"What is Truth?"(John 18:28-40)

 John 18:28-40

 

In our age relativism and false news, it can be hard to know what truth is. We all have a desire to know what is true, but it can be elusive and hard to discern.

 

In this passage, Jesus is brought to the courthouse, but the Jewish leaders do not enter with him. We understand that the Jews would not enter a gentile place because they would be defiled. If they were defiled, they would not be able to perform the Passover rituals that year. This is one of the reasons the Jewish leaders and the disciples would not enter the Roman courthouse.

 

When asked what Jesus’ charge was, the Jewish leaders responded to Pilate with this answer.

 

They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”

John 18:30 ESV

 

Pilate tells the Jewish leaders to deal with Jesus themselves, but the leaders lie and say they do not have the authority to execute anyone. The Jews could stone their people to death, but they wanted Jesus cursed. A sure way to do this was to have a man hanged. The Jesus leaders knew that Jesus could be executed by crucifixion if he were an insurgent against the Romans.

 

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

John 18:31 ESV

 

Pilate is a little skeptical probably because Jesus does not look like the leader of an insurgency or a member of royalty. The Romans had established another family to be king over Palestine.

 

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

John 18:33 ESV

 

Jesus responds to Pilate's incredulous question by asking Pilate what his source is.

 

Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

John 18:34 ESV

 

Pilate admits that he has been given Jesus' by His nation and the chief priests.

 

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

John 18:35-36 ESV

 

Finally, in frustration or in mocking Pilate ask Jesus what truth is and then goes to ask the Jews if they want Jesus to be released. Pilate's question deserves an answer. The bible defines truth as the word of God.

 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 17:17 ESV

 

It is important to know the truth since it is vital to our life and freedom. However, instead of asking what truth is, it would be better to ask who truth is.

  

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 ESV

 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 ESV

 

We need to listen to Jesus to know the truth. We need to listen and conform to what we hear. It is not enough to just listen passively.

 

Let us strive for the truth that can only be found in Jesus and allow it to transform our lives.

I Love You Lord

Majesty

Mighty To Save

Blessed Be Your Name

"Be Fearless"(John 18:15-27)

John 18:15-27

Do you ever want to hide your belief in Jesus Christ as your savior? In South Korea, we have religious freedom and do not worry about persecution. In many other places in the world, Christians can be arrested for their beliefs, face physical violence, or endure other hardships for their beliefs. However, even in a country where we do not have to worry about persecution, many of us are shy to speak about our beliefs or try to cover up our Christian faith when we are not in the presence of other believers.

In John 18:15, we read that Peter and John followed Jesus to the trial after his betrayal from Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is nothing surprising about Peter following Jesus to the trial since he was a devout disciple of Jesus and had even stated that he would follow Jesus anywhere earlier in the gospels.

Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
John 13:37 ESV

Also, Peter was the only disciple who got out of the boat to walk on water towards Jesus. This took faith, devotion and bravery.

He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
Matthew 14:29 ESV

But Peter denies Jesus. He had been so confident in the past when he was around other disciples and Jesus were there to hear his boasts, yet a servant girl makes him scared. She asks a simple question while Peter was warming himself outside.
 
The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
John 18:17 ESV

Like Peter, we need to be aware of our over confidence in ourselves. Mature and strong Christians fall many times because of their arrogance. Peter would later write about this kind of trap in 1 Peter.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
 
We also read in this passage about Jesus' trial. Jesus stood completely within His rights and showed no fear during His trial. He asks for witnesses. Jesus' answers to the high priests show a confident man who is exercising His rights within the law.
 
Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.  Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”  Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
John 18:20‭-‬21‭, ‬23 ESV
 
The author purposely shows the difference between Jesus’ characters and Peter’s character in this passage through the parallel questioning. Interestingly Jesus denies nothing to His questioners although He is innocent. In fact, Jesus is fearless during his trial whereas Peter denies the truth and displays cowardice.

We know, as did Peter knew, that people who deny Jesus will not enter heaven. Peter displays many of the characteristics of people who will be denied entry into heaven as described in Revelations 21.
 
