On trial

John 18:28-19:16 ESV

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.   So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”  Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”  Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”  From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

Rev. Charles Han

Crucifixion was a capital punishment meted out to people who were charged, tried, and convinced.

Firstly, Jesus was tried by the priests. He was tried and convinced by the leaders. Jewish people were not allowed to mete out capital punishment. That was for the Roman government. This whole scene is one of injustice.. Gross miscarriage of justice in these scenes.

The kingship

Pilate saw this as largely a theological matter. The priests wanted the death penalty. They convicted him of blasphemy, but they don't say that. They try to make Jesus out as a danger to the state of Rome. Pilate wants nothing to do with this. But the Jewish leaders press him. So Pilate asks Jesus, is he the king of the Jews? If he said no, he would invalidate his entire ministry. If he said yes, that would make him a revolutionary... One who was fighting for the Jewish people and worthy of the death penalty. So Jesus answers, saying that he was a king, but not of this world. Neither Pilate nor the chief priests had a category for this man. He spoke in both political and theological terms. He was a revolutionary, but not in the categories of the world. His kingdom operated based on those who saw themselves as morally bankrupt. Not money and power of this world. The people of his kingdom operated on the giving away of power and wealth. This picture asks of us... Of what kingdom are we operating? The usual way to deal with revolutionist is to kill them. But what about this one? Killing him does no good. It just launches and empowers his movement...

The sentence (substitutionary death)

Pilate declares him innocent. Jesus makes no threats, his servants aren't trying to free him, a quiet demeanor, no attempts to defend himself. Pilate wanted to please the crowds, but he wanted to free Jesus. So he tries a couple of things. He tried to free him by offering the freeing of a man... But they choose to free a robber and murderer, Barabbas. Pilate has Jesus shamed via a flogging knowing this was an innocent man. But the mob is not appeased. They want this man to die. So the leaders press harder, they say that if Pilate is wrong about Jesus, Pilate's position could be in jeopardy. Pilate is struck with fear. So Pilate condemns Jesus to death, after finding him innocent of any crime. The most important detail is that Barabbas, a known revolutionist, murderer, and robber, walks free and Jesus... An innocent man is put to death. This is the gospel. We, self acknowledged sinners, are set free, while Jesus dies on our behalf.

The real trial

Pilate is really the one on trial. Pilate asks, are you king of the Jews? Jesus doesn't answer. He asks Pilate, who do you think I am? Pilate is placed on the stand instead. Is Jesus the king, the savior? Jesus says that he is on the side of truth. Pilate makes a dismissive statement... What is truth? He implies that there is no absolute truth. Jesus says that those who follow him walk in the truth. Everyone else is living in falsehood. Jesus is the son of God. That is not a question here. We are much more like Pilate. We are the ones on trial here. We are not given a choice of neutrality about Jesus. We might be more swayed by the crowds than by Jesus. We are either following Jesus or we are still in our sins. There is no middle ground with Jesus. We are either for him or against him. Behold this man... Who is he? Is he a king? Is he a savior?

The gospel of John: One

John 17:20-26 ESV

“I do not   ask for these only, but also for those   who will believe in me through their word,  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,  I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.  Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.  O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.  I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Priority Of Oneness

Jesus prays often but this is one where his disciples are present to hear it. This was the last prayer of Jesus before his death. He is praying for all the believers at that time. In many ways, this is like the final words of a man about to die. What does he pray for? He prays that all the believers would be one. He prays for unity among the church. This is not what comes first to mind in the mind of the typical believer. We have many priorities, but this would not be very high. This oneness in the church exists; it just needs to be exercised. Upon joining with Christ, we are now joined with all the other believers. We all have life in Christ. This unity is not something we are struggling to create. But what we must do is live out this unity. Much like children of God are called to live out lives as we already are... Children of light. In Christ, we are family. Much like bickering siblings, we have to acknowledge that we are family and we should love them because they are of the same blood.

Pattern Of Oneness

The pattern we see is analogous to the godhead. There is a unity in diversity. There is one person yet three distinct aspects. The church is not called to be homogenous. We are not supposed to be the same. Cultural differences do not disappear in heaven. They are celebrated. The church is to be diverse ethnically. It is also to be diverse in spiritual giftings.

This unity is to be characterized by self effacing love. We are to serve others and give others glory. Self centeredness is seen as statically revolving the self. Loving others is seen as being dynamic. We are loving others, revolving around others. And when two or three are revolving around the others, the result is a dance. (Tim Keller) we should not value relationships by what others can give us. We should love others not by what we can get from them. We should love as God loves.

Purpose Of Oneness

Unity in the church is a testimony to the world that Jesus and the gospel is true. The world is always protecting self interest and comforts. But the church is called to something else. We are called to give to those who care not for us, those who may even hate us. We are called to serve them. That is the church testimony to the world. This unity is a priority. We must find love for those within the church who are unlike us. Those we may have bitter history and conflict.

Unity in the church requires time and investment. We need to meet regularly with other church members. We need to make time and space for the church. For us, this probably means the community group.

John 17:26 ESV

"I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Reasons to serve

Romans 5:18-19 ESV

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Rev. J.B. Watkins

I want to speak about serving today, with a special emphasis on serving those who are unlike us. Those who are not believers, those who look or dress different. It is part of St Roch experience.

What does this have to do with serving? Paul is speaking to the Roman church about how believers are similar. Both gentiles and Jews in Christ have common ground. Paul has an interesting ministry. He was born a Jew burdened with preaching to gentiles. Now they were raised differently, ate different things. The question is how then should they worship together? They have a common relationship, a common relationship with Adam. Both gentiles and Jews come from Adam. In serving those unlike us, we have a common relationship. In Adam.

Not only that, but we also have a common problem. We are all fallen in Adam. This is something to be recognized by the gentiles but especially the Jews. Jews always considered themselves as descendants of Abraham. But Paul speaks of someone before Abraham, he speaks of Adam. The one in whom everyone is fallen.  The Jews and gentiles have a common problem through our historical connection through Adam.

We also have a common remedy. He is speaking to believers, but this applies to not only believers, but even more broadly. Because this remedy applies to everyone. Even those who want nothing to do with the church or Christ, he is still their remedy.

What is this idea of service?

What does this mean? It means to look like our Savior. Not just to read our bible or pray, but also to act like Christ.

Who?

We are called to serve anyone who crosses our path. Like the good Samaritan, not just those like you. But anyone who God brings into our lives.

When?

Anytime the opportunity presents itself.

For whom?

Jesus calls us. He commands us to do so in many biblical principles. We are all brothers and sisters through Adam. So we have a common relation, a common problem, and a common remedy. What God offers to save us is likewise offered to them.

The season of Lent

Lent is a time to focus on repentance and morning over our sins. There is no scriptural support for Lent, but it does seem to be spiritually wise to observe Lent. Just like it is good to have a yearly physical checkup, it is much like a yearly spiritual checkup.

Bad reasons to observe Lent

Fasting and abstaining for merit.

We are not justified by these things. We don't win some sort of spiritual points for fasting or giving things up. We are loved and accepted based on what Jesus has done for us. We cannot make God love us more or less. Nothing we do or don't do affects God's affection for us. We should have no sense of pride for what we did during Lent. We should not feel more worthy from what we do.

Observing Lent externally

God is focused primarily upon the heart. Doing the right things with the wrong intentions may be more offensive than not doing them at all. Outward acts without the proper heart attitude is more pretense that cannot please God.

Introspectively

To be totally focused on ourselves, is another pitfall. Our motivation is to improve ourselves rather than in a god-ward direction. Or for those of us who find ourselves praying for the same things year after year, we can become depressed over how little we've changed. But that too is pride, we cannot save ourselves. We need a savior. Lent is to prepare us for the resurrection. We are sinners, but the resurrection power is at work in us.

So why observe Lent?

"I am willing to give up what is good to get the best."

Fasting in the old testament was an expression of longing for a Savior. So while Jesus was with the disciples, they did not fast. After he left, we now have a Savior but it is now a long distance relationship. So now in the new testament, we have tasted of Jesus and now long for the second coming. Fasting causes us to ache physically, but it should reflect our spiritual aching. So when we give up these things, it is so we can have more of Christ. Better than ____, Christ gives me through salvation. Whether it is joy, peace, rest, etc.

We also examine our lives for idols. Looking things that are good, but we make greater priority than Jesus. Comfort, approval of people, worldly success, and all these things are good. But when they become ultimate, they become sin.

Unparalleled joy and peace

John 16:5-33 ESV

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.    “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.    “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and   again a little while, and you will see me.”  So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’ ?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’ ? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.    “I have said these things to you in figures of speech.   The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;  for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”  His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?  Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Jesus tells his disciples that trials and tribulation will only increase when he leaves them. But he also says that their joy and peace will increase. He offers a joy and peace that surpasses anything the world can offer.

The nature of his joy and peace

His joy and peace comes in the midst of trial and troubles. This joy will persist forever. The "little while" he refers to is his resurrection. He's not talking about heaven. He's saying that they would gets this joy after his resurrection. We can find this joy in this life. We don't have to wait until heaven. The joy we can have from his resurrection is unending and immovable. Regardless of circumstance. For those who don't believe, their joy comes from chasing something of this world. Reaching a goal, having the right situation, ... Traveling. But this is incompatible with suffering, trials, and pain. The joys and peace of the world will ebb and flow like the tide. The joy and peace that Jesus gives us can increase through our pain and trials.

How to experience it

You are not to manufacture it. It is a byproduct of a relationship with Jesus. We cannot make it. Jesus brings us joy simply by being with us. We have unbreakable joy because our relationship with him endures all things. Nothing can separate us from the joy and peace we have in Jesus. He is Lord over all things.. Even the grave. And he is now lord over our lives. In all circumstances, he is working it out for our good. This includes our failures, our setbacks, and our sinfulness. He will work things out for our good in all things. But not only do we need to be in relationship with him, we need to appropriate these things into our lives. We need to stew over these things in our hearts and minds. We play a part in taking in his joy and peace.

The impact of having it

Jesus wants to give us his joy and peace in a world of trouble. The holy spirit is here to grow and strengthen us. But this is not solely for our sake... It is also so that others may see life in Jesus. We are jars of clay... Unimpressive and simple. But they contain perfumes and precious things. In order for these things to be shared, the jar must be broken. The treasure in us is shown when we are going through tough times. When we suffer joyfully to show Jesus to others. Not pretending to be joyful... Not hiding our troubles, but sorrow buttressed with enduring peace.

Hated by the world

John 15:18-16:4 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  Whoever hates me hates my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’    “But   when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father,   he will bear witness about me.  And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.  They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.  And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.  But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.  “I did not say these things to you from the beginning,   because I was with you.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Because of our union with Jesus we can change eternity. We have life and a great inheritance. But this passage is not about that... This is about the flip side of the coin. Following him is difficult. Jesus is forthright in showing both the good and bad.

The reality of the world's hatred

Those that persecuted Jesus will also persecute you as a Christian. In our union with Christ, what is true for him is also true for us. Both blessings and suffering. Much like marriage in sharing everything. A world in unbelief hates Jesus. We will be rejected in subtle ways as well as outright killed for their faith. Many people will believe that they are doing a service to the world by killing Christians. In the us, Christians are seen as ignorant simpletons. We will be mocked for trying to live a life dedicated to Christ. This is reality. We need to recognize this in order to live a faithful life without falling. The world is against you. Knowing this sets expectations... It helps us to persevere.

The reason for the world's hatred

We are not of the world. We feel out of place because we are. We are resident aliens in this world. This city is not our true home. We live not by the values of this place but by the values of our heavenly home.

The message of the gospel offends those of the world. Both the religious and the irreligious hate him. Why? Because the gospel says that your religious works cannot save. You cannot earn your salvation. Salvation by grace through Jesus is the only way.

For the others, it says that there is a god and there is a right way to live. There is an absolute right and wrong. It is not just true for you and what you think. There is objective right and wrong.

But this is what we are called to. By his humiliation, we were lifted up. So he also calls us to be humiliated so that others may be lifted up.

The help from God

We are given the Holy Spirit. He enables us to witness with boldness. To not fear for our lives. He often applies the word of God to our hearts. That is how we find boldness. We may live on tents in this life, but God has prepared a place in heaven for us. We have an eternal and unshakable home with God.

Hebrews 11:9 ESV

By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

The hardest of hearts can be changed by the spirit. Saul was killing Christians. By the work of the spirit, hearts can be changed. Even the hardest of hearts...

Love for, like, and with Jesus

John 13:18-35 ESV

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’  I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”  After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”  The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”  Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.  When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.  Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Jesus has invested much of his life and tone and energy into his disciples. Still, one of them would prove that they didn't know him or love him. Judas would betray him. This is a dark time. But Jesus speaks instead of glory. During this time of evil, is when God's glory shines the brightest. For some of us, it is the dark night of the soul. We are not at the mountaintop, we are in the valley. We spend too much time listening to ourselves instead of preaching to ourselves. We are caught up in the circumstances. But what we need to do is speak to ourselves... Specifically the truths of the gospel. We serve a God who does his good during the darkest of times. We are like the disciples confused at the crucifixion and death of Jesus. But through this act, God is saving people.

Jesus commands us to love one another. It is not about how we feel. It is a command. How we feel does not play into it. We love each other because we have been saved by Jesus and owe him our allegiance.

The world will know that we belong to Jesus by the way we love one another. It is also the way that we can witness to the world. We are to love people who are different, who are not like us. The people of Philadelphia are not like our church. If we are serious about reaching the city, we must reach out to people who are not Asian, not upper middle class. Otherwise we will become an enclave of well-behaved religious people. To love not like the world. like the Samaritan, to love his enemies. The neighbor we are called to love may not only be unlike us, but they may be our enemy.

The love of Christ

Gives up, so others can get

We are to give up our rights to give to ours. Jesus gave up his power, so that we could have life. We care more about the other person than ourselves. We would give up our comfort and glory so that the other person would be saved. We are to empty ourselves so that others can be saved.

Durable, not disposable

Our love is to endure. Other people are not here to fulfill our needs. We don't love because of what others do or don't do. We love even those who hurt us.

We are to love with Jesus

We are part of the covenant. We have been promised power through the spirit. We are generally well behaved. We don't murder. We pay our taxes. We can love sacrificially once in awhile. That's normal. But to do it consistently takes more. More than we have in ourselves to love constantly, day by day, second by second. Only in the spirit, can we do this. Jesus is there when we step out in faith. He is not some abstract concept. Jesus becomes real to us when we step out in faith to love others more than we can do in our own power and flesh.