The Plowman

 

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Gospel of John #54: an exposition of John 21:1-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 4, 2012.

Intro:
What images come to your mind when you picture the Lord Jesus?  He is history’s greatest figure.  The most unique individual to ever walk the earth.  All of history turns on His person.  More has been written about Him than about any other figure in the history of the world.  Great men have pledged their lives and fortunes to Him.  Men have turned their backs on wealth and fame in order to follow Him.  Followers have died the deaths of martyrs out of devotion to Him.  Yet, for history’s greatest character there remains a great deal of misunderstanding and misinformation.

When you think of Jesus – what do you think about?  How do you picture Him?  I guess I’m asking you what Jesus asked his disciples when He said, “Who do you say that I am?”  To some He is the “cosmic kill-joy” robbing life of it’s fun and pleasure.  To others He is a stern and unyielding judge.  Some consider Him a good moral teacher.  Some consider him a misguided lunatic!  Even within the church you get mixed signals concerning His temperament and His person.

As we explore this question there is but one reliable source - the Word of God.  The Scripture is the only place we can find a trustworthy and reliable information for our consideration.

We find ourselves in that period of time following the resurrection and preceding His ascension.  Jesus has appeared to His followers at various times and places.  Without warning He would suddenly be in their midst.  The disciples where both excited and confused.  On the one hand they were overjoyed that the crucified one was alive.  They saw Him with their own eyes.  They heard Him with their own ears – there was no question in their mind or heart.  But they still were not sure what to make of it.  They still did not know how this all fit together.  It was a time of restlessness.

Our text this morning is found in John’s Gospel chapter 21.

Text: John 21:1-19

This final chapter in John’s Gospel serves as a postscript.  John told us in chapter 20 why he had written.  “There are other signs Jesus performed that are not written here.  These are written that you may know that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that you may have life by believing in him.”  John has already provided proof of the resurrection.  The purpose of this chapter is not to prove the resurrection but to reveal something of the Risen One.

21:1 serves as the key to the chapter.

“After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.”

John, in repeating the word “showed” in verse one indicates that this is the emphasis or point of the chapter.  Jesus is manifesting himself.  The word means to “make known” to “expose” or to “reveal.”  Also implied in the language John uses is the fact that this is an intentional act on His part.  Jesus did what He did in order to reveal something specific to the disciples.  This is an intentional revelation design to reveal something about the character and the heart of the Lord Jesus.

Thesis: The Risen Lord reveals Himself as the gentle Shepherd and the loving Savior.

Jesus had said back in John 10 that He was the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.  He said that no one takes His life but that He lays it down.  He also said – if He laid it down He would take it up again.  The resurrection proved that Jesus is Lord even over death and the grave.  He is the conqueror and king.  But He specifically reveals His gentleness and love in our text.

There are two things I want you to note in our text.

1. I.  The Risen Lord demonstrates His devotion to His own by thoughtfully, lovingly, meeting their needs.  (21:1-14)
2. II.  The Risen Lord demonstrates His heart for the world in commissioning His own to love and service.  (21:15-19)

Conclusion:
Jesus came to the shores of Galilee that day with an agenda.  He came to reveals some important facts about himself.  He came to reveal His loving, tender provision for His own and His love for the world in His challenge to Peter.

 

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Gospel of John #53; an exposition of John 20:24-29. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 26, 2012.

Intro:
I have a birthday this week.  I’m getting old.  I know I’m not as old as I look or feel.  My last physical my doctor said I wasn’t in bad shape for a man my age.  I said, “Doctor, I’m only 51.”  He looked at me and said, “You’re kidding!”  I’ve noticed something as I’ve gotten older – I’m far more skeptical then I used to be.  There is something about experience that turns you into a cynic.  They say middle age is that time when your broad mind and narrow waist change places and I guess that’s true.  I’ve become quite a pessimist.  When I hear about some injustice or someone swindled and I say, “Well of course, what did you expect – people are jerks!”  This, by the way, is a wonderful quality in a pastor – very helpful in pastoral counseling and when comforting others!

I guess that is why, as I get older, I have more and more sympathy for Thomas “the doubting disciple.”  I’m convinced that Thomas has received a bad rap over the years.  When you mention Thomas – immediately people remember the doubting.  He went on to make a great confession – but folks emphasize his doubting not his faith.  This morning I want us to take a look at Thomas and see what happened to move him from a doubter to a confessor.

Text: John 20:24-29

The last week had been a blur.
It was on that Thursday night as Jesus and His followers met in the upper room to celebrate the Passover that the strange events began to take place.
It started when Jesus put that towel around His waist and washed their feet.
It continued during dinner with talk of death and rising again.
There was talk that one of those at the table had already betrayed Him.
There was that eerie sense surrounding the Garden of Gethsemane.
The anger and hostility of the arrest.
The injustice and brutality of the trials.
The horror of the crucifixion.
The strange and wonderful stories of an empty tomb and appearances by the risen Lord.

