1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,480 Father, we do praise you. Thank you for the privilege to 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,040 come and praise you this morning. 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:08,280 We pray now as we give our attention to your word, that you 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,440 would help us to give it the attention that it deserves 5 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:15,400 because it comes from You. And so Lord, help us to silence 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,920 the distractions or help us to lean in. 7 00:00:18,240 --> 00:00:21,600 Help us to be all here. Lord, I believe you have a word 8 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,960 for us and Lord, make us good soil to hear it that it might 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,600 bear fruit in our lives. For your glory we pray in Jesus 10 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,120 name, Amen. Our text this morning is John 18 11 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,480 verses one through 27. Please follow along in your 12 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,960 Bible or in the bulletin. When Jesus had spoken these 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,680 words, he went out with his disciples across the Brook 14 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:45,800 Kidron where there was a garden which he and his disciples 15 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,560 entered. Now Judas who betrayed him also 16 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,080 knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 17 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:55,880 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,680 from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with 19 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,960 lanterns and torches and weapons. 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,120 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came 21 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,560 forward and said to them, Whom do you seek? 22 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,080 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. 23 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:14,000 Jesus said to them, I am He. Judas who betrayed him was 24 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,240 standing with them. When Jesus said to them, I am 25 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,240 He, they drew back and fell to the ground. 26 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,960 So he asked them again, Whom do you seek? 27 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:25,720 And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. 28 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,040 Jesus answered, I told you that I am He. 29 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:31,720 So if you seek me, let these men go. 30 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:34,760 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken of. 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,760 Those whom you gave me I have lost not one. 32 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,640 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,160 high priest servant and cut off his right ear. 34 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,040 The servant's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, Put your 35 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,520 sword into its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup that 36 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:54,160 the Father has given me? So the band of soldiers and 37 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,640 their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and 38 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,040 bound him. First they led him to Anas, for 39 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:02,800 he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest 40 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,520 that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised 41 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,600 the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should 42 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,080 die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus and 43 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,120 so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to 44 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:18,320 the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the 45 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,960 high priest. But Peter stood outside at the 46 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:22,880 door. So the other disciple who was 47 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,520 known to the high priest went out and spoke to the servant 48 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,800 girl who kept watch at the door and brought Peter in. 49 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,240 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, You also are not 50 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,760 one of this man's disciples, are you? 51 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:38,000 He said I am not. Now the servants and officers 52 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,720 had made a charcoal fire because it was cold and they were 53 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,200 standing and warming themselves. Peter also with them, standing 54 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,360 and warming himself. The high priest then questioned 55 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:49,520 Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 56 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,560 Jesus answered him. I've spoken openly to the world. 57 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,840 I've always taught in synagogues and in the temple where all Jews 58 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,320 come together. I've said nothing in secret. 59 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,920 Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard me and what 60 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:03,760 I said to them. They know what I said. 61 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,000 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by 62 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,240 struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Is that how you answer 63 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,680 the high priest? Jesus answered him. 64 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:16,120 If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong. 65 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,600 But if what I said is right, why do you strike me? 66 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,680 Anas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 67 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,880 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming in himself. 