So this week has many contrasts, doesn't it?
We begin with the triumph of our Palm Sunday
and what many people were hoping for
and the contrast is what was on the mind of the Lord Jesus.
And what we can see clearly from the text
is that regardless of what was on everybody else's mind
of hosannas and proclamations and kingdoms coming
Jesus had one thing on his mind
and that one thing was to get to the excruciating experience of Calvary
and there to lay down his life that he may win for us
our eternal salvation.
And it's difficult for us to understand
as it seemed to be difficult for the people of Jesus' day to understand
how those two things could be together
how it is that the crowds could be in one direction
so zealously on Jesus Christ in another direction.
Now let me try and introduce to you
some of the themes of John's Gospels.
I read through John's Gospel and this week in preparation.
It's a really good thing to do at any time
but a really good thing to do this week
I'd encourage you to do that.
When Jesus is approached by his mother in chapter 2
they're at a wedding and they're running out of wine
and Mary says to the servants
listen, go and speak to Jesus
he can sort it out
he says to her, what do you have to do with me?
My hour has not yet come.
So there's an hour that Jesus is waiting for
and now in John chapter 12
we come to the point where Jesus says
this is the hour
the hour for which he was waiting for
at the end of John chapter 2
when he turned water into wine.
In chapter 2 John says
that many people believed in him
or you could translate it
they trusted in him
or they believed in him
and John recalls that Jesus responded in this way
it says that Jesus did not entrust himself
into their hands
because he did not need a human testimony
he did not need someone to tell him
about the human heart
he knows what is inside of a man
Jesus knows what is inside of your heart
and my heart
and Jesus knows
what is in the heart of those palm wavers
and he knows that there is something more
than an inauguration ceremony
that is needed for you and I to be healed.
So Jesus comes to Jerusalem
in his face
sat towards the cross
while everybody else has got a different agenda.
Now I'd like to look at the text in three ways
firstly, this is 17 to 22
I'd like us to see
there are many things
that would distract Jesus from the cross.
Then in 23 to 33
we will see that nothing
distracts Jesus from the cross.
And then in verses 34 to 36
we will see that nothing
must deter and distract you from the cross.
So first of all
there are many things
that would distract us
distract Jesus from the cross.
Look at verses 17 to 22
I've put them in three categories
first of all
you have the enthusiastic crowd
you have the crowd
who are popularly
is that a word?
That isn't a word is it?
Popularly?
No.
Well they were promoting
Jesus as king
weren't they?
Zealously.
They were promoting Jesus
as the zealous king
as the messianic king
little children
laying down palm trees
adults taking off
their outer garments
and laying them before Jesus
so that it would be
a sacrificial
royal path
for Jesus to come
into the city of Jerusalem.
They were zealous
for his popularity
there were many
who wanted to make him king
we read that in John chapter 6
didn't we?
We're told that Jesus
there in chapter 6
had to escape the crowds
because right there
and right then
they wanted to proclaim him king
and John said
his hour had not yet come.
Your popularity
your desire for popularity
can be a great distraction
from the cross.
Secondly you'll notice
it's not just the crowds
it's the clergy
look at verse 19
if the crowd were frenzied
in their appreciation
of Jesus
then the clergy
are furious
and frustrated
look at what they say
to each other
in verse 19
you see that you are
gaining nothing
look the whole world
has gone after him
and of course
ultimately
the whole world
has gone after him
but here they are
they're complaining
aren't they?
They're saying
what is the use
of our good solid theology?
What is the use
of our religious office?
What is the use
of us being clergy
if no one is going
to follow us?
Just look at these people
look at them
unintelligently
irreligiously
following this
undrained rabbi
and they're frustrated
and they were
plot to kill him.
Here's a temptation
to be deterred
by the clergy.
Thirdly if you look
at verse 20
there is the distraction
of the curious
verse 20
with the crowds
the clergy
and the curious
well who are
these people?