We do not know where Thomas was, but we know he was not with the others on the evening of Resurrection Day.  Some have criticized him for that calling him a coward.  I don’t think that was it at all.  I that think in bitter sorrow he wanted to be alone in his grief.  Don’t forget back when Jesus said it was time to go to Jerusalem – the others pleaded with Him not to go because of threats on His life.  It was Thomas who spoke up and said, “Let’s go to Jerusalem and die with Him!”  (John 11:16)

To Thomas the cross was the inevitable result of this trip to the holy city.  Now, overcome with sorrow, Thomas shunned the crowd.  Perhaps out of shame – he did not want to be with the others.  Remember he had said, “let us go and die with Him” – then Thomas ran along with the others.  He was as guilty as Peter in his denial.

Thomas did what many of us do in the midst of our pain and heartache.  We withdraw.  We do not want to be with others – we’ll handle it on our own.  In the midst of our pain we need the comfort, support and encouragement of others more than ever.  We need the body of Christ.  Thomas was not present with the others and thus he missed the appearance of the Lord.  He has certainly heard about it and now he is present with them one week later.

When again they are behind locked doors.  The risen Lord is again suddenly in their midst and we discover:

Thesis: Doubts vanish in the presence of the Living Lord.

Watch as a process unfolds in our text.
We begin with Thomas, obstinate in unbelief, who then is moved to exuberant faith.

There are three things I want you to note as we move along.

1. First of all, note the doubt caused by shortsighted faith.  (20:24-25)
2. Now, note how the risen Lord lovingly, graciously challenged his honest doubt. (20:26-27)
3. In the face of undeniable proof pessimism gives way to vibrant faith.  (20:28)

 

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Gospel of John #52: an exposition of John 20:19-23. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 19, 2012.

Intro:
It’s a common problem.  It afflicts most of those who serve on church staffs.  It’s a little thing called “preacher’s tongue” or “liaritis.”  Its symptoms are exaggerated statistics and inflated numbers.  Those who suffer from this malady appear normal.  The problem is they are compelled to exaggerate their own importance!

The malady is not limited to pastors or preachers, though they represent the largest single group of sufferers.  This dreaded disease is no respecter of persons – it strikes the volunteer as well as the professional.  Usually a sufferer can keep it under control until he gets around others who suffer as well.  Before long the whole group is engaged in an all out war of statistics.

The sad reality is that no one needs to suffer from this dreaded disease.  No child of God, no servant of the Church of the Lord Jesus needs to engage in such futile attempts to inflate their importance because every child of God is granted the privilege of being involved in the greatest enterprise in all the world!  To us has been granted the privilege of taking the “good news” of the Gospel to a lost and hurting world.  The world longs for meaning and significance.  People long for a reason to live.  We have the only message that can fill the aching void in their heart.  We have the only answer.  There is no more important task in the world.  This morning I want us to consider the call and commission of the Church as found in John’s Gospel chapter 20 verses 19-23.

Text: John 20:19-23

We have been walking through John’s “history with a purpose.”
We spent that final night with Jesus and His disciples in the upper room.
We witnessed His agony in the Garden.
We saw His bitter betrayal.
We witnessed the injustice of His so-called trials.
We were witnesses of the horror of the cross.
We heard His triumphant shout – “It is finished!”
We saw the confusion of the empty tomb and the glory of the Risen Lord.

Now we come to what happened later in the evening of Resurrection Day!

In verse 19 we discover that the disciples were together.

We are not told for sure but it would be natural to assume they had met again in that same upper room where they had shared the Passover meal just a few days before.

We noted that when Jesus was arrested – the disciples were scattered.  They fled for their lives.  The only mention of any of them concerns Peter and John who followed Him that night and then John is present at the cross.

Peter had denied the Lord three times, as the Lord said he would, and then disappeared in sorrow and shame.  John stayed until the bitter end.  But now they are together.  Why?  What drew them back?

The day had been filled with strange rumors and growing excitement.

It began when Mary Magdalene came to Peter and John with the news that she had gone to the tomb and the body of the Lord was gone.  Peter and John hurried to the tomb and found the grave clothes in place “still in the fold” or undisturbed and yet the body was gone.  John, we are told, “saw” (the word means perceived or understood) and thus became the first to “believe” in the resurrection.

Mary then was given the privilege of being the first to see the resurrected Lord.  Jesus said to her, “Mary, stop clinging to me and go tell my disciples that I am alive!”

We know from other scriptural accounts that Jesus sometime during that day appeared to Peter privately and encouraged and restored him.