68 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,040 So they said to him, You also are not one of his disciples, 69 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,400 are you? He denied it and said, I am not 70 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,640 one of the servants of the high priest. 71 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,320 A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off asked, Did I 72 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,480 not see you in the garden with him? 73 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,320 Peter again denied it and at once a rooster crowed. 74 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,640 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God, please be 75 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:54,960 seated. Some sermons you prepare with a 76 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,480 smile on your face, and others you prepare with a tear in your 77 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:00,920 eye. The difference between all the 78 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:06,200 light in John 17 and all the darkness in John 18 is striking, 79 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:08,720 and it demands a different kind of sermon. 80 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:13,280 In John 18 we have some of the darkest moments for Judas, Peter 81 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,120 and Jesus. Jesus has moved from the upper 82 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,680 room where he was with his friends to the Garden of 83 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,920 Gethsemane where he will encounter many enemies. 84 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:26,400 But shockingly, 2 of his friends, Judas and Peter fail 85 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,840 him. In his Gospel, John has given us 86 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,400 the most exalted picture of Jesus. 87 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,800 Think of the I AM statements and the teachings and his 88 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,600 relationship with the Father and the miracles. 89 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:42,600 But now John also gives us the most humbling picture of 90 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,120 humanity, of us, the Word of God. 91 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,600 It's like a mirror, and we hold it up and gaze into it. 92 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:52,080 But as we do that this morning, just like so many other 93 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:56,000 mornings, the picture is not pretty because we see a 94 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:00,480 reflection of ourselves in Judas and Peter, these weak and flawed 95 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,560 men who fail. And they remind us that we are 96 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:08,400 weak and flawed men and women who fail in our own ways. 97 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,920 We've betrayed and denied the Lord, and we don't need clever 98 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,400 illustrations to bring it to life right here. 99 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:18,360 Judas and Peter are the living illustrations of our false 100 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,520 discipleship. But in their failures, we also 101 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:26,400 see the faithfulness of Jesus, who presses through betrayal and 102 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:30,080 denial in faithful love for his people. 103 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,400 So we're taking time this morning to learn from these men 104 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,720 and their failures and the faithfulness of Jesus. 105 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,520 So in chapter 18, we really see the failures of Judas and Peter. 106 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,440 We have to go back in the story to understand what happened. 107 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,200 How did they get here? Why are they like this? 108 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,320 And so we'll go back and then we'll come forward and see what 109 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,480 we can learn from Judas and Peter and then Jesus. 110 00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:57,560 So as we start with Judas, we learn that we can live close to 111 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,800 Jesus and not know him. Judas had all the benefits of 112 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,640 living close to Jesus. Jesus called him to be one of 113 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,720 the 12 part of his inner circle, friends, Co laborers. 114 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,840 He had access to everything that we want for ourselves and our 115 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:16,920 friends and our children. Judas lived close to Jesus 116 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,240 teaching and his example and his miracles. 117 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,400 Think about it. He heard the sermon on the 118 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,040 mount. He was in the boat when Jesus 119 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,920 calmed the storm. He was there when Jesus raised 120 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:31,480 Lazarus from the dead. Judas spent three whole years 121 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,080 travelling and ministering with Jesus. 122 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,720 We have to assume Judas was sent out with the rest to preach and 123 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,640 heal and cast out demons. We have to assume that it must 124 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,600 have gone well, that he had a fruitful ministry. 125 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:48,400 He had all the evidence that should lead to a life changing 126 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,640 faith. But in the end, in chapter 18, 127 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:55,200 we see Judas betraying Jesus. And I want us to see two 128 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:57,280 striking things about the betrayal. 129 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:00,200 First, Jesus knew it would happen. 130 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,200 Jesus knew it all the way back in John 670. 131 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,360 You remember the Bread of Life sermon. 132 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,680 And people can't handle what Jesus is saying. 133 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,560 And a lot of people go away and are no longer following. 134 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,840 And Jesus asks his disciples, do you guys want to leave too? 135 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,880 And that's when Peter says, Lord, to whom shall we go? 136 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,160 You have the words of eternal life. 137 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,080 The very next verse Jesus says, did I not choose you? 138 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,400 The 12 And yet one of you is a devil. 