland Arrest: 18:1-11 • “There was an olive grove and, and he and his disciples went into it.”
This lay within a garden on the Mount of Olives across from the Temple Mount Gethsemane
The Betrayaland Arrest: 18:1-11 • “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen . . . .” (verse 4)
Jesus said, “I AM.” • This statement is repeated three times by Jesus for emphasis and echoes the Old Testament passage in Exodus 3:14. • “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.”’”
The Betrayaland Arrest: 18:1-11 • “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” • Jesus knows who He is (“I AM”). • Jesus knows His life’s mission.
The TrialPart One: 18:12-14; 19-24 • Jesus has spoken openly about Himself. • He wants to know why He was taken in secret in the middle of the night and illegally put on trial. • Jesus has nothing to hide but they obviously do!
The TrialPart One: 18:12-14; 19-24 • Even though Jesus is the one who is supposed to be afraid and on trial, He goes on the offensive, making His accusers squirm instead! • In the end, Annas and his gang of thugs are unable to bring any definite charges against Jesus.
The Denialof Peter: 18:15-17; 25-27 • Peter is overcome by fear. • Whenever we sin, we also deny the lordship of Jesus in our lives. • As witnesses of Christ’s resurrection and partakers of God’s Holy Spirit, we are even more guilty than Peter!
The Denialof Peter: 18:15-17; 25-27 • How seriously do you take the problem of sin in your life? • Do you see it as a denial of the Lord Jesus Christ? • Have you minimized it or taken God’s forgiveness for granted?
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • Jesus is now taken to Caiaphas and again put illegally on trial. • Here, the tribunal is able to produce a confession from Jesus that He claims to be the Messiah, the Holy One of God.
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • However, an enormous problem still remains for the Jewish leaders. • Jews are no longer allowed to legally execute anyone, and the Romans do not care about religious disputes if they are not political in nature.
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • Jesus is now taken to Pilate in an attempt to get the Romans to put Him to death. • They accuse Jesus of the political offense of claiming to be a “King,” namely, the “King of the Jews.”
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • Jesus cleverly responds by stating that His kingdom is a heavenly rather than an earthly one. • Thus, Pilate says to the Jewish leaders, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” • At this point, for justice to prevail, Jesus should have been released.
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • However, due to a long history of trouble with the Jews, Pilate is still in trouble. • In an effort to appease the angry mob, Pilate offers to release either Jesus or the rebel Barabbas. • In a last-ditch effort to be rid of the whole problem, Pilate has Jesus beaten, mocked, and given a crown of thorns to wear.
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • Pilate then presents Jesus as a pathetic figure to the crowd, stating, “Behold the man!” • The Jews become even more insistent on putting Jesus to death. • Pilate becomes even more frightened of the mob and of an omen from his wife.
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • Ironically, only Jesus keeps confidently calm and collected throughout the whole sordid affair. • In addition, the Jewish leaders ultimately wind up committing the same sin they had accused Jesus of by ascribing absolute kingship to someone other than God (vs. 15)!
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • How does Jesus remain so confident and calm in the face of horrific injustice and suffering? • Jesus, “for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” —Hebrews 12:2
The TrialPart Two: 18:28-19:1-16a • In the same way, you and I are called to endure the hardships and trials of life with confidence by fixing “our eyes on Jesus,” considering Him “who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that [we] will not grow weary and lose heart.” —Hebrews 12:2-3
Conclusion and Application: • Jesus knew who He was (John 18:5-8; 37). • Jesus knew exactly what His life mission and purpose were (John 18:11, 36-37). • Jesus knew exactly what His endurance would ultimately mean (Hebrews 12:1-4).
Conclusion and Application: • Jesus knew exactly who He was. • Do You? • “For we are God’s workmanship . . .” —Ephesians 2:10
Conclusion and Application: • Jesus knew exactly what His life mission and purpose were. • Do You? • “We are . . . created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” —Ephesians 2:10
Conclusion and Application: • Jesus knew exactly what His endurance would ultimately mean. • Do You? • “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28
Conclusion and Application: Confidence during life’s trials comes through your relationship with Christ, the one who tells you who you are, what your life mission is, and what is the ultimate meaning of life’s trials.
The Story of Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley “Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man, for we shall this day light such a candle in England as I trust by God’s grace shall never be put out.”
Christ’s Arrest and Trials John 18
Confusing Terms… • Richard James Griffith Hamburger Hot Dog Chopsticks
Jesus has always been God “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)
God became man in Jesus • “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father” (John 1:14)
God’s Love • Shown in Signs
Gethsemane • This lay within a garden on the Mount of Olives across from Temple Mount