We know that he appeared to two men traveling on the road to Emmaus.  They did not recognize Him at first.  It wasn’t until He had given them a Bible lesson and sat down at the table to eat.  As He broke the bread they saw the nail prints and realized it was Jesus.  Suddenly Jesus was gone.  The men ran back to Jerusalem to tell the others.  All of these stories were circulating, excitement was building and the disciples spontaneously met in that upper room to try and make sense of it all.

John says they met behind locked doors for fear of the Jews.  Who could blame them?  They saw the anger and the bitterness of the Jews.  They saw what they did to Jesus.  It was natural to assume they would be next.  The Jews were already saying that His followers had stolen Jesus’ body.

John tells us that “suddenly Jesus was in there midst.”  The doors were locked.  No one let Him in but there he was.  Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”  That is the common greeting.  It is the normal way Jewish folks greeted each other yet I would suggest it is something more!  Do you remember Jesus promised to give them peace (John 14:27)?  The reason I think He is making a statement is the fact that He repeats it in 20:21.  He is saying, “I’ve done everything necessary to provide you the peace I’ve promised.” Peace, God’s highest and best, be upon you.  It has become far more than a customary greeting.

He showed them His hands and His side demonstrating that He really was alive and the evidence is seen in His body.  The body that had been nailed to the cross and that had been pierced by the spear.

The text says the disciples were “glad” when they saw Jesus.  There is another one of those great understatements of the Bible.  The word means to be exuberant.  They were ecstatic – they were beside themselves.  All the fear and anxiety were gone for that moment.  Nothing else mattered in that moment because the Lord was alive.

That brings us down to verses 21-23 and that is where I want us to focus this morning.  It is here that we discover:

Thesis: The risen Lord commissions every believer to service within His kingdom.

There are three things I want us to note.

1. Christ’s Commission constitutes your call to serve. (20:21)
2. The gift of the Holy Spirit enables and empowers your service.  (20:22)
3. The Gospel is the means/method of your service.  (20:23)

Conclusion:
The work of the church is a Gospel work.

I’m not suggesting there are not other, legitimate works to be done by the church but I am saying our primary task is the preaching of the Gospel.  If we fail in Gospel work nothing else matters.

 

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Gospel of John #51: an exposition of John 19:31-20:18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 12, 2012.

Intro:
You know the movie was good when you walk out of the theatre and you are drained.  You’re not even sure you’re going to make it to the car.  You’ve been sitting for the last two hours and watching a movie but you are drained.  You are exhaust because the movie was so intense.  You traveled the whole range of emotions.  You just don’t have anything left.  You’re worn out, drained, dead on your feet and you look at your spouse and you say, “I could see that again!”

The problem is when you see that movie the second time – it’s lost something.  It is not quite as intense the second time around.  You know the hero is going to make it out alive.  You know how it is going to end.  Oh, you may still enjoy the movie but it just doesn’t compare with the first time.

There is, however, a story that never grows old.  A story so shocking, so wonderful, so vivid and so significant – that no matter how often you hear it there are aspects you’ve never explored.  There are subjects you can never exhaust.  It is the story of the cross and the resurrection.  The old, old story of how Jesus, as the Lamb of God, secured our salvation.  The story of history’s most daring rescue mission.  The story of the final battle in the cosmic war for the souls of men.

John, the beloved, took up his pen to write an account of the life and ministry of Jesus.  He tells us that the purpose of his writing is that we might know that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God and that we might have life by believing on His name.  John’s Gospel is not a biography, it is a selective history with a purpose and that purpose is to bring us to faith.  Throughout his Gospel John has referred to various “signs.”  Back in chapter 2 when Jesus cleansed the Temple at the beginning of His ministry – he was asked by the Jews to perform a sign to demonstrate His authority.  Jesus responded by saying,  “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”  On another occasion He responded to those demanding a sign – “The only sign you will be give in the sign of Jonah.”  These were references to the cross and the resurrection.  This morning we look at the “great sign” of John’s Gospel.  Our text is found in John chapters 19 and 20.

Text: John 19:31-20:18

For several weeks now we have been treading on holy ground.

We have witnessed His betrayal.
We have witnessed the hateful mocking of the soldiers.
We have witnessed the injustice of the High Priest and the Sanhedrin.
We have seen the cowardice of Pilate.

Last time we entered behind the veil in to the most holy place as the Lamb of God was slain for our sin.  Jesus, the great high priest entered into the presence of God into that tabernacle not made with human hands and offered the once and for all sacrifice for sin.  Redemption’s payment was made.  Salvation was secured.  We heard the shout of triumph as Christ the victor declared – “It is finished!”

But the story does not end there.  The story did not end with a lifeless body on the cross.  That is only part of the story.

As we explore our text we are going to discover that:

Thesis: The horror of the cross is swallowed up in the glory of the resurrection.