139 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,280 Jesus was talking about Judas. He knew this was going to 140 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,280 happen. I believe he knew it from the 141 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,720 very start. So let that sink in that Jesus 142 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,960 knew Judas would betray him and he called him anyway. 143 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,440 As strange as it sounds, Judas was part of the plan and Jesus 144 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,640 knew it. But it's also striking. 145 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,400 The disciples didn't know it. They didn't see it coming. 146 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,800 They didn't know it. In John 1321, after the foot 147 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,920 washing, when Jesus says truly, truly, I say to you, one of you 148 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:01,440 will betray me. John says right there. 149 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,040 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he 150 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:07,960 spoke. And in Matthew 26, the disciples 151 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,040 are just distraught and they all start asking, is it I Lord? 152 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,120 Is it I Lord? Is it I Lord? 153 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:18,600 They had no idea Judas life had given no indication that he 154 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,800 would betray Jesus. Judas was the pastor who goes 155 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,120 off the rails and no one saw it coming. 156 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,960 He was the spouse who walks out on the marriage and then walks 157 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:32,679 out on their faith. And no one would have predicted 158 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,760 it would be that person. God's hand seemed to be upon 159 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:40,360 Judas's life. The disciples didn't even get it 160 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,400 at the table when Jesus said it is he of whom I will give this 161 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,400 morsel of bread when I have dipped it. 162 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:50,520 Which makes me think that Judas had to be sitting close to Jesus 163 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,000 that night, close enough to share the same bowl. 164 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,560 Think about that. close enough for Jesus to say to him what 165 00:08:57,560 --> 00:09:02,080 you're going to do, Do quickly, and close enough that maybe he 166 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,960 said it quietly enough. The disciples hardly caught it 167 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:08,920 because John says in 1328 no one knew why Jesus said this. 168 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,720 They thought Jesus was telling Judas to go buy something, they 169 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:14,600 need it. Think about it. 170 00:09:14,680 --> 00:09:17,520 If the disciples actually knew what Judas was going to go do, 171 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:19,520 do you think they would have let him walk out the door without a 172 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,600 fight? We know Peter has a sword, even 173 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,480 if he's not good with it, so what's the point? 174 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:30,600 The disciples had no clue Judas was orchestrating the most 175 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,120 infamous betrayal in history. Behind the scenes. 176 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,040 He has struck this deal and he is about to hand Jesus over. 177 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:42,120 What a warning for all of us. We can live really close to 178 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,240 Jesus and not actually know Jesus. 179 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:48,080 We can be in corporate worship every Sunday. 180 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,400 We can read the Bible and Christian books, we can be 181 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,240 active in ministry and not actually have a saving 182 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,600 relationship with Jesus. Listen to Jesus terrifying words 183 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:05,800 in Matthew 721 through 23 words. I imagine Judas sat and listened 184 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,720 to not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the 185 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,960 Kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father 186 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,080 in heaven on that day. Many will say to me, Lord, Lord, 187 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,520 did we not prophecy in your name and cast out demons in your name 188 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,440 and do many mighty works in your name? 189 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,080 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you. 190 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,760 Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. 191 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:32,800 It's the ultimate warning for Judas and for anyone who lives 192 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,240 close to Jesus without knowing him. 193 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,760 It's easy to think of following Jesus like baking a cake. 194 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,480 So we take these different ingredients and mix them 195 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:47,040 together and outcomes a cake. So for us and for the people we 196 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:51,360 care about, think, oh, we'll take some word of God and prayer 197 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,480 and fellowship and worship and mission and mix it together and 198 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,680 out will come a disciple. But the transformation happens 199 00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:01,200 when we bake a cake. Why? 200 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,520 Because you put it in the heat, you put it in the oven, and it 201 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,840 becomes like a whole new thing. And that's what seemed to be 202 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:12,200 lacking in Judas's life. The light, the heat of the Holy 203 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,240 Spirit. Because we can live close to 204 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,600 Jesus, but apart from the work of the Spirit, our eyes will not 205 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,240 be open, our heart will not be caused to beat. 206 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:24,360 We'll remain dead. Our life won't be changed. 