Thank you, Treg. If you would, please take your Bibles and open them up to the Gospel according to John.
And we're going to be in chapter 16 this morning, verses 16 through 33, through the end of the chapter.
And I'll remind you, just for the sake of context, that we're continuing our series here in John's Gospel,
and we are in the moments leading up to the cross and the upper room discourse,
as we're functioning like flies on the wall listening in to some of Jesus' last words to his disciples.
So John chapter 16, verses 16 through 33, when you found that in your Bibles,
I ask that, would you please stand for the reading of God's Word and follow along with me as I read?
Jesus says, a little while and you will see me no longer.
And again a little while and you will see me.
So some of his disciples said to one another, what is this that he says to us?
A little while and you will not see me.
And again a little while and you will see me.
And because I am going to the Father.
So they were saying, what does he mean by a little while?
We do not know what he's talking about.
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him.
So he said to them, is this what you are asking yourselves?
What I meant by saying a little while and you will not see me.
And again a little while and you will see me.
Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.
You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come.
But when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again.
And your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you.
In that day you will ask nothing of me.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Until now you have asked nothing in my name.
Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
I have said these things to you in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech,
but will tell you plainly about the Father.
In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
For the Father himself loves you,
because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world,
and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.
His disciples said,
Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech.
Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you.
This is why we believe that you came from God.
Jesus answered them,
Do you now believe?
Behold, the hour is coming.
Indeed it has come,
when you will be scattered, each to his own home,
and will leave me alone.
Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation,
but take heart,
I have overcome the world.
This is God's holy, inspired word.
Please be seated as we pray.
Lord, would you take these words and implant them in our hearts
with faith and joy in believing.
We pray in Christ's name.
Amen.
I'll ask you a probably strange question as we begin.
Do you treat the gospel more like tap water
or like a stream of water in the desert?
Do you treat the gospel more like tap water
or like a stream in the desert?
I had this image in my mind this week.
I spoke with some missionary friends
who are serving in the deserts of North Africa.
Very hot, hostile, humid territory.
They are bringing the gospel to unreached people groups
there in the deserts of North Africa,
scattered throughout that harsh terrain.
I just want you to get in your mind this morning
the image of a desert.
It is hot.
Temperature is hotter than we could possibly imagine.
It's dry.
It's dusty.
It's difficult terrain.
But imagine that right there in the middle
of that hot, dry desert
is a flowing stream of water.
And of course we know that that water is so precious.
It's so important.
It's life-giving for the area.
But I just want to think for a moment
about all of the benefits
that that flowing stream of water might provide.
Of course it provides hydration.
And I would imagine that men and women
would travel for miles
throughout all that harsh, dry desert
in order to come and drink from this flowing stream.
It would provide nourishment.
It provides strength for the crops
that would grow up around the area
which would in turn provide food
for the people nearby.
It gives life to the animals
that live in the desert.
They drink from the water
and then they in turn provide strength for labor
for those who live nearby.
They would provide meat to eat.
The stream is a place to wash and to clean.
If you lived in this harsh, dry desert
you would be well acquainted with the benefit,
all the many benefits
that this flowing stream of water might provide.
You would spend time here often drinking
and washing and benefiting from this stream of water.
Now, compare that to water from the tap.
Of course we know that water is important,
but let's be honest,
when is the last time you got excited
about water from the tap?
We drink it because we know that it's good for us,
but we hardly think about it.
We turn on the tap, the water comes out,
we know we need it,
but most of the time it is an afterthought.
Church, sadly,
far too often,
this is how we tend to think about the gospel.
We know that it's good,
right?
We know that it's life-giving for us,
we know that we need it,
but we are so slow
to fully grasp the depth
of what Christ has done for us
in his life,
his death,
his resurrection.
What I want us to see this morning
is that the gospel of Jesus Christ
is a life-giving stream
of spiritual benefits
to all who come and drink.
So this morning,
what I want us to do
with God's help
from John chapter 16
is I want us to see
just three life-giving benefits
of what Jesus has done.
