Sunday
Morning Bible Study
May
14, 2017
Introduction
Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the
person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it
build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church
loved? Regular: 2900 words Communion: 2500 words Video=75wpm
Luke was a doctor and a traveling companion
of the apostle Paul.
He wrote this book while Paul was
in prison.
In writing this book about Jesus,
Luke made use of other older documents like the Gospel of Mark, as well as
extensive eyewitness accounts.
Jesus’ ministry is well under way,
and the people have been amazed not just at the things He’s been teaching, but
the things He’s been doing.
We are now at the end of Jesus’ ministry.
Jesus is on His way to be crucified.
Luke has reminded us of what Jesus’ main purpose was in life:
(Luke 19:10 NKJV) for the Son
of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
We saw Jesus arrive in Jerusalem on the previous Sunday, Palm Sunday, to
the shouts of an adoring crowd, crying “Hosanna”.
We are now on Thursday night, the night of the Last Supper.
After an evening of celebrating the Passover, Jesus has taken His disciples
back to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus has been spending the night in prayer.
22:47-53 Judas Betrays
:47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to
kiss Him.
:48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a
kiss?”
speaking – laleo
– to utter a voice or emit a sound; to speak
:47 Judas, one of the twelve
Luke reminds us of Judas’
relationship with Jesus.
He was part of the inner
circle. He was close to Jesus.
:47 drew near to Jesus to kiss Him
drew near – eggizo
– to bring near, to join one thing to another; to draw or come near to, to
approach
to kiss – phileo
– to love; to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend; to show
signs of love; to kiss
Lesson
Betrayal
Earlier in the evening, Judas given the priests a way of identifying Jesus
from the disciples.
(Matthew 26:48
NKJV) Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss,
He is the One; seize Him.”
What an ironic way of betraying someone, even handing them over to be tried
and crucified.
He did it with a kiss, a long-recognized symbol of affection.
Solomon wrote,
(Proverbs
27:6 NKJV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the
kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Some of you know what it is to be betrayed by someone that you have cared
about.
Jesus knows exactly what you’ve been through.
When you’ve been betrayed like this, be careful that you don’t fall into
the trap of thinking that everyone who gets close to you will betray you.
Jesus had eleven other disciples who didn’t betray Him.
We all need loving connection with others.
There are no Lone Rangers in God’s kingdom.
God designed you with a need to love and be loved.
Be careful about shutting everyone out.
kiss – philema
– a kiss; the kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal affection, Christians
were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith
betraying – paradidomi
– to give into the hands (of another)to give over into (one’s) power or use;
to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged,
tormented, put to death; to deliver up treacherously; by betrayal to cause one
to be taken
:48 are you betraying the Son of
Man with a kiss?
Why did Judas betray Jesus?
Over the years, various movies have
tried to soften Judas, some making it sound as if Judas was just trying to help
the high priests and Jesus get along, maybe having them learn to sit down and
talk about things.
Then why did Judas bring soldiers
with him?
Some have made it sound as if Judas
was trying to force Jesus to take control of things, forcing Him to rise up
against the earthly powers.
The Bible gives us one of Judas’
motivations:
(Matthew 26:14–16 NKJV) —14 Then one
of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?”
And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
He did it for
money.
:49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him,
“Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
:49 shall we strike with the sword?
strike – patasso
– to stroke, smite: with the sword, to afflict, to visit with evils, etc.
as with a deadly disease; to smite down, cut down, to kill, slay
sword – machaira
– a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh; a small
sword, as distinguished from a large sword
Just a few hours ago, Jesus had said they should have some swords with them
(Luke 22:36-38), so someone is wondering if this would be a good time to use
them.
Perhaps they were wondering if things would turn out like this…
(Luke 22:36–38 NKJV) —36 Then He
said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and
likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy
one. 37 For I say to you that this which is
written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the
transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” 38
So they said, “Lord, look, here are two
swords.” And He said to them,
“It is enough.”
:50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his
right ear.
:50 one of them struck the servant
struck – patasso
– to stroke, smite: with the sword, to afflict, to visit with evils, etc.
as with a deadly disease; to smite down, cut down, to kill, slay
Luke is kind enough to keep the swordsman’s name out of it, but John wasn’t
so kind.
(John 18:10 NKJV) Then Simon
Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut
off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Peter seems to have taken Jesus’ words about a sword to mean that he should
start swinging it the first chance he got.
Perhaps he wanted to show single-handedly that he would rescue Jesus.
