Control Issue

Good morning. Have you ever been called a control freak? Or do you know someone that is?

You know, that person who has to be in control of every situation, whether it's at work,

on the sporting field, or in a group assignment. You know, the person that says,

if I want it done properly, I will just do it myself. Steve and I got back from the US just

over a week ago, and I've always prided myself on the self-control I have over my body, particularly

when it comes to sleep. Through having kids, I've taught myself how to sleep anywhere,

and I can survive without too much sleep. But coming back from the US, jet lag hit me hard.

My whole body clock was shifted a couple of hours. So I would, you know, put Micah, our two-year-old,

to sleep at about 7pm, and Alyssa would find me asleep on his floor. And then I'd wake up in the

lounge, Alyssa would be standing over me. I thought I was in control. I thought I had control of my body,

but my body had different ideas. And the consequence was that I was wide awake from 3am

each morning. Don't worry, I'm over it now. Thank you for your concern. But feeling like we are in

control can give us the false impression that we are safe, and we are secure, and everything is taken

care of. We can think we are in control of our lives, and the decisions we make until reality hits.

It might be the fragility of our bodies. It might be how dependent we are upon other people.

It might be how much we depend on the current job we have to have the life that we want.

And for Christians, we might say that we trust in God, and that He is the one who is in control of

all things. He is the one who has saved us. But practically, we can hold on to control.

It makes us think that we are safe and secure, because we all have trust issues.

We don't trust that God has everything in control. So we stress and we get anxious about the future.

We don't trust that He'll keep being generous, and so we hoard, and we hold on to our things,

our time and our money, instead of being radically generous. How do we go from hogging control

to handing over control to God? Today, as we see Jesus in His last moments before He is crucified,

Jesus will model handing over control to God. Let me pray, and we'll have a look at John 18 together.

Heavenly Father, we come before You, all of us having different control issues. Father, You have done so

much for us. You have loved us incredibly through Jesus. And we ask that today we would be reminded

about how amazing You are, and that You are a sovereign God in control of all things.

Help us to place all of our trust in You. Amen.

Over the last couple of weeks, Jesus has been speaking His last conversation before His crucifixion.

Last week in chapter 17, Jesus spent an extended period of time praying for Himself, for His disciples,

and for us. And now Jesus is here in the Garden of Gethsemane. Have a look with me. Please have your

Bibles open. John chapter 18. We'll start in verse 2.

John 18 · chapter mention

Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

So Judas came to the Garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief

priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. John sets the scene

for us. He doesn't specify that it's the Garden of Gethsemane, but that's where it is. The author,

John, tells the story of Jesus' arrest slightly differently to the other Gospel writers, Matthew,

Mark, and Luke. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all focus on Jesus in the Garden, praying to God in anguish

before His crucifixion. John doesn't focus on that. Matthew, Mark, and Luke also have the conversation

between Judas and Jesus. Again, John doesn't focus on that. John focuses on the interaction between

Jesus and those who've come to arrest Him, those who think they are in control. This group that has

come out is a massive group. First, we have a detachment of soldiers. A detachment of Roman

soldiers is a cohort, and this usually consisted of a thousand men. Practically, they would usually

only send out 600. So we have 600 men, soldiers armed, ready for battle, coming out to 12 men

sitting in a garden in the middle of the night. The Romans would often use overwhelming force

to ensure that if a mob formed, they could just crush it. So we've got hundreds of Roman soldiers

ready to crush any opposition. Then there's the officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.

This group would have included the temple police, the ones who would actually arrest Jesus,

and they would ensure that the temple was protected overnight. And they come with torches and lanterns

and weapons. They've come to arrest Jesus in the middle of the night, when Jesus has the least

amount of followers to reduce the size of the mob that He's going to form. They've come expecting that

Jesus would flee. And so they've come with torches and lanterns to hunt Him down. In their eyes, Jesus

was a dangerous religious rebel who needed to be quashed. It's pretty clear who they think is in control.

They've got the army. They've got overwhelming force to crush any resistance. They've got the tools

to hunt down Jesus. And so the temple police, the soldiers, the religious leaders, they've come full

of swagger. They're going to hunt Jesus. They're going to suppress this rebellion. But Jesus, He knows

what is going to happen. And John records a fascinating interaction between this giant army

and this lone man. They've come to arrest Him in full force. But it's Jesus who leads the

investigation and the arrest. He is the one that asks the questions. Have a look at verse 4.

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, Jesus said. And Judas, the traitor,

was standing there with them. When Jesus said, I am He, they drew back and fell to the ground.

Jesus responds to their question with the divine I am. It's the words that God used to Moses

to identify Himself. He's not just saying, I'm the guy you're looking for. He is identifying with God.

He's saying, I am God. And this giant army that they've brought, who thought they were in control

of the situation, is flawed. They literally fall to the floor before Jesus. Now, we don't know exactly

what's going on here. We don't know why they've fallen to the floor. We don't know whether they've

seen a glimpse of Jesus' true glory. Are they just responding to Jesus calling Himself God?

It could have been a moment of realization about what they have come to do.

These people who have heard the rumors that Jesus healed the sick, He raised the dead,

He cast out demons, He preached with authority unlike anyone else, and they are here to arrest Him?

It stops them in their tracks.

Those who have come with power and might and control are humbled before the Lord of the universe.

This delegation representing the world comes forward to arrest Jesus, and Jesus offers Himself.

And for one brief moment, it is like the world recognizes who He is and what they are about to do.

But it is only for a moment.

Jesus continues to lead this investigation. Again, He asks them,

Who is it you want?

Oh, Jesus of Nazareth, they said.

Jesus answered, I told you that I am He.

If you were looking for me, let these men go.

This happens so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled.

I have not lost one of those you gave me.

Jesus focuses all the attention on Himself.

Who are you here to arrest? It's me.

Well, come on then.

Come and get me. Arrest me.

Leave these disciples here.

Just take me.

But Peter, one of the eleven disciples remaining,

couldn't let them take Jesus so easily,

so he pulls out a sword,

cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant,

and verse 11,

Jesus commanded Peter,

Put your sword away.

Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?

Jesus' response is,

it's not about fighting for control.

Jesus knows what is happening.

It seems that in this arrest,

Jesus is the one who is in control.

He is the one that is asking all the questions.

The army is just there.

He is leading the investigation.

But Jesus reveals,

He is not even the one who is in control.

God the Father is the one who is in control.

Jesus is in obedience to Him.

Jesus is the one who will drink the cup the Father has given Him.

And so Jesus is arrested.

There is a sham of a trial that happens,

and Jesus is crucified.

It seemed like Jesus was in control,

but He showed that He does not have control issues.

He handed over control to God,

and followed Him in full obedience,

knowing what was going to happen.

And so from this arrest,

we see three things about Jesus and control.

So first of all,

Jesus lets God be in control.

Jesus knew what was going to happen.

And the cross that He was going to,

and He lets God be in control.

Obeying God,

and letting Him be in control,

gives Jesus the confidence,

and ability to lead this investigation and arrest.

He goes out into the garden on His own,

and faces down this daunting army.

When faced with a situation like this,

when it seems like the enemy is in control,

the fight or flight response could have set in.

You know the response that He could have fought like Peter?

Not with a single sword,

but Jesus could have called down an army

to crush this 600 strong army in opposition.

If He felt the need to control the situation,

He could have done that.

He could have fled.

He could have responded through fear.

And the army came ready for Him to do that.

But He just does something that is so different.

Knowing God is in control,

knowing God is sovereign,

and knowing that what God plans happens,

Jesus acts with full confidence in God,

and walks out and says,

here I am.

Arrest me.

He is willing to be arrested

so that He can drink the cup of wrath

that God has for Him.

The wrath that all of us deserve.

The second thing we're reminded about,

about Jesus here,

is that Jesus sacrifices for those He loves.

Even here, as He is being arrested,

Jesus loves His followers.

I imagine this scene,

you've got the army on one side,

you've got the garden,

and you've got Jesus coming out of the garden.

And He's shooing the disciples behind Him.

You know, I've got this,

like someone with little children

who are trying to escape out the front door

and run on the road.

Jesus is defending His sheep.

Get back, get back.

Take me.

Take me.

