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good morning everyone welcome back to free race Baptist Church on this lovely morning at the end of June a couple of announcements before we begin there's going to be no Wednesday at bible study this week or for the remainder of the summer we're taking a break now so we'll reconvene in September and then Brennan and Emily stolp have applied for membership as well so another thing to Rejoice over and to get to know them we're going to turn to Isaiah chapter 49. for a call to worship Isaiah 49 starting in verse 1. to verse 13. listen o Coast lands to me and take heed you peoples from afar the Lord has called me from the womb from The Matrix of my mother he has made mention of my name and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand he has hidden me and made me a polished shaft in his quiver he has hidden me and he said to me you are my servant o Israel in whom I will be glorified then I said I have labored in vain I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain yet truly my just reward is with the Lord and my work with my God and now the Lord says who formed me from the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him so that Israel is gathered to him for I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength indeed he says it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the Earth thus says the Lord the Redeemer of Israel their Holy One to him whom man despises to him whom the nation abhors to the servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise princes all social worship because of the Lord who is faithful the Holy One of Israel and he has chosen you thus says the Lord in an acceptable time I have heard you and in the day of salvation I have helped you I will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people to restore the Earth to call cause them to inherit the desolate heritages that you may say to the prisoners go forth to those who are in darkness show yourselves they shall feed along the roads and their pastors shall be on Old desolate Heights they shall neither hunger nor thirst neither heat nor Sun shall strike them for he who has Mercy on them will lead them even by the Springs of water he will guide them I will make each of my mountains a road and my highways shall be elevated surely thee shall come from afar look those from the North and the west and these from the land of sinim sing O Heavens be joyful o Earth and break out in singing o Mountains for the Lord has comforted his people and will have mercy on his afflicted amen for our first hymn we're going to sing Psalm 68 be as in bravo Psalm 68b to a familiar tune please stand with me as we sing foreign [Music] I am your best [Music] friend lyrics [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] let us turn to our God In Prayer gracious Heavenly Father we thank you for this glorious day thank you for the beauty of creation that surrounds us and thank you for this opportunity to gather as a local expression of the body of Christ we thank you for the great things that you are doing in our midst we thank you for the great things that you are doing all over the face of the Earth and especially on this the Lord's day when your church gathers and when your ministers preach the gospel to their congregations and to the visitors we pray oh God that your spirit would be at work and this day that you would draw a thousand Souls into the kingdom of God from all over the face of the Earth we thank you that you are in our midst and we pray we beseech you that the Holy Spirit would be here at work today in our hearts those who are your children strengthening and encouraging and admonishing those who are at need and Lord we pray for those amongst us who have not yet embraced the gospel who are still outside of the whole Lord we pray that you would do that work today in their hearts that only you can do we we pray that the Holy Spirit would be here present and that we would know his comfort and his encouragement and his work in our hearts Lord we thank you for our sister churches we pray that you would be with them this day as they gather bless the congregation in Surrey this morning and in Armstrong and in Dryden Ontario we pray that you would bless these congregations and encourage them and continue to work in their midst continue to give them Unity continue to bless them with visitors coming amongst them and hearing the gospel and we pray that you would add to your church daily Lord we pray for the church all across this nation of Canada we know that we are in some ways in Dire Straits there is much wickedness in our nation and our uh the soil of this nation is stained with the blood of innocent children that have perished even this week it is so easy to forget what is going on all around us but Lord we pray that you would have mercy upon our country we pray O Lord that you would do a good work even in the hallways of the magistrates in this country Lord we do not expect uh miraculous change politically we expect change to come through the Gospel of Jesus Christ but we do pray that you would restrain those who are wicked and we pray that you would even gather some of them into your fold and cause them to Reign and Rule righteously in this nation Lord we pray that you'd be gracious to the Church of Jesus Christ all over the face of the Earth this day and especially to those Brethren of ours who are being persecuted those who are meeting in private because of the authorities and those who are in prison Lord be gracious to your people this day and sustain them I pray o God Lord I pray that you would be with us now as we worship here pray that you would work in the midst of this congregation do a good work in the hearts of our youth and our children I pray and those who are unable to be with us those who are ill or have have chronic problems we pray that you'd be gracious and merciful to them and encourage them as well please abide with us as we worship be pleased with our worship I pray that you would cleanse our cleanse Us in the blood of Christ and make us pure before you we ask this in Jesus name amen for our next team we'll turn to 275 in your hymnal 275 and please stand with me as we sing [Music] is foreign [Music] all right let us know God grace [Music] prison Christmas day always [Music] Our Father [Music] if you have your Bibles with you turn with me to the first chapter of the New Testament we're starting over in Matthew chapter 1 for a consecutive New Testament readings in the morning Matthew chapter 1. the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham Abraham begot Isaac Isaac we got Jacob and Jacob got Judah and his brothers Judah bhagat Perez and Zara by Tamar Perez we got hezron and hezron we got Ram got a minute app a minute ab got naishan a nation we got Salman Salman begot Boaz by Rahab Boaz begot Obed by Ruth Obed begot Jesse and Jesse begot David the king David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah Solomon begot rehoboam rehoboam we got abijah and abijah begot Asa ASA bhagat Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat begot joram and joram begot uziah uzzayab got jotham jotham we got ahaz and ahaz we got Hezekiah Hezekiah begot manesa manessa begot Amon and Amon begot Josiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon and after they were brought to Babylon jeconiah