After the Last Supper (4 things)

• 1^st – A chance to repent… vs. 22-23

• After supper – Jesus let the disciples know – the hand of His betrayer was with them…
  • This is an interesting exchange – Jesus knew who would betray Him…
  • Jesus could at anytime have told everyone it was Judas – could have stopped him…
  • Yet we see instead Jesus asks questions – not trying to find who would betray Him…
  • Not passing judgment – not condemning – but instead giving opportunity to repent… 
  • More often than not we pass quick judgment when someone makes a mistake…
  • We like to give the Law – bring down justice – condemn those who sin…
  • But we see with Jesus a much more loving and gracious approach
• Each of the Disciples answered – ‘Lord, it isn’t me?’
  • Anyone of the disciples could have been the betrayer – they were all sinners…
  • We often tend to forget when others make mistakes – we are sinner as well…
  • And when we make mistakes – we don’t want the Law – justice – we want GRACE!
  • If we remember that – we will be far gentler when others make mistakes…
  • Matthew 7:2–“For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.”
• Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed…
  • The betrayal of Jesus had been prophesied – Zachariah 11:12-13
  • It was going to happen – and it was part of God’s plan of redemption…
  • None-the-less – better the one who would betray Jesus had never been born…
  • Jesus loved Judas – but He also was not going to hide the reality/truth…
  • We are called to love others – with the goodness of God…
  • That does not mean we lie to them – or hide the consequences of sin…
  • We give them the truth in Love – tell them the truth because we Love them…
  • Galatians 6:7–“God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
• Judas Iscariot also asked – ‘Lord, it isn’t me?’
  • Judas tried to act just like all the other disciples – gave the same answer…
  • As if somehow – after all Jesus said – Jesus did not know it was him!
  • He was still trying to keep up the act – yet still intent on his betrayal…
  • If a personal continually refuses to turn to the Lord – repent…
  • If someone is intent on refusing God – refusing to go to Heaven – intent on going to hell
  • There comes a point then God will give someone his or her own way…
  • Genesis 6:3 – “And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever…”
  • We do not know when that point is – so we keep loving them – hoping they choose life!
• Satan entered Judas – John 13:26-30…
  • Unwilling to repent – unwilling to change – Judas sealed his fate…
  • Satan entered him again – and Jesus said – ‘what you do, do quickly.’
  • It is hard to realize/accept not everyone will go to heaven…
  • Not because God does not want them to – God wants everyone to be saved…
  • II Peter 3:9 – “God does not want anyone to perish… more time for everyone to repent.”
  • But because they refuse the goodness of God – they refuse heaven
    

• 2^nd – Who is the greatest… vs. 24-30
  • After Judas left – an argument arose among the disciples – ‘who is the greatest’… vs. 24
    • I am amazed that right up to the crucifixion – the disciples did not get it…
    • They were still looking for Jesus to set up His Kingdom here on earth…
    • They were still jockeying for position – looking for power and prestige…
    • But with the cross just hours away – Jesus takes the time to again teach them…
    • It is important for us to remember – it takes time and patience to grow in Jesus…
    • Sometime we have to learn a lesson – more than one time – before we understand…
    • But God is patient with us – so we also should be patient as we teach and disciple others!
  • Jesus contrasts the world to the Kingdom of Heaven… vs. 25-26
    • The Kings (rulers) of the world exercise authority over others…
      • In government – those who have the power – tell everyone else what to do…
      • In the work place – the boss it the one who – tells everyone else what to do…
    • But to be ‘great’ in God’s Kingdom – you must be as the younger sibling…
      • The younger sibling never orders around the older – they are ones told what to do!
      • To be ruler in God’s Kingdom – you are the one who serves others!
      • So if you want to be a leader – pick up the trash / clean a table / change a diaper…
      • Greatness to us is riches/ power / influence / having servants…
      • Not the person who empties the trash / cleans / we call them the servant!
      • But the person we would call ‘a servant’ –God calls the ‘Greatest in the Kingdom’!
      • The question is – who do we want to be great before – the world / or God!
  • Jesus as the example of the Greatest… vs. 27
    • Who is greater – the person who serves food / or the one who is served their food…
    • If you walked into a great house – who is the owner – the one serving or being served…
    • Yet Jesus was the one serving the disciples at the Last Supper…
    • In fact – He got up and washed their feet to prove his point…
    • John 13:15 – “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
    • Jesus had every right to be served – He was God almighty!
    • But instead He came to serve – and to give His life as a ransom for many…
    • Leadership in God’s church should not look like the leadership in the world…
    • It should be the opposite – a leader in the church does not tell others what to do…
    • A leader is the one who lives his life to serve everyone else…
    • The more of a servant you become – the ‘greater’ you become in the Kingdom of God!
  • The disciples had gone through the trials with Jesus… vs. 28-30
    • And there WAS a great reward coming – not here – BUT an inheritance in heaven…
    • They would sit at Jesus table in His Kingdom – judging the 12 tribes of Israel!
    • Serving Jesus can be challenging – serving others can be challenging…
    • And the reward for serving is not here – it is not having power over others…
    • As we are faithful to be ‘great’ in God’s Kingdom – the reward is waiting at the end!
    • I Corinthians 2:9 – “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
      