207 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:26,240 We'll just be a mix of ingredients. 208 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,520 Without the fire, we'll be a whitewashed tomb, beautiful on 209 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,200 the outside, hiding dead bones on the inside. 210 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,440 Does this describe you? Are you in all the right 211 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:42,280 Christian places, saying all the right Christian words, doing all 212 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:46,040 the right Christian things? But if you're honest, lacking 213 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:51,920 life, lacking heat, if that's you, do you feel the warning 214 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,000 from Judas's life? In John 12, four through 6, we 215 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,200 get one clue about what was going on in Judas heart. 216 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:02,520 You remember the scene? Mary had anointed Jesus with 217 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:06,280 this expensive ointment and Judas complaints that it's been 218 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,400 wasted. Why would you waste this on 219 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,320 Jesus? And Judas asked why was it not 220 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:13,480 sold in the money given to the poor. 221 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,000 He acts like he has this genuine concern for the poor. 222 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,400 But John tells us he said this not because he cared about the 223 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,240 poor but because he was a thief and having charge of the money 224 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,560 bag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 225 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:30,360 I don't know when John figured that out. 226 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,000 That's not clear. I bet he put it together later. 227 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:37,400 But this is clear. Judas had unconfessed sin in his 228 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,560 life and it was greed. He was a thief. 229 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:45,040 He was stealing money people gave to support Jesus ministry 230 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:47,720 and he was acting like he cared about the poor. 231 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,480 Remember Paul's words in first Timothy 610 and think about 232 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,880 Judas as you hear this. For the love of money is a root 233 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,200 of all kinds of evil. It's through this craving that 234 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:03,600 some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves 235 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,320 with many pangs. Can you relate to this? 236 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,000 Maybe, like Judas, you just wish you could have a little bit 237 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,600 more. And because of that love of 238 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:18,400 money, you can be bought. There's a price at which you 239 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,320 will walk away from Jesus. I think about Esau in the Old 240 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,760 Testament basically trading his birthright for a cup of Stew. 241 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,120 What would you trade Jesus for? For Judas, it only took 30 242 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,840 pieces of silver. It's probably about four months 243 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:37,160 wages back then. And this is the closest thing we 244 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,720 have to a chink in Judas armor, like a foothold that Satan could 245 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,680 use to get into his life. And I think that's what happened 246 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:46,920 because Judas refused to bring his darkness into the light. 247 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,960 He sat on that secret and he gave Satan an inch and Satan 248 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:55,360 took a mile. So Luke says Satan entered into 249 00:13:55,360 --> 00:14:00,240 Judas, and John says the devil put it into his heart to betray 250 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,680 Jesus. But this was only possible 251 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:06,880 because Judas made it possible. He opened the door of his heart 252 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,120 for the Prince of Darkness to enter. 253 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:14,080 Imagine Judas sitting at the table with Jesus, hearing some 254 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:17,200 of this most amazing teaching from the last few chapters. 255 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,840 But he didn't know Jesus. He sat there pretending to be a 256 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,280 disciple, and then he walked out, grabbed some soldiers, and 257 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:30,680 betrayed Jesus with a kiss, with a sign of affection. 258 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,920 Do you have unconfessed sin in your life? 259 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,640 Is there some dark secret no one knows? 260 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:44,240 If you do hear this, just like Judas, people won't know it. 261 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,880 But Jesus knows it. And if the story of Judas 262 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,720 doesn't scare you, I fear for you. 263 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:53,960 I don't want any of you to live close to Jesus but not know him. 264 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,320 So consider Judas this morning. Cry out to God, Holy Spirit, 265 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:02,000 open my eyes. Help me to bring my darkness 266 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,720 into the light. Jesus, forgive my sins and make 267 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,560 me new. So if you're living close to 268 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,400 Jesus but don't know him, I pray that even this morning he would 269 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,080 save you by the power of his grace. 