As the drama unfolds in our text is naturally falls into three parts.

1. Note first of all, the horror of the death of Jesus.  (19:31-42)
2. Second note, the confusion of the empty tomb.  (20:1-10)
3. Finally note the glory of the risen Lord.  (20:11-18)

Conclusion:
In a matter of hours the disciples have moved from fear to despair,  from confusion to glory running the full gamut of emotions as the drama of redemption played out.  John says, “You want proof that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God?  There is no greater proof than the cross and resurrection.

 

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Gospel of John #50: an exposition of John 19:17-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 5, 2012.

Intro:
Have you ever been shocked or surprised by the unexpected?  One of those times when something came out of nowhere and slapped you in the face?  You stagger back and think, “where did that come from?”  Or maybe someone said something you never thought you would hear them say.  You know, like you heard a politician tell the truth!  Or even more unexpected, you saw a preacher perform manual labor!  From time to time we have all been surprised.  Sometimes it is a pleasant surprise.  At other times it is a devastating surprise.

When I read the Gospels, I’m often surprised by what I see and hear.  Sometimes I see the response of Jesus and it shocks me – usually because it is so unlike they way I would have responded.  At other times I hear the words of Jesus and I think, “that can’t be right.  I must not have heard that right.  The Lord couldn’t possibly expect me to do that.”  Without a doubt the most shocking portion of scripture to me is the account of the arrest and the crucifixion of our Lord.  To see Him abandoned.  To see the injustice.  To hear the lies.  To hear the bloodthirsty mob and to see the cowardice of Pilate – I want to cry out, “No!  This can’t be.  This can’t happen.”  Yet the majestic bearing of our Lord is evidence enough that He is in complete control.  The sovereign hand of the invisible God is guiding all things to a predetermined end.  Each participant is acting according to his own choice yet playing the role determined by the Divine Author.

I want to encourage you to keep all of this in mind as we explore John’s account of the crucifixion.  Our text this morning is found in John chapter 19.

Text: John 19:17-30

We have been treading on holy ground for the last few weeks as we have moved closer and closer to the cross.

This morning we step behind the veil in to the holy of holies or the most holy place.

This is the pivotal moment in all of history.

This is why the Lord Jesus left the glory of heaven to become a man.  This is the reason for the incarnation.  This is the “hour” that Jesus kept referring to throughout His ministry.  This is the revelation of those Old Testament prophecies.  This is the reality behind the symbols of bloody sacrifice and the various offerings.  Jesus, the great high priest is about to enter in behind the veil in that tabernacle not made with hands, into the very presence of God to offer that once and for all sacrifice for the sins of man.  Redemption’s payment is being made.  Salvation is being secured.  The cross of Jesus is not a tragedy, it is a triumph!

As I read John’s account, there is something that stands out in my mind.

It is something that John has done throughout his Gospel.

John has used contrast as a literary tool.  Light and darkness, spirit and flesh have been reoccurring themes.  And there are several contrasts in his account of the cross.  That is what I would like to focus on this morning.

I want to encourage you to look closely at the cast of characters surrounding this story.  Again, you’ve heard it so often that it is difficult to see it with new eyes or hear it we fresh ears – but try to this morning.  Experience the cross this morning as we explore our text.

There are three contrasts that I want to note.

1. Note the contrast between the blindness of the religious establishment and the orthodox confession of Pilate.  (John 19:17-22)
2. Note as well, the contrast between the indifference of the Roman soldiers and the loving concern of the crucified.  (John 19:23-27)
3. Finally, note the contrast between death’s arrival and our Lord’s shout of victory.  (John 19:28-30)

Conclusion:
We’ve been talking about contrasts.  Seeing and hearing the unexpected.  That’s what is unique about the Gospel.  It is not what you might expect.  The Gospel is the “good news” of how an absolutely pure and holy God reaches out to rescue dirty, sinful, stubborn folks like you and like me.

It’s not about what you do – it’s about what He did.
It’s not about your getting your act together – it’s about your declaring spiritual bankruptcy.
It’s about justification by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone!

 

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Gospel of John #49: an exposition of John 18:28-19:16. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 29, 2012.

Intro:
I don’t know why I did it.  It was a dumb thing to do.  It was in a weak, unthinking moment.  I actually said, “Oh go on Rheadon.  Why don’t you just get out of here?  I can handle things.  I’ll watch the baby.  I can handle it.”  She left and I said, “What do you want to do Zac?  Watch a little of the ball game – do some guy things?  It’s you and me pal.  Just the guys.”  I’m thinking how hard can this be?  He’s just a few weeks old; I’m a college graduate – a seminary man, no problem.  Things were going just fine and then all of a sudden – I noticed an odor.  What in the world?  Where is that coming from?  Suddenly I knew from whence cometh the smell.  Oh no!  I broke out in a cold sweat.  A crisis had arisen and I wasn’t sure I was up to the occasion.