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32‭-‬33 ESV
 
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8 ESV
 
However, Jesus is interested in the heart of Peter as he is interested in our hearts. Yes, our actions do carry consequences as well as our words, but it is our heart, or our inner most desires, that God is concerned with.
 
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 ESV
 
Being a Christian is about the relationship we have with Jesus. It is not a legalistic religion that requires perfect obedience and rituals. Our relationship does need faith for that relationship to grow and be more genuine. We all need faith to please God and not to fail. The stronger your faith, the less fear you have. To remove fear, you need to grow your faith, and as your faith grows, so does your relationship with God. 
 
And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26 ESV
 
Jesus is not a legalistic god who does not know us intimately. Jesus does want a loving relationship with us. We do not need to be perfect to be loved by God. If we genuinely love God, He will allow us to grow and encourage us to be obedient. We just need to put our faith in God.

95 He Knows My Name

He Knows My Name 

CCLI Song # 2151368 Tommy Walker 

Verse 1   
I have a Maker  
He formed my heart  
Before even time began 
My life was in His hands   
  
Chorus  
He knows my name  
He knows my every thought  
He sees each tear that falls  
And He hears me when I call   
    
Verse 2   
I have a Father  
He calls me His own  
He'll never leave me  
No matter where I go    
     
Chorus    
He knows my name   
He knows my every thought   
He sees each tear that falls   
And He hears me when I call  
 
Chorus   
He knows my name  
He knows my every thought  
He sees each tear that falls   
And He hears me when I call    
(2X)   
    
He hears me when I call  

He Knows My Name 

나를 지으신 주님

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in His hands

나를 지으신 주님 내 안에 계셔

처음부터 내 삶은 그의 손에 있었죠

 

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call 

내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도

내 흐르는 눈물 그가 닦아 주셨죠

 

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He'll never leave me

No matter where I go

그는 내 아버지 난 그의 소유

내가 어딜 가든지 날 떠나지 않죠

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call 

내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도

아바라 부를 때 그가 들으시죠

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call 

내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도

내 흐르는 눈물 그가 닦아 주셨죠

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call 

내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도

아바라 부를 때 그가 들으시죠

He hears me when I call

그가 들으시죠

내 이름 아시죠 (나를 지으신 주님)

CCLI Song # 6344717 Tommy Walker

VERSE 1
나를 지으신 주님 내 안에 계셔
처음부터 내 삶은 그의 손에 있었죠
(REPEAT)

CHORUS 1
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
내 흐르는 눈물 그가 닦아 주셨죠

VERSE 2 
그는 내 아버지 난 그의 소유
내가 어딜 가든지 날 떠나지 않죠

CHORUS 2
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
아바라 부를 때 그가 들으시죠
(REPEAT)
 
VERSE 1
나를 지으신 주님 내 안에 계셔
처음부터 내 삶은 그의 손에 있었죠

VERSE 2 
그는 내 아버지 난 그의 소유
내가 어딜 가든지 날 떠나지 않죠

CHORUS 1
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
내 흐르는 눈물 그가 닦아 주셨죠

CHORUS 2
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
아바라 부를 때 그가 들으시죠

그가 들으시죠 

 

Verse 1
나를 지으신 주님 내 안에 계셔
처음부터 내 삶은 그의 손에 있었죠
 
Chorus 1
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
내 흐르는 눈물 그가 닦아 주셨죠
 
Verse 2
그는 내 아버지 난 그의 소유
내가 어딜 가든지 날 떠나지 않죠
 
Chorus 2
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
아바라 부를 때 그가 들으시죠
(Repeat)

Verse 2
그는 내 아버지 난 그의 소유
내가 어딜 가든지 날 떠나지 않죠
 
Chorus 2
내 이름 아시죠 내 모든 생각도
아바라 부를 때 그가 들으시죠
(Repeat)

"Who is Jesus to You"(John 18:1-14)

 

John 18:1-14

 The book of John is written in a story form. The disciple whom Jesus loves narrates the life of Jesus for us so we can have a better idea of who Jesus is. After reading John, we can know who Jesus is; however, we have to ask ourselves this question, "Who is Jesus to me?"  It is one thing to know who someone is, but it is another thing to know someone at a personal level. 

