Hinckley EFC

The Gospel of John: The Trial

The Gospel of John: The Trial

John 18:28-40

Questioning the Prosecution (v. 28–32)

•      Annas & Caiaphas send Jesus to the Roman ruler, Pilate

–     Roman prefect under Emperor Tiberius from AD 26 to 37

–     Known for his moral weakness, vacillation, stubbornness, and brutality (cf. Luke 13:1)

•      They refuse to enter his home so that they can stay ceremonial clean

–     And partake in the impending Passover

•      Pilate comes out to the crowd and questions them

–     They need Pilate’s permission to execute Jesus

–     Because they are not allowed to put anyone to death under Roman law

•      Which also fulfilled Jesus’ words about being crucified, the Roman form of execution (12:32-33)

•      Rather than being stoned, the Jewish one

 

The Defense Questioned (v. 33–38a)

•      Pilate brings Jesus inside for a private questioning

•      He asks if Jesus is claiming to be the Jewish King: the Messiah

–     This claim would make Jesus a threat to Caesar, the Roman Emperor

•      Jesus asks Pilate a clarifying question (v. 34)

–     Which is met with indignation

•      Jesus clarifies that He is no threat to Rome

–     By defining His kingdom as ‘not of this world’

•      Jesus’ Kingdom

–     Spiritual in nature

•      And therefore greater than any human kingdom

•      And yet, not a threat to them either

–     Is not built or established by human means

•      When Pilate asks Jesus to verify His kingly claim

–     He does so; but clarifies that He is the king of those who live in the truth

•      Pilates’ rhetorical question is telling:

–     He does not known truth, though the Truth is standing before him

 

The First Trial (v. 19-24)

•      When the high priest questions Jesus, it is at night

–     Thus considered illegal

•      Unlike Jesus who does His work in the open (v. 20)

•      Perhaps one reason why Jesus does not testify about Himself is to shed light on the injustice

–     He calls on the high priest to produce witnesses

•      Which was required by the Law (Num 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15)

•      Jesus also points out the soldier’s response is illegal

–     Not based on wrongs committed or witnesses

•      Thus, those who claim to obey the Law:

–     Fail to keep it

–     Fail to understand that the Law points to Jesus the Messiah

 

The Verdict (v. 38b-40)

•      Pilate announces to the crowds that he finds ‘no guilt in [Jesus]’

–     Speaking greater than he knows

•      He invokes a Roman custom to release a prisoner at the Passover

–     Asking if they want their King back

•      The crowd calls for the insurrectionist, Barabbas (cf. Mark 15:7)

–     Irony: Barabbas may have actually posed a threat to Roman rule and is released

•      While Jesus poses no real threat is executed

 

So What?

•      Jesus is building a kingdom that is greater than any this world has ever known

•      Are you a part of that kingdom?

•      Have you listened to the Truth and believed Him?

 

Meditation Verse: John 18:37

The Gospel of John: The Denial

The Gospel of John: The Denial

John 18:12-27

Annas & Caiaphas (v. 12-14)

•      Jesus is led to Annas, who was not the high priest at the time

–     His son-in-law Caiaphas was

–     Along with several of his sons before that

•      But had been from AD 6 to 15, and still held a lot of power

•      The Roman governor appointed the high priest

–     Though Scripture mandated that it be a life-long position (Num. 35:25, 28, 32; Josh. 20:6)

 

The First Denial (v. 15-18)

•      Peter and another disciple follow Jesus from a distance

–     The other disciple = probably John

•      Possibly a distant relative to the high priest or socially connected

•      Procures access to the high priest’s court

•      When Peter is questioned by the servant girl, he denies being Jesus’ disciple

 

The First Trial (v. 19-24)

•      When the high priest questions Jesus, it is at night

–     Thus considered illegal

•      Unlike Jesus who does His work in the open (v. 20)

•      Perhaps one reason why Jesus does not testify about Himself is to shed light on the injustice

–     He calls on the high priest to produce witnesses

•      Which was required by the Law (Num 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15)

•      Jesus also points out the soldier’s response is illegal

–     Not based on wrongs committed or witnesses

•      Thus, those who claim to obey the Law:

–     Fail to keep it

–     Fail to understand that the Law points to Jesus the Messiah

 

The Final Denials (v. 25-27)

•      Peter again is questioned about being Jesus’ disciple

–     And twice more denies Him

–     After which a rooster crows, thus fulfilling Jesus’ words (13:38)

•      But this is not the end of Peter’s story in John’s Gospel (21:15-23)

 

So What?

•      Jesus’ trials are a reminder that His death was unjust. And yet by it He brought about eternal justice; His death paying the price that our sins deserve. Thus sin is not unpunished, but rather is paid for by Jesus’ unjust death

•      Even when we deny Him, there is hope, for Christ’s desire is to forgive and restore us.

