Author: Art Davison

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRE

JOHN 12:12-16

Introduction:

The occasion was the last Passover feast that the Lord would participate in. There were many people from many places. It was dangerous for the Lord to be there, however, He was preparing for His death on the Cross.

Previously Jesus had rejected the role of a political Messiah (John 6:15,“When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”).

But, the people thought, perhaps now was the right moment. Jerusalem was the city of the great King and He was coming to it.

I. RESPECT PAID BY THE COMMON FOLKS

John 12:12-13, “On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

A. These were common folks who had heard Him in the streets, 1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”

B. The Occasion was the Passover, John 11:55-56, “And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?” The way they expressed their respect.

1. The palms branch is a sign of victory and triumph, John 12:13, “Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

2. They cried with load voices:

a. “Hosanna,” Matthew 21:9,“And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” This was a customary form of acclamation at the feast of Tabernacles, Compare Psalm 118:25, “Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.”

b. It means “Salvation to our God,” Revelation 7:10, “And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”

c. They identified Jesus, “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord,” John 1:49, “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”

II. THE KING IS COMING

A. All the prophets bore witness of His first coming, Zechariah 9:9,“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

1. He came in a lowly manner, “upon a colt the foal of an ass,” Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

2. His disciples DID NOT UNDERSTAND until later why Jesus did this, John 12:16, “These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.”

B. We will be witnesses of His Second Coming, Acts 1:10-11, “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

1. The Lord will descend with a SHOUT, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

2. We will HEAR THE TRUMP of God sound, 1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

3. We will SEE HIM as He is, 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

4. We will go to A MANSION prepared for us, John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

C. Then Jesus comes back to the earth as the King riding a white horse, Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

1. At that coming he enters with all of the POMP of the KING OF KINGS, Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

2. We will REIGN WITH HIM a thousand years, Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

CONCLUSION:

Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day on a donkey. He came as the Saviour ready to die for the sins of mankind. The next time we see Him coming He will be riding that great white horse coming as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will come victorious and rule from the throne of David.

THE TRIALS OF THE KING

JOHN 18:28-38

Introduction:

Jesus was tried 6 times during a period of 24 hours. Let us look at these different trials and the events that took place around them.

I. JESUS WAS TRIED 3 TIMES BEFORE RELIGIOUS GROUPS

A. Before Annas, John 18:12-14.

1. Annas had been appointed high priest by Quirinius, governor of Syria, in A.D. 6 and remained until he was deposed by Valerius Gratus, procurator of Judea, in A.D. 15.

2. Annas was succeeded by five of his sons and by his son-in-law Caiaphas, Acts 4:6, “And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.”

3. At the trial of Jesus we find Annas conducting a preliminary investigation before the official trial by Caiaphas, John 18:13–24.

4. When Luke says that the high priest was Annas and Caiaphas, the singular is probably deliberate, indicating that, though Caiaphas was the high priest officially appointed by Rome, his father-in-law shared his high-priestly power, Luke 3:2, “Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.”

B. Before Caiaphas, Matthew 26:57-69.

1. The delay of the trial before Annas apparently gave Caiaphas time to assemble the “Sanhedrin” quickly, Matthew 26:59, “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;”

2. The purpose of Jesus’ trials was to find some legal basis on which to condemn Him to death.

a. Judas’ testimony was crucial to the religious leaders’ case, but he was nowhere to be found.

b. Other witnesses were sought against Jesus, a highly unusual court procedure, attempting to find anything that would make Him worthy of death, Matthew 26:60, “But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,”

c. Finally two witnesses agreed that Jesus had once said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days, John 2:19, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

C. Before the Sanhedrin, Matthew 27:1-2, “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”

1. Jesus’ first Jewish trials occurred under the cover of darkness.

2. Since Jewish law required trials to be conducted during the day, the chief priests and the elders of the people realized an official trial was necessary.

II. JESUS WAS TRIED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE CIVIL AUTHROITIES

A. Before Pilate, John 18:28-38.

1. His character.

a. Even pagan historians mention Pilate only in connection with his authorization of the death of Jesus: his only appearance on the stage of history is as procurator of Judaea.

b. Philo describes him as ‘by nature rigid and stubbornly harsh’ and ‘of spiteful disposition and an exceeding wrathful man’.

c. Pilate was hated by the Jews for his harshness and the fact that he was a Gentile ruling over them.

2. His power.

a. Since the Jewish council did not have the legal right to put Jesus to death, the case had to be brought before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

b. At this time Pilate refused to be their executioner.

1) He knew what was going on. He had seen the Triumphal Entry a few days earlier.

2) He knew that envy was the cause of their accusation against Jesus, Matthew 27:18, “For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.”

B. Before Herod, Luke 23:6-12.

1. Jesus’ fame had reached Herod, v. 8, “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him:”

2. Jesus refused to respond, v. 9, “Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.”

3. Herod and his men mistreat Jesus and return Him to Pilate, v. 11, “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

C. Before Pilate, John 18:39-19:6.

1. Pilate finds no fault in Jesus, v. 38, “Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”

2. The Jews are offered a choice, v. 39.

3. The Jews reject Jesus, v. 40.

4. Pilate scourges Jesus and dresses Him as a king, John 19:1-5.

5. The response by the Jews: Crucify Him! and Pilate acquiesces, John 19:6-18.

THE SPIRIT AT WORK

JOHN 16:5-15

Learning of Jesus’ departure brought depression to the disciples. They were obsessed by their coming personal loss of His immediate physical presence. If they could have understood why He was going and to whom He was going, then they would have rejoiced. Later Jesus predicted that their time of sorrow would be suddenly transformed into great joy, v. 22, “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.”

I. NOW I AM GOING TO HIM WHO SENT ME

A. Peter had started the question of where the Lord was going, John 13:36, “Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.”

B. But not even Thomas asked Him where He was going as he did before, John 14:5, “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”

1. Jesus was leaving on His own accord, John 17:4, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

2. His life had not been extorted from Him, but deposited by Him, John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

3. He had told them of the difficulties that they were to suffer, Luke 6:22, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.”

B. They had not heard “now” because of their own sorrow, v. 6; John 14:27-28, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

1. Christ had said enough to fill them with joy, John15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

2. They were looking on the side of losing the Lord and not on the promise He had made, John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

3. It was necessary for the Lord to go away, v. 7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

a. For you this is profitable, Acts 20:20, “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you , but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,”

b. He was coming to abide with them forever, John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

II. NOW THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGINS

A. His Work:

1. He will teach you all things, John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

2. He will convince the world…vs. 8-9…

a. Of SIN BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED NOT ON ME, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

b. Of righteousness, because they thought He was unrighteous, v. 10;Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

c. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged, v. 11; John 12:31, “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

1) Jesus had spoiled the power of Satan, Colossians 2:15, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

2) By Jesus’ death, He defeated the devil, who held “the power of death,” Hebrews 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;”

3) The coming judgment of both man and Satan should be considered by every man, Acts 17:30-31, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

CONCLUSION:

The Comforter, the Spirit of God, will help us through these difficult times. He will guide and teach us what we need to be successful for the glory of our Savior.

THE SHEPHERD

JOHN 10:1-11

This is the parable of the Good Shepherd. “It is borrowed from the custom of the country, in the management of their sheep. Similitudes [parables], used for the illustration of divine truths, should be taken from those things that are most familiar and common, that the things of God be not clouded by that which should clear them.” –Matthew Henry.

Here the Lord is call the “Porter” or “Gate Keeper.” He is the one who opens the gate for the sheep. He is, in fact, “the Shepherd.”

I. THE SHEPHERD

v. 3, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”

A. He opens the door, Revelation 3:7, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

B. He calls His sheep, Mark 10:49, “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.”

1. His call is a call of compassion, Psalm 86:15, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

2. His call is a call of reconciliation, Hebrews 2:17, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”

3. His call is a call to Salvation, Luke 19:9-10, “And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

II. THE SHEEP

A. Hear His voice, v. 3.

1. Those that hear will live, John 5:25, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”

2. Those that do not hear His voice are not His sheep, John 10:26, “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.”

B. He calls his own sheep by name, v. 3.

1. He knows His sheep, John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

2. He knows them by name, Exodus 33:17, “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”

a. Their names are in the Book of Life, Philippians 4:3, “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”

b. The Lord knows those that are His, 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

C. He leads them out, Psalm 78:52, “But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.”

1. He leads us safely, Psalm 78:53, “And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.”

2. He leads us gently with great care, Isaiah 40:11, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

3. He leads in path that we have not known before, Isaiah 42:16, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”

D. He goes before them, v. 4.

1. Let us follow Him, John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

2. He is our example, John 13:15, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”

III. THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE

A. The sheep hear his voice, v. 3.

1. The “other sheep” will hear His voice, v. 16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

2. His sheep know his voice, v. 27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

3. His sheep follow Him, v. 27; John 12:26, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

B. A stranger they will not follow, v. 5, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

1. Take heed what you hear, Mark 4:24, “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

a. Don’t listen to words that would cause you to err from the truth, Proverbs 19:27, “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.”

b. Search the Scriptures for the truth, Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2. Take heed how you hear, Luke 8:18, “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

a. Let these things “sink down into your ears,” Luke 9:44, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.”

b. Don’t let them slip, Hebrews 2:1, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”

THE RESURRECTION

JOHN 5:28-29; DANIEL 12:1-2

The resurrection is divided into two groups: The First Resurrection or the RESURRECTION OF THE JUST, is the resurrection of all of those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ during all ages.

The Second Resurrection is that of all those who have not received Christ as their Savior, that is, the RESURRECTION OF THE LOST. These are those who will stand at the Great White Throne judgment of God.

I. THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST

Luke 14:14, “And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”

A. The Promise of our own resurrection,

1 Corinthians 6:14, “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”

1. God is not the God of the dead, Matthew 22:32, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

2. We shall live because Jesus lives, John 14:19, “Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

3. He will quicken our bodies, Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

B. The Hope of our own Resurrection,

1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

1. Job spoke of his hope in a future life,

Job 14:12-15, “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.”

2. Jesus is coming after His saints,

1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”

C. Christ’s resurrection is a pledge of our resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:20, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”

1. These corruptible bodies will put on incorruption, 1 Corinthians 15:53, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

2. He will present us faultless before the throne of God, Jude 24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”

3. Job knew that he would see God in his flesh, Job 19:25-26, “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body , yet in my flesh shall I see God:”

II. THE RESURRECTION OF THE LOST

Revelation 20:11-15, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

A. This is the Resurrection of those who hated the light of the Gospel, John 3:20, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

1. They hated the Light because their deeds were evil [worthless], John 3:19-20, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

2. They would not come to the Light for salvation, John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”

3. Their own perverseness shall destroy them, Proverbs 11:3, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”

B. This Damnation is because of rejection of God’s Son, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

C. This is the Resurrection of the Condemned, John 3:17-18, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”