Just three this morning.
Three life-giving benefits
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
so that you and I
might more fully enjoy this gospel,
the gift of life
that God has given us in Christ.
Three life-giving benefits
benefits of what Jesus has done.
Benefit number one,
permanent joy.
Permanent joy.
Look there with me
to our passage
starting in verse 16.
Jesus is trying to explain
to his disciples
what is about to happen.
You remember again,
this conversation is happening
on the eve of his crucifixion.
And so he tells them,
in a little while,
you will see me no longer.
And again,
in a little while,
you will see me.
And I don't think
it's too hard for us
to understand
that he's talking about
his death
and then his resurrection.
In just a matter of hours,
he will be betrayed,
he will be hung on a cross,
and he will die.
And the disciples in the room
who see him right now
will no longer see him.
They won't see him anymore.
But he assures them,
again in a little while,
after I have died,
after I have been laid in a tomb,
you will see me.
He's speaking about
his miraculous resurrection.
Well, again, as usual,
the disciples don't understand
what he's talking about.
What is this that he says to us?
A little while,
and you will not see me.
And again, a little while,
and you will see me.
And because I'm going to the Father,
what does he mean by a little while?
I love this in verse 18,
at least they're being honest.
They say,
we don't know
what he's talking about.
And Jesus, of course,
knew that they were having
some issues with this,
and he knew what they wanted
to ask him,
and so he explained it to them
like this.
Look there to verse 20.
He said,
Truly, truly,
I say to you,
you will weep and lament,
but the world will rejoice.
You will be sorrowful,
but your sorrow
will turn into joy.
This is a promise
of a stunning reversal.
For a moment,
it will feel like all is lost.
For a moment,
it will feel like the world
has won,
but your sorrow
will turn into joy.
How can this be?
I know it's hard for us.
We know how the story ends.
So it's hard for us
to place ourselves
in the events of the cross
without thinking of the events
of the resurrection,
but I want us to try
just for a moment.
Try to place yourself
in the events of Good Friday
and the death of Jesus
without knowing
how this all pans out
in the end.
Your friend
and your teacher
is on a cross,
the man who has
revealed God to you
in more powerful
and tangible ways
than anything
you've ever experienced.
this man who has
made incredible promises
to you,
come to me
and be saved,
come to me
and drink freely
of my life.
I am the way,
the truth,
the life.
No one comes to the Father
except through me.
And then he's laid
to rest in a tomb
and you would wonder,
well,
has all of this
been for nothing?
Can we trust
his promises?
Has all of our hope
been a waste?
Is this all just in vain?
And then he dies,
he's laid in a tomb
and for three days,
those who are still
in their sin,
the world,
the unbelieving world
will rejoice
at the death
of the Son of God.
And for three days,
you will grieve
and you will mourn,
your heart will be
consumed with sorrow.
For three days,
you will question
whether all of this
has been in vain.
This sorrow
is very,
very real
for his disciples.
They are defeated.
You get a sense
of that defeat
on the road to Emmaus.
You know the story
from Luke chapter 24.
You have to love
Jesus' sense of humor
in this story.
Two of his disciples
are walking
on the road to Emmaus.
This is after Jesus
has been crucified
and Jesus risen
from the grave.
He comes
and he walks
with them
but it says
that their eyes
were kept
from recognizing him
and he asks them,
what are you guys
talking about?
And they said,
and when he asked them
this,
they stood still
and they looked sad
and they said,
are you the only one
around here
who hasn't heard
what's happened?
This man,
Jesus of Nazareth,
a man who was
a prophet mighty
indeed and word
before God
and all the people
and how our chief
priests and rulers
delivered him up
to be condemned
to death
and crucified him
but we had hoped
that he would be
the one to redeem
Israel.
You hear that?
We had hoped.
Do you hear the hopelessness
in their voice?
They were sorrowful.
They were defeated.
