Jesus Unfiltered - Testify - For this I was Born..., Part 1

Let me ask you a deep question today.

Do you believe the born for a reason and if so, why are you here me this is one of those really big questions. What's your purpose on earth, one can tell you if you are a follower of Jesus Christ.

One of the primary and main purposes of your life is to that's what I'm going talk about today. Stay with welcome to this monthly edition of living on the drifter Living on the Edges of international discipleship featuring the Bible teaching of this message just to resolve that clipping just let studying the gospel of John and are closing in the last few chapters like these messages up from the beginning available anytime on the chip.

The series to look for is Jesus unfiltered. What stewardship showing for his message from John chapter 18.

For this I was born as we continue our series in the Gospel of John chapter 18. If you want to get a head start and get there, I want you to finish a sentence.

The best you can. I will get right up to the end and how would you finish this sentence goes like this. For this reason I was born and came into the earth to you fill it in. For this reason, you were born and you came into the earth in order to what you fill it in. If you had just shot that in her say the reason that I am on this earth. The reason that I was born. The reason that I'm here at this time in history. The reason that I for reasons I don't understand, live at this time with who I am, where I live what I know is what what would you say this is kind of tough. But let me state it another way, how about this. I was born for this purpose. In order to what would you say your purposes.

I realize about much time to think some of you might have a very quick clear answer, but a lot of them are not going and that's a big heavy question you just dropped in on me. Let me get a little help here Jesus actually will answer this question for himself very specifically and when you see the answer, what you realizes there's a lot of instruction about why you're here and why I'm here. Jesus will say for this purpose. I was born and came into the earth to testify to the truth. He said the reason they came was to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth. Are you ready for this listens to me. Now pull out your notes and want to do something open your notes very quickly will start from the beginning, but I want to move and I just want you to see graphically the notes if you just read through John chapter 18 you be tempted to think all this is the chapter were Jesus gets arrested and Peter denies him three times and that he gets in front of pilot and you would be right but you would miss what John the writer inspired by the Holy Spirit has tucked inside this climactic message of the whole chapter is exactly this I was born for this purpose, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me and then what you're going to see is working to see a list of people who testify some courageously and some cowardly, some truly and some falsely and what's embedded in this passage, you ready for this is why we do what we do, why I do what I do, why you do what you do and what organists he is to be determined primarily by one of two words. There's good to be people that will be courageous and will testify to the truth and are we people who beat cowardly and they won't testify, the truth and their whole life in the complete trajectory of their future and purpose will be determined by whether there courageous or whether there cowardly theologian Lyman Abbott put it this way every life is a March from innocence through temptation to either vice or virtue and each one of us will make a decision about our destiny and our destiny will be primarily determined by whether we courageously respond to the truth or cowardly. Now I don't know about you, but when's the last time you ever heard anyone call another person account right. I mean, we don't even use those terms anymore so notice on the front of your notes.

Let's do a little definitional work, so that when we use these words, I want you to I want to get them in your mind and your heart, and there were to go through the passage and I'm gonna show you all the people who testify in different ways and you will be very quickly meals a coward courageously ready courage, the ability to do something that you know is right or good even though it's dangerous, frightening or difficult. The synonyms are brave, daring, heroic, an example someone who acts in accordance with one's beliefs, especially in spite of criticism or even danger cowardice, a trait where fear and excessive concern override doing or saying what is right. Good and of help to others or oneself in time of need not, there's no joke. The synonyms I got right out of the dictionary synonyms we cling milk.

Stop namby-pamby example. This is very interesting. A person who runs the other direction. After seeing a person who needs help before we look at Jesus last night and the interviews of different people. I want to do something because as some of us don't have a lot of Bible background in all four Gospels piece together Jesus. Last night John gives us a unique perspective. But what I want to do is just give you like I just okay here's exactly what you and your minds. I think this is what Jesus went through and these are all the things that happen and then will read right through John 18 and watch different people testify. So Jesus final night. Looks like this.

First, he's arrested. Next he's tried before, Annis Hughes, the chief priests father-in-law. He has a unique relationship. Annis is ill legal trial.

He will send them to Caiaphas who is the actual high priest and then during this time Peter denies Jesus next to go through these trials through the night and then is Don in the Sanhedrin of the Council and Don will then have 1/3 trial and they will convict him of blasphemy and they say he should be killed, and Judas learns of that, he goes out and commit suicide.

