The Gospel of John Lesson 77 (06-15-14) John 18:1-11

The Gospel of John Lesson 77 (06-15-14)

Lesson 77 – John 18:1-11

Now Jesus’ time of preparation with His disciples has come to an end. He had given His disciples all the necessary instructions, details and plans necessary to go forward to build and establish the Church, His Kingdom, in His absence, but there was only one problem…they were still in the dark. There were too many details given to them in such a short period of time and the concepts were too difficult at this time to comprehend that they did not have a clear picture of what Jesus was talking about.

Many of the concepts that Jesus had shared with them were spiritual and would not function or work if applied by carnal means. It was evident from the conversations and interactions at the table at the Last Supper and the time that followed that His disciples were still thinking in the framework of their abilities and talents to establish the Kingdom instead of relying on God to supply the power and wisdom to do the job.

As yet, even though they had heard Jesus’ instruction in John chapter 15 concerning abiding in Him they still were not willing to give up their own will and ways for His. Besides, most men are known for not reading instructions.

There was much conversation at the dinner and following the dinner that night that would have made the events that were about to happen confusing. In Luke chapter 22 in verses 28-30 we see that Jesus had promised and appointed His disciples a kingdom and a position in His kingdom, appointing them thrones and the position of judging the 12 tribes of Israel. A little later in that same chapter in Lk. 22:35-8 He instructs them to prepare for conflict telling them that this conflict will become up close and personal maybe even needing them to consider defensive action that could get real needing the use of weapons.

 However, although Jesus understood the difference between what was meant to be according to the Father’s will and what needed or required action, His disciples did not always recognize or understand the difference between the two. Lk. 22:37 the meaning of what Jesus meant in Lk. 22:37 went right over their head, Lk 22:38, where they respond to what He said in the flesh, thinking that now Jesus was speaking their language, thinking that He was telling them that now they were allowed to move with force, that it was now time to use force to establish His kingdom. Soon we will see Peter take off on this conversation taking action that was not timed right and inappropriate, cutting off the high priest’s servant’s ear. As yet, they did not understand what abiding in Jesus meant depending on Him for guidance and wisdom to get it right when serving and doing His will.

But, Jesus knew what time it was. He now guides them through the Father’s will for the present time just as God’s Holy Spirit will soon be guiding them, telling them that force and apparent victory is not always God’s ways to accomplish His will at the time. Jesus knew that it was the Father’s will to, for the moment, appear to lose because the Father had some unpleasant work yet for Him to do before it e was done.  

It appears that Jesus saves the best till the last concerning His remaining time with His disciples, praying for their perspective, their understanding and their protection, placing them into the Father’s care, making their outcome secure.

Now having secured the eternal safety of His followers by His prayer, He now heads with a single minded focus toward completing His work. He had a job to finish and now He leaves with His followers from most likely the upper room and heads to face the world and the enormous task of defeating the greatest enemy that the world and God’s creation will ever know. This great encounter will now take place, the engagement of the enemies coming face to face in the little garden in the hills of Jerusalem just a short walk from the Temple mount. Jesus now heads over the Kidron brook to Gethsemane.

Things will now begin to move very quickly now. Judas knew this place very well. Jesus had trained Judas as to where to find Him when the time came to engage Him for battle. Jesus had purposely resorted to this place often so as that there would be no doubt as to where to find Him when this time had come. But, first Jesus needed a few more moments this His Father before it all began.

When arriving at the Garden with His disciples He leaves most of His followers behind and retreats to a quiet place to be alone with the Father. In doing so He separates out from the other disciples Peter, James and John taking them a little further into the garden closer to where He would pray to the Father. He asks them to pray with and for Him as He goes further into the garden to be alone with the Father.

Moments before His face to face encounter with His great and powerful enemy, Jesus knowing what was at stake and the enormous power that He was about to face and do battle with, He has some personal business to finish with the Father before the plan of action is set in stone.

Jesus knowing what the plan was, He had formulated this plan with the Father long ago before the foundation of the world that he now would face, asks the Father if there are any details in the council of God the Father  that had not been shared with Him as yet. He asks the Father if there is a twist in the plan that would change or alter the details of the job that He was about to engage in.

It is interesting that in Matthew chapter 26 Jesus approaches the Father three times with this same question or request. It appears that the Father is silent on the matter and in the Father not answering Him it appears that Jesus receives His answer and walks out to meet His enemy face to face.