begot shield and shield begot zerubbabel so rubab and eliakim we got Azor Azor begot zadok zadok got Akim and Akim but we got iliud Iliad begot Eleazar Eliezer begot Matan and mathan begot Jacob and Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ so all the generations from Abraham to David are 14 Generations from David until the Captivity in Babylon are 14 generations and from the Captivity in Babylon until the Christ are 14 Generations now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows after his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit then Joseph her husband being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example was minded to put her away secretly but while he thought about these things behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take to you marry your wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit and she will bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins so all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying behold the Virgin shall be with child and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel which is translated God With Us then Joseph being aroused from sleep did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn son and he called his name Jesus amen let us pray thank you Father for the Glorious work of redemption thank you that in eternity past you had determined to save a great multitude that no man could number and thank you that we can be privileged to be part of this number that Christ came into the world to live and to die for we pray oh God that you would continue with us as we worship and may your wording be an encouragement to our hearts this morning we ask in Jesus name amen for elastium turned to 271. 271. and we will stand as we sing [Music] Jesus Christ everything deliver your spirits thank you you are very very true come on [Music] well you can turn with me in your Bibles to the Book of John as we work our way through John's gospel in our morning worship we find ourselves in chapter 11. John breaks down into three parts you've got a prologue in chapter one verses 1 to 18 and then the public life of Jesus so I'm referred to it as the book of signs from 119 to chapter 12 and verse 50 and then you've got the book of The Passion beginning in Chapter 13 at verse one to the end of chapter 20 and then there's an epilogue in chapter 21. so this morning our Focus will be on verses 47 to 57 the judicial decision to murder Jesus the religious leadership in Israel had already expressed a desire to murder the Lord Jesus they hated him they despised him they wanted to get rid of him this is the official sort of meeting of this Council or Sanhedrin to make this their decree to make this their plan but I want to back up and read beginning in verse 38 the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead so John 11 at verse 38 then Jesus again groaning in himself came to the tomb it was a cave and a stone lay against it Jesus said take away the stone Martha the sister of him who was dead said to him Lord by this time there is a stench for he has been dead for days Jesus said to her did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God then they took away the Stone from the place where the dead man was lying and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I thank you that you have heard me and I know that you always hear me but because of the people who are standing by I said this that they may believe that you sent me now when he had said these things he cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth Jesus said to them loose him and let him go then many of the Jews who had come to Mary and had seen the things Jesus did believed in him but some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did then the then the chief priests and the Pharisees gather a counsel and said what shall we do for this man Works many signs if we let him alone like this everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and Nation and one of them Caiaphas being high priest that year said to them you know nothing at all nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not the whole nation should perish now this he did not say on his own authority but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and not for that Nation only but also that he would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad then from that day on they plotted to put him to death therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but went from there into the country near the Wilderness to a city called Ephraim and there remained with his disciples and the Passover of the Jews was near and many went went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves then they sought Jesus and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple what do you think that he will not come to the feast now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where he was he should report it that he might that they might seize him amen well let us pray Our God and Father we thank you for your written word we thank you for the the Blessed truth that we find herein and though this is a dark chapter in the history of man the judicial decision to put to death the only righteous man that ever lived on this Earth it nevertheless is the theology or the Theo apology communicated is what we find throughout the scripture the one for the many the Blessed Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world he died in our stat he was raised for our justification he lived a life of perfect obedience for us men and for our Salvation we Rejoice at this Godless Wicked Caiaphas nevertheless prophesied and preached the truth even during the time when they were going to to murder Jesus Christ we pray that you would guide us now by the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit we pray that you would forgive us for all sin and everything that darkens our understanding and may we stand again in awe at what Christ has accomplished on behalf of us and the reality that he went to these lengths to save us from our sin and we pray in Jesus name amen well as I said as we come to this particular section chapters 11 and 12 are somewhat Trend uh somewhat of a of a transition so we move from the book of signs the public Ministry of Jesus to the book of The Passion wherein Jesus suffers and dies for our sins 11 and 12 are transition they move us or move the narrative and we'll see that here specifically at the end of chapter 11. we see the stage set for the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ so I want to look at what the Sanhedrin does here under two considerations first the meeting of the Sanhedrin in verses 47 to 52 and then secondly the decision of the Sanhedrin in verses 53 to 57. now make no mistake this is the biggest crime that's ever been perpetrated in the history of mankind Jesus is described by the Apostle in the book of Hebrews as holy harmless and undefiled as we move our way through the pentateuch in our Wednesday night services or our Wednesday night bible study we note that one of the primary requisites with reference to sacrifice is that the animal sacrifice must be without blemish he must not be laned he must not be maimed he must not be blind but he must be the best of the flock well that was typological it pointed forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world when it came