Then they take him to Pilate because the Jews don't have the power to kill under Roman law, and so they bring them to Pilate and Pilate realizes this is politically not the best thing to do.

So I'll see if I can get Herod to do it.

So he sent them to Herod. Herod says I don't want to touch it. He sent him back to Pilate and then eventually Pilate, as will read condemns him to death.

Have you got that's his evening ready open your Bibles now to a chapter 18 and let's examine the testimonies and some of them are by just actions in others or by words.

Chapter 18 verse one. When he finished praying Jesus left with his disciples and cross over the kindred Valley.

On the other side. There was an olive grove, and he is disciples went into it now Judas was betraying him knew the place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples so Judas came to the grove guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees and there were carrying torches and lanterns and weapons. The first person who testifies is Judas. It's a false testimony and it's a hypocritical one. The other gospel writers say during that reason, they have lanterns. It's it's very dark and it says there's a detachment very unique Greek word for detachment. It could be a whole battalion were could be a smaller group of 600 but at a minimum. It's 200 soldiers so there's 200 Roman soldiers, along with some officials.

Judas is leading and it's kinda dark and they got the lanterns so his testimony after how does he respond to the truth in Jesus. He comes to him with rubber bony which means you are my teacher and my Rabbi who have followed and that he gives them a greeting of warmth and kisses him, so that now the soldiers know who to rest. He's a betrayer he doesn't listen to the truth Jesus, knowing what was going to happen him when out and ask them who do you want Jesus of Nazareth. They replied he said I am he. Notice what happens.

Jesus said Judas the traitor was standing with them all. And when Jesus said I am he.

They drew back and they fell to the ground and again he asked them who is it that you want and they said, Jesus of Nazareth. I told you I am he, Jesus answered, if you're looking for me then let these men go. This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled. I have not lost one of those that you gave me is a very very interesting passage and we miss it in the English year. First of all, you'll notice that Jesus went voluntarily after he was in the garden. They didn't catch him. It says he went out to meet them. Second, he wants to make sure his disciples are safe and so you see that he gets them off the hook but three times. Did you notice the witness of Jesus, I am he. I am he. I am he. The Greek word is Eggo Amy if you would go to Exodus chapter 3 and the septa gun is the Greek translation of the Old Testament when you would find God revealing himself to Moses and gives his covenant name I am that I am guess what it is. In Greek Eggo. Amy Jesus is saying I am that I am I am Jehovah.

I am the Messiah, and when the words come out of his mouth.

There such power 200 soldiers, damn flat on their face, along with Judas. They all got up and he says again. Who are you looking for and he repeats it again, and even 1/3 time. The first testimony is a false one. Judas betrayer hypocrite. The second one is the Son of Man in his testimony, is he verbally identifies it's a powerful one that he in fact is Jehovah God, we move on testimony. Number three, then Simon Peter, who had a sword of the word for sword here could could could literally be like a long fishing knife and that's probably the case, it could be used for a short sword or a long fishing knife and notice what Peter does.

He drew it, and he struck the high priest servant, cutting off his right ear and I'm guessing he was not aiming for his ear.

The servant's name was Malka's Jesus commanded Peter put your sword away. Shall I not drink the cup, the father has given me, not Peter takes a pot of flak. You know, in the New Testament.

You know he's the big mouth these impetuous he's impulsive and I mean he's going to deny the Lord little bit later but I can can we just get our arms around what's going on here he keys earlier said, Lord, all die with you in Jesus and you don't really understand what you're talking about. We get all that sign right but there's 200 soldiers.

There's Peter. There's 10 other disciples and there's Jesus.

And we know from the text earlier that all these men now are all in. They believe the father sent you. You have the words of eternal life.

You're the Messiah you're fully man your fully God and I don't know what the odds are, but 200 soldiers 10 guys with no weapons at me with one weapon, Peter said, I'm all in time to defend you. It may have been misguided, but it was heroic. It was courageous. It was daring he was willing to give his life right then and right there. His testimony by his actions was, I believe there's nothing more important than my relationship with you and we know Peter was married. So he's laying down his life. What I want you to observe he's laying down his life in the presence of Jesus. He's laying down his life after he seen the power and can you imagine a one of the disciples. There's 200 guys and lanterns and all this stuff and he goes, I am he family all fall down.

