The Passion of Christ, Part 2: The Failure of Religion

The Passion of Christ, Part 2: The Failure of Religion

John 18:12-27

Introduction: Have you ever had the conversation with someone drift toward spiritual matters, and suddenly the hands go up, “No, that’s all right for you, but I’m not religious!”  Sometimes people can get so passionate its as though they are afraid they might catch a disease or something!  One possible response at a moment like that is, “that’s ok, I’m not religious either! I just believe Jesus!” The truth is Christianity is unlike every other “religion” in the world in that it is not based on human effort, its putting our trust in what has been done for us.  That’s what the reformers meant when they used the Latin phrase sola gratia. Grace ALONE.  What is grace?  Well if you receive a days pay for a day’s work, that is a wage. When you compete with an opponent and receive a trophy for winning, that’s a prize.  When you receive recognition for long service or great achievements, that is an award. But when you can’t earn a wage, can win no prize, and deserve no award, yet receive a gift anyway-that is unmerited favor, that’s grace. Today’s scene in John 18 illustrates why that is the way it had to be, the only hope for sinful humans.

     As we’ve come to the story of the passion of Christ, we’ve arrived at the climax of God’s story of redemption.  The sin of Adam brought separation from God and judgment on all humanity. God, being rich in mercy, provided the temporary covering of the Old Testament sacrifices that looked forward to a perfect sacrifice that would be offered in the fullness of time. The passage before us today underscores the desperate need of humanity for the grace of God.  The leaders of Judaism, the guardians of Revelation that God himself had given to his chosen people, reject the One who is the central character to whom all Scripture pointed.  It was tempting to me to separate this passage into two different sermons: one, focusing on the initial phase of Jesus’ trial, the other on the failure of Peter as he three times denied that he even knew the Lord. But the juxtaposition of the two stories, and the shifting back and forth between one scene and the other, is not by chance.  John is purposefully telling the story in this way and contrasting the regal dignity of Jesus and the human failure of Peter (and of the Jewish leaders). Last week we looked at “The surrender of the Servant” as Jesus allowed himself to be arrested. This week we’ll consider part 2 of the passion in John, “The Failure of Religion.”

The Big Idea: Religion will fail and human effort falls short.  Jesus did it all, all to Him we owe. Sola gratia, Grace alone saves.

I. “Religion” won’t save us: We need a Substitute, a perfect One.  Jesus showed his love by being willing to allow his accusers to arrest him and bind Him (12-14).

            After the awesome scene at the beginning of Chapter 18, Jesus the great “I AM,” allowed himself to be arrested by the Jewish authorities.  He was no victim, but rather His hour had come and God’s plan of redemption was unfolding exactly according to plan.  Jesus was not resisting, yet we read in 18:12 that they “…arrested Jesus and bound Him…”  Jesus was “bound,” like Isaac was in Genesis 22 as Abraham prepared to carry out the “instructions” of the Lord.  He was bound, like a sacrifice. Remember the scene in Genesis 22:9,

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.”

 We know how that story unfolded: Abraham stretched forth his hand, ready to sacrifice his son in obedience to the Lord, but God intervened, and provided a ram stuck in the bushes for the sacrifice.  Now, 2000 years later, near that very spot, God himself has provided the lamb, and this Son too is bound, ready for the sacrifice.  In this case, God did not intervene, He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all.
     *Do you remember that scene in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, when Aslan delivered himself up to the White Witch before the stone table in exchange for Edmund.  They couldn’t touch him unless he permitted it. And then he allowed them to bind him. He took Edmund’s place.  And the White Witch did her cruel work. Lewis was illustrating the story of Jesus, who allowed himself to be bound, like a sacrifice, ready to die in our place. Like Edmond we were traitors, lost, unable to save ourselves. We needed a substitute, a perfect One.

            In v.13 Jesus is brought first to Annas.  This might seem strange since we know from John 11:51 that Caiphas was the High Priest at this time.  But Annas  was still influential, perhaps the most influential religious leader among the Jews. Just as some in the Catholic church wondered how a new pope would be esteemed with a pope “emeritus” still living, Annas was still very revered and influential in Judaism. He had been forced to step down from his position by the Romans in AD 15 after over 20 years in office. Four of his sons served in the office in the intervening years, and now His son in law, Caiaphas, was the official High Priest. Still there is little doubt that Annas was extremely powerful. He was probably considered the “true High Priest” by many.  He also had a financial stake in what was happening in the religious system of the Jews.  He received a “cut” of the transactions in the temple. Since Jesus twice upset the trade in the temple, he had Annas’ attention.  By mentioning this appearance by Jesus before Annas before His being sent to Caiphas John is underscoring the corruption of the priesthood and of Judaism in general. It had drifted far from the faith of Moses and David.  The God who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, now incarnate, was present, and they were clueless. They had such difficulty in recognizing their own messiah even as He stood right before their eyes. Preserving the system, maintaining the “status quo” took precedence.

Ironically, 18:14 alludes specifically back to 11:51, “Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.”  Another reminder that God is in control. After the controversy that followed the raising of Lazarus, the leaders began to plot in earnest to kill Jesus. His ministry had become too visible, too disruptive, he was gaining too many followers.  Caiaphas had unknowingly prophesied the substitutionary death of Jesus when he said that it was better for one man to die for the nation.  Even in the deliberations of the leaders as they planned to kill Jesus, the words of one of them, their reigning high priest, revealed the amazing grace of God which would be revealed in his sacrifice of himself for his sheep.  Religion won’t save, only Jesus saves. No man comes to the Father, but by Him.  Religion will fail and human effort falls short.  Jesus did it all, all to Him we owe. Sola gratia, Grace alone.