Meditation Verse: 1 Peter 3:18

The Gospel of John: The Arrest

The Gospel of John: The Arrest

John 18:1-11

The Betrayal (v. 1-3)

•      John reports that the words which Jesus spoke were spoken while He and the disciples traveled to the Garden of Gethsemane

–     The Greek shows that these events are happening simultaneously

•      Judas brings a cohort of Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus in the garden

–     Cohort = 200 to 600 men

•      They are prepared for a violent confrontation

•      Judas would have met in the garden with Jesus in the past

–     A reminder of their close relationship

 

The Questioning (v. 4-9)

•      Jesus is depicted as knowing what is about to happen (v. 4)

–     And thus is in control of the situation

•      Even beginning the questioning

•      When Jesus identifies Himself, He uses a form of the divine name “I Am” (v. 5, 7)

–     Thus the mob’s reaction (v. 6)

•      He then surrenders, insisting that His disciples be released

–     Thus showing His care for them

–     And fulfilling earlier Jesus’ promise (17:12)

 

The Defiance (v. 10-11)

•      Peter acts rashly, attacking one of the mob

–     They are outnumbered at least 20 to 1

–     Peter is obviously not adept with a sword

•      Cutting off the man’s ear

•      Which Jesus healed (cf. Luke 22:51)

•      Shows Peter’s lack of understanding of Jesus’ mission (cf. Matt. 26:52-54)

–     This was the will of His Father (v. 11; cf. Luke 22:42)

–     He was not being captured

•      He was giving Himself over to His enemies

•      He is still in control

 

So What?

•      Jesus went to the Cross willingly, to accomplish His Father’s will: our salvation.

•      We must come to Jesus willingly, laying down our lives & our swords, surrendering to His will.

 

Meditation Verse: John 18:11

The Gospel of John: The High Priestly Prayer part 2 (John 17:11b-26

The Gospel of John: The High Priestly Prayer, part 2

John 17:11b-26

A Prayer of Protection (v. 11b–16)

•      Jesus focus His intimate conversation with His Father on His concern for His disciples well-being once He is gone

•      This includes their unity (v. 11b)

–     Which is conditional upon their continued connection with the Father

•      The time of Jesus’ direct protection is drawing to a close (v. 12-13)

–     Because He is returning to His Father

•      And they will have Jesus’ joy: Abiding in the Father’s love (15:11)

–     All have been kept, except Judas

•      But that was foretold (Ps. 41:10)

•      The danger they face is:

–     The world’s hatred

•      Because they have accepted Jesus’ word

•      And therefore are no longer of this world

–     The evil one: the Devil

•      Jesus’ prayer is not removal from danger

–     But rather perseverance through it

 

A Prayer of Sanctification (v. 17–19)

•      Jesus asks His Holy Father (v. 11b) to make His disciples holy, like Him

–     Set apart from the world

•      Which happens through their acceptance of and obedience to God’s word

•      They are made holy to continue Jesus’ work in the world

 

A Prayer for All Believers (v. 21-26)

•      Jesus prays for those who will believe because of the God’s ministry through these 11

–     That is us and all other Christians

•      His desire is for unity (v. 21)

–     Among Christians

–     And between us and God

–     Both of which testifies to the world the truth of who Jesus is

•      He asks that we reflect His glory

–     As He is at work in us through the Spirit

–     Loving like God loves

•      He petitions that we may with Him

–     Eternity in the presence of the glory of God

 

So What?

•      Jesus’ desire for us is:

–     To obey His word

–     To be united with Him and each other

–     To reflect His love and glory to the world

•      That same world that hates us for doing so

–     To live with Him eternally

•      Are we living out these desires?

 

Meditation Verse: John 17:21

The Gospel of John: The work of the Spirit (John 16: 4b-15

The Gospel of John: The Work of the Spirit

John 16:4b-15

The Need to Leave (v. 4b-7)

•      Jesus’ comforting statements concerning persecution in 15:17-16:4b were not previously needed because of His presence with the disciples

•      But now Jesus is preparing them for His imminent departure

–     Over which they are grieved (v. 6)

•      His leaving will be to his disciples advantage

–     Because the Spirit will not come until after Jesus has left

–     See Isa. 11:1–10; 32:14–18; 42:1–4; 44:1–5; Ezk. 11:17–20; 36:24–27; 37:1–14; Joel 2:28–32

 

The Convicter (v. 8-11)

•      The Spirit comes to convict the world of:

–     Sin: which is based in unbelief in Jesus

–     Righteousness: Exposing the inadequacy of its own actions

–     Judgment: Showing God’s truth concerning all things

–     In contrast to the lies of the ‘prince of this world’ (Satan)

–     All of which Jesus did while on earth and the Spirit will continue in His absence

 

The Teacher (v. 12-15)

•      The Spirit will make clear to the disciples all that Jesus has taught

•      He is our ultimate teacher and revealer of Christ

 

So What?