to save us from our sins God didn't reach down into his flock and picked the maimed he didn't pick the blind he didn't pick the lame rather he picked the best the son of his love the only begotten son the son who has his nature and that son that word became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might indeed go to heaven so God sends the best and Men reject him man despise him men plot to destroy him so as we work our way through this narrative it's not to promote or to indict one specific group we ought to see ourselves here as well but in a sense when we come to this first century context They Crucified the Lord Of Glory these were Jerusalem Muslim Sinners that Peter addresses on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. Jesus Christ was righteous and Jesus Christ was executed by these Godless men so let's look first at the meeting of the Sanhedrin notice before we look at the meeting of the council verses 45 and 46 set the stage for that so at the resurrection of Lazarus we see the twofold response in verses 45 and 46 then many of the Jews who had come to Mary and had seen the things Jesus did believed in him it's one of the purposes for the signs in the Gospel of John it is so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing in his name we might have everlasting life so that's the positive impact or effect Upon A people that saw the signs that Jesus orchestrated but then notice in verse 46 some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did now I don't think for a moment that this group went and said to the Sanhedrin what are these Pharisees oh you ought to believe he's a wonderful man he's a glorious being he does these wonderful signs no they ratted him out they they coughed him up they they want to see the Sanhedrin they want to see the the leadership they want to see action taken against this Lord Jesus Christ and that brings us to the meeting of the council in verses 47 to 48. notice in the first place they gathered together verse 47 8 then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and sat this is the word that I'm referring to Sanhedrin it was the official Council in Israel at that particular time and as we move through the narrative we will see that foundationally they had a problem with Jesus at the level of theology they disagreed that he was the Messiah they disagreed that he was the son of God but practically their problem is political they're afraid of the romance they're afraid of what's going to happen to them it's expedient for us not what's lawful not what's righteous not what's just but what's expedient for us what Godless men these were and Edward Planck defines or describes the Sanhedrin this way the Sanhedrin was a ruling Council or Senate although it was limited in Authority by the Romans they didn't have absolute Authority that's why they had to go to pilate to seek a death order in terms of the execution of Jesus they didn't have that Authority they were not given that power by the Roman government but back to this statement so it was a ruling Council or Senate although it was limited in Authority by the Romans it was the highest authoritative and governing body in first century Judaism it was the final Authority and primary decision-making body in all major administrative and judicial roles in Jewish self-governance the council was able to be called on on short notice and was frequently the place where religious politics took place so again theologically they disagreed he's not the Son of God he's not the Messiah he's not the one prophesied in the Old Testament but politically they did not want this man going about engaging in his particular signs because it might bring trouble upon their heads and so as far as they were concerned let's get rid of him so notice that this deliberation of the council in verses 47 B to 48. notice they don't even refer to him anymore as Jesus they will later I'm sure but it's this man it's almost like it was too distasteful to take the name Jesus upon their lips these are Godless vile wretched men this man they're distanced from him they don't want anything to do with it as far as they are concerned he is a threat that must be neutralized notice the question concerning their conduct then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said what shall we do for this man Works many signs it couldn't deny that they couldn't obscure that they couldn't remove that from the consciousness of the people around them and add to the signs that he had done up until this point the resurrection of the dead man from the grave was certainly a Capstone in terms of his signs they were so threatened by this that in chapter 12 we see they actually want to murder Lazarus what was lazarus's crime he was raised from the dead by the Lord Jesus Christ imagine selling that one notice in chapter 12 and verse 9. now a great many of the Jews knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus sake only but that they might also see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead that'd be an oddity wouldn't it it'd be a strange thing it'd be like going to a circus and seeing the bearded woman or saying you know the the various things that well I mean the circus you don't need to go to anymore you you kind of get that all over Society nowadays but but it would be a bit of an oddity that you'd want to see a man who had been dead a man who had been four days in the Tomb I'd want to see him I'd want to see him and hear him and talk to him and say you know what was it like one of the brothers actually just by way of a quick sideline here he says you know you mentioned how Lazarus would not you know uh how Lazarus came forth but if Lazarus was in heaven at that time he wouldn't want to come back we don't know that Lazarus was in heaven there's a lot of theories on Lazarus did God just give him a bit of a dreamless sleep because honestly Brethren if I was in heaven I wouldn't want to come back from the dead if I was in heaven I wouldn't want to come forth from the grave I don't think you would either so I must I I take the position that most likely God suspended whatever he did in terms of Lazarus not Soul sleep but he just put him to some sort of asleep for at least that four day period so it wasn't the case that he had been worshiping God most high in his presence and now he's got to go exit the tomb and live out the rest of his life the reference to this he would be a bit of an oddity that persons would want to see and the Jews know this the Jewish leadership so verse 10 tells us but the chief priest plotted to put lazarene to death also because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus again we're not dealing with you know guys that are concerned with the all theological accuracy we're not dealing with guys that that you know have a bit of a difference in terms of who the Messiah of Israel is they're not you know a question of interpretation on the prophet Isaiah 53. these are Godless men these are threatened men these are men that are small these are men that are cowards these are men that are weak these are men that oftentimes lead in fact when we look at this particular situation we'll learn that dumb tyrants aren't a new thing in the 21st century there's always been dumb tyrants and they've always been there to tyrannize people under them so notice they recognize as many signs and then