Judas blinded by greed, believing that he is the man with the only plan that makes sense, receives a band of men and Temple officers or police and brings the world to face Jesus in the Garden. This begins the event and showdown of all of history! Jesus probably never having picked up a weapon in His life on earth walks forward empty handed to meet His enemy and his accompanying army who has planned for this encounter a little different than He did. Jesus walks forward to meet them, their coming with weapons, lights and torches and numbers that would assure what they thought would be a victory.

However, it tells us in v. 4 of chapter 18 that Jesus knew all things that they would be allowed to do to Him. He now walks forward in confidence willingly to face them. This was more than fate to Jesus, this was destiny!

He now meets His enemy face to face and in this awkward moment, in that moment of silence when you would need a knife to cut the tension in the air, they face each other, His enemy wondering who would make the first move or make the first comment.

In v. 4 Jesus forces the encounter with the first words, drawing His enemy in even closer now coming eye to eye with him. Jesus gets things started by asking them who they were looking for. The world that was with Judas had previously made plans so that they would not make a mistake in this encounter. At some point in this encounter Judas would come forward and kiss Jesus on the cheek making a positive identification as to which one was really Jesus.  

Jesus had been in their presence many times and in their mind had somehow cleverly eluded them. But, Jesus knew different. He knew that all of the encounters before this were not the appointed time and no matter what they had planned or could have done before that they would not have been allowed to secure Him into their custody at that time.

However, this encounter was different. This was that appointed encounter. It was time for Jesus to let them have their way and take Him, letting them think that their so called plan to get Him had worked. But, Jesus did not let them take Him without a witness as to who He really was.

In v.5 it tells us that after Jesus asked them His initial question asking, “Whom do you seek?” that the crowd with Judas responded with the obvious response of “we are looking for Jesus of Nazareth”. But, what happened next caught everyone there except Jesus by surprise. Jesus’ answer to them of “I am He” was no surprise, but the effect of those words on those that had come out to get Him was.

It says in v. 6 that as soon as Jesus had spoken the words ‘I am He’ that the crowd upon hearing those words fell back at the power of them being spoken and in that moment and for a moment there eyes were opened as to Who they were dealing with. In that moment, for a moment, when Jesus had spoken the words “I am He” His Devine person was revealed to them as to who He really was and that that they were forcibly overcome by His words, so much so that they were forced backward being pushed over onto the ground…probably disarming them. This was totally unexpected by all present except of course Jesus.

Saul of Tarsus had a similar experience that is recorded in the book of Acts in the ninth chapter. As Saul was traveling on the road nearing Damascus God’s presence was revealed to him and because of God’s revealed presence Saul’s response was one of being struck down to the ground. It was evident to those there that night in the garden with Jesus that they at that moment had been confronted with a power and a force that they had not anticipated. Jesus had spoken the God words “I am” to them not only identifying to them that He was Jesus, but that in saying these words to them in this way that He also spoke to them that He was their God. In doing so they were overcome with His presence and His majesty.

It is my opinion that at that time when Jesus’ enemies had fallen backward that at that moment any weapons that they had held were dropped completely disarming them. If so, what an awkward moment, Jesus standing in front of them, them being overcome with who He is and them on the ground totally disarmed.

 At that moment Jesus could have walked away without a hitch again eluding His captures, but this was not that time. He stood there giving them time to recollect themselves, their wondering for a moment if it was such a good idea to do this in coming to get Him.

But, Jesus waits for them to collect themselves, Jesus taking no action or advantage of the situation, and follows the incident with repeating His initial question asking them who they are looking for. As they begin to collect themselves, probably looking around at each other to get a consensus of what to do next, they respond again that they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus replying again that He was Him, this time His words do not have the same response on them, He asks them that since they are looking for Him would they not let His followers go. It says in v. 9 that He made this request not only because He loved them, but also to fulfill prophesy.

As usual and customary for Peter, he chose this moment to draw the sword and apparently defend Jesus. What was he thinking? He pulls his sword and cuts off a servant of the high priest’s ear. Jesus using that moment as a teachable moment for Peter and His other followers tells Peter that this was not the time for action, reminding him that sometimes difficult situations and circumstances are allowed by God for a purpose and for His glory.

