Big Idea:
As Christians, our hope ultimately rests not in our ability to remain faithful to Jesus, but in Jesus’ unwavering faithfulness and
ability to save us.
The Plan
- Jesus willingly gives himself up (1-7)
- Jesus protects his people by giving himself up (8-9)
- Peter fails while Jesus remains faithful (10-18)
John 18:1-18
1) Jesus gives himself up
John 18:1-7
🡪 The true and better David (1-2)
🡪 Jesus is in control even when it may appear like . he is not (3-5)
🡪 Jesus words reveal his authority (6-7)
”
And all the land wept aloud as all the people passed by, and the king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people passed on toward the wilderness.
- 2 Samuel 15:23
1) Jesus gives himself up
John 18:1-7
🡪 The true and better David (1-2)
🡪 Jesus is in control even when it may appear like . he is not (3-5)
🡪 Jesus words reveal his authority (6-7)
”
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self[d] is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
1) Jesus gives himself up
John 18:1-7
🡪 The true and better David (1-2)
🡪 Jesus is in control even when it may appear like . he is not (3-5)
🡪 Jesus words reveal his authority (6-7)
2) Jesus as substitute
John 18:8-9
🡪 Jesus illustrates the substitutionary pattern of . . . . the gospel
🡪 Jesus stand between the danger and his . . . . . . disciples
🡪 Jesus is our Good Shepherd
”
For if Christ is a bridegroom, he must take upon himself the things which are his bride’s, and bestow upon her the things that are his.
- Martin Luther, 1520, The Freedom of a Christian
2) Jesus as substitute
John 18:8-9
🡪 Jesus illustrates the substitutionary pattern of . . . . the gospel
🡪 Jesus stand between the danger and his . . . . . . disciples
🡪 Jesus is our Good Shepherd
3) Jesus remains faithful
John 18:10-18
🡪 Jesus accepts the Father’s will, Peter resists it (10-11)
🡪 Jesus stand firm under pressure, Peter falters (12-18)
🡪 Jesus remains faithful to the mission (14)
Big Idea:
As Christians, our hope ultimately rests not in our ability to remain faithful to Jesus, but in Jesus’ unwavering faithfulness and
ability to save us.
How do we cultivate faithfulness?
🡪 Rest in and rehearse God’s faithfulness . . . . . . (John 10:28, Isaiah 25:1)
🡪 Pray for humility . . . (Romans 12:3, Proverbs 26:12)
🡪 Trust God’s Word to guard and guide . . . (Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 119:105)
🡪 Repent and move forward in community . . . (1 John 1:9)