Faithlessness and Faithfulness

Faithlessness and Faithfulness (Jn 18)
Intro: He loved them unto the end
"The most meaningful day in the history of mankind, a day of drama, of tension, of horror" (J Beeke)

1. Jesus & the Disciples (1-27): Faithfulness & faithlessness (see 2Tim 2:13)
   a. Betrayed by Judas (v2-3)
   b. Forsaken by nine disciples (v15, cf Mt 26:56)
   c. Denied by Peter (v17,25-27)
   d. Disregarded by John (v16-23)

But we see Jesus protect his disciples (v8-9), drink the cup of suffering for them (v11), heal the wound Peter gave (Lk 22:51), & be condemned for their salvation (v14).

See Lk 22:32.

Application: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1Tim 1:15)
They were men just like us & needed forgiveness just like us. The church must always be the place where sinners come, where sinners find forgiveness.

See Acts 13:38. Can it be?

See Mk 2:17.

"Thus, in all the saints, something reprehensible is ever to be found; yet faith, though halting & imperfect, is still approved by God. There is, therefore, no reason why the faults we labor under should break us down, or dishearten us, provided we by faith go on in the race of our calling" (Calvin, on Heb 11:32).

2. Jesus & the World (28-40): "Not this Man, but Barabbas!" Barabbas was a "rebel" or "insurrectionist" rather than a "robber" (same spelling in the original, see Mk 15:7).

Application: Which will you have?
Barabbas was & is always a robber. Every day you take Barabbas, he robs you more. He's robbing you of God, of new heart & life, of peace of conscience, of eternal life. He's robbing you now. And he'll rob you right to the moment of death, & then beyond.