Well they are
the very people
that Jesus said
the gospel was
to go to
the Greeks
the world
look at
he says in
John 10
verse 16
I have not just
come for the
lost sheep of Israel
but for the sheep
the lost sheep
of the whole world
he's bringing sheep
in from all the
folds of the world
and ultimately
we know that
the great commission
does bring those
people in
and here they come
here are the Greeks
they go to somebody
with a Greek name
Philip
one of the apostles
who understood
Greek culture
and they say
sir
we wish to see
Jesus
verse 21
or they want to
see him
and it would be
very tempting
for Jesus
to take his time
there
to have a kind of
Sunday school class
or an apologetic session
to gain international
popularity
and perhaps
these people
have got enough
wealth and income
to travel to
Jerusalem
perhaps
in their places
in Greece
and in Athens
they could promote
the name of Jesus
Christ internationally
and Jesus
is not distracted
but look at
verse 23
tells us secondly
that Jesus
would not
be distracted
from the cross
and it gives us
the reasons
now notice
in verse 23
Jesus' answer
to the Greeks
actually isn't
really an answer
is it?
to the question
of the Greeks
Philip and Andrew
come to him
and say
there are some
Greeks
that want to
see you
and Jesus
begins to talk
about dying
now what's
the connection?
what is going on?
well those of you
who know
John's gospel
and all
will know
that John's gospel
is a game
of two hearts
chapters 1
to 11
Jesus talks
about the
great signs
the great signs
that Jesus
has accomplished
he changed
the water
into wine
that's the first
one
he healed people
and there are
other signs
and then ultimately
in chapter 11
with the resurrection
of Lazarus
who's been in the
tomb for three
days
Lazarus comes out
at the word
of Jesus
and that is the
last great sign
of the first
11 chapters
and the signs
of Jesus
are followed
by the teachings
of Jesus
at every point
and then comes
chapters 12
to 21
the book
of glory
the book
of signs
and the book
of glory
and at the end
of the gospel
it's called
the book
of glory
why is that?
well it's because
the son of God
is what he's going
to accomplish
and he is going
to accomplish
the glory
of God
and the glory
of God
is intimately
intricately
tied up
with this concept
of the hour
the special hour
that would be coming
so in chapter 2
chapter 7
chapter 8
and in some
other places
Jesus makes it
clear
my hour
has not yet
come
he would not
be made a king
yet
because his hour
had not yet
come
chapter 7
and chapter 8
they try to address
Jesus
and they try to
seize him
but they're unable
to do it
why are they unable
to do it
John tells us
because his hour
had not yet come
but when we come
to chapter 12
Jesus tells us
the hour has now
come
the hour has now
come for the
glory of God
and what is the
glory says John
the glory is
the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ
and his resurrection
from the dead
and his ascension
into heaven
that is the glory
of God
and so everything
in Jesus' ministry
is leading
building towards
this day
furthermore
we've seen
Jesus' strategy
he's not just
to reach the Jews
he's not just
to reach the Israelites
and the church people
but he intends
to reach the
unchurch people
from all over the world
and when these
Greeks come to him
and say we would
see Jesus
here is effectively
Jesus' answer
he's saying
that unless you
understand the
crucifixion
you will never
see Jesus
unless you
understand the
crucifixion
you will never
really see him
and rather
than this
question of
the curious
being a
distraction
for Jesus
actually it
becomes a
great catalyst
for Jesus
it triggers him
to talk about
the very heart
of what he
came to do
and he says
you would see
Jesus
and he leads
them straight
to the cross
now brothers and sisters
this is so important
isn't it
because there are
so many people
this week
who will try
to understand
Jesus
unbelievably
without
understanding
the depth
of our
need
without
understanding
our own
sin
and without
understanding
the substitutionary
atonement
of Jesus
Christ
that is his
death on the
cross
as our
substitute
in our
place
and without
understanding
the depth
of our
need
and the glory
of what God
has done to
meet our need
in Christ
we cannot
possibly
see him
we cannot
possibly
understand him
we might have
many theories
about him
but it will
not be
the right
theory
from God's
perspective
without the