What do you think
their reaction was
when their eyes
were opened
to recognize
that this was
in fact
the risen Jesus
speaking with them?
That Jesus was now
back from the dead.
Jesus himself
showing himself
to them,
telling them
that all of this
that's happened
was according to plan.
All of this
was God's design.
Satan has not won.
The world has not won.
I have overcome
the world.
I have defeated
the grave.
All of my promises
are true
and trustworthy
and you can believe
my word
because I've risen
from the grave.
What do you think
they would feel
in that moment?
Their sorrow
would be swallowed
up by joy
at the resurrection
of Christ.
Jesus is promising
his disciples here
yes,
you will have sorrow.
Yes,
this will be hard
but when you see me again
you will have
unshakable
joy.
He compares it
to a woman
who's giving birth
to a child
and those who have
given birth
know what this is like.
When that hour comes
it's not easy,
it's painful,
it's scary,
it's a terrifying moment,
it's an anxious moment
and I just had to watch.
I wasn't the one
actually doing it
but for me
it was scary as well
and I can't imagine
what it was like for her
but all of that
pain and sorrow
is eclipsed
by joy
the moment
that you hold
that baby
in your arms.
It is not
that the pain
didn't happen.
It's that that
moment of pain
has now transformed
into a moment
of joy.
But for those
who know
the resurrected
Jesus
it's much more
than just
a moment,
isn't it?
Look at what he says.
He says,
you also
will have sorrow
now
but I will
see you again
and your hearts
will rejoice
and no one
will take
your joy
from you.
Did you hear that?
No one
will take
your joy
from you.
The resurrection
of Jesus
is an
ever-flowing
stream
of endless
permanent
glorious
joy
for all
who know him.
And unlike
anything else
that you might
enjoy
in this
life
in this
world
no one
can take
that joy
away
from those
who believe.
Not
sickness,
not sorrow,
not death,
not loss,
not pain,
not grief.
Why?
Because
Jesus
lives
and will
never die
again
and because
you by
faith
live in
him
forever.
What did we
just read
from Psalm
1611?
This promise
that in
your presence
in the
presence of
God
there is
fullness
of what?
What did
it say?
Fullness
of joy.
At your
right hand
are pleasures
for a little
while,
pleasures
forever
more.
This is
what Christ
has invited
you into
by what
he has
done
in the
gospel.
One of
my boys
brought home
prayer requests
this week
from friends.
I love
this,
y'all.
We sat
down to
pray at
the dinner
table
before we
ate and
he had a
bag where
each of his
friends had
filled out a
little slip
of paper
with something
to pray
for and
his plan
was just
to draw
one out
and pray
for whichever
one he drew
is so sweet.
And his
friend,
the request
that he had
was I guess
his grandfather
had recently
passed away
and so he
wanted prayer
that he would
not be lonely
in heaven.
Isn't that
sweet?
That he would
fit in
up there,
that he
wouldn't be
anxious,
that he
would have
friends.
I got
to explain
to them
that heaven
is not
like it
is down
here.
Here we
have sorrow,
here we
have grief,
here we
have that
social anxiety,
we want to
fit in,
we don't
want to
be lonely.
In the
presence of
the resurrected
Jesus,
there is no
sorrow,
there is no
loneliness,
there is no
grief,
there is no
loss,
there is no
pain,
there is
fullness
of joy
that can
never be
taken from
you who
believe.
Amen?
We have
entered in
to a
never ending
moment of
joy by
faith in
the resurrected
Christ.
That's the
status of
you,
Christian,
you who
believe.
We have
been
transformed
from a
moment of
sorrow with
no hope,
a moment of
hopelessness,
to a
moment of
joy.
Yes,
with its
challenges in
this world,
yes,
with its
sorrows in
this world,
but joy in
a resurrected
Savior that
can never be
taken away.
We have
entered in
to a
never ending
moment of
joy and
no one and
nothing can
take it away
from you.
Because Jesus
lives, we can
drink from that
stream of
resurrection joy,
not just in
eternity when we
get there,
but right
now.