Throughout the years various crises have arisen.  In each crisis I, as the husband and father, the rock, the stabilizing influence of the family, have proven my true character.  The rock of Gibraltar has consistently been reduced to a mound of Jell-O!  A crisis has a way of revealing our true nature.  In the midst of a crisis we find out what we are really made of.  We are exposed for what we are.  Not what we want to be.  Not what we want others to think we are – but what we in fact are.

Early in His ministry, the Lord Jesus angered the religious establishment.  It was clear He was not impressed by their ceremonial splendor or intimidated by their authority.  His teaching cut across the grain of their traditions.  The multitudes were flocking to Him and they saw their power base eroding.  It was in that house in Capernaum that we heard the first rumblings of the storm that would ultimately lead to Calvary.  The hour had come.  The moment set by the Father’s authority had now arrived.  God’s eternal plan of the ages was now unfolding.  The die had been cast.  Our Lord, knowing that He had already been betrayed, met with His disciples in that upper room to celebrate the Passover and to institute the new memorial meal.  He spoke with them about His coming death and His resurrection.  He told of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  He taught them about their need of abiding in Him.  He told them of the glorious place He was preparing for them and then He prayed for them.  He prayed for their protection and for unity.  Then they left the upper room, crossed the Kidron brook and into the Garden of Gethsemane.  Soon the quiet of the evening was shattered by the approaching, angry mob.  Temple police, Roman soldiers, and religious officials led by the betrayer approached Jesus and His frightened disciples.

Judas, the black-hearted disciple had sold the precious Lord of Glory for 30 pieces of silver.  The night would be a whirlwind of activity.  Shuttled from one place to another.  False accusations, lying witnesses and innumerable injustices would lead to the sentence of death.  There is that part of us that looks at the events of that evening and says, “Lord how could such a thing happen?  Where were you?  Why?”  But on the other hand we know that while each of those involved acted according to their own will, they were doing the bidding of the sovereign, eternal God.  The death of Jesus Christ was no accident.  It was the plan of the ages.  For He is, “The lamb slain before the foundation of the world.”

As we explore the events of that evening we learn a great deal about the character of those involved.  One thing is certain.  The character of the Lord Jesus stands in sharp contrast to those around Him.

Text: John 18:28-19:16

This is the most dramatic account of the trial of Jesus in the New Testament.  We are, in dealing with this section, on holy ground.  In the midst of all this uncertainty and confusion – the sovereign hand of the invisible God is very evident.  History was moving to a predetermined end.  I want to invite you to look closely at this section.  In particular I want you to contrast the Lord Jesus with the others mention in this text.  When you do, I am convinced that you will see that:

Thesis: The trial of Jesus serves to reveal His incomparable glory.

To read this section is almost laughable.

The very idea that these petty leaders thought that they were in control.

Look at John 18:12-13.

They “bound” Him?  They bound the eternal one?  The creator bound by His creation?  The one who spoke and the universe came into being.  The one who put the stars in place.  The one who spoke to the storm on the Sea of Galilee and said, “Hush, be still!”  This is the one they bound?  They did not bind Him.  Love bound Him.  Love for you.  Love for me.  Love for those for whom He came to redeem.  He gave himself.  He chose the way of the cross.

He was taken first to Annas the former High Priest who was the power behind the scene.  He had served as High Priest from 6 – 15 A.D. before being removed from office by the Romans.  Four of his sons and his son-in-law Caiaphas all served as High Priest.  Annas was a corrupt man who made his fortune through corruption and graft in the Temple.  In fact the shops in the Temple where you could buy sacrificial animals were called the Bazaars of Annas.  The Jews themselves hated the household of Annas.  There is a passage in the Talmud that says:  “Woe to the house of Annas!  Woe to their serpent’s hiss!”  This is the man they brought Jesus to.  Annas served as Jesus’ first questioner.  Jesus showed nothing but contempt for Annas.

From there it was on to Caiaphas then to Pilate to Herod and then back to Pilate.

As we explore this passage I ask you to look first at the Jews.

1. The Jews: the face of intense hatred and hostility.
2. Pilate: the face of cowardice and compromise.
3. Jesus: the face of sovereign authority.

Conclusion:
This is our King.  This is the savior, the Son of God.  His kingdom is not of this world.  He came to reveal the truth and those who love truth come to Him.  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  He is the great High Priest who willingly gave His life.  He chose the way of the cross.  He chose to give His life for His sheep, those, who believe, who trust in Him.

The trails serve to reveal His incomparable glory.

 

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Gospel of John #48: an exposition of John 18:12-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 22, 2012.