• 3^rd – The fall of Peter… vs. 31-34

• Jesus told Peter – satan has asked for you… vs. 31-32
  • Satan wanted to shake Peter to his very core – to see what Peter was made of…
    • Was Peter really dedicated to Jesus – did he really believe – or was it just an act…
    • I imagine those were VERY unsettling words to hear – ‘satan knows my name’…
    • Make no mistake – if we stand up for Jesus – satan knows who we are…
    • And he will come test us – try us – to see what we are made of…
    • He wants to try and prove we are not really sincere in our faith in Jesus…
    • When we are made fun of for coming to church / reading our Bibles…
    • When every Sunday morning – everything happens to keep us from church…
    • When those we love the most – give us the hardest time about our faith…
    • What do we do – stand up for Jesus / or blend back into the world…
  • I have prayed your faith will not fail – and when you have returned…
    • Jesus let Peter be tested – but He did not leave Him alone – He was praying for him…
    • Do not miss – and when (not if) Peter was restored – Jesus knew he was going to fail… 
    • After his fall – he would come back to Jesus – and he was to comfort his brothers…
    • Satan can not touch us – unless the Lord lets him – Job 1:10
    • But God does let him – so he can try our faith – let us see what is in our hearts…
    • It is in the fiery trials of life – we see what is really in our hearts!
• Peter boldly answered – he was willing to go to prison – die for Jesus… vs. 33
  • Peter believed what he said – I don’t think he was just trying to impress…
  • The problem was the first word – ‘I’ – Peter was depending on himself…
  • For some reason we are determined to think that WE are the answer/solution…
  • But when we put our trust in ourselves – whenever we look to ‘I’ for the answer…
  • We set ourselves up for failure – the only word to follow ‘I’ is can’t!
  • If we are trusting in ourselves – we will inevitably fail…
  • II Corinthians 3:5 – “We [cannot] do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.”
• Before the rooster calls twice… vs. 34
  • Jesus told Peter he would deny Him 3 times before this night was over…
  • Not only would Peter be stumbled – he would stumble harder than any other!
  • Proverbs 16:18 –“Pride goes… before a fall.”
  • Often it is the things we think we would never do – that get us into the most trouble…
  • If we know we have a weakness to a certain sin – we do our best to avoid it…
  • But if we think we are strong – we depend on ourselves – that is when we fall…
• Do not let your heart be troubled – John 14:1-2
  • In light Peter’s epic failure – it would have been easy for him to be overwhelmed…
  • So Jesus gives one of the greatest promises of the Bible!
  • He is going to prepare a place for us – and He will come back to take us there!
  • God was far from through with Peter – in fact – He was just getting started
  • Psalms 103:14–“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”
  • God is not surprised when we make mistakes – He knows exactly who we are…
  • In fact God uses our mistakes to help teach us the greatest lesson…
  • Not to trust in ourselves – but instead to be completely dependent on Him!
    
• 4^th – Prepare for war… vs. 35-38
  • When Jesus had sent out the 12 – they took nothing with them… vs. 35
    • They were not to bring money / extra clothes – God would provide for them…
    • Jesus asked the disciples – did they ever lack anything – ‘nothing’!
  • But now Jesus told His disciples to bring extra money with them / extra clothes…
    • And if they did not own a sword – they were to sell what they had to buy one…
    • There has been much controversy over this verse – Jesus command to arm…
    • The disciples took Jesus literally – they said they had two swords…
    • Jesus answered them – ‘that is enough’ – but we do not hear how Jesus said it…
    • It could be taken – ‘you have enough swords’ – or ‘enough – you do not need swords’
    • Peter would use one of them to ‘defend’ Jesus – cutting off a man’s ear…
    • Matthew 26:52 – “Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword.’”
    • Jesus call was not to physically arm – it was a call to the Word of God…
    • Whether we know it or not – we are at war – and we need to be armed…
      • Not with physical weapons – but with the Word of God…

• Ephesians 6:17 – “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”
• Jesus Word is the only Truth – it is how we know a lie from the Truth!
• John 17:17 – “[Jesus said to the Father] Your word is truth.”
• That is why it is so important for us to study our Bibles – so we KNOW the TRUTH!
• II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved unto God…”

We can open their eyes – so they can see Jesus – and be saved!

To tear down every argument / capture errant thought – making them obedient to Jesus!

II Corinthians 10:4-5 – “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments… bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”

Satan has put a lot of arguments in the world to keep people from seeing Jesus…

Everyone of them with only one purpose – meant to keep men from heaven!

People are burdened down by superstitions – things they imagine in their mind…

And they are bound to fears – so long as satan can keep them from the Word! 

It is through the power of the Word – we can change the mind of the misled…