Isn't that
glorious?
And we don't
have to wait
until heaven
to enjoy
what Christ
has done.
Our mission
and vision,
again, we
aim to
magnify the
glory of
God and
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ,
number one,
way number
one that we
aim to do
that.
What is it?
By enjoying
Him,
by enjoying
God.
Christians of
all people in
the world ought
to be marked
by unusual
joy.
Does that
describe you?
when people
talk about
members of
Seaweed Bay
Baptist Church,
one of the
things I want
them to see
and to say
about us is,
man, that's
the people
that enjoy
God.
That's a
joyful people.
They rejoice
in what Christ
has done
in the gospel.
And if that
doesn't describe
you, well,
Jesus tells us
one of the
ways that we
can tap into
that stream
of joy right
now is
through prayer.
Look there
with me to
verse 23,
through prayer.
Jesus says,
in that day
you will ask
nothing of
me.
Truly, truly,
I say to
you, whatever
you ask of
the Father in
my name,
He will give
it to you.
Until now,
you have asked
nothing in
my name.
Ask and
receive that
your joy may
be full.
You know,
we've been
talking this
year a lot
about prayer,
and it seems
like the Lord
isn't done
teaching us to
pray, is He?
We saw a few
weeks ago a
similar promise
from Psalm 37
verse 4.
It said,
delight yourself
in the Lord,
and He will
give you the
desires of
your heart.
Well, here,
Jesus says,
ask in my name
for my glory,
for my purposes,
and not for your
selfish agenda,
but for my
name's sake.
Ask in my name
and receive.
We can say
receive the
desires of your
heart.
And what's the
result of this
God honoring,
asking,
and receiving
in the hearts
of those who
believe?
Joy.
Ask and receive
that your joy
may be full.
You know,
one of the
purposes of
prayer for
believers,
one of the
aims that God
wants to work
in your heart
as you come
to Him and
ask and then
receive is
joy.
Here's the
point,
church.
God is far
more ready to
give us joy
than we are
to ask.
Christ has
purchased
permanent joy
for His
people in
the gospel.
There's a
river of
endless joy
available for
all who
believe,
but you and
I tend to
be satisfied
with drips
from the
tap.
Church,
are you
asking God
to move?
Are you
asking God
to save,
to redeem
those around
you who are
lost?
Are you
asking God
to replace
your sorrow
with His
joy?
Are you
asking?
The gospel
is the
source of
permanent
joy.
Not only
this,
benefit
number
two,
benefit
number
two of
what Christ
has done
in the
gospel,
paternal
love.
Permanent
joy,
and second,
benefit
number two,
paternal
love.
Look there
with me to
verse 25.
Jesus,
He says,
I've said
these things
to you
in figures
of speech.
The hour
is coming
when I
will no
longer
speak to
you
in figures
of speech,
but I
will tell
you
plainly
about
the
Father.
We saw
this last
week.
If you
remember,
again,
up to
this point,
Jesus
has been
sort of
veiled.
His purposes
have been
veiled.
His full
work and
full identity
has not
been entirely
clear to
His disciples,
but after
His resurrection,
what did
He promise?
He's
promised His
Spirit,
the Helper,
will come
and will
guide them
into all
the truth,
specifically,
the truth
about who
Christ is
and what
He's done
in the
gospel.
So for
these disciples,
the cross
will be
clarified for
them.
The resurrection
will be
clarified for
them.
The Old
Testament
promises
that are
fulfilled in
Christ will
be clarified
for them.
All their
questions about
why Jesus
had to
die,
why like
this,
why in
this way,
the gospel
message will
be clarified
for them.
Church,
one of the
greatest blessings
of the gospel
is that if
we want to
know about
God,
if we want
to learn
about who
He is,
how He
thinks about
His heart,
His character,
this is where
we look.
We look
to the
gospel.
If you
want to
judge for
yourself,
how well
do I
understand
God?
How well
do I
understand
His ways?
How well
do I
understand
His heart?
Ask
yourself,
how well
you
understand
the gospel?
The gospel
is God's
plan to
save sinners
through Jesus
Christ.
The Puritans,
I love to
read the
Puritans.
Most of the
people I
read are
old,
dead people
that are
much wiser
than me.
Sinclair
Ferguson,
he really
said it best,
he said that
the Puritans,
they often
treat the
gospel like
a diamond.
It's a
precious gospel
message.
They take it
and they
slowly,
very slowly,
sometimes painfully
slowly,
they turn it
and they look
at this gospel
message from
every angle
to see every
facet,
every reflection
of the glory
of God
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
They want to
examine every
little reflection,
every little
detail so they
can know
the heart
of God.
We ought
to do
this as
well.
As we
think on
what Jesus
has done,
we can see
with stunning
clarity the
character of
God on
display.
Think about
it with
me.
Do you
want to
see the
justice of
God?
Where else
can we
look but
on the
cross?
Where sin,
our sin,
not Christ's
sin,
our sin
was punished
on the
cross.
God judged
sin at the
cross of
Christ.
Do you
want to
see the
mercy of
God on
display?
Look to
the cross.
Where sinners
like you and
me are spared
the punishment
we deserve,
we are spared
from the
judgment of
God.
Do you
want to
see the
grace of
God on
display?
Look to
the cross.
Where Christ
himself died
in your
place to
take what
you've earned
so that you
can have
what he
earned.
Not by
our merit,
but by the
grace of
God.
See,
we can
turn that
diamond of
the gospel
every which
way we
want and
we can
see the
heart of
God.
But here
in our
passage,
Jesus draws
our attention
to one
particular
gloriously
bright shining
side of this
diamond.
Do you
see it?
It's the
love of
God on
display.
The love
of God
is seen
and extended
to sinners
in the
cross of
Jesus
Christ.
If you
want to
know the
love of
God,
where do
you look?
You look
to what
Christ has
done.
If you
ever wonder
whether God
is able
or willing
to love
a sinner
like you,
you look
to the
cross.
You look
to what
Jesus has
done.
We know
this verse,
John 3,
16,
for God
so loved
the world,
loved the
world that
he gave
his only
son,
that whoever
believes in
him should
not perish
but have
everlasting
life.
That's
gospel
love.
God
demonstrates
his own
love for
us and
that while
we were
still sinners,
Christ died
for us,
Romans 5,
8.
See what
kind of
love
has been
given to
us,
that we
should be
called
children of
God and
so we
are,
1 John
3,
1.
Paul tells
us nothing
will be able
to separate
us who
believe,
nothing will
be able
to separate
us from
the love
of God
in Christ
Jesus our
Lord,
Romans 8,
39.
We were
dead in
our trespasses
and sins
in which we
once walked
but God
being rich
in mercy
because of
the great
love with
which he
loved us
even when
we were
dead in
our
trespasses
made us
alive together
with Christ,
Ephesians
chapter 2.
All of
our salvation
from beginning
to end,
all of it
is a work
of divine
profound
love for
sinners.
Of course
this shatters
the idea
that God
is a God
of wrath
and Jesus
is a God
of love.
have you
ever heard
anybody
say that
to you?
Maybe
you've
ever
thought
that
yourself
that
God
the
Old
Testament
God
he's
the
wrathful
one
and
Jesus
over here
he's
the good
one
God
the father's
bad cop
Jesus
the son
is good
cop
Jesus
just has
to twist
God's
arm
to make
him
like
us
that
couldn't
be
further
from
the
truth
the
cross
of
Jesus
Christ
is
God's
plan
God's
plan
to
remove
the
fullness
of
God's
wrath
from
us
so
that
we
might
know
the
fullness
of
God's
love
for
us
in
Christ
and again
he gives
us another
incredible
lesson on
prayer
here
doesn't
he
that's
rooted
in the
love
of
God
look
there
to
verse
26
he
says
in
that
day
you
will
ask
in
my
name
and
I
do
not
say
to
you
that
I
will
ask
the
father
on
your
behalf
for
the
father
himself
loves
you
because
you
have
loved
me
and
have
believed
that
I
have
come
from
God
this
is
astounding
when we
understand
this
church
when
we
pray
you
heard
us
pray
this
morning
we
ask
in
Jesus
name
there's
no
other
way
for
us
to
pray
Jesus
is
the
mediator
between
God
and
man
it's
like
when
Moses
went
up
on
the
mountain
to
speak
with
God
only
Moses
out
of
all
the
people
of
Israel
he
served
as
mediator
between
God
and
the
people
if
the
people
had
something
they
wanted
to
bring
to
God
guess
who
they
went
to
Moses
he
was
the
man
they
said
go
tell
God
this
for
us
we
can't
go
up
there
and
likewise
when
God
wanted
to
deliver
his
word
to
the
people
how
did
he
do
it
through
his
mediator
through
Moses
well
this
is
a
bit
it's
a
shadow
it's
a
bit
like
the
priestly
work
of
Jesus
is
the
one
who
mediates
between
sinful
man
and
holy
God
he's
the
one
that
makes
it
possible
for
sinners
like
us
to
speak
to
a
holy
God
but
he
says
it's
even
better
than
what
Moses
did
on
the
mountain
because
you've
loved
me
because
you
believe
me
God
himself
loves
you
see
the
difference
here
because
of what
Jesus
has
done
you
and
I
are
invited
to
come
to
God
in
Christ
not
simply
as a
go
between
but
in
him
listen
to
this
church
we
are
invited
to
share
in
the
relational
love
that
has
existed
before
eternity
began
between
the
father
and
the
son
do
you
hear
that
not
as
an
unwelcome
third
wheel
but
in
the
full
acceptance
and love
of the
son
himself
that's
unthinkable
access
I'll give you another illustration
I'll see if this
helps clarify this for us
there is a
there's a pastor
who has influenced me
and
in profound
ways
I won't say his name right now
I don't know that that'd be
helpful
but this man's
writing
has influenced
me
his
preaching
has
influenced
me
he's not
perfect
of course he's not
he's human
but he's been a
major impact
on my life
he's shaped
my theology
my ministry
he's helped me see more
clearly the gospel
than just about anybody else
indirectly
I've never
never met him
never spoken with him
but he has
he's shaped me
and countless
thousands of others
in ways that he probably
won't even realize
until he gets to glory
well
interestingly enough
again I don't know him
I've never spoken to him
but over the past few years
I have gotten to know
his son
and listen
I have never once
over the past three years
that I've known the son
I've never once
asked him
anything
about the father
we talk almost
weekly over text
we talk exclusively
about basketball
that's it
but you've got to understand
that this man
his father
is a hero
of mine
and I could
in theory
I could at any time
I could text the son
and ask him
to bring to the father
a request
or a question
or a thank you
or some sort of message
from me
if I'm struggling
with a text
and preparing for a sermon
I could in theory
text the son
and ask him
to ask the father
hey can you help me out here
that sort of access
to one of my
theological heroes
is at all time
right there in my pocket
I'm two degrees removed
from one of my
my men that's shaped me
in profound ways
that's
I think pretty incredible
but what
Jesus
says
here in John 16
listen to this
is that what he
has worked up
in the gospel
is even
better
than that
you have
an even sweeter
access
to God the father
than that
yes your access
to the father
is through
the son