The Gospel of John Lesson 76 (06-08-14) John 17:16-26

The Gospel of John Lesson 76 (06-08-14)

Lesson 76 – John 17:16-26

In v. 16 again Jesus identifies clearly with the Father saying the He is not part of this world and its system. Even though He is focused on connecting and identifying with those that the Father had given to Him, He does not try to fit into both worlds having a foot, so to speak, in each. His life was definitely not one of separation or isolationism, but at the same time He was no undercover agent.

In v. 17 He prays to the Father to redeem and establish His followers in other world principles, Kingdom principles, by the only sure and effective means available, truth. He asks the Father to bless His words of truth that He has shared with His followers that it may have the intended effect on them of sanctification.

The definition of sanctification is, ‘to be set apart’ by means of purification or being freed from sin, most often implying being set apart for a special or particular purpose. Even though those who the Father had given to Jesus were secure in the Father, they still had to be sanctified. Eph. 2:1-10 His followers were not redeemed only, but the Father had a plan and purpose for them. His intention was to show off His glory in and through them. Eph. 2:10 Sanctification through the use of truth was the process by which He would accomplish this.

v. 18 Now it was their turn. Jesus had completed His work, or it would very soon be completed, and now the baton, so to speak, would be handed off to them, but not without assistance and support. Jesus had promised them that even though He was leaving that He would not leave them alone. (Jn. 14:17-9) It tells us in Jn. 17:19 that Jesus had consecrated His life, offering and fully devoting His life to the Father and His will for the purpose of our redemption which included our sanctification. In v. 20 He tells us that His consecrated life was not just for those present at that time, but was for all who would believe throughout all history.

In v. 21 Jesus reminds us that Jesus entered into a world that did not know Him. Yes, it is true that the world had heard about and knew some things about God from God’s progressive revelation throughout history in the past, but as yet they had not known God through Jesus’ revelation and witness even though His coming had been clearly prophesied. In not knowing Jesus and His witness, as yet, they did not know God. Truly if they had known God they would have recognized Him when He, God, had showed up in Jesus. The fact that the world had rejected Him was proof that even though they had an opinion and view of who they thought god was, by their actions toward Jesus it was obvious that their view of the one and only true God was inaccurate. In v. 21 Jesus prays to the Father asking Him for the proof and witness that the world would not be able to refute. He asks for His followers to be one in purpose and direction with Him and the Father.

This was a tall request. For people to work together and get along happily and willingly in singleness of purpose as Jesus and the Father did would take more than an average miracle. But, that was what Jesus was asking for. He requested that this, being one with Jesus and the Father, be the witness to prove to a dark world that Jesus was God’s One and only representative.

If this were to be so what an obvious witness being one with Jesus and the Father would be in a world that is ruled with dominance, force and self-exaltation and self-promotion. However, for this to happen it would take a moving of God’s Spirit, causing His followers to give up their self and self-centeredness and join the Cause…the cause of Jesus and the Father.

However, still in the Church, even in our day, there is way too much self, self-promotion, dominance, self-centeredness and self-centered agenda. Throughout the history of the Church we can see episodes, however brief, of God’s moving inciting oneness with the Spirit of God where it could not be denied that Jesus was the One that God had sent.

However, the type of unity or oneness that Jesus had prayed for here has not been the common activity and perspective or practice in the Church throughout much of history. Boil down the motivation behind many of the Church’s programs and plans and we will find man’s plans and efforts behind his actions, not necessarily God’s. Yes, many of these works are performed with good intentions, but Jesus’ prayer asked the Father for something different.

In v. 21 Jesus asks not that we would be busy doing a lot of good things, but His request was that we would be found in Him and in the Father joining them in what they were doing and what they were about. This would be the undeniable witness, giving up of our self and our plans, often involving our programs, no matter how noble they are, and joining Jesus and the Father in their work and what they are doing.

Blackaby may have come the closest to seeing this oneness in concept in our current modern day setting by offering a formula or recipe so to speak to become one with Jesus and the Father. His formula was to look around and see where God was undeniably at work and join Him. Jesus in essence was teaching His disciples the same thing. In John chapter 15 He instructs His disciples to abide in Him, or join Him. In doing so Jesus told His followers in John 15 that the result would be that they would produce much fruit, fruit that would undeniably be credited to Jesus and His connection with God the Father. This would be radically different to the perspective so often found in the Church of offering our works to Jesus in our own name.