I will let you this is good you were were with you, man. I think they don't know what can happen, but there's great boldness in the presence of God in the fellowship of other believers. And when you see the power of God's word. Well, the story continues. Open your notes as you can see the outline as were walking through the story. Jesus has been arrested and now he's going to go before Annas was the father-in-law of the high priest, then the detachment of soldiers with its commander in the Jewish officials arrested Jesus they found him brought into Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who would advise the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people not you gotta get some background here.

Annas is the father-in-law, but he had five sons and this is his son-in-law.

The history here is this is one of the biggest crooks of all time. Annas basically was in cahoots with the Roman government. He had one of his sons. He bought the high priesthood.

So one of his sons, one of the five sons was high priest announces son-in-law, but he's the powerbroker.

So the reason they're taking Jesus to Annas is units, like some of these dictatorships where the guy might step down, but he's really pulling all the strings. This is the power guy. He's very very wealthy.

He's very connected is very powerful and so no matter who the high priest is.

This is the guy deeply calling the shots. He was also in charge of a thing called the bazaar and the bazaar was where all the animals you could when you went you know people would come for Passover for miles and miles and miles around.

So rather than bringing all their own animals. There was a means sometimes it would sacrifice 60 500,000 hundred 50,000 sheep, while what they would do these people come from anywhere in rather than bring their own sheep, they would buy one will he had a monopoly on all the animals and he would do a surcharge as of this guys getting filthy rich and placing his sons and son-in-law's. In all these situations, so that's the background. Caiaphas is his son-in-law and notice there's a testimony.

The testimony is John just mentions this is the one who said it's better for one man to die for all the people and if you remember, your gospel history it.

It came at a time when they were debating about what to do with him and then the author says he said this, but as the high priest. It was prophetic.

He said it. With this in mind hey you know what, rather than him taking our position in Rome come down on us will just get rid of him, but in fact is the high priest, God spoke through him that in fact it is better for one man to die because Jesus would die pay for the sins of all people of all time.

A true testimony and would pick up the story in verse 15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus because this disciple was known to the high priest he went with Jesus into the high priest courtyard. But Peter had to wait outside the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. Surely you are not another of this man's disciples. The girl at the door as Peter. He replied I am not.

It was cold and the servants and officials stood around the fire.

They made to keep warm and Peter was also standing with them, warming himself. You pick it up in the English but the phrasing here in the Greek is she's asking a question expecting a negative answer. This happens sometimes to site coming. You're not one of the evangelicals are you jealous people actually really believe in the Bible and Jesus was a literal person and raise from the dead. Do you modify this is this is so interesting that God would allow us it's such a God given book because no one writing a book to start something would ever allow the leaders to look like this. Moments ago. He would take on 200 trained Roman soldiers and now circumstances have changed and the servant girl. Just ask a question. Certainly, you're certainly not want his followers.

Are you was Peter say he was courageous and now he's a coward, no I'm not. We pick up the story continues, the high priest begins to question Jesus. Verse 19. Meanwhile, the high priest question Jesus about his disciples about his teaching not notice Jesus focusing his response is going to go back to how openly he testified how openly he shared and taught and what he's going to call on them to do is do what bring witnesses in who heard my teaching.

Let them testify about what's true and what I spoke. When Jesus said this, he said, I've always taught in the synagogue, and in the temple were all the Jews came together. I said nothing in secret why questioning me ask those who heard me. Surely they knew what I said when Jesus said this one of the officials nearby struck him in the face is that the way to answer the high priest. He demanded not notice the theme, the author keeps bringing up if I said something wrong. Jesus replied testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth. Why did you strike me than Annas sent them still to be bound to Caiaphas the high priest, are you catching the drift.

You catching and realizing there's a series of people and the issue is how do they testify to the truth. Are they courageous or are they cowardly. Verse 25 of Simon Peter stood warming himself yet. He was asked surely you're not another. His disciples any diet denied it, saying I am not one of the high priest servants a relative of the man who whose ear Peter had cut off challenge him will did in ICU with him in the Olive Garden again.

Peter denied and at that moment a rooster crowed is prophesied three times, and by the way the other gospel writers a little bit more graphic. Peter doesn't just say no it wasn't me. He says blanketing blank blank. I don't know the guy.

He actually curses and completely disowns any relationship. Jesus and this is the same guy who is willing to die an hour or two. Three.

Before just joining you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram chips message today is from testify volume for the series Jesus unfiltered in testify. We take a look at the last days of Jesus on earth.

