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VREC005.mp3|
박철한 목자님께서 4년 동안 충성되게 영어 예배 사회를 섬기시다가 첫 메시지를 전하게 하신 주님께 감사드립니다. 빌립 형제님이 창세기를 시작하였습니다. 꾸준히하여 창세기 말씀에 신앙의 기초를 잘 놓길 기도합니다. 케냐에 복의 근원 되길 기도합니다. John 18:1-11 "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" Today’s passage is about how to Jesus arrested and be tried. Jesus was arrested and inquired by immoral religious leaders. It seems that Jesus is so weak and powerless, even being a loser, however as sky darker and darker at night, the star shines more brightly and strongly, like this at the most hopeless moment, Jesus showed himself as the Son of God and Christ. and He revealed his power and authority. Jesus teaches us how to get spiritual victory, and how to follow the truth. May God help us to learn of these things. Today. Part one: Shall I not drink the cup (other title is "will you use sword or spirit?" ) Look at the verse 1. Jesus had the last supper with disciples at the upper room, Jesus prayed as we learn last week. After that he crossed the Kidron Valley. This place is also well known as Gethsemane. Jesus had often met with his disciples. It must have been a quiet place where they could pray, study bible and have loving relationship with Jesus. Judas knew this place well, Jesus could had escaped and might had gone other places but in order to follow God's will and to take the cross he came this place and waited Judas. According to the synoptic gospels, Jesus continued his prayer to God, saying, "Abba, Father," "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Jesus prayed until his sweat turning to blood, he prayed three times again and again. Through this sincere prayer and spiritual struggle, Jesus could deny himself and his nature finally he could obey to God and God's will. Jesus decided to take the cup of the cross. By this prayer, Jesus gained spiritual power to willing to take and endure all future's suffer and passion. Look at the verse three, Judas came with soldiers and officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapeons. We can know that there were the detachment of soldiers with its commander. It means that the number of soldiers is about 600. To Imagine this, nowaday this number of combat police move by 15 buses. They were afraid of Jesus and Jesus' miracle power so prepared 600 soldiers. When they came, the atmosphere turned lots of tension and brutal and imminent violence. Normal person should be tremble by fear. When I go to Kwangwha moon or city hall, I can see lots of battle police around there. Without any offense I feel tension and I want to pass the place as soon as possible. If 600 police came in front of me, I will can not breath well and can not even talk. However, how did Jesus show himself? verse 4, He knew all that was going to happen to him. He knew that he was going to be arrested and tried and be whipped and hanged on the cross and finally died. He knew all these things. If we were him, we must have step back and hesitated. but Jesus went out courageously and confront 600 soldiers alone, and asked them "who is it you want?" They replied "Jesus of Nazareth", Jesus said "I am he" What the soldiers reaction was then? Look at verse 6, When JESUS said "I am he" they drew back and fell to the ground. When Jesus showed himself with boldness and clarity, further more by the Jesus' spiritual authority, 600 soldiers drew back and fell to the ground. Even though they were lots of numbers and had powerful weapons, they became like dead men lying on the ground by the one word of Jesus. Jesus had authority over all people. Jesus could have crushed his arresters in an instant. Yet he did not. Jesus actively be arrested to fulfill God's purpose. In this critical moment, what was the most important for Jesus? When people meet difficulties, they normally have self centered mind so they can not have room to concern others in their mind. but Jesus was different. Look at verse, 7,8. After Jesus asked "who is it you want" again, then He said "If you are looking for me, then let these men go". Jesus concerned his disciple more than himself. Jesus tried to protect his disciples. This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled "I have not lost one of those you gave me". In this passage, we learn Jesus' love for his disciples. Jesus was the good shepherd who laid down his life to protect his sheep from the wolves. on the others side, what did Simon Peter do in this critical moment? At the moment, the soldiers tried to arrest Jesus, Peter's anger swallowed himself and he drew the sword and struck the high priest's servant. As we know his job was a fisher man, not a knight or ninza. He only cut off the servant's right ear. His attitude looks being a tough guy and seems to have courage. However, what hided in his inside? It was terror and fear. When he should had pray, he did not pray but just slept. When the arresters came, he resisted by only humanly strength. What did Jesus tell this Peter? verse 11, "Put your sword away!, Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" In this passage we can compare Jesus with Peter; to solve some problem, Jesus drank the father's cup, but Peter used the sword. Using sword represent the way of blood and flesh, Drinking Father's cup represent the God's way and the spiritual way. Using sword is using forces of arms, It seems to be strong, and it may solve problems as soon as possible and directly. On the other side, drinking cup I mean the Spiritual way is like acting passively and weak and even looks foolish. so It is not popular. People prefer using sword than drinking the cup. using sword seems to solve problems easily. When I was young, I was really small. I went to school one years earlier and my physical was really weak. I was weak and small, I dreamed becoming one of the actor in the movie. like Bruce Lee or super man who are really strong. Now they all died anyway. In the movie they have special power. When enemy border them, they stand first. but finally they show their power and ability. and defeat bad men and solve the problems and save his people. In the movie If super man or Bruce Lee died without using their power. No one watch the movie. and it would not be popular. Like this, people prefer the way of using sword. But In the real world it is different. the ways of using sword makes problem worse than before and finally It ruins people by sword itself. In Methew 26:52 Jesus said to