cross
and Jesus
wouldn't even
let
he would not
even let
his disciples
go out
to preach
he told them
to be quiet
didn't he
until they
understood
the resurrection
through the
cross of
Calvary
now
they are
ready to
preach
because they
have a
crucified
and risen
saviour
so it's
not just
moralistic
lessons about
when you're
in trouble
look at
this teaching
it's not
this teaching
if you want
to live a
good life
if you want
to set
a good
moral example
if you want
to have
social justice
and care
for the poor
all of which
is good
and true
and is right
but that is
not the heart
of the gospel
whatever you do
don't mistake
that
you won't
see him
you will
not understand
him
without the
cross
and certainly
you cannot
understand
the Christian
religion
without embracing
the cross
of Jesus
Christ
so when the
Greek comes
and the
world comes
and wants
to see
Jesus
he says
let me
tell you
about my
death
and he's
talking about
his death
he's going
to give you
five things
five reasons
why he will
not be
deterred
why he will
not be
distracted
from the
cross
why he's
eager
to go
to the
cross
so let's
listen to
Jesus
on Palm
Sunday
firstly
verses
23
to 26
the first
reason
why he will
not be
distracted
from the
cross
is because
the cross
glorifies
Jesus
Christ
the cross
glorifies
Jesus
Christ
the son
of God
the son
of man
it is in
the cross
that Jesus
finds his own
glory
you could say
that makes no sense
at all does it
when we put a man
to death
how is he glorified
well you can see
what Jesus
says about it
in verses
23
to 26
he says
it's like a grain
of wheat
if you hold a grain
of wheat
in your hand
in the air
what will happen
when it might blow
away but nothing
will happen
it will just be a
single seed
that's what it
will remain
but if you put
that single seed
into the ground
when that seed
dies
it will bear
fruit to many
there will be
many many
many more seeds
the death of the
seed brings about
many many seeds
and Jesus is
glorified by
laying down
his life
and so now
there are many
little Christs
that is what
a Christian is
Christianos means
little Christs
many little Christs
many Christs
that are harvested
for the kingdom
of God
but ultimately
Jesus finds his
glory in this one
thing he says it
over and over again
in John's gospel
he says I came
not to do my own
will but the
will of him
who sent me
I came not to
seek my own
glory but to
seek the glory
of the one
who sent me
you see Jesus
his whole life
is bound up
in submission
to the father
and he found
his glory in
submitting to the
father
and now we come
to the hour of
his greatest glory
here is the
spectacular display
of submission
to the father
he lays down
his life
in a painful
death on
Calvary's cross
for the sake
of his father
and for the sake
of his church
what a glory
to the son of man
no wonder
Christians gather
all over the
world today
to sing hymns
of praise to the
glory of Jesus
Christ
because of what
he's done on
Calvary's cross
it was the
essence of his
glory
and let me
tell you something
the essence of
your glory
as a little
Christ
as a Christian
is to what
is to take
up your cross
and following
him
as a supreme
act of submission
to the father
that you would
lay down your
life for him
out of love
that is your
glory as a
human being
and Jesus
saying that is
his glory
Jesus did
many many
things which we
give him glory
for
don't we
he turned
water into
wine
he took a
lame man for
38 years
and he said
rise up
take your
mat and walk
and the man
got up and
walked
he took a
man who'd
been born
blind
man who'd
never seen
the glory of
God's creation
and Jesus
gave him
sight
Jesus disturbed
funerals by
raising the
corpse
when Jesus'
friend is in
the tomb
for two days
he simply
says
Lazarus
come out
come forth
and Lazarus
comes out
and we
say glory
is Jesus
for that
but the
most glorious
thing that
Jesus ever
did was to
lay down his
life on the
cross of
Calvary
and look at
the life that
comes out of
that tomb
because he has
done that
the cross of
Calvary is
precious to
every believer
because it
glorifies the
son of man
but Jesus
doesn't stop
there does he
on Palm
Sunday
he says
verse 27
32
he said
it's not
just the
glory of
the son
of God
but it's
the glory
of the
father
and Jesus
himself says
it
he says
my soul
is troubled
on Palm
Sunday
long before
he gets
to Gethsemane
his soul
is disturbed
within him
like a
psalmist
said
the word
here is
exactly the
same as
Psalm 42
