Fearful or Faithful
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Introduction
Introduction
Sudden death of phone - In a moment life changed - everything dear taken away.
What do you fear? The dark? Flying? Clowns? Dying? Do you fear faith?
Faith will change your life. For some, that’s what we fear - if choose to surrender lives to Jesus - what will be taken away? Even if we cognitively know that God’s way of life is best - it’s still frightening. Fear what He might asks from us. Fear of what He might call us to give, where He might call us to go, who He might call us to love. Because of fear, we never fully embrace Jesus as Lord.
Faith will change your life. Fearful of faith? We cognitively know that God’s way of life is best - living His way makes us better people - but we FEAR. Fear what He might asks from us. Fear of what He might call us to give, where He might call us to go, who He might call us to love. Because of fear, we never fully embrace Jesus as Lord.
Fear surrounds the story of the last hours of Jesus’ life. Contrast: Jesus should be the one fearful - dragged away by Roman soldiers to the house of high priest. But, he’s faithful - instead, everyone else is fearful - Religious leaders and Peter.
Goal: praying that this passage will help us to move from fear to faith - that we will gladly embrace the life that Christ has for us regardless of what it demands because we are convinced that Christ is better. What if faith drove your life instead of fear? What would you do differently? Give more generously? Pray more? Go more? Speak more?
The faith to share the Gospel
You’d share the Gospel instead of being terrified to open your mouth.
You’d give more financially to the work of the Kingdom instead of spending wastefully.
You’d devote more time to the ministry of the Kingdom instead of spending time on things that don’t matter.
You’d pray more because you trust God hears and knows.
You’d go on that mission trip instead of fearing what it might be like to be in a foreign country.
Two truths about fearful people and how to overcome:
What will fear do to you? How paralyzing is it? Two truths about fearful people and how to overcome:
Fearful people look for reasons to ignore the truth.
Fearful people look for reasons to ignore the truth.
Jesus betrayed with a kiss - now to the home of the high priest - Caiaphus - (Pictures.) - Early hours of morning - 1 or 2 a.m.? Sanhedrin - 71 members! Gathered for this moment to judge the Judge of the world!
The moment that the religious establishment waited for - they have their man. For three years, Jesus threatened them as He exposed their corruption, their false teachings, their hypocrisy, their spiritual abuse of the people they were supposed to watch over. Jesus had been a threat to their very way of life.
Now, they have Him. For a couple of years they have schemed and plotted to capture Him and ultimately kill Him. Finally, their moment had come. Imagine the rage and anger as Jesus stands before the religious leaders. No one with Jesus. No one to help Him. No one to come to His rescue.
Peter followed at a distance, but fear got the best of him like the other disciples. In a matter of hours, He’s gone from a committed follower who said he would follow to the death to a frightened observer.
Everything about the trial is wrong. It is completely an unfair and unjust hearing. There was Jewish law as to how a case like this should proceed - and the religious leaders completely ignored their laws in order to convict Jesus.
Problem 1: No mediator. Jesus has no defense attorney.
Problem 2: No corroborating witnesses. vs. 56-57 - - must be at least two corroborating witnesses in capital cases.
Problem 3: Wrong place. Capital case supposed to be held at temple precincts, not HP house.
Problem 4: Capital trials supposed to take at least two days so each judge could sleep on what they heard and make a wise judgment.
So badly wanted Jesus dead that they disregard their own law in order to find a way to execute Jesus.
What is the charge? A parade of false witnesses - complete chaos. Obvious that they have nothing. vs. 58 - “We heard Him say He will destroy the temple” - but again, no corroboration. Jesus never said it - said the temple would be destroyed - but He didn’t say He would do it. Labeled a terrorist.
To Jesus: “What’s your answer?” NO answer. ( - He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.”)
Again, this time specific: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” This could be Jesus’ out - “No. You misunderstand. This hasn’t gotten out of hand. This has gone too far.” But, with confidence - “I am - I am the judge who will judge you.” God on trial! The absurdity! God being judged by sinful man!
“Blasphemy!” High priest tears his garments. At those words, everyone convinced Jesus deserves death. Spit in His face, mock Him, and bat Him. Ugliness of sin - Can you imagine this in an American courtroom? The outrage!
Can you imagine the day of Great Judgment when those who judged Jesus stand in judgment of Jesus?
Can you imagine the day of Great Judgment when those who judged Jesus stand in judgment of Jesus?
But, while you were not there - and while you were not the one who brought forth false accusations, spit on Him, mocked Him, and accused Him of blasphemy, some of you have judged Jesus just as harshly. You’ve made up in your minds that He is not God and He is not worthy of your worship or your surrender.