270 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,120 Now, as we turn our attention to Peter, we're reminded of a 271 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:19,720 different lesson. It's this. 272 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,480 We can know Jesus but not understand his mission. 273 00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:26,960 We can know Jesus and not understand his mission. 274 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,600 The author Michael Card argues that Peter is the only other 275 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,720 fully formed character in the Gospels. 276 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,080 Think about that. We have Jesus and we have Peter, 277 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,720 and everyone else is kind of a bit character. 278 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,320 But what a gift that it's Peter, right? 279 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:46,200 This man who's so like us, so ordinary and relatable, No 280 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:48,200 formal education. He loved to fish. 281 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:52,880 He was a small business owner. We learned so much about Jesus 282 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:54,840 just by the way he interacts with Peter. 283 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,320 So think about Peter's story from the beginning. 284 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,480 He was drawn to Jesus. His brother brought him to 285 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:01,440 Jesus, and he comes and he's excited. 286 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,680 Peter loved Jesus from the start, but he didn't love Jesus. 287 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,040 Mission. This is clear in Matthew 16 when 288 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:12,560 Peter has one of his highest highs and one of his lowest lows 289 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,440 back-to-back. First Peter confesses you are 290 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,840 the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus is excited 291 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,600 and calls him blessed and tells him the Father has revealed this 292 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:27,800 to him. Very next text says Jesus starts 293 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:31,240 to explain to the disciples that the Christ will have to suffer 294 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,280 and be killed and be raised on the third day. 295 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,280 I really think Peter missed the raised part but he didn't miss 296 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,320 the suffering part. So he hears that the Christ will 297 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,320 suffer and he he just goes crazy. 298 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:48,200 Peter takes Jesus aside and starts to rebuke him says for 299 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:51,600 far be it from you Lord, this will never happen to you. 300 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,440 And in this moment, Jesus says to him, get behind me, Satan. 301 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,400 From high to low. Jesus came to die for his 302 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:03,400 people. And here's Peter standing in the 303 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,079 way of that mission. In that moment, Peter was 304 00:17:06,079 --> 00:17:09,760 opposing God's will. He was more devil than disciple. 305 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,520 So Jesus would talk to the disciples multiple times about 306 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,800 his plan, about his mission, but they never seemed to get it 307 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:21,079 because they had no category for a savior who would suffer or 308 00:17:21,079 --> 00:17:24,920 even a savior who would serve. So Jesus washes Peter's feet and 309 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,440 takes this place of a servant and Peter resists that. 310 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,400 And then in our passage, Jesus hands himself over to be 311 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,960 arrested and Peter resists that. He takes up his sword and starts 312 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,040 swinging. He's fighting for Jesus. 313 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,360 Thankfully he wasn't great with a sword. 314 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:42,160 He probably wanted a head and just got an ear. 315 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,360 And you know, in another text that says Jesus on the spot 316 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:50,160 heals that ear, Peter turns to violence because he doesn't 317 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,680 understand Jesus mission or he understands it all too well and 318 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:57,240 just doesn't agree with it. Jesus planned to save his people 319 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:01,640 and build his church through suffering and sacrifice through 320 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:05,240 costly love. But Peter thinks the movement 321 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,040 should be more about power and privilege. 322 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,440 Peter loves Jesus, but he doesn't love his mission. 323 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,160 He has his own agenda. So Peter does the wrong things 324 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,160 you could say for the right reasons. 325 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,280 He loves Jesus. He wants to save them from 326 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,560 suffering and that's what he tries to do, but Jesus doesn't 327 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,560 thank him for it. Peter probably expected a thank 328 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:30,440 you for standing up for me. And Jesus rebukes them. 329 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,880 Put your sword into its sheath. Shall I not drink the cup that 330 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:37,480 the Father has given me? Can you relate to Peter? 331 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,200 Do you know and love Jesus but struggle to get on board with 332 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:42,960 this mission? You hear him saying deny 333 00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:46,080 yourself and take up your cross and follow me and you're like, 334 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,160 yes, Lord, I love you. But that sounds really 335 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,320 uncomfortable. Could we maybe just do it with 336 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,760 power and privilege? Could we maybe just save 337 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,040 ourselves and our children from suffering? 338 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,680 Church history is just littered with stories of people doing the 339 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:05,120 wrong things for the right reasons, relying on the worldly 340 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:08,280 power instead of the Holy Spirit, conquering our enemies 341 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:12,800 with quick violence instead of the long Rd. costly love. 342 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,720 Have you ever noticed though, wherever the church seems to 343 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:20,720 enjoy power and privilege, it seems like decay and decline are 344 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:26,160 just right there with it. But when God's people faithfully 345 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,400 endure persecution and suffering, the church grows. 346 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,160 There's revival. We see amazing things, but we're 347 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:35,640 still tempted to find a shortcut around suffering. 348 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,360 Because it's easy. Easy to send people on crusades 349 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:42,360 and hard to send people to go plant a church. 350 00:19:42,360 --> 00:19:45,800 It's It's easy to send soldiers. It's hard to send missionaries. 351 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,600 It's easier to fight theological battles with people than to lay 352 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,920 down our lives for them. So the big point is it's easier 353 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,800 to grab for a crown than take up a cross. 354 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:01,600 But Jesus makes it so clear the cross comes before the crown. 355 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,640 So why do we think life will go differently for us? 356 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,440 Well, because we're like Peter. We think we can know Jesus and 357 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,040 not love his mission. But it's a profound disconnect, 358 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,160 isn't it, To love someone and not love their mission. 359 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,040 To say I love you, but I kind of hate what you're about. 360 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,800 And Jesus won't leave us there. And over time, the Lord changed 361 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,680 Peter in beautiful ways. So when an older Peter wrote his 362 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,760 letter First Peter, he had a very different perspective. 363 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:31,280 And if you go read it this afternoon, you'll see how much 364 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:34,720 he talks about the reality of suffering in the Christian life. 365 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,920 He calls us to faithful endurance as we suffer for 366 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,680 Christ. He calls us to rejoice even as 367 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:45,360 we share in Christ's sufferings. And the traditional story goes 368 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:48,800 that that Peter was crucified upside down because he didn't 369 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,880 think he was worthy to die like his Lord. 370 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,440 So Peter was naturally proud, but the Lord humbled him. 371 00:20:55,960 --> 00:20:59,560 And Peter was naturally violent, but the Lord made him willing to 372 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:03,560 suffer for the cause of Christ. God used Peter's failure in the 373 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,400 Garden of Gethsemane to make him into a man who would follow 374 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:09,000 Jesus in his mission. And he'll use our 375 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,720 misunderstandings and failures to get us back on mission. 2IN 376 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:17,480 John 18 we see Peter lashes out to try to save Jesus from 377 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,760 suffering and then in the next scene he shrinks back to try to 378 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,800 save himself from suffering. We see Jesus trial starting with 379 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,800 Anas and it will continue as we go forward in the coming weeks. 380 00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:30,080 Anas was Caiaphas, his father-in-law. 381 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:32,960 He was the former chief or chief priest, high priest. 382 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:37,840 He was like the high priest emeritus, a man with real power, 383 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,640 just no job anymore. But the soldiers take Jesus to 384 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,200 him first. He's kind of the man. 385 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,360 We won't focus on the interrogation because Peter's 386 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:50,840 really our main concern. But I think John was the other 387 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:52,960 disciple. He's always so hesitant to list 388 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,920 himself, but he, I think, was the one known to the high 389 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,520 priest. It was John who helped Peter get 390 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,760 in the door. It was John who witnessed this 391 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:01,400 moment so that we would know about it. 392 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:05,840 And what John does is highlight the contrast between Jesus and 393 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,320 Peter. Peter denies Jesus in verses 17 394 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:13,280 and 25 and 27. Earlier when Jesus could deny it 395 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:18,200 as at his arrest, he said I am he, I am he, I am he. 396 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:24,480 Now in a similar situation, Peter says I am not, I am not, I 397 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:29,320 am not one of his. And in between Peter's denials, 398 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,520 what we see is Jesus is on trial. 399 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:34,720 In the midst of that, Jesus is the one in real trouble. 400 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:38,680 And yet he denies nothing. Go talk to the people I've 401 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:41,120 taught out in the open. Go, go hear what I said. 402 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:44,440 I'm not hiding anything. And Peter's just watching from 403 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,880 the sidelines and he denies everything. 404 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:51,480 Which is amazing because in Matthew 2635, Peter tells Jesus, 405 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,120 even if I must die with you, I will not deny you. 406 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:57,880 And it says all the disciples said the same. 407 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,720 But their confidence cracks when the threat gets real. 408 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,600 Can you relate to this? We make these bold promises, but 409 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,680 when the when things get real, we fold. 410 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,200 We do the unthinkable. We act like we don't even know 411 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,400 Jesus. When has the heat gotten turned 412 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,520 up at work or school or in the neighborhood? 413 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:24,000 Have you ever denied that you're with Jesus or with his people? 414 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:30,440 When have we denied Jesus? Why do we do this, and what will 415 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,400 it take for us to have the strength not to do it again? 416 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,960 We're not going to find that answer in Peter. 417 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:40,480 And so we turn our eyes away from Peter, and we turn our eyes 418 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,120 to Jesus. So when we look at Jesus in John 419 00:23:43,120 --> 00:23:46,840 18, what do we see? He is faithful to love us and 420 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:50,840 give himself for us. In John 18, he's arrested. 421 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,120 In John 19, he's crucified. And yet in both chapters, John 422 00:23:55,120 --> 00:23:57,240 makes it clear that Jesus is reigning. 423 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,680 He's in control. This is in no way an accident. 424 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,600 This is his hour that He's been talking about in John, the 425 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,760 moment for which He came. This is how He'll bring glory to 426 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:08,840 the Father and salvation to his people. 427 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:11,840 This is how He'll fulfill the promise of the of the Old 428 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,320 Testament. Prophecies are being fulfilled 429 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,280 even in Judas. This is all part of the plan. 430 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:20,800 Look at verse 4. Jesus knew all that was going to 431 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:24,600 happen to him, and he didn't run. 432 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:28,880 Judas and his army come with lanterns and torches. 433 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,040 They're expecting a search. They're expecting a fight. 434 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,400 But Jesus is in a familiar place. 435 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:36,280 It's a place Judas knew well. They had probably had many sweet 436 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,160 times there together, which just adds to the pain. 437 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,280 This is probably the first place Judas would look, and that's 438 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:45,320 where Jesus goes. And they're ready to hunt Jesus, 439 00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,880 but he just hands himself over who's really in control. 440 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,800 In John 17, Jesus wanted his disciples to hear something as 441 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:55,720 he prayed. That's what Pete said last week. 442 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,240 I think. In John 18, Jesus wanted his 443 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:00,520 disciples to see something as he surrendered. 444 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,080 He didn't send them off to spare them this moment. 445 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:08,160 He wants them to see that he's laying down his life willingly. 446 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,920 And so he steps forward and asks, whom do you seek? 447 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:16,960 They say Jesus of Nazareth. And he says I am he, the 448 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,280 simplest I am statement in John, so simple that a lot of people 449 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,480 don't even consider it an I am statement. 450 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,880 But professional soldiers hear this name and they draw back and 451 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:31,560 they hit the ground. Has the name of Jesus ever 452 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,200 stopped you in your tracks and caused you to fall to the 453 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,320 ground? Jesus asked them again. 454 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,000 They say they're looking for Jesus of Nazareth. 455 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,520 And he tells them again, I am he. 456 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:46,800 You remember in Exodus, God revealed himself to Moses as I 457 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,800 am, and he said he was coming down to rescue and deliver his 458 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,240 people from slavery. And now in John, Jesus is 459 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:57,680 claiming to be I am the God who came to deliver his people from 460 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:59,560 sin. But how would he do it? 461 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:01,880 Here we see the power of this name. 462 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:03,480 I am. We see what he's about. 463 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:06,800 What is his mission? Jesus uses the power of his 464 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:07,760 name. I am he. 465 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:12,760 I am he not to save himself, but to save his friends. 466 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,960 So he says in verse 9, if you seek me, let these men go. 467 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:24,120 The great I am came to give his life for ours. 468 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:28,480 If you seek me, let these men go and they let them go. 469 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,000 You would think they would take all of them, don't you? 470 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,720 But Jesus says take me, forgive them. 471 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:38,520 Jesus was telling them, my life for theirs. 472 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,640 And Jesus would tell you this morning, my life for yours, my 473 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:47,280 life for yours. Just think about Jesus love for 474 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,600 his people. He endures betrayal and 475 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:53,840 misunderstanding of his mission and denials here and then it'll 476 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,080 be trials and abuse and ultimately the cross. 477 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:02,000 But in the face of our failures, Jesus is perfectly faithful to 478 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:06,840 love us, and he presses forward to drink the cup of God's wrath 479 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:10,520 so that we can lift the cup of God's salvation. 480 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:13,440 And that's what Peter came to see one day. 481 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:17,160 That's what Jesus wants us to see today, that we cannot out 482 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,560 fail his faithfulness. If we will simply look to Jesus, 483 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:23,960 we cannot out fail his faithfulness. 484 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,680 Peter's denial in John 18 becomes this defining moment in 485 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:31,480 his walk with Jesus. And Jesus will come back to this 486 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,600 in a few chapters after the resurrection, but just think 487 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,680 about John witnessing this and imagine how hard it would be to 488 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:39,440 tell this story about his friend. 489 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:41,920 This one of his worst moments in his life. 490 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,680 I think it's so painful for John that you see at the end he just 491 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:49,760 says at once a rooster crowed. You can't even say any more than 492 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,160 that. But imagine what Peter must have 493 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:53,760 felt. And now think about your own 494 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:55,760 failures. Maybe even this week, this 495 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:58,560 summer, there's some way that you have failed Jesus. 496 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:02,600 Deny Jesus, betray Jesus. And if your heart breaks, I want 497 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,360 you to hear what Luke says in the same moment. 498 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:10,200 This is Luke 2261. And the Lord turned and looked 499 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:14,160 at Peter, And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he 500 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:17,920 said to him, before the rooster crows today you'll deny me 3 501 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:21,560 times. And Peter went out and wept 502 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:26,320 bitterly. So in Peter's moment of deepest 503 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:30,040 failure, what happens? The Lord turned and looked at 504 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,480 him. And the question is, what was in 505 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:35,720 that look? Was it a look of disappointment 506 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:38,440 and judgement? I don't think so. 507 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:42,440 I believe Jesus looked at Peter and loved him. 508 00:28:42,440 --> 00:28:45,880 And it was that look of love that broke Peter's heart, 509 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,440 because it was a love that he couldn't understand and he could 510 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:53,080 never deserve. It was God's unfailing love for 511 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:58,240 a failing man. And that love would one day take 512 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:02,040 Simon, who really appears more like a pile of sand, and make 513 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:04,560 him, by the power of God's Spirit, a rock. 514 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:09,560 Peter So friends, in the moment of your deepest failure, I want 515 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:13,440 you to imagine Jesus turning and looking at you, not with a look 516 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:17,320 of disappointment or judgement, but with love. 517 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:22,720 And the question is, will you reject that love like Judas, to 518 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:27,840 your own destruction? Or will you trust in his, in his 519 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:31,640 faithful love like Peter? Will you let him change your 520 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,840 life? Will you let him swallow up your 521 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:40,080 failures in His unfailing love? So look to Jesus this morning. 522 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:44,880 Come to know Him truly, and then know the joy of following Him in 523 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:48,160 His mission. Love, so amazing, so divine, 524 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,320 demands our soul, our life, our all. 525 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,640 Let's pray together. Father, We're so grateful for 526 00:29:54,640 --> 00:30:00,880 this text. It alarms us, it warns us, but 527 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,760 it also encourages us. I pray for those who feel like 528 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:07,760 Judas this morning or who feel comfortable, or would you 529 00:30:07,760 --> 00:30:10,920 afflict them and help them to see the danger that they're in? 530 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,280 Should they not turn and run to Jesus or open their eyes, make 531 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,200 their hearts beat for you, and I pray that they would cry out to 532 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,680 you for salvation. I also pray for those who feel 533 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,960 more like Peter, who feel afflicted, who feel the 534 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:28,000 heaviness of their failures and their weakness and their sin. 535 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:31,440 Lord, would you comfort them today by the promise of your 536 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,880 unfailing love? Lord for all of us, we pray that 537 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:37,960 you would draw us closer, that we might know you truly and 538 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,680 follow you in your mission. Lord, take Your word and drive 539 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,720 it deep into our hearts and give us grace to understand it and 540 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,240 apply it now in Jesus name, Amen.