why are
you down
cast
on my
soul
why are
you
troubled
in my
soul
and Jesus
says
I am
troubled
what shall
I do
ask the
father to
save me
to rescue
me from
this hour
no he
says
this is
the very
purpose
for which
I came
to glorify
the father
so beautiful
isn't it
that as you
gaze upon
the cross
you gaze
upon the
glory of
the father
that is
what Jesus
came to
do
he came
and found
his glory
in the
cross
and he
found the
glory of
the father
in the
cross
you say
again
you may be
new here
and you
think
what is
going on
how can
the father
be glorified
by his
son being
slaughtered
on a
Roman cross
why would
the father
be pleased
with his
son dying
on the
cross
how on
earth does
that work
why
well here
is why
the apostles
of Jesus
explain it
to us
later in
the epistles
particularly
if you
look at
Romans
3
where Paul
says that
none of
us
none of
you can
earn your
way into
heaven
there's not
a person
here
even
Moses
can take
the law
and apply
it perfectly
to his
life
and thereby
achieve
admission
into heaven
he says
the law
of God
shuts
every
mouth
but then
he says
in Romans
3
21
now
a
righteousness
a justification
from God
is revealed
to us
and what
is that
righteousness
what is that
justification
it is the
admission that
we are
received into
heaven
simply by
putting our
trust in
Jesus Christ
who died for
us at
Calvary
and by
his shed
bled
we are
forgiven
our sins
and we
receive a
righteousness
from him
that is
acceptable
before God
Paul goes
on to explain
in verse 25
of Romans
3
here the
justice of
God is
satisfied
on the
one hand
and on the
other hand
the love
of God
is satisfied
God
loved
sinners
but how
in the
world
will he
get you
into
heaven
God
has already
said
surely
the soul
that sins
well it
shall
surely
die
God
has already
said the
wages of
sin is
death
how in
the world
can God
be a
just
judge
and also
allow you
and me
into heaven
well because
he sends
his only
son
to take
on human
flesh
to live a
perfect life
in our
place
and then to
die a
perfect death
in our
place
so that
the justice
of God
is truly
satisfied
in Jesus
Christ
that's the
reason why
John
gives
that God
is faithful
and just
and he
will forgive
us our
sins
that if
you've
trusted in
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
today
for God
not to
forgive your
sins would
be a
violation of
his justice
because the
sin has been
paid for by
the blood of
Jesus and
therefore it
is only just
that the
judge should
set us
free
because payment
has been
made
justice has
been completely
satisfied
and that is
what allows
him to
satisfy the
loins of
his love
for us
so that
when the
Lord Jesus
comes and
he willingly
lays down
his life
he is
exalting the
justice of
God
and he is
exalting the
love of
God
in a way
that never
has been
done and
never will
be done
but Jesus
goes on
look at
verse 31
it's not
just that
the son
of man
is glorified
and that
the father
is glorified
but he
will not
be distracted
because the
conviction of
the world
look at
verse 31
now is the
judgment of
the world
the judgment
of the world
all of this
world with all
its violence
and all its
pride and all
its greed and
all its social
injustices and
all its racism
and all its
pride and all
its immorality
all of it at
the cross is
completely judged
and condemned
so that in
due time
we his people
shall be
delivered from
it
though it
looks like
doesn't it
to the
uneducated
human eye
that the
greatest act
of injustice
is performed
against Jesus
Christ at the
cross
doesn't it
that the
most innocent
and most
beautiful man
that ever
lived
and here you
have the
political
authorities
the religious
authorities
putting him
to death
it looks like
the death
now for
justice
but what
Jesus is
teaching us
before he
goes to
the cross
the reason
he was
determined to
go to the
cross
he knows
that when
he goes
to that
cross
he shall
put to
death
all of the
injustices
in the world
and all the
sin privately
and socially
he shall put
it all to
death
at the cross
of Calvary
he has
cleansed the
world
we can say
that
we're
on our
way to
that day
of judgment
on that
day
now it's
just a
mopping up
operation
because of
the work
of Calvary
Jesus would
not be
deterred
from the
cross
no matter
what the
crowds
wanted him
to do
no matter
what the
clergy
wanted him
to do
no matter
what the
curious
wanted him
to do
he's going
straight
to the
cross
for the
sake
of the
world
that he
loves
notice
there's a