they express the concern that they have in their hearts notice the effect upon the people it says for this man Works many signs if we let him alone like this everyone will believe in him we can't have that happen we don't want everybody to believe in him we don't want everybody to actually think he's the Messiah we don't want everybody to actually believe that he is the man that prophet that the prophet Isaiah wrote of that one who is wounded for our transgressions that one who was chastened for our peace that one who was the one who brought salvation life we don't want everybody to believe in him because if everybody believes in him then it will create what's called a Messianic fervor sort of an excitement oh he's the Messiah of God he's the one sent by God well what would that mean practically to the Sanhedrin well they expressed that here in verse 48. notice if we let him alone like this everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and Nation the Messianic fervor would present a challenge to the Roman Empire he'd be seen as a king he would be seen as a potential threat to the Roman Emperor and therefore he must be crushed now intriguingly the very thing they fear happens the very thing happens as a result of their having murder at Jesus but it wasn't the Romans it was the Romans instrumentally but it was Jesus bringing judgment to Bear upon these wretches in A.D 70. when Jerusalem was surrounded by the Roman armies and when its Temple and city was decimated so the very thing they fear does actually come to pass and intriguingly it comes to pass because of the charges they lay against Jesus in John 19. they say we have a law and this man offended it or broke it in 1907 because he made himself the Son of God and then they equate that with being a king and it's that which seals the deal for Pontius Pilate to execute Jesus same thing in Luke chapter 23 verses 1 and 2. it wasn't theology it wasn't justification by faith it wasn't what Moses taught or believed you know what they did in Luke chapter 23 verses 1 and 2 this man forbids paying taxes to Caesar and this man asserts that he himself is a king you cannot let this man live in light of those admissions or in light of that sort of delusion they deliver him up for the very thing that they fear in this context so their fear is politically motivated it would not be good for us if the Romans will come and take away both our place and Nation Gill says the Romans will come against us with their powerful armies interpreting the setting them up as Messiah to be an instance of rebellion against Caesar and his government and take away both our place and nation that is we'll destroy the temple their holy place the place of their religion and worship and their City the place of their habitation and they waste their country and take away from them that little share of power and government they had and strip them both of their civil and religious privileges which they had a lot of they had a lot of civil and religious privileges as subject to the Roman Empire but it wasn't absolute wasn't Without End it was limited and they were having to fulfill certain things so that they would not lose what they possessed in terms of self-governance so that's the meaning of the council now notice the prophecy of Caiaphas in verses 49 to 52. you have the Declaration of his prophecy in verses 49 to 50 and then the explanation of his prophecy in verses 51 to 52 you need to appreciate as we move here through caiaphas's prophecy that sometimes wicked men spoke a lot better than they knew sometimes wicked men in the scriptures and the gospel narrative spoke a lot better than they knew I often cite the example in Luke 15. Luke 15 1 and 2 all the Sinners all the tax collectors draw near to Jesus to hear him and then the Pharisees and the scribes they look down their noses and they say this man receives Sinners and eats with them isn't that the glory of the Gospel isn't that the beauty of God is in Christ reconciling the world to himself isn't it Most Blessed that he saves us through his Precious Blood and through his glorious life to bring us to the marriage supper of the Lamb isn't that what we Proclaim this man does receive Sinners so they said it in a pejorative way they said it in a way of insult they said it in a way of this man is is beneath us this man is below us this man is is Riff Raff he he is the the one that the rabble likes well praise God what they express is the absolute truth Caiaphas functions that way in this particular passage he speaks better than he knows he doesn't get the theology he doesn't understand that's why John explains it for us in verses 51 and 52 but notice the prophecy the Declaration in verses 49 to 50. 49 says in one of them Caiaphas being high priest that year now high priest office was not a yearly thing it was a lifetime sort of appointment you were connected to Aaron you were levite and you functioned in that capacity some suggest that by the time of Jesus in the first century it had been something that a priests would pay for they would pay for the prerogative to be the high priest at that particular year whether that's the case or not I'm not really sure but the idea is is that this was a corrupt people it certainly wouldn't shock me and it certainly wouldn't surprise me to know that they were jockeying for position and paying somebody off so that they could function as high priests for a particular year so Caiaphas is there notice being hyper is that you're said to them you know nothing at all the way that he addresses this and the way that he goes with what he's about to say is really telling again in terms of their godlessness and law lesson you know nothing at all the solution is easy what shall we do to prohibit people from believing in him what shall we do to prevent the Roman Empire from crushing us and destroying our place and Nation the solution's right there guys we kill him we destroy him we fake charges against him and deliver him up to our oppressors so that they can execute him and rid us of the problem the arrogance of Caiaphas here is very telling as to the wickedness of the situation that Jesus faced in the first century not unlike what Isaiah faced not unlike what Jeremiah says not unlike what all the prophets beforehand had faced in fact in Luke 13 Jesus says I've got to go to Jerusalem because it's not possible that a prophet dies outside of the city it was corrupt it was defunct it was devoid of any saving power from from God they were wretches so he says you know nothing at all the solution is so easy and he speaks to the experience of it notice in verse 49 again you know nothing at all nor do you consider that it is expedient for us again Brethren you would think or you'd like to think that the highest judicial political and religious body in Israel would ask the question is it legal is it lawful is it just they don't care it's expedient for us us guys that have this position here in the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem in the first century that's all they care about they're not about Justice they're not about the advancement of the kingdom of God these are wretch ends that are trying to gain the political system to remove their enemy and this is how they go about it so the expedience of Killing Jesus verse 50. nor do you consider that it is expedient that means it's helpful for us