:50 cut off his right ear
cut off – aphaireo
– to take from, take away, remove, carry off; to cut off
From all my years of watching TV crime dramas, this means one of two
things:
1. Peter was left handed.
2. Or, Peter struck the servant from behind.
:51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear
and healed him.
Permit – eao –
to allow, permit, let; to allow one to do as he wishes, not to restrain, to let
alone
:51 He touched his ear and healed him
touched – haptomai
– to fasten one’s self to, adhere to, cling to; to touch
healed – iaomai
– to cure, heal; to make whole
The last miracle Jesus performed before His resurrection was to correct a
blunder from one of His disciples.
:52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the
elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with
swords and clubs?
captains – strategos
– the commander of an army
robber – lestes
– a robber, plunderer, freebooter, brigand
come out – exerchomai
– to go or come forth of
swords – machaira
– a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh; a small
sword, as distinguished from a large sword
clubs – xulon
– wood; a cudgel, stick, staff
:53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me.
But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
seize – ekteino
– to stretch out, stretch forth; over, towards, against one
This is the same word that was used
to describe Jesus praying in the Garden.
(Luke 22:44 NKJV) And being
in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great
drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Here, “seize” is translated
literally, “stretch out the hand”
power – exousia
– power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; physical and mental
power; the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and
commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
darkness – skotos
– darkness; metaph. of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties,
and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent
misery in hell; persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway
:52 chief priests, captains of
the temple, and the elders
The crowd that showed up to arrest
Jesus was made up of some very important people.
:52 I was with you daily in the temple
Jesus is pointing out the cowardice of the Jewish leaders.
Jesus had been adored by the crowds, and the leaders were afraid that if
Jesus was arrested publicly, they would be in trouble.
:52 this is your hour, and the power of darkness
This was “Satan’s hour”.
Satan was thrilled that the Son of God was being arrested and would now
likely die.
What Satan doesn’t seem to realize is that Jesus’ death and resurrection
have been part of God’s plan all along to save mankind.
Jesus would die for our sins so we could come into a relationship with God.
The Jewish leaders hadn’t arrested
Jesus earlier in the Temple for two reasons:
1. They were cowards.
They were afraid of the crowds that
Jesus had been drawing. They wanted the
arrest to be done secretly. Judas was
happy to accommodate them in this way:
(Luke 22:6 NKJV) So he
promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the
multitude.
2. It wasn’t time yet.
God was in control of the last
week’s events.
Jesus wouldn’t die until it was
time for Him to die, and that time is now fast approaching.
Jesus needed to
die as the Passover sacrifice, and that meant Friday.
Now it was the time for “darkness”
to seem to get the upper hand, but only in so much as it figured into God’s
plans.
Satan must have thought he was
winning at the moment, but Satan’s defeat was already being lined up.
(Colossians 2:13–15 NLT) —13 You were
dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away.
Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away
by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this
way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly
by his victory over them on the cross.
Jesus would win
over Satan’s plans by dying for our sins, and rising from the dead.
22:54-62 Peter Denies
:54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high
priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.
arrested – sullambano
(“with” + “receive”) – to seize, take: one as prisoner
led – ago –
to lead, take with one
:54 brought Him into the high priest’s house
brought – eisago
– to lead in; to bring in, the place into which not being expressly stated
In Jerusalem, there is a site known as the “Church of Saint Peter in
Gallicantu” (the church of the rooster’s crow)
It is also called “Caiaphas’ House” (we should be visiting it in November)
The site was mentioned in the diary
of a fourth century Christian pilgrim. There was a Byzantine church built here in 457 AD, destroyed by the
Muslims, and rebuilt by the Crusaders. The modern church on the site was built
in 1931.
The church is built on top of the ruins of a large 1st century
house, and there are several reasons to believe it could possibly be the house
of the high priest.
I’m going to take you below the level of the church, down to the 1st
century house…
:54 Peter followed at a distance
Peter had followed the crowd that had come to arrest Jesus.
He just doesn’t follow too closely.
:55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat
down together, Peter sat among them.
kindled – hapto
– to fasten to, adhere to; to fasten fire to a thing, kindle, set of fire
fire – pur –
fire
courtyard – aule
– the uncovered courtyard of the house.
The dwellings of the higher classes
usually had two, one exterior, between the door and the street; the other interior,
surrounded by the buildings of the dwelling itself. That’s the courtyard
mentioned here.
sat down together – sugkathizo
– to cause to sit down together, place together; to sit down together
:55 Peter sat among them
Upper class homes were built in a square, with an open courtyard in the
middle.
Peter made it past the gates to Caiaphas’ property and sat down with others
at the fire.