In those early morning hours, truth stood before the Sanhedrin and looked them straight in the eyes - but they ignored. This morning, for most of your life - truth has looked you straight in the eyes, but you’ve ignored. Why? Fear. Like the Sanhedrin - you fear His Lordship. You fear what life might look like if He really is God. You fear giving up your power in exchange for His. What if you really connected faith to life? Fearful people look for reasons to reject the truth. Fear causes you:
You live in a false reality.
To live in a false reality. To live your life as if God doesn’t exist. To ignore what the Bible says - to live as if it doesn’t matter.
To be a master of rationalization. (Religious: “He can’t be Messiah. He’s from Nazareth, etc.) “How can I trust Jesus? Do you see what a mess my life is?” “Christianity might have worked 2,000 years ago, but not today. It’s a different world.” “My Life is too buys for religion.” You’re always giving reasons as to why you can’t live for Jesus. Yet, you see evidence of truth all around you. You see lives changed, and you even see how God has been good to you - though you won’t give Him credit.
To constantly reject. You have evidence. Truth is standing in front of you - but because of fear of faith, you reject over and over again.
Hudson - A = admit your a sinner - that needs to be drilled in your brain as well.
Fearful people give in to the temptation to turn from the truth.
Fearful people give in to the temptation to turn from the truth.
A trial takes place in the home of Caiaphas, and another trial takes place outside of the home in courtyard. Peter on trial for what he believes. Jesus examined by the religious elite. Peter examined by a slave girl, and while Jesus ultimately innocent, Peter guilty of denying the Master who He committed to follow to the very end.
To this slave girl, it’s obvious that Peter’s out of place. Maybe she sees his nervousness. Maybe she recognizes him from the temple being with Jesus. “Weren’t you with him?” Denial 1: “What do you mean?”
Later, to other bystanders: “This is one of them.” Denial 2. Then, “Certainly you are one of them. You are a Galilean.” Denial 3: Peter curses and swears. The one who swore an oath to Jesus ultimately swears against Jesus. While Jesus being beaten for Peter - Peter completely denies Jesus. Have you belittled the sacrifice Jesus has made for you?
Immediately - rooster crows - Luke says Jesus turned and looked at Peter - () - chill went down Peter’s spine when he realized what he had just done.
Fear got the best of Peter - turned from His Lord and denied Him. When you let fear of faith rule your life you will:
Give in to the temptation to save your own skin rather than suffer with the One who suffered for you. (Denying the call of Jesus) Call to discipleship: take up your cross. () Peter readily forgot what was at the heart of following Jesus. 2,000 later - Jesus’ call has not changed. Have you really answered the call?
Give in to the temptation to minimize your relationship with Jesus to be safe in the eyes of people. (Denying the cost of knowing Jesus.) Want to be seen as normal - not religious fanatic - not one of THOSE people. The people you’re trying to save face with do not love you enough to give their lives for you. You blend in instead of stand out - How many opportunities do you let pass by because of fear of people? (Group of Asian believers in a Middle Eastern country - What do we do next? What if we valued simple obedience more than we value how we appear in the eyes of others?) There’s a step of obedience you fear because of what it might cost you relationally - (sharing faith, answering God’s call to change careers, etc.)
Give in to the temptation
Give in to the temp
In this tragic denial there is much encouragement:
In this tragic denial there is much encouragement:
Don’t beat yourself up over your failures. Reminder that if Jesus’ lead apostle would fail, we will too. We don’t excuse our failures, but we don’t beat ourselves up. Get back up. (Suffering beliers in Rome - if you fail, get back up.)
Know that your failures don’t keep you from the love of Jesus. Difference between Peter and Religious leaders - conviction, grief over sin, and ultimately repentance. vs. 72 - he broke down and cried. After resurrection: () 3 questions and 3 affirmations. Each question pierce Peter’s heart - reminder of his sin, but also a reminder of the grace of Christ. If you have turned from Jesus, He’s saying to you: You still have value and purpose. Turn back to me.
Two men on trial: One is faithful, one is a failure. But, Jesus went to the cross for a failure like Peter - rose again - to give Peter a new life. Outside of Judas, no disciple a greater failure than Peter - but the greatest failure becomes the greatest leader. Why? Jesus became bigger. Bigger than his failure, and bigger than his fears. ( - living hope through resurrection.)
For you, Jesus needs to become bigger. Bigger than your fears, bigger than your failures, bigger than your own desires. When Jesus becomes bigger you’ll trust Him, worship Him, obey Him. How does Jesus become bigger? Everything else must become smaller. You must see Jesus as the resurrected King who was fearless and faithfully went to the cross for you. Overcome your fear of faith by stepping into faith.