fourth thing
in verse
31
there's a
fourth reason
that because
of the
cross
Satan
is finally
defeated
do you see
that verse
31
the ruler
of this
world
is cast
out
you might
think
that's a
funny thing
isn't it
I see
Satan
and his
work
and his
pawprits
all over
the world
I see him
running free
but he is
not running
free
he's been
condemned
he's been
contained
he's on
a chain
I
granted
it's a
long
chain
he's
very
angry
the
bible
says
but the
reason
why the
devil
is very
angry
is because
his days
are numbered
his days
are numbered
and his
kingdom
has ended
his kingdom
ended when
the lord
jesus
christ
died on
the cross
at calvary
and once
again it
looks
doesn't it
to the
uninformed
human eye
that here
was a
triumph
on good
friday
the triumph
for all
evil
here was a
triumph for
evil religion
and evil
politics
because they
took the
one who
was proclaiming
the kingdom
of god
they stripped
him naked
they put
nails in
his hands
and nails
in his feet
and a sword
into his side
until he took
his last breath
and it looked
as though they
had conquered
him
and here is what
jesus is teaching
them
that this is one of the
great ironies of the
cosmos
that what happened
to be
what seemed to be
happening at the
cross was the
defeat of all
good and all
righteousness was
actually the
opposite
what happens
at the cross
according to
paul in
colossians 2
is that the
principalities
and the powers
were put up
to public
shame
and christ
triumphed over
them by the
cross
the cross
defeated all
of satan
and all his
legion of
demons
they were
destroyed
there and
then
and they
know when the
final day is
coming
and so they're
angry
cleaning up
operation is
just around
the corner
and when
jesus returns
that defeat
will be seen
jesus would
not be
deterred from
the cross
because he
knew that
when he
went to
the cross
he and
the devil
knew that
that was
the end
of the
kingdom
fifthly
what compelled
jesus to the
cross above
all things
was the
salvation of
his people
look at
verses 32
and 33
and when
i'm lifted
up from
the earth
will draw
all people
to myself
so again
you read
through john's
gospel and
the terms
keep coming
up
so lifted
up
john chapter
3
john chapter
8
was used
to describe
jesus being
lifted up
just as a
serpent was
lifted up
in the
wilderness
so i will
be lifted
up
this verse
should not
be we're
going to
lift jesus
up in
praise
no
he doesn't
mean lifted
up on the
final day
when his
throne will
be given
to him
and he
is exalted
no he's
talking about
being lifted
up on a
roman cross
and he's
saying the
reason i will
be lifted
up is
because it
will be
through the
cross and
the work
that is
accomplished
there to
provide the
forgiveness
for my
people's
sins
and then
people will
be drawn
to me
from all
over the
world
so the
Greeks
and the
Romans
and the
Asians
and the
Africans
and the
Australians
and the
Austrians
and people
from
Leighton
and from
every continent
and country
in the
world
will be
drawn to
jesus christ
because they
see that the
only answer
for the
evil that
is in
their hearts
and they
understand the
problem of
evil
the problem
of evil
is not
out there
it's in
here
they understand
finally the
solution
that god has
provided the
one and only
way by placing
his own son
to die the
perfect death
on our behalf
do you see
does this
make sense
i asked that
at the
lunchtime
talks
expecting the
answer to
come back
no
we're here
but there is a
sense
i think as you
understand the
gospel here
there's no
paradigm for
it
it is new
it is phenomenal
it's too hard to
believe without
help
and jesus goes
on to explain
that from the
middle of verse
36 to the
end of the
chapter
jesus explains
why it is that
people don't
believe
and it's
because it
seems like
disney world
it seems like
a fairy tale
something fantastic
even mythical
and yet what
jesus is saying
is this is
life
this is life
eternal
and when jesus
is raised up
on the cross
we are told
that people
from all over
the world
will effectively
be drawn to him
the word
drawn again
is used in
chapter 6
no one comes
to me unless
the father
draws him
the father
is in that
drawing
and here's
how he does
it
the father
raises his
son upon
the cross
and he
sets the
cross
before your
eyes
the spirit
of god
comes into
your heart
and effectively
draws you
to the cross
and because
you've come to
know your
need
and you've
humbled your
heart
and you've
confessed your
sins
and you've
asked jesus