it's it's beneficial for us it it serves our purposes it it advances our cause not not the cause of God and Truth they don't care about that nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish so again he speaks better than he knows right just like those scribes and Pharisees in Luke 15 this this man receive Sinners and eats with them as it's as if it's an insult well Brethren as the bloodbot children of God you know that that is what the gospel is about it's that the one man dies for the many it's that the righteous one gives up his life for the unrighteous many in fact Peter uses that language in First Peter chapter 3 with absolute Clarity he says for Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh but Made Alive by the spirit so the solution of the high priest is to kill him the proposal of the high priest is it will save the nation and so the accuracy of the high priest is seen in the theological commentary that John provides for us in verses 51 and 52 in fact go back to John 2 for just a moment you'll see that John does this the gospel writers weren't just its orients we often look at the gospel narratives as just history it's like we look at the Old Testament history as just history it's theology magical history to the core if you just approach judges or or Ruth or or Samuel or Kings or Chronicles as if it's a history book and not as if it's theological history then you're missing the point well if you approach the narratives concerning our Lord Jesus Christ is simply biography simply a historical sort of a reselling of of what this man from Nazareth did you don't get it you don't get the point so notice in John 2 an example of John the Evangelist John the Apostle John the Theo Theologian commenting for the benefit of his readers so in John 2 Jesus cleanses the temple and then notice in verse 18 so the Jews answered and said to him what signs do you show us since you do these things Jesus answered and said to them destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up then the Jews said it has taken 46 years to build this Temple and and will you raise it up in three days come on you're good of a Craftsman you think we could destroy the temple give you a hammer and nails and all that you stand in need of and you're going to build it in three days it's a bit of a conundrum bit of an enigmatic statement well here comes John to tell us what he's talking about verses 21 to 22. but he was speaking the Temple of his body therefore when he had risen from the dead his disciples remembered that he had said this to them and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had said so going back to John 11 you see John's explanation of caiaphas's Prophecy in verses 51 and 52. one commentator says these words have one meaning according to the intention of Caiaphas and another according to the explanation of the Evangelist he's got the prophecy made and now we're going to get the prophecy explained and for the blood-bought child of God it makes perfect sense it resonates with us because this is in fact what occurs the just for the unjust the one for the many the holy harmless and undefiled for the Unholy harmful and thoroughly defiled the one dies for us that's the essence of the prophetic statement notice the origin of caiaphas's words verse 51. now this he did not say on his own he didn't just come up with this it wasn't like he was you know infinitely wise but John explains being high priest that year he prophesied he spoke according to God now that shouldn't surprise Bible readers God spoke through balaam's ass to that Prophet for prophet God spoke through that Prophet for Prophet who was wicked and vile and ultimately reprobate God spoke to Kings in the Old Testament that weren't Israel's Kings God can use means to bring glory to himself in fact the psalmist in Psalm 76 10 says even the wrath of man shall Praise You So when in Luke 15 they say this man received Sinners and eats with that what is that it's the wrath of man that Praises God when Caiaphas engages in this prophecy just just remove the threat the perceived threat let's liquidate him let's neutralize him let's stop his heart from beating he is nevertheless in that hatred or wrath bringing praise to God for the very way that God brings glory to himself in the saving of Sinners by his son the Lord Jesus Christ so the origin of his prophecy is from on high the Lord used Caiaphas to teach the truth concerning the mission of our Lord Jesus as Christ and notice the accuracy of caiaphas's words it says in verse 51 being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation he's Israel's Messiah to the Jew first and also to the Greek isn't the promise of God throughout the Old Testament that there would be one who would come he would be a a a a a a man born of a woman Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15. he would function as a animal sacrifice or in a similar manner to the animal sacrifices remember when Abraham Abraham and and Isaac look and they see that Ram caught in the thicket it answers to what Abraham had told Isaac in terms of God providing for himself a sacrifice and then you get to the prophets and you get more facets you get more explanation you get more information concerning the the coming of the the son of man and he would be Israel's Messiah and that's what is highlighted here in caiaphas's Prophecy but notice it doesn't stop there now this he did not say on his own but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and not for that Nation only but also that he would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad Brethren our brother read Isaiah 42 or 49 at the outset of worship interestingly 42 and 49 at verse 6 say the same thing it's about the servant of Yahweh it's about the Messiah of God and it says it's too small a thing it's just a small thing for you to raise up the tribes of Jacob but how many of you as a light under the Gentiles the nations of the earth will see the power of God most high as Messiah comes for salvation not just to the Jews in Israel at the first century but also to the Gentiles outside those scattered abroad those on the confines and this is part of John's theology throughout John's gospel if you turn back for just a moment John 3 16. John 3 16 often times in John the word world means Jew Gentile the word world means Jew and Gentile Revelation 5 9 is a great expression of that every tribe every tongue every people every nation that's the world or at least in one sense that John uses it John 3 16 God so loved Israel that he gave his only begotten son it's not what it says God so loved what you loved the world that he gave his only begotten son what about John 4 when Jesus has saving dealings with that Samaritan woman and then the Samaritans come to learn about Jesus themselves and what do they understand according to 442 he's the savior of the world you mean even Samaritans yes even Samaritans that were looked down upon by Israel in that first century setting well actually goes way back in terms of their history together as well notice in John 10 John 10 the Good Shepherd discourse John 10 specifically at verse 16. Jesus says essentially what Caiaphas is saying here John 10 16 and other sheep I have which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they will hear my voice and there will be one flock in one Shepherd Gentile inclusion in the