II. Human effort will fall short, we can’t save ourselves: Peter’s First Denial (15-18). In contrast to Jesus who demonstrated quiet trust in God’s plan, Peter is curious, but confused and cowardly. Peter was strong and out spoken, he was ready to die with Jesus, wasn’t he? Well he thought so, but Jesus knew better. Remember that scene at the end of John 6, Peter had professed faith in the strongest of terms. In John 6:65-69,  Jesus said,

"For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."  ⁶⁶ As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.  ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"  ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God."

That’s a mountaintop moment at that point in the story, for Peter and for the other disciples. They had recognized Jesus as the “Holy One of God” and had decided to follow Him!

Of course, earlier this very night this same Peter had been shocked when he was warned by Jesus that he would not only falter, but that that very night he would deny Him three times: John 13:36-38 ,

 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later."  ³⁷ Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You."  ³⁸ Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.

That had to hurt—no doubt it seemed unthinkable to Peter. He was committed! He would rather die than deny Jesus, right? And not only would he deny Him, as in a momentary weakness, but he would deny Him three times that very night!  As we saw last week, this same Peter had gone to arms, prepared to defend Jesus at a moment of need, only to be rebuked: John 18:10-11,

“Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus.  So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?" 

Jesus didn’t need Peter’s intervention, and He doesn’t need us, but we desperately need Him! The rebuke of Jesus no doubt confused Peter, his head was probably spinning, and like the others, he ran.  At least at first. But he and another disciple, confused but curious, followed at a distance, probably wanting to see who this story unfolded. Then we read in John 18:17 the first sad denial,

“Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."

Religion will fail and human effort falls short.  Jesus did it all, all to Him we owe. The reformers had it right, Sola gratia, Grace alone!

III. Human reason won’t be enough, apart from Christ people are blind to the truth: Jesus before Caiaphas (19-24). Don’t be surprised by those who reject the truth, they are deaf, blind, and dead! Our faith is reasonable, but we are saved by grace through faith. That means taking God at His word.

            Caiaphas is looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, to condemn him by his own words. Jesus knows his heart and says his teaching is a matter of public record, it wasn’t given in a corner. He knew the hearts of his accusers as He knows the hearts of all humans. It’s almost like when the blind man who was healed in John 9 and the leaders kept on questioning him. He answered “I’ve already told you, why do you keep asking? Do you want to become His disciples too?” There would be no sense in repeating to Caiaphas what he already had heard, his mind was made up, he would not believe.

            Jesus knew this was not an inquiry for truth, it was an inquisition. They were seeking a reason to justify their decision to reject Him and kill Him. And so, in the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Like a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

            Listen, we are to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us. We are called to clearly and earnestly present the truth and to urge people to be reconciled to God. But we can’t change a single heart, we can’t save anyone. It’s all of God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not as the result of works, that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8,9).  Earlier in this Gospel Jesus said,

"But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.  ²⁷ "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  ²⁸ and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand…” (John 10:26-28).

Yes, religion will fail and  human effort falls short.  Jesus did it all, all to Him we owe. Sola gratia, Grace alone.

IV. We are saved by grace, grace alone: Peter’s Second and third denial (25-27).   John reports the events as it happened, without some of the details we get in the synoptic gospels. We read nothing of Peter swearing and denying Jesus with an oath, nothing of Jesus turning to Peter at the moment of the third denial, no mention of Peter being convicted, and weeping bitterly in remorse. Just the fact, as fulfillment of the word of Christ and as a demonstration of the need of men was enough for John to report:

“One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?"  ²⁷ Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed” (John 18:26-27).  

As heart-breakingly serious this denial of Jesus by Peter is, it only underscores the grace of God in forgaving Peter and restoring him to fellowship and service.

           We’ll see that scene of grace in John 21, where Jesus allows Peter to confess his love, three times, and commissions him to “feed his sheep.” And then comes Acts!

What is God saying to me in this passage? Religion will fail and  human effort falls short.  Jesus did it all, all to Him we owe. Sola gratia, Grace alone.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Have you come to God on His terms?  It means admitting that you are a sinner, because we all are, there is none righteous, not even one (Rom 3:10,23).  It means believing that Jesus died for your sins, and that He was raised from the dead the third day (I Cor 15:1-3).  It means calling on Him as your only hope of salvation, “Confess with you mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved…” (Rom 10:9,10). 

       Believers, there is a word for you here as well.  Paul said in 1 Cor 4:7, “For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” We’ve been saved by grace, we should be gracious, there is no room for pride, no room for boasting. 

     I’ve told you before a bit of our experience in São Paulo, Brazil.  When you stop your car at a traffic light, the street children will appear at your window.  Sometimes selling something, sometimes performing a little show, twirling a baton or stick, sometimes just with an outstretched hand, begging.  When you live immersed in such a reality, it’s hard to know what to do.  You can’t help them all.  Some are sent out there by family members, and bring the money home for drugs or alcohol.  Some are just hungry, hopeless, and desperate.  But there are thousands of them.  Usually I would carry some candy in the car and give it to them, like giving a glass of water in the name of Jesus.  Sometimes, when I was busy, I didn't even see them.  If I opened my window and give something I felt a little better, at least I had acknowledged them.  When I read the book the “Ragamuffin Gospel” a few years ago, my perspective changed.  I realized I was that little child.  Dressed in rags, dirty, smelly, nothing to offer and no right to expect anything, I held out my hand.  And Jesus didn’t just crack the window open and give me a piece of candy.  He threw the door open wide and embraced me.  He washed my dirty face and gave me new clothes.  He not only fed me at his table, he called me his son.  That is GRACE.

     If we grasp what Jesus has done for us, we must be filled to over-flowing with thankfulness. We should be patient, compassionate, and passionate as we seek to share Christ with those around us.  I am not religious. Are you? Think about that, amen.

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