Intro:
Betrayal.  The word itself makes me mad.  Inherent in the word is the breaking of trust, the denial of relationship and the violation of confidence.  It is ugly, offensive and deserving of scorn.  Yet when you are betrayed by one you love the primary emotion is not hatred.  It is not anger.  It is hurt.  A deep, genuine sorrow caused by the loss of relationship.  That’s if you are the one betrayed.  When you are on the outside looking in well, that’s another matter.  I must admit when I read the text I get upset.  I just can’t believe what I’m reading.  How could he do it?  What kind of worthless degenerate are we dealing with?  How could you do that to Him after all He has done for you?  How could you be so calloused?  Have you no heart?  Have you no conscience?  Have you no decency?  After my initial burst of self-righteous indignation I then settle down and think it through.  It is then I get uncomfortable.  I start to realize that he is really no different than me.  Reflecting on the context I’m forced to consider how often I’ve been guilty of the same betrayal.  How often I’ve played the coward and practiced the fine art of denial.  Suddenly the tables are turned.  I’m no longer angry with him in fact I’m sympathetic.  I understand how difficult it must have been.  As I seek to justify his, and in turn my own, failure I am overcome with a since of shame.  Then I’m grateful, once again, for the Gospel.  I’m grateful for the love and grace of God that secured my redemption.  The grace that removes my sin and says, “You’re loved.  You’re accepted.  You’re Mine and forever will be.”  I’m grateful for the truths revealed through failure.  Our text this morning is found in John’s Gospel chapter 18 beginning with verse 12.

Text: John 18:12-27

We are marching toward the cross.
Judas has completed his treacherous work.
Our Lord is in the custody of the Jewish authorities.
Now begins the mockery of a trial that will lead, in hours, to His brutal death.
John, as he has done throughout his Gospel, provides us with another contrast.
This time the contrast of the strength of Jesus and weakness of Peter.

The fact that it is Peter who denies the Lord is part of what is so shocking about all this.  Had it been Nicodemus we would not be shocked.  He came at night and there seemed hesitancy on his part.  If he were to deny Jesus we’d  not be shocked.  If it had been the Rich Young Ruler we would not think much of it.  After all he loved the things of this world.  But Peter?  Earlier that evening Peter said, “Lord even if I must to die with you, I will never deny you!”

As we work our way through this text I want us to see that…

• Thesis: Peter’s monumental failure serves to teach us valuable truths about ourselves and our Savior.

Before we get to the lessons we can learn let’s set the scene.
Our Lord has been arrested and we begin with this mockery of a trial.

1. Peter and John (another disciple) followed the authorities and because of John’s connections were able to gain entrance to the courtyard (18:15-16).
2. Peter’s first denial - 18:17-18
3. Jesus before Annas - 18:18-24
4. Peter’s second and third denial - 18:25-27

What do we learn from this?

Peter’s failure reveals the depth of the perversion of the human heart and warns of the danger of an overconfident faith.

Peter’s failure serves to reveal the depth and the wonder of our Savior’s love.

Conclusion:
You must not walk away from this text without hearing Luke 22:31-32:
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Following the resurrection Jesus said to Mary, “Go tell my disciples and Peter…” (Mark 16:7).
Then comes that passage in John 21:15 when our Lord commissions Peter, “…feed my sheep.”

Peter’s failure becomes a means for teaching us great truths about ourselves and about our Savior.  Apart from the grace of God there’s nothing we would not do - be warned.  Take heed less you fall.  Yet our Savior is a gracious merciful God whose love never fails.  That’s the Gospel.  Therein is our hope.

 

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Gospel of John #47: an exposition of John 18:1-12. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 8, 2012.

Intro:
It’s not hard to find people who “believe in Jesus.”  For the most part, people feel pretty good about Him.  The problem, of course, is believe in what Jesus? Or Which Jesus?  The Jesus who was a “spiritual man” with great insight?  The Jesus who was a revolutionary who consistently thought outside the box and was a threat to the establishment?  The Jesus of the Muslim faith, the Mormon Church or the Jehovah Witness?  Or the Jesus of their own making?  Just which Jesus are we talking about?  That is an important question because there are eternal consequences to the answer to that question.  The Jesus of most people’s thinking is very one dimensional.  To most he seems to be an innocuous figure who is a bit effeminate, mild-mannered and other-worldly.  For others he is the original radical bent on overthrowing the establishment.  I wish I could say these mischaracterizations all came from outside the church but they don’t.  Many within the church love and serve a Jesus of their own making who bears little or no resemblance to the Jesus of the Bible.  I know this because when you talk to people and ask them about Jesus the thing that seems constant is that there is a feeling that He is “safe.”  He is comfortable, like a favorite shirt, well worn.  But even a casual reading of the Scripture should make it clear that He is anything but safe.  Yes, He is the lamb of God but He is also the lion of Judah.  He is the Good Shepherd but He is also The Conquering King.  The Jesus of the Bible is complex and complicated.  He is fully God and yet fully man.  He is divine yet human.  Not half and half as the gods of mythology, rather He is fully both.  He is the creator of everything that exists yet He was born of a woman and became part of His creation.  He was the bread of life and yet He got hungry.  He had life in His being yet He became weary.  There is mystery here and unanswered questions.  We like things in neat packages.  Everything is always where it is supposed to be.  Our Lord doesn’t like boxes.  Try as you might you will not be able to fit Him in one.  Nowhere is the complicated, paradoxical nature of our Lord more fully on display than at the events surrounding His arrest.  Our text this morning is found in the 18th chapter of John’s Gospel.