in the name
of the son
but church
you come to God
not just
through the son
but in
the son
as a son
God the father
sees
not just
the son
representing you
he sees the son
in you
and you
in him
do you see the difference
what a difference
that makes
praise
Jesus
we are not
two degrees
removed from God
the father
we are made
one with God
through faith
in Christ
that's what Jesus
has done
for all who love
him
and believe
in him
you see that
that qualification
there at the end
that love of the father
is offered to you
non-believer
if you would turn
from your sin
and trust
in Christ
you can enter
into the love
of the father
for all who love
the son
and believe
that he came
from God
if so
you can enjoy
one more benefit
here
of the work
of Christ
benefit number
three
persevering
peace
persevering
peace
Jesus says
in verse 28
I came from the father
and have come
into the world
and now
I am leaving
the world
and going
to the father
and the light bulbs
come on
all of a sudden
for the disciples
the disciples
finally get it
or so
so they thought
right
they said
ah
now you're speaking
to us plainly
and not using
figurative speech
now
now we know
that you
you know all things
do not need anyone
to question you
this is why
we believe
that you came
from God
and Jesus
he knows better
he calms down
their enthusiasm
just a bit
doesn't he
he says
do you now
believe
behold
the hour
is coming
indeed
it has come
when
you will all
be scattered
each
to his own
home
and will
leave me
alone
you think
you get it
you think
you understand
you think
you see me
for who I am
just
wait
and of course
this prediction
will
in just a few
short hours
prove
true
Mark's
gospel
shares
that in the
same
upper room
discourse
they
they take
the Lord's
supper
together
they
they sing
a hymn
together
and then
Jesus
looks around
to the men
in the room
and he says
you will all
fall away
for it is
written
I will strike
the shepherd
and the sheep
will be
scattered
and Peter
in typical
fashion
what does he
say
not me
Lord
I will
die
before I
deny
you
it can't
be me
how many
of us
would say
the same
thing
Jesus
is arrested
in Mark
14
verse 50
it simply
says
they all
left him
and fled
only Peter
and John
followed Jesus
after his
arrest
and of course
you know
the story
that Peter
stayed outside
the courtroom
door
and while
Jesus
was questioned
Peter
Peter was asked
three times
do you
know the
man
are you
his
disciple
didn't I
see you
with him
three
times
he had
the
opportunity
to claim
allegiance
to Jesus
and three
times
he denied
him
I don't
know him
I don't
know him
I don't
know the
man
Jesus'
words
here
this
promise
sadly
came true
the shepherd
was struck
and all
the sheep
were scattered
and you know
at the hour
of his death
on the cross
you know
only one
apostle
remained
you know
who it
was
John
the author
of this
gospel
account
and I
just want
to say
briefly
as an
aside
as we
prepare
in the
weeks
to come
to walk
with Jesus
towards the
cross
as we
hear from
the lips
of John
about his
brutal
beatings
about his
death
on the
cross
I want
you to
hear from
John's
perspective
as an
eyewitness
to the
sufferings
of Christ
I want
you to
place
yourself
there
and see
with
John's
eyes
that's
what
he wants
you to
do
he wants
you to
consider
the things
that have
been done
he wants
you to
consider
what Jesus
has done
he wants
you to
consider
what he's
seen
he wants
you to
consider
with him
the words
that were
spoken
and the
promises
that were
kept
in Christ
most of
them
gloriously
good
but this
this one
this promise
filled with
sorrow
you profess
to understand
but you
will all
leave me
alone
yet he
says in
verse 32
I am
not alone
for the
father
is with
me
I've
said
these
things
to you
that in
me
you may
have
peace
in the
world
you will
have
tribulation
but take
heart
I have
overcome
the
world
you know
wouldn't
you think
that this
would distress
the disciples
even more
he says
I've
said these
things to
you that
you might
have
peace
what does
he just
say
that you
will all
leave me
alone
I'm about
to die
and you're
going to be
scattered
to hear that
they're all
going to
fall away
and yet
Jesus says
I tell
you this
that you
might have
peace
why
it's peace
that comes
not from
their
righteousness
not from
their goodness
not from
their faithfulness
not from
their victory
but because
Jesus
has overcome
the world
he says
in this
world
you will
have
trouble
and probably
a lot
of it
is going
to come
from
you
but take
heart
believer
take
heart
unfaithful
disciple
take
heart
sinner
struggling
again
and again
cling
to me
trust
in me
because
I
have
overcome
the world
so you
in me
can be
at
peace
I
love
the quote
from Dodd
who says
it is part
of the
character
and genius
of the
church
that its
foundation
members
were
discredited
men
it owes
its existence
not to
their faith
their courage
or their
virtue
but to
what Christ
had done
with them
and this
they could
never
forget
see the
good news
of the
gospel
is that
the peace
that we're
offered
again
it's not
based on
our
goodness
but on
his
it's not
based on
our
righteousness
but on
his
it's not
based on
our
faithfulness
but on
his
it's not
based on
our
victory
but on
his
that's
the source
of a
believer's
peace
Christian
I wonder
what sort
of
trouble
you're
walking
through
right now
what sort
of
tribulation
you're
walking
through
in your
life
this
moment
I
don't
know
I
wonder
what sort
of
trial
is
right
around
the
corner
God
only
knows
I
want
to
encourage
you
this
morning
right
now
to
resolve
your
soul
to
lay
hold
of
the
peace
of
God
that
he
offers
you
freely
in
Christ
peace
that
is
not
in
the
absence
of
trials
but
peace
in
the
midst
of
the
trials
of
this
world
peace
unshakable
that's
purchased
for you
in the
death
and the
resurrection
of your
savior
who has
overcome
this
world
whatever
it may
be
Jesus
here
in our
passage
and in
the
weeks
to come
as he
walks
to the
cross
he
shows
us
what it
looks
like
to have
peace
in the
presence
of
God
of
course
Jesus
as
God
enjoys
perfect
fellowship
with
God
the
father
as
God
the
son
he
enjoys
the
perfect
unity
and
fellowship
and
love
with
God
the
father
that
he
had
before
the
ages
began
but
here
Jesus
as
man
shows
us
what it
means
to be
completely
satisfied
in
God
alone
in the
face
of
unthinkable
suffering
all
his
disciples
scattered
betrayed
with a
kiss
denied
three
times
nothing
but
trouble
lies
ahead
of
this
moment
but
Jesus
says
I
am
not
alone
and
the
father
is
with
me
and
church
what
about
us
I
wonder
where
you
turn
for
peace
when
you're
lonely
what's
your
peace
when
you're
sorrowful
when
you feel
abandoned
when
your life
is full
of trials
and
tribulations
what
do
you
turn
to
for
peace
is
it
the
fact
that
through
the
work
of
the
son
God
the
father
is
always
with
you
because
of
the
work
of
Jesus
you
and
I
as
believers
can
walk
through
anything
this
world
can
throw
at
us
and
be
at
peace
what
a
gift
do
you
have
the
peace
of
God
that
comes
from
having
peace
with
God
have
you
received
what
Jesus
has
done
for
you
by
faith
in
the
finished
work
of
Christ
are
you
drinking
freely
from
all
the
benefits
of
the
gospel
friend
you
are
invited
Christ
invites
you
now
and
again
and
again
and
again
to
this
ever
flowing
stream
of
benefits
in
the
gospel
of
Christ
until
he
comes
again
and
our
hearts
will
see
him
our
eyes
will
see
him
at
last
and
our
joy
will
be
complete
let's
pray
Lord
Jesus
we
thank
you
for
the
gospel
there's
no other
hope
for
sinners
but
your
righteousness
but
your
life
but
your
death
but
your
resurrection
from
the
grave
Jesus
we
thank
you
that
you
offer
eternal
life
to
any
who
come
to
you
in
faith
we
pray
Lord
that
believers
here
in the
room
that
we
would
continue
to
drink
freely
from
the
gospel
of
Christ
that
we
would
know
your
joy
that
we
would
know
the
father's
love
that
we
would
know
your
peace
and
God
we
pray
that
if
there
are
any
here
with
us
who
do
not
know
the
love
of
God
in
Christ
or
we
pray
that
you
would
transform
them
from
sorrow
to
everlasting
joy
by
faith
in
Jesus
we
pray
all
this
in
Jesus
name
amen