John 18:15-18  |  Nov. 25, 2018 |  Morning Worship

“Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,¹⁶ but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.¹⁷ “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.He replied, “I am not.”¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.”

Last Sunday we were given a new understanding of persecution.  As followers of Christ we are not called to walk in fear; in other words don’t look at persecution as something negative but as something to embrace positively.  For God supplies you and I with strength to face all obstacles including persecution.  Rely on the Lord.

St. Ambrose (bishop of Milan and Church Father 338-397) “The Church’s foundation is unshakable and firm against the assaults of the raging sea.  Waves lash at the church but do not shatter it.  Although the elements of this world constantly batter and crash against her, she offers the safest harbor of salvation for all in distress.”

This bulletin appeared a few years ago: Today around the world over 200 million are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. At this very moment, a religious genocide of Christians in Syria is taking place; in China authorities are pressing in and raiding unregistered House Churches; in Pakistan Christians are being arrested for allegedly sending “blasphemous” texts – while the Western media is silent. Believers all around the world face violence, imprisonment and even death because of their faith in Christ.

 Suffering for the Gospel:

Luke 9:23 “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”  Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselvesCriteria for Discipleship that one denies one’s own will-power, self-will, strength and ability, depending totally on Christ.  And take up their cross The benefits of the cross, looking exclusively to what Jesus did there to meet our every need.  It’s been said unless we take up our cross for Jesus daily, we are not fully serving God.  Important not on our terms but on His.Dailyit is so important that we are looking at the Cross, that we must renew our faith in what Christ has done for us, even on a daily basis, for Satan will try to move us away from the Cross as the object of our faith, which always spells disaster.

John 15:20“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

Jesus warns the disciples to ready themselves, men will slander them because they preach & teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Take Phillip, spoke the word of God with great power and authority, many who witnessed miraculous signs and wonders.  He spoke the Good news when the church was scattered in Samaria and the city was filled with joy.  Being a follower of Jesus Christ comes with a price “You will be persecuted.”

Acts 16:16 Paul and Silas were going to a place of prayer were they met a slave girl who had a spirit to predict the future.  She kept this up for many days “These are the servants of the most High God telling you the way to be saved.  Paul became so troubled that He turned around and addressed the spirit “In the Name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her.  At that moment the spirit left her.”  A highlight of ministry overshadowed by man, dragged in to the marketplace, stripped, beaten, severely flogged and thrown into prison and fasten to the stocks of the inner cell; All for using the Name of Jesus.

Seized: Jesus attracted attention in His ministry because He stood for and represent one thing, the “Truth.”  Jesus drew those who sought the truth, His follower, those that believed and accepted the message He spoke.  But the chief priests and Pharisees, a detachment of soldiers came bearing torches, lanterns and weapons.  Persecution comes in various forms, “thou Jesus knew all that was to happen” He asks who is it you seek? Jesus of Nazareth, I am He!

Let me ask this question this morning is anyone seeking Jesus of Nazareth today?  If we treasure Jesus as our Lord let us heed to His example, I am He, in other words Lord teach us to be accountable for whom we are in Christ.  I am a follower, a believer, no matter the cost, I will not deny Christ.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

IDOP Video-I have decided to follow Jesus- a family in India come to know Jesus and the village is in an uproar, they bring the family into the village square, the chief of the village speak to the father if you do not recant your faith your children will die.  The father bewildered not knowing what to say remembers writing these words when he came to Christ I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.

Given another chance, recant your faith or your wife will die…Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, Though none go with me, still I will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

Given one final opportunity after his wife’s death, recant your faith or you will die,…The cross before me the world behind me, The cross before me the world behind me, The cross before me the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back.

Though that man, woman and their children died, something miraculous, the hand of God began a new work in the village, a seed was planted in that village chief, and over time he called the village, the community together, the whole neighborhood, in that same market place.  He renounces his former faith and pledged allegiance to Jesus Christ.

In that moment celebration broke out, the gospel began to flourish and not only in that community but throughout the region, for they had seen true faith, for they knew the true character of God.  Here we had a family that believed in sacrifice, even the penalty of death.

Struck: John 18:21-23 “Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”

Those who persecute are not interested in the truth; following Jesus statement ask those who have heard me, where are those witnesses?  Slapped seems to gentle, one of the officials struck Him for telling and speaking the truth, surely most of you would be punished if you told a lie but would have been rewarded for telling the truth.

Evil men played right into God’s ultimate plan by condemning Jesus to death of the cross, on a hill called Mount Calvary.  The spirit of darkness in them fought against the Spirit of Light in Him.  Admittedly they were religious, but in truth, they were religious devils, which in one form or the other characterizes all religions.

The official whom struck Jesus is that any way to address the high priest?  He was order to strike Jesus for they were looking for any excuse to attack Him.  Only if that official had truly known whom He spoke too, His tone might have been different.  Let’s have a look at how Jesus was afflicted as Isaiah Prophesied 700 years before Christ was born let alone died for our sins.

Isaiah 53:3,5“He was despised and rejected by mankind,a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.Like one from whom people hide their faceshe was despised, and we held him in low esteem.Cross references:

1. Isaiah 53:3 : Ps 69:29
2. Isaiah 53:3 : ver 4, 10; S Ex 1:10; S Mt 16:21; Lk 18:31-33; Heb 5:8
3. Isaiah 53:3 : S Dt 31:17; Isa 1:15
4. Isaiah 53:3 : S 1Sa 2:30; S Ps 22:6; Mt 27:29; Jn 1:10-11

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed.”

Jesus very own words as recorded in John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Sentenced: As we wait in the last breath of life here on earth I have had the privilege to ask individuals do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  We spoke of life and the blessing it has but as we as believers face death we equally embrace the promised gift of Eternal life, Jesus promised this gift to all whom believe in him.  As I read scripture God was present, Psalm 23 tears flowed down my face, not tears of sadness but tears of Joy as Cindy, Nancy and others have received a promise from the Lord.Their husbands were at peace for theyto knew where their loved ones would spend eternity.

Jesus makes this possible for each of us today by His sacrifice on the cross, He bore our sins, our sickness and disease because He loves each one of us.  As Jesus bore the punishment of the world all our sins notice his hands are outstretched welcoming each of us to draw near to Him and embrace Him as Lord and Savior.