christ to be
the provision
for you
before his
throne of
grace
and that
is what
we see
in this
text
there are
many
distractions
from the
cross
none of
which
jesus
allowed
in his
own
life
because
the
accomplishments
of the
cross
were too
great
the glory
of the
son of
man
the glory
of the
father
the condemnation
of the
fallen world
the destruction
of satan
and the
salvation
of his
people
and then
lastly
and really
quickly
we have
to see
in verses
34 to 6
that you
must allow
nothing to
distract you
from the
cross
you must
allow
nothing to
distract you
from the
cross
you can
see the
people jesus
was teaching
that day
they've got a
very significant
question of
name verse
34
they say
functionally
jesus
we've been
reading our
bibles
and the
torah
teaches us
about the
messiah
in several
places
and we are
told that the
messiah will
reign forever
and ever
and we know
this to be
true
because one
of the
most famous
passages in
the bible
is isaiah
9 6
until you
a child
is born
until your
son is
given
until you
a child
is born
and he
will reign
over
david's
throne
forever
there'll
be no
end
so please
tell me
jesus
you claim
to be
the son
of man
and the
messiah
and yet
you're
telling us
you're
going to
die
isn't a
dead
messiah
an oxymoron
is it
it's like
fried ice
it's
completely
impossible
to accomplish
a dead
saviour
cannot exist
well you've
got to wait
to get the
answer to that
you need to
read on into
the epistles
but i do
want you to
notice
in verses
35 to 36
jesus
answer
these are
legitimate
intellectual
questions
but jesus
says let me
tell you what
the real
problem is
there is
light
jesus says
there is
light and i
bring it to
you and
there is
darkness in
which you
are naturally
born and
in which you
naturally
walk and
if you do
keep walking
in this
darkness
verse 35
you don't know
where you are
going and that
will mean you
are lost
jesus is
saying there
are two ways
to live
you can either
live by the
flashlight of
jesus gospel
on the path
of life and
it will keep
you on the
path or
you can live
here and
you can stumble
around in
darkness and
not know what
you are going
to hit and
when you hit
it have no
explanation for
it and so
without answering
the intellectual
question that
comes later
through the
apostles jesus
simply says
you've got the
light for a
while so let
me say
something to
all of you
you've been
in this room
for the last
30 minutes
you've had
the light
i'm telling
you about
jesus christ
and him
crucified
i'm telling
you that the
answer about
life itself
and that is
light
john speaks
of light and
darkness all
the way through
his gospel
here is the
light where is
the light it's
on the cross
and if you
want the
light
you've got
it in the
cross
jesus says
to these
people don't
waste your
time
please don't
leave this
building this
morning he
says to you
without receiving
the light
because you
do not know
how long
you'll have
it
he says
you've got
the light
now
act on it
here is the
light it is
jesus christ
crucified for
you receive
him and
then he says
not only
correctively but
be careful
not to waste
and squander
your opportunity
with the
light
he says if
you will walk
in the light
if you will
receive the
light of the
cross if you
will cease
trusting in
your own
merit to get
you to
heaven and
begin trusting
only in the
merit of
jesus christ
that has
already been
given for
you well if
you will do
that look at
verse 36 you
will become
children of
light what does
that mean
it means that
you never lose
the light
you are no
longer just
reflecting the
light no you
have jesus christ
in your life
and light is
coming out of
your life into
eternity every
single one of
us is going
to die unless
jesus comes back
in the next
little while
every one of
us is going
to die and
what is going
to happen to
your light
do you have
eternal light
in your life
what jesus is
saying is
this this is
the light
it is christ
crucified for
you
now take up
your cross
and follow
him and
walk in the
light of that
gospel and
so lift up the
cross and
proclaim it
everywhere
proclaim it
everywhere that
our friends and
our neighbours and
people from all
around the world
may have the
only answer to
death and
sin and
destruction and
darkness
because that is
the reason jesus
could not be
deterred and
distracted and
i pray to god
that it will be
the reason that
you will never be
distracted from
the cross either
let's pray
if any of those
any of those