Text: John 18:1-12

Albert Schweitzer published a book in 1906 entitled, The Quest for the Historical Jesus.  His goal was to discover the real Jesus as opposed to the Jesus of legend created by the church.  For Schweitzer the real Jesus was a mere man caught up in the delusional expectation of a coming kingdom of God.  His Jesus sought to force the issue by making wild claims and seeking to hasten the coming of the kingdom of God through political means.  Sadly Jesus was crushed by the wheel of history.  Schweitzer’s Jesus dies a mistaken idealist who was confused, despairing and rejected.  According to Schweitzer the historical Jesus’ great contribution to mankind was to rid us of the delusional hope of a coming kingdom!

Keep Schweitzer’s Jesus in mind as we read our text and you tell me if his Jesus bears any resemblance to the one set forth by John.

We, the church, are called to proclaim the message of Jesus.  Not the Jesus of our own imagination.  Not the Jesus of our own intellect or design but the Jesus revealed to us in the Scriptures.

Thesis: A biblical understanding of Jesus demands that we see in Him the strength and terror of divine majesty combined with the comfort and assurance of humble obedience and sacrificial devotion.

We seldom see these things in combination.  Sovereignty and humility generally do not go together.  In our world strength and humility are not compatible.  But in the person of the Lord Jesus it all fits.

When we see Him as He is - we cannot help but fall down before Him in worship.
It is the only logical response to His person.
Our natural response will be to pull back in fear while, at the same time, feeling drawn to Him.

There are two things I want us to note from our text.

1. Our Lord exercised sovereign control over the events of that fateful night.  (18:1-9)
2. Our Sovereign Lord lovingly and humbly chose the path of obedience.  (18:10-12)

Conclusion:
Gethsemane was no tragedy.  It was the triumph of divine majesty and humble obedience as our Lord began His march to the cross.  If you want to understand the Jesus of the Bible you must see both His terrifying majesty and His humble obedience.  You must stand in awe of His majestic power and His sacrificial devotion.

Ground on the wheel of history?  No, He is turning the wheel of history.  This is the Jesus we are called to proclaim and this is the Jesus before whom you must bow.

 

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Gospel of John #46: an exposition of John 17:1-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 20, 2011.

Intro:
Prayer.  It is one of those things we talk a lot about…but seldom do.  Everyone knows it is important and that we all need to pray more than we do but we’re busy, there’s so much going on, well you know.  Sure there is that quick word before a meal.  There are the performances at church but what about real prayer?  When I think about people who really pray, I think of folks like Martin Luther, the great reformer, who spent four or five hours a day in prayer.  When asked how he could afford so to spend so much time in prayer given all he had to do Luther replied, “I have so much to do I can’t afford not to pray!”  I think of folks I’ve known through the years who were definitely prayer warriors.  That is not their assessment.  They did not see themselves as such (I would question anyone who did).  That was the observation of those who knew them.  Prayer is a powerful thing.  You know the strength and encouragement that comes when someone says, “I’m praying for you” and you know they mean it.  You can tell a lot about a person by their prayers.  You learn what is important to them.  You learn their priorities, who they love and what they love.

Of course the ultimate prayer warrior, the ultimate man of prayer is our Lord.  How often do we read in the Gospels that he spent the entire night in prayer?  That sounds strange to many of us.  We hear that and think, “What do you say all night?  How do you stay awake?”  Yet there is not one of us who hasn’t sat down with a friend or loved one and talked the night away.  You suddenly realize that hours have passed and it seemed like only a moment.  Maybe it seems foreign to us because God is a stranger.  Perhaps we can’t imagine being comfortable in His presence.  The Lord Jesus had shared a glorious unity with the Father from all eternity.  What did they talk about?  What went on in those exchanges between the Father and the Son?  Wouldn’t it be something to “get in on” the prayer life of the Lord Jesus?  Well we are given that opportunity on a few occasions in the Gospels.  One of them is our text this morning.