:56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked
intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
seeing – horao
– to see with the eyes; to see with the mind, to perceive, know
servant girl – paidiske
– a young girl; a maid-servant, a young female slave
Emphasis on “young”.
fire – phos
– light; fire because it is light and sheds light
looked intently – atenizo
– to fix the eyes on, gaze upon
:56 a certain servant girl
The words Luke uses indicates that this servant girl was quite young.
She recognizes Peter as having been one of Jesus’ disciples. Perhaps she has seen them in the Temple. Perhaps she was related to or knew Malchus,
the guy with the severed ear.
:57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
:57 he denied Him
denied – arneomai
– to deny
Here’s the first denial.
Mark gives us another detail about Jesus’ earlier warning …
(Mark 14:30 NKJV) Jesus said
to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the
rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
Mark tells us that with Peter’s first denial …
(Mark 14:68 NKJV) But he denied
it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went
out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.
You might think that Peter would pay attention to this first rooster
crowing and change his behavior. He
doesn’t.
Woman – gune
– a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow
know – oida
– to see; to know
:58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of
them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
a little while – brachus
– short, small, little; of time, a short time, for a little while
said – phemi
– to make known one’s thoughts, to declare; to say
Man – anthropos
– a human being, whether male or female; indefinitely, someone, a man, one
:58 Man, I am not!
A second person confronts Peter,
this time it’s a man.
Peter again denies that he is a follower of Jesus.
:59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed,
saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”
had passed – diistemi
– to place separately, put asunder, disjoin; to stand apart, to part,
depart
confidently affirmed – diischurizomai
(“through” + “strong”) – to lean upon; to affirm stoutly, assert
confidently
Surely – aletheia
– truth
Galilean – Galilaios
– a native of Galilee
:60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately,
while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
:60 Man, I do not know what you are saying!
Man – anthropos
– a human being, whether male or female; indefinitely, someone, a man, one
know – oida
– to see; to know
It’s been about an hour since the
last confrontation, but once again someone wonders if Peter is one of the
disciples.
Peter’s speech gave him away.
Galileans spoke with a distinct accent (Mat. 26:73)
(Matthew 26:73 NKJV) —73 And a
little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are
one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
Peter denies for the third time that he doesn’t know Jesus.
:60 Immediately … the rooster crowed
immediately – parachrema
– immediately, forthwith, instantly
crowed – phoneo
– to sound, emit a sound, to speak; of a cock: to crow
rooster – alektor
– a cock, or male of any bird, a rooster
Peter hasn’t even finished speaking when he’s interrupted by the second
rooster crowing.
Lesson
The Road to Denial
There were some warning signs on the road that led to Peter denying Jesus.
Overconfidence
You see it in Peter’s response when Jesus warned Peter about his upcoming
failure. He said,
(Matthew
26:33 NKJV) … “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be
made to stumble.”
You see it again when Peter decides he will takes up the sword and single-handedly
defend Jesus.
Yet Jesus shut
Peter’s efforts down
(Matthew 26:52 NKJV) But
Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword
will perish by the sword.
You’re in a dangerous place if you think you will never be the one who
stumbles.
Illustration
Test at Duke
This was taken out of Duke University’s Staff newsletter.
At Duke University, there were four sophomores taking
Organic Chemistry. They did so well on all the quizzes, midterms and labs,
etc., that each had an “A” so far for the semester. These four friends were so
confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to go up to University
of Virginia and party with some friends up there. They had a great time.
However, after all the partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn’t make it
back to Duke until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then,
they decided to find their professor after the final and explain to him why
they missed it. They explained that they had gone to UVA for the weekend with
the plan to come to study, but, unfortunately, they had a flat tire on the way
back, didn’t have a spare, and couldn’t get help for a long time. As a result,
they missed the final. The Professor thought it over and then agreed they could
make up the final the following day. The guys were elated and relieved. They
studied that night and went in the next day at the time the professor had told
them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet,
and told them to begin. They looked at the first problem, worth 5 points. It
was something simple about free radical formation. “Cool,” they thought at the
same time, each one in his separate room, “this is going to be easy.” Each
finished the problem and then turned the page. On the second page was written:
(For 95 points): Which tire?
Overconfidence leads to failure.
(Proverbs
16:18 NKJV) Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Distance
As Jesus was led off for trial, Peter still followed Jesus, but he followed
at a distance.
It’s a question that gets asked all the time:
How far can I go with this thing I’m doing and still be a
Christian?
That’s the wrong question.
We shouldn’t be asking how far we can get from the Lord.
We should be asking ourselves how close we can get to the
Lord.