The instruction concerning this oneness with Jesus and the Father is found in John chapter 15 in Jesus instructing His followers to abide in Him. However, on their own they lacked the power to do so. The power to make it so is found here in Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17 in Jesus asking the Father to move His followers to join them. It was this prayer that would give His followers the ability and the power to abide in Him becoming one with Him and the Father. The practical application of this prayer is found in the coming of God’s Spirit giving the ability to make this prayer so. Remember that Jesus always prayed according to the Father’s will so all of His prayers will be answered as He had asked them.

It is important to note that Jesus’ prayer of being one was not just for those present at that time. In v. 20 He prays for all believers including those yet to come who would believe on Jesus due to the work of those that had preceded them. In v. 21 Jesus makes it clear Hithat they all are included in this oneness asking the Father that they ‘all’ be one! It will be a witness that the world will not be able to deny. Jesus may be physically gone or not present at the moment, but the world cannot deny His mark on this present world continuing through His followers. This witness will become so obvious that it tells us here in John 17 that all will know that Jesus is the One that God had sent and all will willingly bow before Him, Phil. 2:9-11.9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In v. 22 we see where our identity lies. In abiding and being one with Him we take on His identity and not ours. In doing so it says that we receive His Glory and not the short lived glory of our own self exaltation and efforts. Jesus in taking on the identity of the Father also received the Father’s Glory willingly taking on the Father’s identity, and now, Jesus after receiving the Father’s Glory passes it onto His followers which are abiding in Him. This is a great mystery.

If there is any doubt as to where Jesus is going with this, in v. 23 He uses the word ‘perfect’ making it clear as to what He is requesting of the Father. This word perfect has the meaning of being complete or fully matured as to lacking nothing.

He goes on in v. 23 with one of the most important messages in the Bible, God’s love. When taking an aerial view of these passages there are several things that go together and cannot be divided or are not found as stand-alone entities. Wrapped up in this oneness that Jesus is talking about are His love and His glory. The oneness that Jesus has asked of the Father is not just being part of a tightly managed and run organization or the example of an ultra-united sports team that is unstoppable. But, this unit as a whole includes and contains God’s Glory, which includes His righteousness and holiness, and as a group, they are the object and recipients of His love. Our redemption to Christ was not mere duty. It was fully motivated by His love. (Jn. 3:16)

The Church’s organizational skills and programs by them self will not be enough to prove that Jesus is the One and only. Others have come on the earth and have received the world’s attention having a sizable following and some organizational skills. But, Jesus says that this will be different. This organization or union will be undeniably His. This group of followers, the Church, will have some qualities that the others could not imitate or materialize. The Church will have the undeniable mark of His Glory on it in the taking on of His character and will be the recipient of acts of love given and performed by God.

We see an example of this dynamic when Israel was in Egypt while Israel was in Goshen during the plagues of Egypt. While the world suffered the consequences of their unbelief, Israel was the object of God’s love and protection.

v. 24 …the keys to heaven. In v. 24 Jesus asks the Father to unite us with Him wherever He is. In doing so He does not redeem us just to place us off somewhere in His creation. Instead He asks the Father that we could be with Him. This would include the Heavenlies or Heavenly realm. Up until this time most of Jesus’ followers had not seen His Glory that He had shared with the Father in the past. Even though His followers had seen many undeniable acts and works of God, only Peter, James and John had experienced a glimpse of this Glory at the Transfiguration.

Vs. 25 and 26 again makes it evident that the world that thinks it has a right to its opinion of God and who He is in reality did not and does not know Him. However, Jesus knew the Father, and now His followers also knew that God had sent Him. In v. 26 Jesus says that He had plainly shown the Father to them. He goes on to say that He also will continue to declare the Father and His Name to a world that does not know Him.

At the end of His prayer Jesus say something pretty incredible. Jesus is just hours from the Cross and He speaks of the Father’s love even though He is fully aware that within hours he will bear the Father’s wrath for our sins. He ends His prayer with the request of giving to His followers the same love that He had experienced. It was the love and oneness with the Father that made an impression on those near Jesus that He was indeed connected to the Father. In this prayer He passes these same tools off to His followers, the Church. Jn. 13:34-5

Jesus ends this prayer with I, Jesus, in us, being one with Him, doing His will and not ours. In this the world will not be able to deny that Jesus is indeed God’s one and only true representative.