Tag: Sermon

Jesus answered – “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were – My followers would fight to keep Me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But My Kingdom is not of this world.”

Pilate said – “So You are a King ?”

Jesus responded – “You say I am a king. Actually – I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

In Part 7 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. Today I’m preaching on just those 2 verses – 36 and 37.

The Roman Governor – Pontius Pilate – asked Jesus if He was the King of the Jews. He asked Jesus this in order to determine if He was a threat to the Roman empire. Jesus answered that His Kingdom is not of this world. While He was a “King” – He was certainly not a King of an earthly Kingdom. He was no threat to Rome or any other existing or emerging empire. His Kingdom was spiritual. He was a ruler through the devotion and obedience of those who follow Him. He was born and came into this world to testify the truth – God’s Truth.

Christ said “Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.” (John 8:47a)

In John’s first letter he states that he and the apostles belong to God, and those who know God listen to them and agree with their teachings. If they do not belong to God – then they do not listen to them. That is how they know if someone has the Holy Spirit living within – or the spirit of the antichrist. You either have one – or the other.

Last Sunday I preached a unique sermon to my church family. It was a sermon that was entirely unrehearsed and unscripted. It was based on about 30 social media memes. I presented each meme on our screens, and then I spoke on them. That’s it. I had no idea what I was going to say until I actually said it. Dangerous ? Perhaps. Honest ? Definitely. It’s a different way for me to branch out to be a more effective Preacher of God’s Word. It was the second such sermon that I’ve preached over the past 14 months. This meme was not part of it, but it seems to fit right in with my message today:

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 6 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5 / PART 6

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then He was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate – the governor – went out to them and asked – “What is your charge against this Man ?”

“We wouldn’t have handed Him over to you if He weren’t a criminal !” – they retorted.

“Then take Him away, and judge Him by your own law” – Pilate told them.

“Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone” – the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way He would die.)

In Part 6 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. In Verses 28 to 32 John writes about Jesus’ trial before the Roman Governor – Pontius Pilate. He was ruthless as a ruler – especially against the Jews – committing many atrocities against them. But in this particular case he wanted the Jewish leaders to handle Jesus Himself. He didn’t really want to have anything to do with this case against Jesus. But they wanted Jesus executed, and only Pilate could do that under Roman law. Pilate was nevertheless hesitant to take any action against Jesus.

As an aside the Apostle John wrote his Gospel as an Elder during the late-First Century – some 50 to 60 years after these events of Christ’s final days on earth. He mostly wrote on the Roman trial leading-up to His crucifixion. During the time of his writing the Jewish nation had been scattered by Rome, and Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Romans.

John 18:33-35:

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters, and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are You the King of the Jews ?” – he asked Him.

Jesus replied – “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about Me ?”

“Am I a Jew ?” – Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought You to me for trial. Why ? What have you done ?”

Pilate began calmly questioning Jesus inside. He was looking out for the safety and security of the Roman Empire that was under his control, and he wanted to know if Jesus was a threat to it. Jesus would soon clarify His position as a King, but first He wanted to know what Pilate really meant when he asked Him if He was “King of the Jews”. Jesus would soon answer with a very specific response.

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 5 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4 / PART 5

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

Inside – the high priest began asking Jesus about His followers, and what He had been teaching them. Jesus replied – “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple – where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking Me this question ? Ask those who heard Me. They know what I said.”

Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest ?” he demanded.

Jesus replied – “If I said anything wrong – you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth – why are you beating me ?”

Then Annas bound Jesus and sent Him to Caiaphas – the high priest.

In Part 5 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. In Verses 19 to 24 John writes about the high priest and his questioning of Jesus. (This is the morning that He was crucified – what we now know as Good Friday.)

This questioning was in accordance with Roman law at the time where defendants were questioned directly. It was an attempt for the defendant – Jesus – to incriminate Himself. This differed from Jewish law where witnesses were questioned instead to establish guilt. Jesus replied that they should talk to the witnesses – His followers – as everything that He had taught them was not done in secret. It was done in a public forum – free for anyone to see and hear.

One of the Temple guards was so insulted at what he saw as rude and disrespectful answers to authority that he slapped Jesus across the face.

Jesus obviously knew that he was in the right. No witnesses accused Him of anything. No evidence was presented.

Let’s continue on with Verses 25 to 27, and Peter’s 2ND and 3RD denials of Jesus:

Meanwhile – as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself – they asked him again – “You’re not one of His disciples – are you ?”

He denied it – saying – “No – I am not.”

But one of the household slaves of the high priest – a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off – asked – “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus ?” Again – Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Sometimes it may seem convenient to keep your personal relationship with Jesus Christ a secret in order to avoid questioning, mocking, ridiculing, and persecuting by those of the world who hate us for who we follow and what we believe. I think that we’re all guilty of that at times when we’re distracted by the world and not focused on our King of Kings. Christ said (in red letters) – “But everyone who denies Me here on earth – I will also deny before My Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 4 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3 / PART 4

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries

First they took Him to Annas – the father-in-law of Caiaphas – the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders – “It’s better that one man should die for the people.”

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter – “You’re not one of that man’s disciples – are you ?”

“No” – he said – “I am not.”

Because it was cold – the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it – warming themselves, and Peter stood with them – warming himself.

In Part 4 of my continuing sermon leading-up to Resurrection Sunday I continue from the Gospel of John – Chapter 18. In Verses 13 to 18 John writes about “another of the disciples” and “that other disciple” and “the disciple who knew the high priest”. The fact that John didn’t identify him by name probably means that it was John himself – “the disciple Jesus loved”.

This was the pivotal moment in which Peter denied Jesus for the first time. Jesus stood-up to His questioners and denied nothing. Peter was not bold enough to do so. Jesus was right when he told Simon Peter earlier that “before the rooster crows tomorrow morning – you will deny three times that you even know Me.”

Peter had good intentions, but he was slowly descending into temptation and sin. He followed Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. Then he stood with the enemy by the fire to get warm.

Be bold. Be blessed. Listen for God’s voice to give you guidance and direction. Follow His wisdom. He will show you The Way.

I’ll continue this journey through John Chapter 18 – next Sunday Scripture.

Missed the first 3 parts of this sermon ? Check them out – PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3

All rights reserved (c) 2021 Christopher M. Day, CountUp Ministries