Wrong fire
Peter was warming himself at the enemy’s fire.
I think it’s a metaphor for the things we allow into our lives that provide
a type of “warmth”, comfort, or pleasure.
When you’re going through a difficult night like Peter was, you can find
yourself seeking certain things to give you comfort.
Addicts call this “self-medicating”.
We can self-medicate with all sorts of things. Which do
you think is healthiest?
Drugs, alcohol, sex.
Movies, TV, Internet.
Prayer, Scripture, Fellowship (call a friend).
What kinds of “fires” do you warm yourself at on a cold,
dark night?
Ignoring warnings
Peter ignored the warnings.
According to Mark’s account, there was that first rooster that crowed.
That should have gotten Peter’s attention, but he just blows right past it.
Illustration
A priest and a pastor from two local churches are standing
by the road, pounding a sign into the ground, that reads:
The End is Near! Turn Yourself Around Now Before It’s Too
Late!
As a car sped past them, the driver yelled, “Leave us
alone, you religious nuts!” From the curve they heard screeching tires and a
big splash. The priest turns to the pastor and asks, “Do you think the sign
should just say ‘Bridge Out’?”
Paul wrote,
(1 Corinthians
10:13 NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it.
I have to admit that when I’m facing a temptation, there is
usually some kind of obvious opportunity for me to take that way of escape.
It might be a simple thought that this is not a good idea.
Perhaps it will be a phone call that interrupts me. Or a
rooster.
What do I do when I’m warned?
:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word
of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny
Me three times.”
turned – strepho
– to turn, turn around
remembered – hupomimnesko
– to cause one to remember, bring to remembrance, recall to mind
It’s not just the simple word for
“remember” (mimnesko), but the prefix
intensifies it.
It all came back to Peter only all
too clearly.
will deny – aparneomai
– to deny; to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with
someone
In contrast, Jesus said that if we
want to follow Him,
(Matthew 16:24 NKJV) —24 Then Jesus
said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
:61 the Lord turned and looked at Peter
looked – emblepo
– to turn one’s eyes on; look at
I imagine that this was the worst part of the whole evening for Peter.
Their eyes locked on each other and
Peter knew
that Jesus knew
that Peter had denied Him.
:62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.
went – exerchomai
– to go or come forth of
out – exo –
without, out of doors
Peter leaves Caiaphas’ courtyard
wept – klaio
– to mourn, weep, lament
bitterly – pikros
– bitterly; metaph. with poignant grief
:62 Peter went out and wept bitterly
Lesson
It ain’t over
Both Judas and Peter blew it that night.
It was over for Judas.
Judas will go out and hang himself very shortly.
That’s part of the horrible consequences of suicide – there’s no chance to see
things turn around.
When a person contemplates suicide, they forget that their present pain
isn’t going to last for the rest of their life.
Things will change if you give them time.
As much pain as Judas must have felt, think about Peter’s pain.
Judas’ betrayal had been kept secret by Jesus.
Peter was the one that Jesus had pointed out as denying Him.
And then Peter went and did that very thing.
Jesus would send word to Peter after the resurrection. An angel appeared to the women explaining
that Jesus had rose from the dead, and…
(Mark 16:7 NKJV) But go, tell
His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you
will see Him, as He said to you.”
Of all the disciples, Jesus made a point of mentioning
Peter. Peter needed to hear that it
wasn’t over.
When the disciples went to Galilee after the resurrection, Jesus showed up
and they had a fish breakfast on the beach by the Sea of Galilee.
(John 21:15 NKJV) So when they
had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do
you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to
him, “Feed My lambs.”
Three times Jesus would ask Peter about loving Him.
What was Jesus doing?
Jesus wasn’t trying to make subtle insinuations about Peter’s three
denials. Jesus was restoring Peter, reminding him that He knew Peter loved Him,
and that Jesus still had things for Peter to do.
Earlier Jesus had told Peter there was something he should do after he
failed,
(Luke 22:32 NKJV) But I have
prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me,
strengthen your brethren.”
Peter needed to get back to doing what he was supposed to
do, set the example, and take care of the flock.
Video: Cute Lil’ Baby Ducks Jumping
off a Dock
A word for Moms on Mother’s Day – Don’t forget you set the
example for the little ones behind you.
Show your little ones how to take those important leaps of faith.
Show them how to jump into grace.
If you feel like you’ve let God down, I’ve got news for you.
It ain’t over.
To get through this dark time, you too need to turn back
to God, and let God work in your life.
Set an example for others.
(Psalm
30:5b NKJV) …Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.