Under Gods Command
Proverbs 28:09 – If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law even his prayers are detestable.
God does not listen to our prayers if we intend to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees. If we want to forsake our sin and follow him, however, he willingly listens-no matter how bad our sin has been. What closes his ears is not the depth of our sin, but our secret intention to do it again. God hears our intentions as clearly as he hears our words.
Under Gods Command
Jesus Stands Trial before Pilate
John 18:33-37 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for the reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
If Pilate was asking this question in his role as the Roman governor, he would have been inquiring whether Jesus was setting up a rebel government. But the Jews were using the word King to mean their religious ruler, the Messiah. Israel was a captive nation, under the authority of the Roman empire. A rival king might have threatened Rome; a Messiah could have been a purely religious leader.
Pilate asked Jesus a straightforward question, and Jesus answered clearly. Jesus is a king, but one whose kingdom is not of this world. There seems to have been no question in Pilate’s mind that Jesus spoke the truth and was innocent of any crime. It also seems apparent that while recognizing the truth, Pilate chose to reject it. It is a greater tragedy when we fail to recognize the truth but fail to heed it.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 27:02 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.
Dwelling on the honors you deserve can only be harmful. If can make you bitter, discouraged, or angry, and it will not bring you the rewards that you think should be yours. Pining for what you should have received may make you miss the satisfaction of knowing you did your best.
Do not talk about yourself. Do not talk about your job, your family, your car, or anything that is yours. Think and talk about others and their things. Ask questions about the welfare of others, rather than telling your situation, difficulties, abilities, or blessings. As too much honey will make you sick, self-promotion is also sickening.
Here is a key difference between gracious and odious people. An odious woman is a master at slipping in her opinions, experiences, expertise, and her insightful wisdom. But a gracious woman never talks about herself. She is always inquiring sincerely about the welfare of others. It is the Lord’s praise that counts, not your own (II Cor 10:18)
Odious people are disappointed if you do not praise them enough, ask enough questions about them, and listen intently for them to tell you about their life. But gracious persons, neglecting themselves, are always commending others, pursuing them, and praising them.
Under Gods Command
Jesus Stands Trial before Pilate
John 18:28-32 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we could not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.
By Jewish law, entering the house of a Gentile would cause a Jewish person to be ceremonially defiled. As a result, he could not take part in worship at the temple or celebrate the feasts until he was restored to a state of “cleanness.” Afraid of being defiled, these men stayed outside the house where they had taken Jesus for trial.
The Roman governor, Pilate, was in charge of Judea (the region where Jerusalem was located) from A.D. 26 to 36. Pilate did not like the Jews, but when Jesus, King of the Jews, stood before him, Pilate found him innocent.
Pilate knew what was going on; he knew that the religious leaders hated Jesus, and he did not want to act as their executioner. They could not sentence him to death themselves-permission had to come from a Roman leader. But Pilate initially refused to sentence Jesus without sufficient evidence. Jesus life became a pawn in a political power struggle.
Under Gods Command
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me, “ you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
The soothing comfort of alcohol is only temporary. Real relief comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to God for peace. Don’t lose yourself in alcohol; find yourself in God.
Be alerted to the dangers of wine (drinking) It dulls the senses, it limits clear judgment, it lowers the capacity for control and it destroys a person’s efficiency. To make wine an end result in itself, a means of self-indulgence, or as an escape from life is to misuse it and invite the consequences of the drunkard.
Under Gods Command
Annas Questions Jesus / Peter Denies Knowing Jesus
John 18:19-27 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded. “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. As Simon Peter stood warning himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
We can easily blame the Sanhedrin for their injustice in condemning Jesus, but we must remember that Peter and the rest of the disciples also contributed to Jesus pain by deserting and disowning him (Mathew 26:56,75).
While most of us are not like the religious leaders, we are all like the disciples, for all of us have been guilty of denying that Christ is Lord in vital areas of our lives or of keeping secret our identify as believers in times in times of pressure. Don’t excuse yourself by pointing at others whose sins seem worse than yours. Instead come to Jesus for forgiveness and healing.
Imagine standing outside while Jesus, your Lord and Master, is questioned, Imagine watching this man, whom you have come to believe is the Long-awaited Messiah, being abused andbeaten. Naturally Peter was confused and afraid. It is a serious sin to disown Christ, but Jesus forgave Peter (21:15-17). No sin is too great for Jesus to forgive if you are truly repentant. He will forgive even your worst sin if you turn from it and ask his pardon.
The fulfilled Jesus words to Peter after he promised he would never disown him (Mark 14:31; John 13:38)
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.
This Proverbs speaks for itself. Another word for mocker is ridiculer. I know when certain people don’t show up for work or miss meeting or gatherings, it changes the entire temperature or atmosphere. It just takes one person to stir up strife. I think we all can relate to this, Just make sure that person is not you.
Under Gods Command
Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?
Trying to protect Jesus, Peter pulled a sword and wounded the high priest’s servant. But Jesus told Peter to put away his sword and allow God’s plan to unfold. At times it is tempting to take matters into our own hands, to force the issue. Most often such moves lead to sin. Instead we must trust God to work out his plan. Think of it-if peter had had his way, Jesus would not have gone to the cross, and God’s plan of redemption would have been thwarted. Luke records that Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him (Luke 22:51).
The cup means the suffering, isolation, and death that Jesus would have to endure in order to atone for the sins of the world.
Under Gods Command
Proverbs 17:5 –He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker, whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
Few acts are as cruel as making fun of the less fortunate, but many people do this because it makes them feel good to be better off or more successful then someone else. Mocking the poor is mocking the God who made them. We also ridicule God when we mock the weak, those who are different, or anyone else. When you catch yourself putting down others just for fun, stop and think about who created them.
Under Gods Command
Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
John 18:1-6 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley, On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus knowing all that was going to happen to him went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” Jesus of Nazareth, “they replied. “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
The officials from the chief priests and Pharisees were probably members of the temple guard; they were Jews given authority by the religious leaders to make arrests for minor infractions. The soldiers may have been a small contingent of Roman soldiers who did not participate in the arrest but accompanied the temple guard to make sure matters didn’t get out of control.
John does not record Judas’s kiss of greeting (Matthew 26:49; Mark 14:45; Luke 22:47) which was set up to identify Jesus was and also marked a turning point for the disciples. With Jesus arrest each one’s life would be radically different. For the first time, Judas openly betrayed Jesus before the other disciples. For the first time, Jesus loyal disciples ran away from him (Matthew 26:56). The band of disciples would undergo severe testing before they were transformed from hesitant followers to dynamic leaders.
They drew back and fell to the ground.
The men may have been startled by the boldness of Jesus question, or by the words “I am he,” a declaration of his divinity ((Exodus 3:14). Or perhaps his obvious power and authority overcame them.
Under Gods command 