 In the beginning of John 18, we read about how Jesus is betrayed by Judas and eventually arrested. In fact, Judas brings many Roman soldiers to arrest Jesus. The number of Roman soldiers could have been a few dozen up to 800 soldiers. These soldiers meant business. Their weapons were ready for violence.

 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

John 18:3 ESV

 Jesus is divine; He is God. Jesus knew what was coming and did not run as other criminals or people in fear would have done. Jesus did something that He does with all of us. He asks a question.

 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

John 18:4 ESV

 Jesus can only tell the truth and answers them in a more profound way than they expected. These men were looking for a man named Jesus from Nazareth, but they encountered God.

 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

John 18:5-6 ESV

 Here we have an event which is called Mysterium tremendum. It is a mystery that repels a person, and it cannot be explained. We read about this kind of mystery elsewhere in the Bible such as in Ezekiel, Daniel 10:9 and Acts 9:3-4. Jesus is the self-revelation of God and every knee will bow at His name.

 We read before in John 17:12 that Jesus prayed none of His disciples would be lost. Jesus makes an appeal to the soldiers to let his disciples go, so they would live. This is the desire of Jesus that all will be saved if they follow Jesus. He was willing to sacrifice himself for His disciples at that moment and later again for all of us. Jesus does not leave anyone behind because He is trustworthy.

 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”  This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

John 18:7-9 ESV

 Peter is zealous for Jesus and often did things which were meant to show his devotion to Jesus, but often did not really satisfy Jesus. Peter cutting off the servant's ear with a sword is one of those instances. In the book of Matthew, the author records the event as Jesus rebuking Peter and focuses on the angelic heavenly forces at work. Luke records the event as Jesus healing the servant and focuses on the physical healing on Jesus whereas John focuses on the focus of Jesus' mission to do God's will.

 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.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

John 18:10-11 ESV

 To do God's will is not an easy task. Even Jesus struggled with this. What Matthew records shows that struggle better than how John records.

 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:39 ESV

 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Matthew 26:42 ESV

 To summarise John 18:1-11, we can list the following.

 

1.       Jesus is God and all fell at His name.

2.       Jesus was a sacrifice.

3.       Jesus is the self-revelation of God.

4.       Jesus is trustworthy.

 In other words, Jesus who revealed himself as a trustworthy God willingly gave his life in obedience to the father.

 John 18 also gives us these three truths.

1.       Jesus is God.

2.       Jesus is trustworthy.

3.       Jesus is obedient to the father.

 We then have to ask these questions.

• Are these statements true to you?
• How are these statements reflected in your life?
• How much of our old life are we clinging to and how much of our new life in Christ are you clinging to now?

 At the beginning of the sermon, the question was asked, "Who is Jesus to you?" Paul probably gives the best answer as who Jesus is to him in Philippians.

 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,  being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11 ESV

  Let us remember Jesus as a trustworthy God who sacrificed everything so that we may have life. Let us worship Jesus wholly while we live our lives in His service.

Online Worship through Zoom for January 17, 2021

    We will have an online church service again this Sunday, January 17 starting at 2:00 pm. This is the first time that we will be using Zoom for the worship service, so there may be some technical hiccups.  You can join by clicking on the link in a  separate message in our Kakaotalk chat room. The waiting room for this service will be enabled, and there is no password. If you cannot make the time, a video of the service will be put up on YouTube.

As we did  last week, only certain members of the congregation will be attend the in-church service, such as the worship team, technical team, and other essential servers. 

Announcements Week 2 for 2021

 Dear bothers and sisters in Christ,

Here are a few announcements.

1. We will resume online small group meetings through Zoom this Tuesday, January 12 at 8:00 pm.  Please see the separate Zoom link in our Kakaotalk chat room.

2. The House of Prayer meetings continue from 9:05 pm to 9:30 pm and then the 90 day whole Bible reading goes from 9:30 pm to 10:15 pm Mondays to Saturdays. This is done through Zoom. A separate Zoom link will be provided in our Kakaotalk chat room. You can start any time. It is a really blessed meeting with Christians from Onnuri churches.