Text: John 17:1-26

This is sacred ground.  Jesus is in the final hours of his earthly ministry.  He has gathered with his disciples in the upper room to share the Passover Meal.  This is his final moments with them before the cross.  He talked with them concerning his death.  He spoke of his resurrection.  He told them of a home he was going to prepare for them.  He talked about abiding in him and bearing much fruit.  He promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He warned of the trouble that was to come.  At the end of their time together he prayed.  And what a prayer!  This is the Lord’s Prayer.  The passage in Matthew 6 contains the model prayer.  Jesus said, “When you pray, pray like this…”  This is the prayer he prayed.

As we work our way through the chapter here is what we find…

Thesis: This prayer of the Lord Jesus reveals His heart and soul.

This prayer gives us tremendous insight into the mind and heart of our Lord.  We find out what is important to him.  We find out what mattered to him.  Were were his priorities?  What was of greatest value to him?

The prayer naturally breaks into three sections.

1. The prayer of the Lord Jesus reveals his unrivaled love for the Father and the Father’s plan.  (17:1-5)
2. The prayer of the Lord Jesus reveals His gracious, superintending love for His disciples.  (17:6-19)
3. The prayer of the Lord Jesus reveals his merciful, inclusive love for the whole church.  (17:20-26)

Conclusion:
He prayed for you that night.
But that was not the last time he prayed for you.
He is now at the right hand of the Father interceding for his own!

Take heart dear Christian.  Are you in a dark place today?  Are you struggling?  He’s praying for you.  Are you frightened, uncertain anxious about your future?  He’s praying for you.  Are you awakening to your sin?  Coming to see your need of a Savior?  He’s praying for you!

 

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Gospel of John #45: an exposition of John 16:16-33. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 13, 2011.

Intro:
I was just a naive kid.  He was my oldest brother.  I loved him, adored him, and most of all, trusted him.  When he said, “No those peppers aren’t hot.”  I believed him.  When he assured me they were delicious I ate one!  After a couple of hours crying and recuperating I was encouraged and touched by his remorse.  He had made a terrible mistake.  The red ones were hot.  It is the yellow one that is not.  As a goodwill gesture he offered me a yellow pepper.  After a few more hours of tears, wash clothes, bread and other remedies, I was feeling better when he offered me the green pepper.  Yes, I took it.  Fool me once shame on you.  Fool me twice shame on me.  The third time - I must have been an absolute idiot!  But that was when I was a child.

During my college days my roommate suggested we order pizza.  I called it in and had it delivered to our room.  Just before the pizza arrived my roommate suddenly discovered he had no cash.  No problem.  I got it.  Well, that happened four or five times and I finally caught on!  But I was a college kid.

She was a sweet little old lady who was overjoyed that the young seminary student was buying her trailer.  In a way she was investing in the ministry.  She even through in the refrigerator.  After 3 years I sold the trailer, for which I paid $9000, for $2000 and was glad to get it.  I’m afraid there’s a pattern here.

I felt sorry for them.  Their story was heart-wrenching.  Their mother had died.  They were here trying to make arrangements.  The hospital had taken what money they had.  One of the sisters had her son with her.  As they told their story I kept looking at the boy.  His head down.  Polite when I spoke to him.  Sure I provided them a room for the night and some help for a meal.  Of course I feel bad later when I saw them on the news and read the story of how they have manage to work their con-game crisscrossing the United States for the last 10 years.

I’m reasonably intelligent.  I graduated cum laude from OBU.  I have a masters degree from Southwestern Seminary.  I like to think I have some spiritual insight.  So how did I miss it?  How come I didn’t get it?  Presumption is a dangerous thing.

They had spent three and a half years with him.  They heard the teaching.  They witnessed the miracles.  They had a front row seat to everything and yet they just didn’t get it.  Nearness to Jesus did not guarantee understanding.  Believing and receiving his truth did not ensure insight.  Our text this morning is found in the 16th chapter of John’s Gospel.

Text: John 16:16-33

All of this is happening on the night of our Lord’s betrayal.
He is in the upper room with the disciples encouraging and equipping them for what is to come.
In our text he tells them some glorious things.

There is wonderful, good news in this text but the thing that stands out is their failure to understand.

As we work our way through the text we discover…

Thesis: Our joy and standing before God are not dependent upon our spiritual perception and insight but rather by the work of Christ alone.

Remember the context is - all hell is about to break loose.
Their world is about to be shaken.
What they have believed and committed themselves to is about to be violently taken from them.
A key thought emphasized is, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
Their life is in Christ.
Not in their understanding of Christ but in Christ himself.

There are three things I want to call to your attention.

1. A genuine spiritual experience does not guarantee spiritual perception.  (16:16-24)
2. There is a fine line between spiritual perception and arrogant presumption.  (16:25-31)
3. Our joy and standing before God are secured by the work of Christ alone.  (16:33)