•      With Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension the kingdom of God has come

•      The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out that kingdom life now

•      And continues the ministry of Jesus through us

•      Are we letting Him work through us?

 

Meditation Verse: John 16:7

Hatred & the Helper (John 15:18-16-4a)

The Gospel of John: Hatred & the Helper

John 15:18-16:4a

The World’s Hatred (15:18-25)

•      Jesus assures His disciples that the world will treat them like they treat Jesus

–     If they are truly reflecting Christ

•      The implications of this may not have been obvious to them because it was before His arrest and execution

•      The world = people who do not know Jesus’ Father (v. 21)

–     Their rejection of Christ is what leaves them guilty

 

The Helper (15:26-27)

•      Jesus promises His disciples that they will not be alone in this struggle

•      He will send the Helper = The Holy Spirit

–     Who will comes from the Father

–     Who bears witness about Jesus

•      Along with Jesus’ disciples

 

The Result of Their Witness (6:1-4a)

•      Jesus’ words are meant as encouragement

–     In light of the persecution that the disciples will face

•      Including being cast out from among their Jewish cohorts

–     And even being killed

•      Service to God (ex. Saul’s persecution of the Church)

 

Persecution

•      If we are representing Christ correctly to the world

–     We should expect for the world to treat us like they treated Jesus

•      But, if we are to be persecuted, let it be for doing good and representing Jesus well

–     Not for misrepresenting Him

 

 

So What?

•      Are we representing Jesus well?

–     Through the power of His Spirit

 

Meditation Verse: 1 Peter 3:17

The True Vine (John 15:1-17)

The Gospel of John: The True Vine

John 15:1-17

The True Vine (v. 1-6)

• Jesus uses an agricultural analogy to describe His relationships both with His Father and His disciples

– Another “I Am” statement

• He is the vine which His disciples must stay connected to in order to bear fruit

– To bear fruit = To live a life of obedience to God

• Only possible through a growing connection to Jesus

• Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing! (v. 5)

• His Father is the Gradener

– Pruning away the branches that are fruitless

• Those which are not drawing from the Vine

• Not a reference to losing salvation

• Possibly a reference to fruitless Israel

• Possibly a reference to false ‘disciples' like Judas

• Being near the Vine is not the same as being connected to it

Abiding in the Vine (v. 7-11)

• Abide: To live in, be intricately connected to

– To be defined by our love relationship with Jesus

• When we find our life in Christ, we can ask for what we desire

– Because He will be aligning our desires with His

– God is glorified because the fruit we bear is His fruit in us

• The end result of which is our joy as well

Greater Love (v. 12-17)

• Jesus repeats His new commandment (13:34)

• The greatest act of love is to ‘lay down one’s life for his friends’ (v. 13)

– An allusion back to Peter’s claim (13:37-38)

• Jesus calls His disciples ‘friends’

– Defined by:

• Those who obey Him (v. 14)

• Those who are involved in His mission (v. 15)

• Those who are called by Him (v. 16)

• And thus bear fruit through Him

• The primary fruit that we are to bear is love for one another (v. 17)

So What?

• Are we connected to the True Vine; drawing life from Him; being obedient to Him; bearing the fruit of love for one another?

Meditation Verse: John 15:5

Fear & Love (John 11:45-12:11)

The Gospel of John: Fear and Love

John 11:45-12:11

The Plot & The Prophecy (11:45-57)

• The Pharisees & Jewish leaders react to Jesus’ sign with fear

- Fear of losing their personal status

- Fear of losing their national privileged position with the Romans

• Caiaphas, the High Priest calms them by plotting to have Jesus killed

- He speaks prophetically (v. 50)

- Jesus would die for the nation of Israel (v. 50)

- And for the Gentiles too (v. 51)

• They devise a plot to have Jesus arrested and killed at the upcoming feast of Passover

- Which serves as the background for all the events of the Passion week

• At word of the plot, Jesus withdrew to Ephraim

- But not for long

The Anointing (12:1-8)

• Lazarus’ family throws Jesus a dinner

– During which Mary cleans Jesus feet with expensive lotion and her hair

• A sign of utter love for Jesus(see John 13:1ff)

• Judas is outraged because of the cost of the ointment

– Feigning concern for the poor

– But really because he was stealing from the disciples ministry fund

• Jesus rebukes Judas

– Seeing Mary’s act as both one of love and prophecy

• She has just anointed Him for His upcoming burial

– While still claiming a need to care for the poor (v. 8)

The Plot Thickens (12:9-11)

• When the crowd learns that Jesus is back in Bethany, they report it to the Jewish leaders

• They then plan to kill Lazarus too

– Since he is a living witness to Jesus’ power and authority

– And many are believing in Jesus because of him

So What?

• The leadership’s fear drove them to have Jesus & Lazarus killed

– Fear of losing power and prestige

• Mary’s love for Jesus drove her to anoint and serve Him

• What drives us? Is it fear or love?

Meditation Verse: 1 John 4:18