We listen to his final words to his followers from then to today. Jesus tasked them with a mission to testify, he promised the power of the Holy Spirit. Any guaranteed victory justify will encourage and challenge you to take your faith journey to the next level to dig into this series on your own order shirt with a friend get it on the chip and remap or visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org agent before you get your application today. I wanted to share a note we got from a listener who's been using some of the brand-new resources we created recently like your one-on-one discipleship is just great.

She writes dear Chip I'm a healthcare provider was about two months ago that I began to realize I read my Bible to gain knowledge of Jesus but not to apply God's word to my own life. I realized too late in parroting my five children that salvation through Christ is was my primary mission as a parent I can't thank you enough for the load programming you're doing right now as you suggest. Each morning I wake up and start with prayer giving all my burdens and worries to God before he dig into his word. I've never had anyone sit down to disciple me this way, I'm using your mealtime conversations with all of my kids 14 through 21 were currently home in isolation. You've given me ways to ask ensure even with the young adults. Thank you. My heart is so full of joy.

During this time of isolation God has given me a second chance to assure Jesus Christ's love and his faithfulness. Sincerely, Kathy D you know Dave is hard as this covert situation is been on the world. One of the greatest joys I've had is seeing innovation. I'm immersing innovation and technology innovation in the marketplace and one of the great things that happen at Living on the Edge. There's been innovation and discipleship we've been able to help people in a way like never before and do it more personally than ever before with reports of deeper and greater life change than ever before, and you can only innovate if you had the prayer support and the financial resources so that when you see the need, you can act on it and that's what we've done and so I want to pause. Yes, it's the matching were telling people how every dollars match dollar for dollar, but I want to pause and I will look in the rearview mirror and I want to say thank you to those people who gave in the past that positioned us to innovate and and help so many people in the now. Now here's the issue. Innovation is not over.

When I see what's happening in the world today. This brand-new world is going to require new and fresh, innovative ways to teach disciple do small groups help people grow what we want to do is be on the cutting edge of that Living on the Edge and so we need your help. Number one. Pray pray God will give us wisdom. Number two would you be willing to give this month so that we can innovate the rest of this year.

No matter what comes our way.

We are committed to helping Christians live like Christians every day in every way everywhere, to the glory of God and for the good of all mankind. And we want to be position to do that. If that's on your heart.

Will you join us this month and by the way there couldn't be a better time because every dollar that you give this month gets match dollar for dollar. Thanks so much for whatever God leads you to do well if you believe God's calling you to join that future with us. We be honored to have you on our team to send a gift or to become a monthly partner.

Just give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 to get online. You'll find us@livingontheedge.org and thank you in advance for your support as we wrap up today's program.

Maybe a confession would be in order. I was really personally challenged by this message. You know it's easy to read this Bible story and you know go through the trial and the servant girl and Peter denies him. You know, three times in and can't get through it all and sorta have this little Bible story picture in your mind that I realize that each time this is about testify this the theme of this section of the book of John, God himself is saying that you need to be bold and testify, you need to identify with me, not just in kind actions, although that is good but you need to be willing to say I'm a follower to the servant girl. I'm a follower. Yes, I believe, is the Messiah. I've laid my life down and Peter shrunk back and he was a coward and he went awake. Rushton and Ron Morrison. Here's the question I want to ask you because I read just this week that only 7% of followers of Jesus will ever lead one other person to Christ in their lifetime to think of that were on the earth were born for this purpose, to testify by how we live and what we say and what we do with our money and how we drive in our morality, but by our words to actually testify. We are followers boldly unashamedly of Jesus. Here's my question. Has anyone this week. In fact, has anyone this month at work in your neighborhood at the coffee shop at the gym, heard the name of Jesus and your relationship come out of your mouth and if not, would you be willing just to sort of an act of faith to say today. I don't know how I'm going to do it. But God, give me a chance I'm gonna prepare my heart. I'm going to verbally stand up and testify that I'm a follower of Christ in a loving and winsome way. But it's going to come out of my mouth. We've got to be bold because we have so much to share it on easy way to hear this message again would be to download the chip and remap will have free access to all of Chip's recent teaching is interactive message notes and much more. Not only that, but it couldn't be easier to email or give us a call directly from the yeah will tomorrow chip continues a series Jesus unfiltered. Join us that for all of the services Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge