John Chapter 18:19-27

Everyone falls short of the standard of perfection. Maybe your sins are as bad as Peter's innocence and that you've been out of work. Maybe they're not. But regardless you know what the Lord stands here this morning saying I'm ready to forgive you what will you do when you just got a business as usual. Charge here a few minutes when the services are will you take the time in the next two minutes. I got so sorry. Please forgive me if you have a golden opportunity. As Jesus once again extends his hand to sincerely can have a fresh start. Welcome to cross the bridge with big David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville North Carolina.

Today we have the studio with this one of David McGee's associate pastors.

This is a well before the blessing welcome to the broadcast today Bob it's good to be here.

The sad truth is that we've all fallen short of God's perfect standard.

The good news is as follows of Jesus, we could be forgiven of all our mistakes, they positive claims this amazing truth as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 18 good brother, so let's listen to continue teaching part two of the denial just a little recap of what we were talking about last week we were in the beginning part of John chapter 18 Jesus was in the garden and we see that the trail of Judas see the rest of Jesus, and we looked at dad and so we find ourselves in the final hours. If you will, of the earthly ministry of Jesus to pick it up in verse 19, the high priest and asked Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine and ICCs asking about his doctrine and Jesus obviously has doctrine while you say that because I think sometimes we emphasize the miracles of Jesus when we deemphasize one of the main ministries he had and that was a teaching ministry.

The ministry of Jesus, the earthly ministry.

Most of the time was spent on teaching.

Obviously he was here, they came to die for our sins. Outside of that, his interaction in relationships with people were primarily teaching relationships and I think that's a model for the church today. Now it's interesting that this man asking his doctrine and understand something. We need you need to know why you believe what you believe. I read a statistic. I can't remember if it was like 84, 86% of born-again Christians can explain what born-again was makes me wonder if they've been born again is not real complicated, you should be able to explain it back sometime today.

Let me challenge it was something you should be able to in 30 seconds.

Explain the gospel to somebody and maybe jot down a note for 30 seconds gospel in sometime today to your spouse to your friend safe, I want to do this. I wanted to do this 32nd thing I want you to tell me what you what you think of and you knows be really cool since I've asked you to do that you could find a nonbelieving friend tomorrow and say hey you know my pastor to me try some contrast, which was fine gospel and you know another thing you said you probably should do is have 1/32 testimony is it will be rare were some I give you like 30 minutes you know it's rare somebody walks up to tell me her life story. I came to find meaning in life.

That's rare that some I ask you, but you might have little 30 seconds opportunities all the time that if you had a kind of boiled down so 32nd test make the recent gospel we need to be able to explain at first Peter 315 says. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life and if you're asked about your Christian hope always be ready to explain it always be ready to explain verse 20 Jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world always taught synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always me and in secret I've said nothing. Verse 21. Why do you ask me – those who have heard me what I said to them, indeed they know what I said Jesus points out, this is a legal proceeding that the question should not have been asked Jesus is demanding that witnesses be called because this was the proper legal course of action and is in the situation publicly and watch what happens. Verse 20 and when he had said these things. One of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand saying do you answer the high priest like that so they understood that Jesus had just said you know what, this is a legal proceeding. This is this is he was implying the man was violating the law and the guy smacks we see will see that a lot a lot of things that they are doing what they're supposed to be doing it. See, this is they warning the space to have a trial at night, and if it was for a capital offense, they would have to Charles during the day, the Sanhedrin Sanhedrin were the ones that were supposed to meet to make these decisions. Sanhedrin never met at night Sanhedrin, the 70 people there.

The roots go back to the 70 that were appointed under Moses. The glorious beginning but they drafted and before you start throwing stones at them understand. Take a good look at the Christian church in America today understand the weight that we in fact, if not all Jewish people were against Jesus. There was a lot of people following Jesus, but some of the leadership was opposed to, and we talked about that somewhat last week but you know how far this is gotten from where it was supposed to be. But again, how does that work here.

See, we tend to think well you know the charges somewhere you go when you got it all together and we look at people that don't have it altogether we go what's wrong with what's wrong with her was wrong with him. They seem to be struggling. They seem to have a problem in this is the place they need to be.

This is supposed to be a hospital for those who have been wounded, not a museum for wax figures who never do anything wrong anymore and you know the thing about hospital of governors or stews. There's two, hospitals, hospitals are very Nice and very orderly. And then there's the kind hospitals are actually being used. So guess what, the fact that were hospital means sometimes things are going to get messy. In verse 23 Jesus answered him, if I've spoken evil bear witness of the evil. But, as well. Why do you strike me spoken well why you hit me understand you saying you don't tell me what I did wrong, but that's a good question. He never did anything wrong.

He never messed up.

Hebrews 415, 16, since this high priest of ours understands our weaknesses. For he faced all the same temptations we do, yet he did not send Celeste come boldly to the throne of our gracious God, there will receive his mercy need. We will find grace to help us when we need. He's been tempted in every area that we've been tempted but he never did anything wrong. He never send. What's interesting is the response he gives because he didn't just didn't just turn the other cheek.

You remember Matthew 539 ounces but I tell you not to resist an evil person ever slaps on the right cheek, turn the other to them also. Jesus didn't turn the other cheek knows I'm I suggest that there's time to turn the other cheek. Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, but at this point he turns and he rebukes the high priest rebukes it's interesting to me and Jesus here is exercising extreme extreme power under control. To understand Jesus had the authority had the power at this point to stop this whole proceeding.

Can you imagine the below. He could've given the officer that just hitting been like one of these cartoons you see where the guy gets knocked to the wall. They didn't do that and even talk about your been talking to some I just talked about how powerful they are and how strong they are and they keep on they keep on the understand that when they're doing that they're really not sure of this power that they're telling you about in this strength that they're sharing with you there very insecure in the Jesus is not doing Jesus is keep in silence. Amazing thing later on when he's stricken. I don't have you ever thought about this but they covered his head and were dealing blows the significant of that is the significance of that is is you know is if you're hitting me going to hit me.

Yeah, I'm going to get Bob and weave her or move around and so the blow that you hit me with this is minimize the little bit by me flinching in scenic, but if your heads covered, I can't happen and you exhort the full blunt of the blow, making it much more painful. Verse 24 then anise send them bound the Caiaphas the high priest. All thing is just if the child is a far simulated long decided what they were going to do with this whole thing and he bound them out. He hadn't even been tried correctly course anise can't tell them what is done wrong. They're trying to still orchestrate the thing why is there call off the hard they had not planned to do this during the Passover, they were going to wait because remember that leaders have a list of taking their Passover.

The people have upward Jesus is the control of the whole situation Jesus turn the Jews is that what you're about to do.

Go do it now.

Good will quickly assess the whole wheels in motion will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a minute to pray for a few cities in our listening audience in Montana, Gallatin, Glendive, Great Falls Hamilton, Helena Kalispell and Ms. Sula will we thank you for everyone listening right now. We thank you for the work that you're doing in their lives. Lord I pray that you would fill them with the faith that they need to say yes to you, God. We pray that if anyone in the cities does not yet know you if they've not put their trust in you that today they would lower pray for the church is an area that you give the pastors wisdom. Lord I pray that people get plugged into these churches and grow in lower pray for the city leaders. The mayor, the police chief fire Department the town Council everybody leadership Lord that you give them wisdom and discernment. We pray for unity amongst the government. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 25. Now Simon Peter stood and warned themselves therefore they said to him you are not also one of his disciples, are you he did not and said I am not one of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him to his ear Peter cut off the did I not see you in the garden with them.

Verse 27. Peter then denied again and immediately a rooster crowed guys this is one of those biblical events that were so familiar with. We don't think of the significance most of us grew up knowing the biblical study that the story of Peter denying the Lord so much that we don't really stop and consider this is where my mother, Peter were not talking about some I do that occasionally went to hear Jesus when I talk about semi that once a year. Went to hear Jesus were talking about a disciple. A disciple that had spent three years with Jesus. A disciple that was if you will, was the first ring see there was three guys that at certain moments in certain times, Jesus would invite these three guys in the three guys are only Peter James and John to the garden of Gethsemane to the Mount of Transfiguration, so there they were, like the first playing God. Well, I go back and forth and thinking that the first ring.

Or maybe Jesus is thinking I can't leave these guys alone with the other guys.

So start sautéing them with me but right regardless he was close to Jesus and he fell and he fell hard and I think sometimes we think spiritual leaders can't fail, and they can, Peter leader, then with Jesus been trained false fails miserably. I think everyone in here is honest.

At some point, your words, your actions have denied the Lord and what you know to be true. We told an interesting thing, Luke 2261 it says the Lord turned and looked at Peter and Peter remembered the word of the Lord Hally had set them before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times the Peter went out and wept bitterly. The Lord turned and looked at Peter.

I understand Jesus had already been smacked hard at least once, maybe more than any looked at Peter and that look broke Peter's heart and he went out and wept bitterly. Understand Peter was not a coward. Just moments earlier, Peter had been willing to take on a whole garrison of God and fighting for the Lord, but a sale and as you look at these two because there's 12 disciples, the forgiveness up close and personal look at Judas and Peter both of whom failed miserably stumbled in there, testing, look at the difference of what happens.

Judas gave up Judas gave up Matthew 27 three. Susan Judas is betrayer seen that he had been condemned was remorseful.

Note the word remorseful and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priest noticing of sin by betraying innocent blood, and they said was at.you see to it and he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself since he was remorseful that's a different word in the Greek than true repentance means he was bad so many of us think that that's enough. His lungs were so bad when men there's more to it than that.

On top of that, Judas was on the wrong people. Sorry should on the Jesus Jesus, I'm sorry. Should see every you have somebody apologizing to you for their behavior toward somebody else innocent about person visits what Judas was doing.

He felt a little bad, he went to them, but he should've told Jesus he was were forcefully was repented not second printing seven tenses for godly sorrow produces repentance leading the salvation not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death seek is feeling bad is not enough.

You gotta go to God to God, I'm sorry, and asked for forgiveness and with that sorrow comes a sense of not desiring to repeat the same mistakes ask a question he went up like here you in and obliges a lot understand understand right now in your mind are going well, you know I haven't anything like that and and I am the Lord when you have no idea what plans God has for you and again the amazing fact Jesus doesn't look at Peter later on. Can't believe it. Your miserable said you done your a few months from here will over 50 days. Peter preaches and sees 3000 people come to the Lord. He's far from done that in our wisdom of looking at somebody we would say he's done. There's a quote by William Shakespeare really likes is we know what we are. But no, not what we may be. We know not what we may be.

I wonder Peter had think Peter had any idea of how God was getting ready use of that. This point is just feeling that he's a failure but is interesting. Peter was not finished.

Mark 16 seven tells us this. I love the way that Peter's designator but go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee, and there you will see him as he said to you. The Lord spoke to the Angels who said go tell his disciples and Peter. They named why Peter had to feel horrible. At that point church history actually tells us that early in the church that people when he would go through a crowd would make the sound of a rooster. Even years later, reminding him of his failure very human thing to do and it not a godly thing to do in Jesus when he was talking with Peter about this in Luke 2231. Simon, Simon, Satan is asked to have all of you to sift you like wheat but I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail so when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers when you come back minister to others what message of hope in the next part of the good news, Peter wasn't done and and while the crowing of the rooster in you know when a rooster crows the beginning of a day as the dawn begins to break some roosters go schizoid or something.

They grow all night. We just live near one that would this kind of unnerving but most roosters crow in the beginning of the daylight's even in the midst of this summer's coming up a new day was dawning.

Another opportunity the life lesson here as followers of Jesus we can be forgiven of all our mistakes as followers of Jesus we can be forgiven of all our mistakes and understand that we think in terms of Christianity been forgiven once and it is it it starts with. At first, for forgive me of my sins, but you know when the last time you repented. I don't mean just a generic all Lord forgive me for everything I did know I mean a heartrending cry orgy you know I did this forgive me for that action.

That behavior and give me strength.

I don't think we do it often enough. I don't think we encourage one another when we stumble Galatian six. Once his brother and if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness told forgiven the ministry of reconciliation seen people reconciled to God when all something to be given to this is the thing in family unit, usually at this point the surgeons got winding down what I did turn towards the emphasis of the person who said and seated in here who doesn't know the Lord is your Savior never asked for the forgiveness of your sins and certainly here in here this morning. He is never asked Jesus to forgive your sins. Only give you that opportunity.

In just a moment, but I want to talk to those of us who set up for and ask again. When's the last time you asked the Lord to forgive you of the things you've done wrong this forgiveness. It was purchased at such a high price. Do you value it pays to think you know when you did something wrong. You had to go through a season where you felt really bad about it and then after that season was over. Then you could ask for. Forgive is an unscriptural concept when I found over the years. To be honest it got harder and harder as time went by to ask for forgiveness now as for forgiveness quickly learned messed up again. Please forgive me.

Help me in this area see, we all have a decision-making here. This one is not just an unbeliever has a decision-maker. Everyone of us has a decision-maker first John lays out like this. If we say that we have no sent, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sin. We make him a liar and his word is not in us.

Some ask a question, because even as I've been saying this so yeah, I'm good.

I'm okay fine then your calling God a liar is using you haven't sent everyone of us falls short of the standard of perfection may be your sins are as bad as Peter's. In that sense and that you've denied the work. Maybe they're not. But regardless you Lord stands here this morning saying hey now I'm ready to forgive you what will you do when you just kind of business as usual charge out of here a few minutes when the services are will you take the time in the next few minutes I got to know what I'm so sorry.

Please forgive me if you have a golden opportunity is Jesus. Once again, extends his hand to you. As you know, you can have a fresh start again. I'm so grateful that we don't just get one.

Sometimes we paint the gospel like that. Well, you know you get saved if you promise you'll never do anything wrong ever again pray the prayer and ask God to forgive him.

That is, in their right mind is all of us realize at some point will make another mistake genital warts us in Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18. I love this verse. Come now and let us reason together as the Lord though your sins are like scarlet, shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. The darkest thing you've ever done.

The worst thing you've ever done. Jesus stands willing and able. This morning to forgive you if you will ask in with you asking forgiveness comes not desire to not repeat the same mistakes over and over something God will do and you as time goes on. And again, each of us has a decision. We can sit here this morning say no we don't have any problems. We don't have any sand in your calling God a liar or you can say you know.

Thanks be to God been reminded to Holy Spirit through the word of God that I am not where it should be that I've recently made some mistakes and I need this forgiveness. Everybody in here has a decision to make and if you walk out of here without making a decision you still have made a choice to walk away from the hand of the Lord that is extended to you right now to have that fresh start in your sins deep and dark like scarlet, they can be whiners who among us would turn down an offer like that in this moment, in this time, so do design business with the Lord friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

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Throughout today from the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues taking verse by verse in the gospel of God