Peter, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. This is true, the history have verified it. We know many heros who conquered the world by military power, such as Genghis Khan, Alexander, Caesar, Napoléon, and Adolf Hitler. Many People draw the sword and died out by sword. Someone who takes the power by sword surely fails by the sword itself. When we read old testament, especially the books of Kings, Northen Israel's history started by coup d'état and their kings changed and changed agin by coup d'état. and the kingdom was getting weak. People might ask "how can you stand if it is injust and unrighteous, shouldn't we fight?" yes right. we should fight against injustice and unrighteousness. but, the problem is that "how should we fight?" People think using sword is the certain way and fast way. They might say there are no ways, except using sword. However, sword calls another sword, so the problem never be solved. Do you know what American people most afraid? They afraid terror attack in their own country. It is irony, they have the most powerful soldiers in the world but they can not feel peace and safe. We should put our sword away, and follow God's method and God's way. Jesus said "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" The cup the Father has given is the cup of cross which is very bitter and suffering and obeying. Mathew 26:53 Jesus said『Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?』. One legions is six thousand armies. Jesus stoped the storm by one word. we know how strong the typoon was as we experienced last week. Jesus can stop the storm and typoon by one word. and He waked up Lazarus who already died. He is God. If Jesus could had used his own power, his enemies would have fall like bits of grass. However, if he had done like this, he could not fulfill God's will. Jesus drank the cup father had given him in order to complete fathers' will. In humanly view, Jesus arrested without any power. However, Jesus gained Spiritual triumph. Jesus complete salvation work and gained the victory on the cross. The reason we should not use our sword to solve our problem and we should drink the cup the father given, is because we believe God the Father almighty. We believe God is alive and He leads this world by his will and his sovereignty, also he leads our lives by his good purpose. When I read this passage without knowing spiritual meaning. I thought Jesus was really weak. but, after read it again and again. I realized how strong he is. and I realized that I am the person like Peter who using his own sword. Especially, sometimes I can not control my anger. I don't know where my anger is come from. When I have problem, rather than praying, I easily get angry. Normally I wanted to hit and break something. Maybe I wish to be strong enough physically to change the situation. By threatening others or just blow out my stress. I see this is my Sin problem, and how many times I have broken the relationship with others by using my own sword. The way Taking father's cup is fighting with spiritual way. In the spiritual battle, we have to accept ourselves as sinners and we should confess how we are weak in front of God. Then God will give us the power and the spirit to overcome our fear and sinful natures which is deep inside ourselves. and We can drink the cup the father have given us. We have to learn Spiritual way which is drinking father's cup rather then using our own sword. Part two : peter's denial I will tell about the Peter's story quickly. As Jesus prophesied, before the rooster crowed Peter denied three times Jesus. Peter believe himself too much and did not pray. Finally he failed and he realized how weak he was and he cried out. Through this story, I see how God's grace is deep and great. and how wonderful God's salvation is especially for us who serve God and serve worship service. Even though we say, we are Christians and We call Jesus as our Lord. How many times we denied Jesus and make shameful mistakes in our lives? Even though Jesus knew every things that Peter dined him and other disciples ran out, Jesus did not give up God's way and took the cross firmly. He believed only God and God's great love. Jesus did not blame Peter and his disciples, he covered all transgressions of his disciples. By this unfailing love, Peter repented and became one of the great church leader and finally died on the cross. We are all same like Peter. Just we are saved by his grace. I think It is amazing that I believe Jesus and his salvation. Whenever I believe Jesus and his eternal redemption, there is no failure. I have some sheep. We study bible almost once a month. Last year, we had one to one bible study once a week. but as time passes, the bible study was delaying oftenly. and I feel that my sheep has tried to escape from bible study with excuses. Finally, nowadays he doesn't answer my call. I did not know what should I do until preparing this message. As Jesus prayed and believed God. Even though his disciples ran out. I should believe God and his love more. This is spiritual battle. I might call again and again or tried to find him on the campus. but, I see what is more important. Important thing is the faith that God leads him and loves me and him. I realized how many times I work like Peter. I have worked without praying and Without spirit. Without believing God's good will and love. I repent this. I hope through my failure learn Jesus more and experience God's unfailing love more. I knew that my sheep did not have value for spiritual things. To be honest I do not know spiritual value until these days. I have asked many times to myself what I am doing? Why I am doing? and why I am here? In worldly view Everything useless and worthless. The decision that Jesus actively take the father's cup is one of the thing that I want to escape. I am the person who is not qualified to deliver this message. However, just small obedient God gives me Lot's of love and grace. I was the person who used to use my own sword to others and injure them. Now I see actually I was injured by my sword. I hope to learn Jesus more and his way that decide to drink the cup God given him. Rather then using my own strength, I hope to learn the way of following God's spirit. I hope you guys learn the way to follow God's spirit, rather then using your sword. one word : do not use sword but follow the Spirit. |
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