Covenant promises of God and then look over at John 12 specifically at verse let's say verse 17. therefore the people who were with him when he called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead bore witness for this reason the people also met him because they heard that he had done this sign the Pharisees therefore said among themselves you you see that you are accomplishing nothing look the world has gone after him that's their threat their problem he doesn't they don't say oh just the Israelites that have a Messianic expectation are coming to have no his his ministry exceeds that it's every tribe every tongue every people every nation and then on the heels of that notice in verse 20. now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast then they came to Philip who was from bethsaida of Galilee and asked him saying sir we wish to see Jesus the fear of the Sanhedrin is that the world will come so John the Evangelist tells us that's precisely right according to verse 20 and then drop down to verse 27 now my soul is trouble and what shall I say father save me from this hour but for this purpose I came to this hour father glorify your name then a voice Came From Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered others said an angel has spoken to him Jesus answered and said this voice did not come because of me but for your sake now is the Judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out and if I am lifted up from the earth we'll draw All Peoples to myself draw all men to myself all draw all nations to myself doesn't mean all without exception it means all without uh uh uh what's the word I'm looking for distinction thank you it just jumped out of my head so not all without exception but all without distinction every tribe every tongue every people in every nation so Caiaphas is is right isn't he Caiaphas is speaking truth even the wrath of man shall Praise You Psalm 76 10. we're seeing that demonstrated in this particular passage so he's absolutely spot on so the death of the one would fulfill the Old Testament typology Christ would accomplish penal substitutionary atonement for All Those whom the father had given to him again if you ask Caiaphas is that what you mean he'd say well no that's not what I mean but it is what he said it is what he said so God can take take what these men said and give us the explanation that what they said is absolutely positively true and we rejoice in that John Gill again says this prophecy suggests that Jesus was to die not merely as a martyr to confirm with his blood the doctrine he preached nor only as an example of courage and meekness and patience and love see if you do that to the death of Christ you're messed up you need to repent not that there isn't an example of Courage not that there isn't an example of love not that there isn't an example in it that's not the primary emphasis it's penal substitution it's the day of atonement it's Leviticus 16. it's the cutting of the one Lambs uh one goat's throat and presenting that blood on the holy of whole in the holy of holies and taking that other goat and laying your hands on it confessing your transgressions and then sending it out in the wilderness it's not it's not feeling it's not emotion it is glorious truth glorious Doctrine he goes on to say but for or in the room instead of his people as their Surety giving his life a ransom and himself a sacrifice to the justice of God for them thereby fulfilling the law and satisfying it and appeasing the wrath of God on their account so Caiaphas again expressing his wrath his enmity his anger is discussed with the Son of God by Nature nevertheless speaks truth and John clarifies that for us that brings us secondly and finally to the decision of the Sanhedrin in verses 53 to 57. notice the plot to kill Jesus in verses 53 and 54. I mean wouldn't it be nice if somebody in the Sanhedrin would have said you know that's not a good idea perhaps we shouldn't go absolutely contrary to God's law doesn't Deuteronomy talk about due process doesn't it demand two or three Witnesses before we make these kinds of judicial decisions but of course not this this is perfect sure we've got a need it's all about us it's our position it's our our safety it's our it's our money it's our livelihood we've got to get rid of him to protect what is ours that that's the the mentality that you see here in the passage so they accept the political strategy according to verse 53 then from that day on they plotted to put him to death they received the recommendation from Caiaphas without any question nobody says but but but but Caiaphas seems a bit like mob rule seems a bit unorthodox for the guys who are supposed to be legislating according to the law of God but of course they just receive it see when it's all about you Brethren when it's all about them when it's all about narcissism when it's all about protecting one's own business or power or Glory anything goes if the history of mankind has taught us that anything that is to be perceived to be a threat for wicked men is a threat to be neutralized wicked men like their wickedness wicked men like their money wicked men like their power they like their Prestige they like their control of others subordinate to that so again there's nothing new Under the Sun when we survey the modern political scene it ought not to be the case well this is the first time this has ever happened look at the history of the world both religious and simply political it's been the way it is it's just part and parcel of depraved man and another thing that depraved man typically does is find the most depraved among them and elect them to leadership over them I don't know what that predilection is in us we'll find the worst of the lot and we'll avoid that it's crazy but it happens all throughout history so the council plots into plots to put him death as I said they've already wanted to kill him chapter 5 verses 16 and 17. they wanted to kill him why because he being a man made himself equal to God and he broke the Sabbath you cannot do that and expect to live chapter 7 Jesus doesn't want to go to Jerusalem why because he knows that the Jews are gunning for him they want to kill him 7 19 when he begins to discourse with them he says you want to kill me in chapter 8 after that discourse in the temple what did they do when he says before Abraham was I am they pick up stones to throw at him chapter 10 after the uh the Good Shepherd discourse what do they do they pick up stones to throw at him so they've already expressed the intention of their heart this is the decree now that is consistent with their power as the judicial body in Israel at this time this is the issue or this is the sort of determining issue at least from the human perspective of when they decide to kill Jesus it's the meeting of the Sanhedrin and this plot is better rendered this way they reached a decision about a course of action they resolved they decided Gill says this they resolved upon before there was any legal process before any crime was charged upon him or any proof given or he was heard what he had to say for himself this is a tragedy this is a travesty of anything and everything that is to be associated with a judicial process and I always like to look at it this way and I hope to remind you of this this is the lengths to which Our Savior went in order to redeem us from sin how would you respond in his place not guilty I didn't do anything I'm being framed you guys have neglected the law he doesn't do that as a lamb before it shears is silent so did the son of man not open his mouth he doesn't do what we would do he goes through it he takes it and it's for us and for our salvation notice the avoidance of the Jews by Jesus specifically in 1154 therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but went from there into the country near the Wilderness to a city called Ephraim and there remained with his disciples that doesn't mean he was afraid doesn't mean he lacked courage it means that he's not on their time frame they're on his time frame look in John 12 again verse 27. now my soul is trouble and what shall I say father save me from this hour but for this purpose I came to this hour he's known of the hour he's known of the timing he's known of the decree of God relative to his sufferings and death and here in 1154 it wasn't time for him so he avoids them he goes to this region called Ephraim or this city called Ephraim and there he's with his disciples and then the passage ends on the setting of the passion in verses 55 to 57. think way back to last Sunday morning we looked at Matthew 20 28. we looked at a lot of other things but in Matthew 20 28 Jesus says just as the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many I tried to explain perhaps it was faulty perhaps it'll be a good reminder for you that that is not only a theological statement in terms of aiming his people from their sins he came to be served or not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many but it also orders the gospel narrative in terms of geography Jesus is going to Jerusalem there in John 20. why is he going to Jerusalem because he did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many why would he go to Jerusalem when he knows they're gunning for him because this is the purpose for which he came the hour was now upon him and he undertakes on on our behalf to do what was obligated of him concerning the the salvation of his people so this is what we see here as well notice in verses 12 chapter 12 one and following where does Jesus come he comes to Jerusalem why is that because the hour was now notice in terms of the setting of The Passion it references the Feast of Passover this is significant not just because wow it was Passover time this is the third Passover in John's gospel he's referred to Passover on John 2. Passover in John 6 and here the significant Passover in terms of the life and Ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ so what is the significance of Passover for the Lord Jesus well John's told us Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world the sacrificial system was all about the feast days in Israel the Passover Lamb was sacrificed so that the children of Israel could eat it and commemoration of their Redemption out of Egypt you know that John is portraying a new Exodus Christ as the Son of God brings that Exodus to his people the way Yahweh does in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament you've got the original where God brings the children of Israel out of Egypt by his power and might you've got the new Exodus recorded in the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ who brings us out of the bondage of sin through his power through his might and through the Deliverance wrought by his life and death so it's very significant that the Passover be observed by our Lord here notice in verse 56 and again some of the study we've been doing back in The Exodus in Leviticus I think I I hope is helpful for all of us now as we move our way through some of these references in these gospel narratives notice in verse 56 then they sought Jesus and I'm sorry verse 55 again the Passover of the Jews was near and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves that was the practice three feasts in Israel demanded that you leave your home and you come to Jerusalem on that particular day of the feast and what would they do they'd purify themselves we'd see we keep seeing this in Leviticus in the sacrificial system what's the point impure man can't draw near a pure God if there's no sacrifice there's no access into the presence of Yahweh so this was the Costa now that brings this search for Jesus in verse 56 then they sought Jesus and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple what do you think that he will not come to the feast it's hard to know if these were searched in the right sense or Searchers in the wrong sense based on what we've already seen in verses 45 and 46 probably Searchers in both senses there probably were those people wanted to see Jesus the man who raised Lazarus from the dead if you wanted to see Lazarus the man that was raised from the dead how much more would you want to see the man who actually raised him from the dead that beats the bearded lady at the circus every every day of the week but as well they could have been there to rat him out to cough him up to give him over to fast him up and the text seems to lean that way as it ends on the corruption of the leaders in verse 57. you think we're the first surveillance State that's ever lived do you think we're the first ones that have ever had persons dining out their neighbors we heard a wonderful presentation yesterday absolutely wonderful I'm not going to mention the brother I'm not going to mention the the the the name of the country just read your email on Friday you'll know the the main players this brother was was amazing and one of the ways that the commies exercise pressure is by shaking down individuals and calling upon them to rat out their neighbors in other words we know what you're doing is wrong but we won't in the kindness of our heart put you in jail this time but but tell us what your neighbor's doing that's a surveillance State tactic that's what these guys are doing John MacArthur makes the great observation the plotters ensured that the whole city was filled with potential informants look at verse 57 now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where he was he should report it that they might seize him rat out your neighbor give up the holy and harmless and undefiled one send him to us tell us that he's there so we can swoop down and seize him and carry out our nefarious deed of putting a righteous and just man to death Brethren there ain't anything new Under the Sun in terms of the political Machinery that we see in a fallen World well in conclusion and by way of a bit of application you're gonna probably say yeah well we already got this but we should Muse on the wretchedness of the Jews here their suppression of the truth they knew he did many signs the culminating one the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead so what is their response let's kill Lazarus let's hide the evidence let's get rid of him if people want to come and hear from Lazarus this guy who is stinking dead in the Tomb for four days what's the response let's get rid of him we'll just cut his throat and throw him out in a ditch and then we'll deny it ever happen we've gotten rid of the evidence so therefore these men were Godless they're cowardice in terms of the Romans the cowardice in terms of the Romans there's a Samson Jesus parallel here we're going to see a bit more about that tonight I need another week or two in terms of the next section in Ephesians but there is a Samson Jesus parallel remember Samson was a was a a judge in Israel well the Philistines want to come and take samset guess who gives them up Judah Judah comes to Samson and says you know Samson we don't want you rocking the boat here we we don't want your Troublesome Antics Among Us comfortable with the oppression of the Philistines with the culture of the fellow State we prefer that Samson then you crushing that same thing with Jesus we quite like these captors we quite like these slave masters we we quite like these Romans sure we don't have our freedom sure we don't have our independence sure we don't have everything that we should have because we're created in the image of God and he's extremely beneficent and he's extremely gracious and he's extremely kind we don't want all that we want what we've got in terms of Romans so what is the answer let's give up Jesus it's just simpler that way just just more judicious more more expedient for us as well the abuse of their office the abuse of their office that's an unfortunate reality that we've accepted today we just expect political leaders to abuse their office you know what Brethren it's really not supposed to be that way it's just not you'd like to think that out of a Sanhedrin somebody would say you know Caiaphas you're wrong you're not supposed to do that rather than just angrily tweet about Caiaphas actually stop the wickedness that is going on around us they ignore the law of God due process they plan the murder of an innocent man they command the citizenry to participate in and be complicit in this act this is the kind of stuff that led John Knox to say or make the Declaration that resistance against tyrants is obedience to God just because the government says give up Jesus just because the sanhedra well they issued a decree they gave us a command therefore we must submit no not when it's contrary to the good purposes and plan of God Almighty not when it's contrary to the light of nature that you don't just put good people to death you can't do that even apart from the Bible we just go in terms of the law of nature in terms of the light of General Revelation you're not supposed to just kill people but I know that seems odd I know that seems amazingly strange but you're not there should be actual due process the problem in our nations in the west isn't that the government kills people they kill the wrong people they kill the innocent they kill the babies they kill the elderly they kill the infirm all the while murderers and and vile people run our streets rampantly so when it comes to these sorts of things we don't just go along to get along when the godlessness of a Judicial body says give up the only innocent man that has ever been no no we're not going to do that we'll hide them in our basement as well we see here the sovereignty of God the heist high priest spoke concerning what was beneficial for them the Sanhedrin but in that he was taking what was beneficial for us the one for the many the just for the unjust the righteous Son of God for The Wretched sons of man the high priest saw the necessity of the one dying for the many and The Sovereign God fulfilled his purposes through these Lawless men turn to Acts 2. Acts chapter two we're almost done Acts chapter two two places in Acts 223 and then again in 427-28 but notice in 222 men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man attested by God to you by Miracles wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God you have taken by Lawless hands have crucified and put to death see what Peter does not do there well I'm going to try to explain to you about sovereignty and about responsibility he preaches both God's Sovereign and you're Wicked God ordained this and your hands are Lawless God ordained this and you're Wicked that that that's what he does that but but but but but Peter if God ordained it then then how can we be held culpable well we refer him to Romans 9. who are you oh man to question God shall the pot ask the Potter why hast thou make made me like this no of course not notice in Acts chapter 4 an Apostolic prayer meeting they acknowledge what's happening they see what's going on and in verse 27 for truly against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done so back to our text when Caiaphas speaks he does not speak of his own author on his own authority he has high priest as a public person is speaking truth that truth comes from God God can use Crooked Man to bring about straight things God can use Wicked Man to bring about truthful things God as I said earlier can use balaam's donkey to communicate truth to a prophet for prophet and then finally we ought to appreciate the Theology of the Cross built into this section this section explains for us everything we're going to see in chapters 12 to 20. everything we see is according to what Caiaphas says here not according to specifically but it is consistent with what Caiaphas says why is Jesus delivered up so that we might have everlasting life the Theology of the Cross is built into this this prophecy and it helps us as we navigate the book of The Passion when we get to chapter you know 19 and we ask the question why is this happening because the one just man must die for the many unjust men the one righteous man must give his life as the blemish free Sacrifice from God most high in order to cleanse us from our sins because that Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world this is the rationale this is the explanation this is why Jesus came into this world and if you have not come to him in faith Look to Him in faith and if I be lifted up I will draw all men to myself he speaks of lifting up in John 3 just as Moses lifted up the serpent so must the son of man also be lifted up what's the point Look to Him and have everlasting life believe on him and have everlasting life and if by Grace you have stand in awe that he went through this kangaroo court so that he could free us from the Wrath and fury and Judgment of God most high well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for the the beauty of the Gospel narrative and even how you use Godless men to advance your your holy and your righteous and glorious cause we thank you for what Christ went through on our behalf and we thank you for so great a Salvation we saw that day of atonement on Wednesday night we see the significance of blood atonement we see the significance of the the removal the expiation of sin and Jesus Christ as Lamb of God answers to those things and we rejoice in that we ask that you would bless our church bless us as individuals cause us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior that that knowledge might stabilize and comfort and and and steady Us in this present evil age and we ask through Jesus Christ the Lord amen well you can turn in your hymn books and we'll close by singing 568 doxology in praise to our Triune God 568 will stand together [Music] foreign [Music] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen God go with us now we pray that you would blessed this day help us to call it a delight and cause bring Glory To Your Great Name bless the preaching of the word throughout this Earth may it run swiftly and be glorified and we pray through Christ the Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation