Jesus our hero (All-Age Talk)

[0:00] And with those verses open in front of us this morning, let me ask this to adults and children.! Who is your hero? Who is your hero in life? Today people talk about their heroes as maybe someone! they look up to just someone they admire or want to be like maybe Taylor you like her you love her you listen to her songs you would like to be she's my hero or um Andrew I see the kind of man he is I see what I earn I see what he does I'd like to be like him maybe you've got a hero like uh Mr Beast YouTube all-star there are kind of people that we look up to and think I'd like to be like them but that's not really what a hero is do you know what a hero is anybody know what a hero is what do you think of here how do you what's a hero Philip? Someone who saves people fantastic yeah so not just someone who's big and uh earns lots of money and stuff a hero is someone who saves people and they're courageous and they're brave and they lay their life on the line to save others so if you lived in the 20th century um think of Superman not dressed very nicely but he was a superhero and he was upright and he saved people or if you're more old think of Achilles the great hero of the

[1:30] Greeks he was so brave and courageous he stood up he went forward he defended the people behind him or maybe today a firefighter you know someone who says I'm going to risk my life and I will step forward into the fire to save and protect people wonder who your hero is in our reading today do you not think we meet the greatest hero in all of human history Jesus has come into the world he's been sent by God not to condemn the world but to save the world he's come from heaven to earth he's taught wonderful things he's done in wonderful miracles he's shown that he's the way to the father and just before these verses this morning he sat in an upper room with his disciples and he taught them how life would be once he's returned to the father but in our verses this morning well we're just a few hours before his death there's not much talk left to the disciples it's all action and here in these famous verses in this moment two thousand years ago Jesus steps forward as a hero here's the first thing for us to get to grips with this morning Jesus bravely steps forward to lay down his life now here's the action if you want to watch it we've got a few people are going to join in so Jesus in verse one leaves with his disciples and he goes into a garden so I've got two disciples

[3:07] I think going to come and help me Bill you're going to be Peter so Bill's coming out to be Peter and Calvin you're going to be it's probably John actually yeah come on out you're the beloved disciple so here are the disciples here's um Peter with sword this side Calvin or John as we're now calling you John the disciple and they're with Jesus so I'm Jesus and we come into the garden and there's other people coming who are on the way do you notice in verse two there's Judas Judas knew the place and he came bringing soldiers and some officials now I can't remember quite who he had William you're one of them aren't you and uh Tom yeah Tom uh great so come on out here you're over here there's a sword for William I think and Tom you're here there we go you're the servant of the high priest remember and if you can stand there stand there with him great so this is the scene do you see um Joel you're involved as well are you what's that what's he got there a lantern brilliant Joel you can come and be one of these people with your mum if you want over here or by yourself it's up to you you've made your own lantern I didn't realize that would happen oh yeah thank you that's okay but you want to bring it over here with your mum do you want to be in it okay someone hold this over here yeah go on there we go you're with this this group of people and you're going to come and arrest Jesus okay this is unexpected and fantastic so here we are we're in the garden here is Jesus Jesus goes to the garden he's got his disciples with him and Judas knew where Jesus was and he is over there and coming forward so there's two groups of people approaching Jesus the disciples in the garden may be hidden and then the soldiers coming with torches and lanterns and weapons so you know they are coming to do bad to Jesus now here's the action Jesus knowing everything that was going to happen to him went out and asked them so think of it like this say you're in a garden you know people are coming to get you you just see them through the trees what's the normal thing that you would do you would turn around and run away but Jesus doesn't do that Jesus knowing all that was good it's not that he doesn't know and he walks into trouble oh no it's not even that Jesus is like a firefighter do you know what a firefighter does they risk their life I could be in danger maybe I'll die and I get no Jesus knows everything that's going to happen to him someone just tell me what is going to happen to Jesus in the few hours after this anybody know some of the things that's going to happen to him you can shout out if you want what's going to happen Alan he's going to be arrested and put on trial he knows that's going to happen what else is going to happen to him Philip he's going to die that's right he's going to be crucified on a cross and Jesus in the garden with his disciples knowing everything that's about to happen to him he steps out he steps forward and as they approach with his disciples behind him he says who is it you want and they say Jesus of

[6:37] Nazareth and he says I am he and when he said I am he they drew back and fell to the ground fall to the ground maybe that's an opportunity for Jesus to turn and run but again he asked them stand up who do you want and they say Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus says I told you that I am he if you are looking for me let these men go do you see his disciples behind him whom he loves Jesus had said earlier in the gospel this is the will of the father who sent me that I lose none of all that he has given me but I raise them up at the last day and in the garden with his disciples behind themselves in danger Jesus says don't take them just me so that I would not lose any of them this is the next thing that happens verse 10 then Simon Peter this is your moment servant boy step forward what are you the high priest servant then Simon Peter who had a sword he didn't understand what

[7:51] Jesus was doing he he drew it and very carefully cut off the right ear that's okay let's attack them Jesus I'll Jesus I'll careful Jesus I'll save you I'll save you we'll escape do you see what Jesus commanded Peter he could have got all the weapons and fought them but no Jesus Jesus commanded Peter put your sword away shall I not drink the cup the father has given me shall I not drink the cup that the father has given me I'm in the bible a cup could be like an experience a painful experience but the third cup that God has given him to drink what he must do maybe it's even deeper than that do you know this in the old testament awake rise up Jerusalem you've drunk you who've drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath or John writing in Revelation 14 looks forward to a future day when they will drink the wine of God's fury which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath Jesus stands in the garden and he says to Peter no swords you stay behind just me shall I not drink the cup that the father has given me and so the detachment of soldiers came and they arrested Jesus and they bound him and then they led him away we'll just stay here do you see what's happening in the garden can you see do you see the disciples behind here swords away being kept do you see Jesus who steps out into the garden and says it is me take me and do you see the violent men as they take him off to be crucified what kind of man is this we say Jesus is a hero the reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again no one takes it from me but I lay my life down of my own accord I have authority to lay it down and take it up again and this command is from my father he could run he could hide he could overpower but instead he bravely steps forward to lay down his life okay we're halfway through this morning um some of you are going to come back do you want to give me the swords and pop and sit back down thank you so pop and sit back down in your places thank you Joel for making that lantern and what I'd like us to do just for a couple of minutes is in our on our tables or with a person next to us ask this how is Jesus like other heroes but even better okay that's our question so a couple of minutes just in our pairs and threes and with people around us how is Jesus like a hero but better have a talk together and see what you come up with so

[11:53] Thank you.

[12:23] Thank you.

[12:53] Thank you.

[13:23] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Great.

[13:34] Thank you. He died and then he took his life up again. He's always there to save people. Other things people noticed or wanted to say? How is he like a hero but better?

[13:46] Josephine? He didn't just be one household or one group of people but all people throughout all history. Yeah, fantastic. Not just one person from one household but he came to be the saviour of the world.

[14:00] He's an enormous hero for all sorts of people. Yeah, great. Anybody else? He can sort out when people are dead which other superheroes can't do. Yeah, thank you.

[14:11] He is able to give them life again which other superheroes can't. Yeah. Okay, we're going to keep going and I hadn't quite asked but I wonder if Miranda might read the second bit too.

[14:23] Would that be okay, Miranda? So we're going to read what happens next. In fact, just as Miranda comes out, let me get my people to come up again.

[14:34] So, Peter, you're going to come. Yep, Peter, we need you. Do you want to come and stand here next to me? And then we're also going to need the servant girl. Josephine, you're the servant girl.

[14:46] Thank you for volunteering. You're going to be over there and there was someone else we needed as well. Was that going to be you, William? I can't remember. Who was the...

[14:58] Let's think. Yeah, William, you have to come and help again. So you're going to be over there as well. And this time you're going to be one of the high priest's servants over there by the fire.

[15:10] You take your sword if you want. Other side of the fire. Other side of the fire, William. Great. Okay, so. John 18, verse 15 onwards.

[15:22] What does that mean? To 27, I'm sorry. 27. Yeah, yeah, thank you. Thank you, sorry. Yeah. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.

[15:34] Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard. But Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple who was known to the high priest came back, spoke to the servant Galen Jutier, and brought Peter in.

[15:50] You are one of these men's disciples too, are you? She asked Peter. He replied, I am not. I am not. It was cold and servants and the vishel stood around a fire they had made to keep warm.

[16:02] Peter also was standing behind the door of the woman himself. No, no, no. Meanwhile, the light priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. I have spoken openly to the world, Jesus replied.

[16:13] I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.

[16:25] When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. Is this the way you answer the high priest? He demanded. If I said something wrong, Jesus replied, testify as to what is wrong.

[16:38] But if I speak the truth, why do you strike me? Then Anna sent him down to Cahadus, the high priest. Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there, warming himself.

[16:50] So they asked him, you are one of these disciples too, are you? He denied it, saying, I am not. One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him.

[17:02] Didn't I see you within the garden? Again, Peter denied it. And at that moment, a cock began to grow. Miranda, thank you.

[17:15] So, Jesus bravely steps forward and lays down his life and he does it for people. I mean, that's what heroes do. They don't just die for nothing, they die for people.

[17:29] And that is what's going on in this passage. Did you notice at the end of verse 14, John comments that, Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jewish leaders it would be good if one man died for the people.

[17:44] But for whom does this hero die? Who does he save? And the answer in these verses is, Jesus bravely lays down his life for cowardly disciples who disown him.

[18:06] I wonder who you think is the real hero in this story and who isn't. Because this is what happens. You heard it as we read through. Simon Peter and the other disciple were following along Jesus as Jesus was taken and bound.

[18:19] So, come on over, Simon Peter. And John is there probably as well and he goes into the high priest's house with Jesus. But Simon is left outside and he stands around with others warming his hands by the fire.

[18:33] And there's a servant girl on duty there. That's Josephine in the corner. And here's the moment because Jesus on trial in front of the high priest, here's Peter, almost the most famous disciple.

[18:49] And she says to him, you're not one of these man's disciples are you? Pause. Because this is the moment. This is the question.

[19:03] You, disciple of Jesus, you belong to him, don't you? Do you know what? Not very long ago in John chapter 13, just hours beforehand, Peter had said to Jesus, it's on the screen here, Lord, why can't I follow you now?

[19:21] I'll lay down my life for you. I'll be the hero, Jesus. And Jesus answered, will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.

[19:37] Can you imagine hearing those words? Jesus is saying, I know it's a blow up mom, but before the cock crows, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.

[19:51] You will disown me. To which I guess Peter thinks, I won't, I won't. I will stand for you. Here they are, verse 17.

[20:03] Can you imagine the pressure in that moment? You can half imagine it. If you're, you start at a new school, or you're out with colleagues, on a night out, and they ask you, are you one of those Christians?

[20:18] And you feel the pressure. Am I going to stay silent? Or am I going to stand with Jesus and say, yes, I belong to him? This is that, but another level.

[20:30] There are armed men, there's death in the air, there's crucifixion. And Peter would have heard Jesus saying, if the world hates me, it will hate you.

[20:41] You who are my disciples. Are you going to stand with him? Would we stand with him? And here in this moment, she asked Peter, you aren't one of this man's disciples, are you?

[20:55] And he replied, I am not. Jesus, in the garden, had stepped forward and said, I am.

[21:06] Take me. Now his disciple, down below, I am not. Look, the action switches. It's all going on down there. But now, meanwhile, verse 19, in the other room, the high priest questions Jesus about his disciples, his teaching.

[21:22] I've spoken openly to the world, Jesus replied. I've always taught where all the Jews come together. I've said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.

[21:35] And then one of the officials nearby slaps him in the face. And a slap is a little sting of pain. A slap is humiliation.

[21:47] A slap is the promise of more violence to come. But Jesus doesn't back down. If I said something wrong, testify to what is wrong.

[22:00] But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me? And then Anna sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest. Now come down again. Jesus, bold, brave.

[22:12] Peter, having denied wants. You know what happens. Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there, warming himself by the fire.

[22:24] I always remember someone saying this. His hands were warm, but his heart was cold towards his saviour. And so they asked him, you aren't one of his disciples, are you?

[22:35] And he denied it, saying a second time. One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off, challenged him.

[22:48] That's William. Didn't I see you with him in the garden? And again, Peter denied it. And at that moment, a cock began to crow.

[23:01] Cock-a-doodle-doo. And it doesn't say it in John, but in the other Gospels, Peter went out bitterly and he wept, having denied Jesus.

[23:15] What we're talking about this morning is heroes. Heroes. You know who a hero is? It's not Taylor or Mr Beast or anything.

[23:26] A hero is someone who stands tall and is courageous and brave and sacrifices themselves and lays down their life for the good of others. And here in John 18, in this Gospel narrative, do you see how John shows Jesus to us?

[23:42] The stunning, deliberate, obedient bravery of Jesus. He's so courageous, so upright, so compelling. You're meant to see him in all his beauty and savour him and be in awe of him.

[23:56] And yet in deliberate contrast, over here, the lying cowardice of Peter, along with so many weak and wavering and betraying disciples.

[24:11] And yet you see, don't you, what the glory is of what goes on here. It is that all Jesus does in his bravery, he does for people like Peter and you and me.

[24:28] I am the good shepherd, says Jesus. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus knows Peter. He told him in advance what would happen.

[24:39] He knows him through and through, just like he knows you and me through and through. Every self-serving and cowardly act, every failure and denial of him, he knows.

[24:50] And yet with obedient love for his father and love for his sheep, Jesus bravely steps forward to lay down his life for cowardly disciples who disown him.

[25:02] He steps out. He identifies himself. He acts courageously. He allows himself to be bound and crucified for cowards.

[25:13] He goes to the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice to drink the cup, to bear the wrath of God for self-serving sinners.

[25:25] So that people like Peter and you and me may be restored to our God once again. That's what happens in the garden and beyond.

[25:37] And really this morning there is nothing to do from John 18. I think how could there be? Rather, we're meant to check out our hero.

[25:48] And don't bother too much with Taylor and Mr Beast and others, but behold our Saviour, who's a king and a leader and a shepherd and the very best of those.

[25:59] We're meant to drink in the beauty of his bravery and get involved in hero worship. Because that is what you do with heroes, isn't it? As you see them, as you experience what they do for you, you worship them.

[26:17] John 18. We're going to go back into our pairs and our groups again. We've finished off this passage for today. There's more to come as we lead up to the cross.

[26:28] But do you want to talk again in your little groups or pairs? How is Jesus like other heroes and yet better and better and better the more we discover about him? Is that alright?

[26:39] We'll do that in our groups and our pairs just for a few moments. Thank you, Peter. Thank you, guys.