Sermon Notes - John 18:1-27 - God's Plan - Littleby Baptist Church - November 19, 2023

 1.     Jesus prayed.

a.      Nothing surprising there.

b.     We see throughout the NT that He models for us that we are to pray.

c.      He prayed that the Father would use Him.

d.     That the guys with Him would be able to stand through the trial they were facing. 

e.      What is amazing is that He prayed for all who would believe through the words shared and written by the Disciples.

f.      He prayed for us.

2.     He prayed that those who follow His Word are united.

a.      He prayed that the world would see that the Father sent the Son, through how we live our faith.

b.     That we would learn to love as God loves.

c.      That we would see Him in His Glory, that we would see Jesus is His glorified body!

d.     Spend forever in His awesome presence.

e.      He prayed that we would point people to the Father through Jesus.

3.     That is what it all boils down to.

a.      That we love God so much that we live our faith in a way that points people to Jesus.

b.     That we love others so much that we want them to stand before the judgement seat as a child of God, not as a goat.

4.     Jesus prayed for us.

5.     Then the events leading to His sacrifice began to play out.

6.     John 18:1

a.      At the end of chapter 14, Jesus said ‘Let’s leave this place’, meaning they were leaving the upper room.

b.     This verse here in chapter 18, maybe they are finally leaving the Upper Room, or maybe somewhere they had paused to talk.

c.      Either way, at this point Jesus enters the garden.

7.     John 18:2-3

a.      A man who walked with Jesus betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver.

b.     Lured by Satan but still carrying out the Father’s will.

c.      Judas betrays Jesus, leading a crowd of people ready to confront him.

8.     John 18:4-5

a.      Jesus knew what was happening.

b.     He did not run away.

c.      He wanted His Father’s will to be carried out.

d.     He was looking forward; His eyes were looking to when He would see us in Eternity.

9.     John 18:6

a.      Jesus spoke and they fell to the ground.

b.     Remember, John’s purpose of writing this Gospel is to get people to see that Jesus is God.

c.      John is pointing out that Jesus had power.

d.     He was not limited.

e.      He could accomplish anything.

f.      He spoke and those coming to get Him stepped back and fell.

g.     Jesus was in complete control of the situation.

h.     That says a lot, knowing how the events play out.

i.       He could have called down an army, but that was not the plan.

j.       He could have walked away but He did not.  

10.  John 18:7-9

a.      The Good Shepherd protected His sheep.

b.     He fulfilled His father’s will and fulfilled His own prophetic word.

c.      John 6:39-40

d.     This is a great example of what Jesus is about to do for them and us.

e.      Jesus not only died for them but also died instead of them.

f.      Jesus died for us and instead of us.

g.     We deserve to die for our sins, but Jesus took our place.

h.     We are saved through His amazing gift.

i.       Jesus protected the sheep with Him that day and protects all His sheep that followed.

11.  John 18:10-11

a.      Peter, an impulsive staunch supporter tries to protect Jesus.

b.     His loyalty and zeal should be rewarded, but…

c.      Peter missed the mark.

d.     He did not understand what Jesus had been telling them.

e.      These events needed to play out.

f.      Jesus needed to be taken.

g.     Zeal is great, but it needs to be accompanied by Godly wisdom and knowledge.

h.     Being passionate for God is a great thing, but it needs to be accompanied with learning His Word and praying for His wisdom.

i.       If we try to do it on our own, we may run off and get ourselves in trouble.

j.       If we let God guide, we act as He opens the doors.

12.  John 18:12-14

a.      John 11:49-53

b.     Caiphas prophesied that these events would play out.

c.      Jesus was brought to Annas and then to Caiphas.

d.     He was to be tried.

e.      Events were playing out as the Father desired.  

13.  John 18:15-16

a.      The disciples scattered.

b.     They were afraid.

c.      The emotions of that night, followed by the crowd coming to get Jesus was too much to bear.

d.     They took off.

e.      Two decided to follow Jesus to see what was going to happen.

f.      We know for sure that Peter was there.

g.     John is likely the unknown disciple.

14.  John 18:17-18

a.      Peter was confronted.

b.     Peter died being a follower of Jesus.

c.      That was the first and one step closer to what Jesus said being fulfilled.

15.  John 18:19-21

a.      Jesus was being questioned like a common criminal.

b.     Yet, much of His teaching was done in public areas.

c.      The OT Law stated that He was innocent until 2 or 3 witnesses could show that He was guilty.

d.     They were not following the law as laid out by God.

e.      They needed witnesses and they had none.

f.      They were carrying out the Father’s will but not out of love for God.

g.     They were blind to God’s will.

16.  John 18:22-24

a.      It was against the law to try to force a confession.

b.     It was against the law to strike someone who was on trial and not proven guilty.

c.      The cards were stacked against Jesus.

d.     Yet He did not try to talk His way out of what was going on.

e.      He simply asked if He had spoken wrong?

f.      What did He say that was not true?

g.     They did not want to face the truth, so they sent Him away.

17.  John 18:25-27

a.      These were strikes two and three.

b.     John 13:38

c.      Peter denied Jesus three times.

d.     He had said he would die for Jesus, instead Peter let fear get the best of him.

e.      Do we let fear get the best of us?

f.      James 4:17

g.     When fear prevents us from loving others, meeting a need, or sharing the Gospel, we are sinning.

h.     When we get to chapter 21 we will see that Peter is restored by Jesus.

i.       Thankfully, when we sin our Lord forgives us.

j.       He has already restored us as children of God.

k.     Repent and follow Jesus.

l.       Our sin is not the end.

18.  As hard as these events and those still coming are, it was all part of the Father’s plan.

a.      If we look back at Jesus’ prayer for himself.

b.     John 17:1-5

c.      The hour has come – it is time for THE sacrifice to be made.

d.     Eternal life to everyone you have given him – eternal life in the presence of the Father through the gift of the Son.

e.      Something that is not possible without these events unfolding.

f.      Completing the work – This is what Jesus came to do, His sacrifice and His triumph over death must play out.

19.  John 3:14-17

a.      As we work through these verses and reflect on the birth of our Lord in the coming weeks.

b.     All of these events happened because God loves you.

c.      Jesus came to earth as a little child out of Love.

d.     He was lifted up painfully on that cross, out of love.

e.      He died for us out of love.

f.      He rose from the dead out of His amazing love.

g.     So that all who believe will spend forever with Him instead of facing the agony we deserve.

20.  If you know Jesus.

a.      Remember that He loves you even with all of your flaws.

b.     Continue to follow Him, to draw near to Him.

c.      Pursue Him and strive to carry out His will.

21.  If you don’t know Jesus.

a.      He loves you too.

b.     Even though you have not accepted Him, He died for you.

c.      He died for you, to offer an amazing gift.

d.     The gift of spending forever with God.

e.      Turn to Him before it is too late.

f.      If you want to know more, I would love to talk to you.