3. This Sunday, we will try to have worship through Zoom. We will record on a separate camera the service for YouTube, but we will also have Zoom open for people to participate in the service in real time. The Zoom session will not be recorded. A Zoom link will be provided later this week.

       4.  Although only a few members can attend on Sundays because of social distancing restrictions, please remember to take time to reach out to other members by phone, text or Zoom to pass on your love and pray with them.  We may be a scattered church physically but not spiritually. 

Thank you for your attention.

"The Believers' Ultimate Destiny"(John 17:24-26)

John 17:24-26

John 17 is known as the High Priestly Prayer or the final prayer of Jesus. Although it is not the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, this final prayer of Jesus is for His disciples and believers of Jesus. There are six parts of the High Priestly Prayer and the sixth part is what this sermon will be focusing on.

The six parts of the High Priestly Prayer are divided as listed below.

 

1.       Prayer for the Glory of the Son (v. 1-5)

2.       Reason for Praying for His disciples (v. 6-11a)

3.       Prayer that the disciples be protected from the evil one (v. 11b- 16)

4.       Prayer that the disciples be made holy (v. 17-19)

5.       Prayer for the unity of believers (v. 20-23)

6.       Prayer for the beliers' ultimate destiny (v. 24-26)

 

The believers’ ultimate destiny begins in vs 24. Here we read that Jesus wants us to be with him. This should also be our number one goal as believers. Paul repeats this in 2 Corinthians.

 So, we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
John 14:10-11 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Philippians 3:20-21 ESV

 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ESV
 
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2 ESV

 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.  I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 17:25-26 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 ESV

 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 1:10 ESV

The world's definition of success is typically the opposite of heavenly success. Moreover, the pursuit of worldly success is counter to our heavenly pursuits.

Jesus says that he wants us with him in the present tense. In spiritual terms this makes sense although in the physical sense it might not. In fact, Jesus tells us several times that Jesus is united with the Father who is in in Heaven.

 This is another part of the ultimate destiny of what Jesus wants for us. He wants us to be in the Father who is in Heaven just like Jesus is.

 One more aspect of our ultimate destiny is that Jesus wants us to see His full glory that we may be like Jesus. This is not vanity on Jesus part, but it is rather a necessity that allows us to see and obtain the goal that only Jesus’ glory can reveal.

 The journey of glory has a few steps which are all connected with each other. They are also all necessary to complete the journey of God. Very simply the steps are these.

 

1.       Love of God → glory of God

2.       Word of God → knowledge of God

3.       Knowledge of God → Love of God

 One of the important steps in the journey of glory of God is to Love God. Jesus allows us to love God in a true and complete manner. However, to love God, we need to know God first.

 Jesus allowed His disciples to know God. Through Jesus’s words and actions, he revealed the father to His disciples. In fact, Jesus was the Word. This is why only Jesus could give a complete, honest and comprehensible knowledge of God to us and His disciples.

 

  This knowledge of God will allow us to love our God. Without this knowledge, we cannot truly please God with our efforts. We also will not be able to produce the fruits from good works that God desires from us.

 For us believers, we need to have the word of God or to know Jesus. When we know Jesus, we can understand the knowledge of God. That understanding of God transforms us, so we have the love of God in our lives. It is only when we have the love of God in us that we finally do those good works that bring about glory of God. To put it more simply:

 Word of God → Knowledge of God → Love of God → Glory of God

1 Be the Centre

2 What A Friend We Have In Jesus

3 Amazing Grace (My chains are gone)

4 Wonderful, Merciful Savior

We continue to worship online

 Good morning Daejeon OEM,

…not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

Hebrews 10: 25 ESV

I believe we have heard the sad news of the passing of Pastor Donald's father. Please remember to keep Pastor Donald and his family in your prayers that God will comfort his family and give direction to Pastor Donald during this difficult time.

In church meetings remained cancelled, but and we can attend online services through SeoBingGo's OEM YouTube Channel. The two services being live streamed this Sunday are:

1. OEM 11:30 am Family Worship LIVE 

2. OEM 4:00 pm Worship LIVE  

 

Here is the link to the YouTube Channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/user/OnnuriEM/