Let them live.

And really, it's a microcosm

of what He offers us.

We are loved by Jesus.

And He puts Himself in our place.

And He willingly suffers

and dies for us to have life.

It's a simple act of care for His disciples,

but it shows His sacrificial love,

even in His arrest.

He is soon to go to the cross and suffer

and sacrifice for all the nations.

But for these 11 men, He says,

don't take them.

I'm the one you want.

The third thing we see about Jesus and control

is that He obeys God in the garden.

Unlike Adam and Eve that John read for us,

Jesus obeys God in the garden.

One of my favorite parts of this book of John

that we've been reading

is that John has all of these references

to the garden.

It's like they're Easter eggs in the story.

It appears that John has deliberately written his book

to remind us of Genesis.

You only have to think of the very start

of the book of John.

Both Genesis and John start with,

in the beginning.

And when John writes it,

he just adds Jesus more clearly

into the creation account.

This story here is reminiscent

of the Garden of Eden.

In one sense, you've got Adam and Eve.

They were perfect.

And they are tempted and they sin.

And when they do, they run and they hide

and they're fearful of God

and God goes searching for them

and He finds them.

But Jesus totally flips this.

Here Jesus is and He is in a different garden.

And there is temptation around Him.

He has a choice.

Will Jesus sin like Adam and Eve?

Will He flee after He sins like Adam and Eve?

Or will He obey God

and stand out in the open?

Jesus isn't fearful.

He doesn't blame anyone else

like Adam and Eve.

He says, I am.

I'm Jesus.

I'm the one you're looking for.

And here it's not God searching for the people.

It is God who comes out

to the people who are searching for Him.

Jesus is the one who comes out

and says, here I am.

There is no searching.

Jesus comes out.

He turns this garden scene

all on its head.

He is preparing to fix

all the problems

that began on the day

when sin entered into the world

in that garden.

He is obeying God in the garden

when Adam and Eve didn't.

He is making it so that God's garden

can spread once again

to not just be a garden

but to be a city

that we will all dwell in.

So when it comes to Jesus

and the issue of control

He hands His control over to God.

He willingly self-sacrifices

and He obeys in the garden

so that we can come to the city.

We learn some things about us

and control as well.

It helps us to understand ourselves.

The first thing that we learn about us

and people generally

is that it's possible to acknowledge Jesus

without following Him.

It's possible to acknowledge Jesus

without following Him.

We saw the army's response

to Jesus' declaration

that He was God.

They fell to their feet

when He identified as God

but it didn't last long.

It was long enough

to stop the army in their tracks

before going ahead and arresting Him.

Is it possible

that we can say Jesus is Lord

without actually following Him as Lord?

Jesus warns against this in Matthew 7.

Not everyone who says to me

Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven.

But only the one who does the will

of my Father who is in heaven.

There can be a moment of acknowledgement

that Jesus is Lord

but that does not equal faith.

We are people that have stopped

for one moment in our lives

and said that Jesus is Lord

instead of following Him

with our whole lives.

The second thing we learn

about ourselves

is that we

are like those eleven

that Jesus sacrificed Himself for.

Can you imagine

what it would have been like

in that moment,

in that night,

in the middle of prayer,

in the garden,

and a six,

seven hundred strong army

comes to arrest you

and hunt you down.

But Jesus stands in the way

and allows you

to flee,

to escape,

to have life.

Take me instead.

In a very real way,

that is who we are.

We are the ones who,

Jesus has said no to an army.

It's not the army,

but it's the wrath of God.

God has said to the wrath of God,

I have paid for these.

I was sacrificed for these little ones here

at St. Paul's Chatswood.

I sacrificed myself for you.

I drank the cup of wrath

that God asked me to drink

to take your place.

Now you can call God Father.

We are not in control,

but we need our Jesus

to sacrifice himself

to take our place.

So we've seen how Jesus trusted God

with sovereign,

but the reality is

we struggle

and we fight for control.

And yet,

it was us that Jesus came

and sacrificed himself for.

God is the one who is in control.

Jesus showed we can trust him.

So I want to encourage us

to hand control over to God

in three ways.

First of all,

by admitting that we are not in control.

Second,

being aware

of what we try to control

and being aware of why

we try to control things.

So first of all,

we need to admit

that we are not in control.

I think it's really easy for us

in life

to assume

that we are in control

and we have

the place we are in

because of us.

I have this job

because of our,

I have worked hard

and I've saved this money

and I am in this position

because of my hard work

and my effort.

But the reality is

we don't have as much control

over these factors

as we think.

God is the one

who has blessed us with health

so that we can work.

He is the one

who has uniquely gifted us.

He is the one

who is sovereign

over whatever situation

we are in.

If we have a job,

it's because of God's

sovereign grace to us.

If we are able to study

at school

or TAFE

or uni,

it is because of God's

sovereign grace.

The first thing

that we need to do

is we need to admit

that we are not in control

and that it's only God

who is in control

of all things.

The second

is to be aware

of what we try

and control.

All of us

have different control issues.

I'm not sure

what you try

and control

particularly.

For some of us,

it might be

an issue with money.

We really

hoard our finances.

We don't trust God

that He will continue

to provide

and so we hoard.

For some,

it might be

that we are really

concerned about

the image

we present.

When Steve and I

were in the US,

we put up a number

of Facebook photos

showing what we were doing.

I'm not sure

if you saw any of those

but I've had people say,

it looks like you

had a really great time

over there

and it was

a wonderful time

but we all

have control issues

and we do this

with Facebook

and the way

we present ourselves.

Steve and I

didn't post

photos of the night

we got into

a particular city

at 12am

and it was

minus 2 outside

and there was

bags under our eyes.

Maybe I'll post

that photo

next time.

Fear and anxiety

over the way

people view us

leads to a control issue.

To present

a fake image.

Jesus had no issue

being arrested

by this giant mob

and hung

on a tree for us.

He wasn't worried

about how it looked.

Let me encourage

all of us

to embrace

the value

of humble authenticity.

Not feeling

the need

to present

a fake

controlled image

that everything

is okay

but with humility

show our true face.

Trusting that

God loves us

and that

you know what

at church

our brothers

and sisters

will love us

for who we really are

and God is working

to change us

as well.

So we need to be aware

of what we

try to control

and what we want

to control

reveals

something

about us

as people.

The things

we fight

to hold on to

shows

something

about our hearts.

I was talking

to someone

recently

about an injury

they had.

She had fallen

and injured

her shoulder

and she couldn't

clean her house

as well as she wanted

and you know

this might seem

like a joy

for those

who were always

cleaning

well I can't

clean

that's alright

but for her

it brought up

issues for when

she was younger

when her family

situation

wasn't ideal.

She couldn't

control a lot

about life

around her

but she could

control her room

she could keep

that clean

and so it became

immaculately clean

and when she got a house

it became

immaculately clean

I have never seen

someone stoop down

and pick up so much

fluff off the ground

but now

because she was

injured

she couldn't

clean as much

and this was

causing her grief

the house

was clean

let me tell you

this house

was clean

you wouldn't

even realize

there was an

issue

but she had

an issue

of control

she felt

at peace

and in control

of her life

because her

house

looked a

certain way

but even if

the house

is clean

that is

that is not

peace

that is not

security

you can have

a clean house

and you can have

relationships that

are falling apart

you can have no

relationship with

God

but that injury

that she got

helped her to

understand

where her need

for control

over the house

came from

the cleanliness

of the house

had become an

idol

that would give

a false

sense of security

what are the

things that you

are holding

very tightly

to

maybe they

don't reveal

deep problems

from your childhood

like this friend

maybe they

point to how

you are not

trusting God

that he is in

control of all

things

none of us

feel like

we are out of

control

none of us

like to feel

like we don't

have control

over the

situation

and we fight

and struggle

even just

to have that

false sense

of security

Jesus

as we've seen

in John 18

knew what was

going to happen

and he handed

control over

to God

we are not

safe

when we feel

we are in

control

we are safe

because we have

a God who is

sovereign over

all things

and he loves

to care for us

let me pray for us

dear heavenly

father

thank you that

you have

reminded

us from

your word

today

that you

are the one

that is in

control

that not even

Jesus

was in

control

of what was

happening

but that he

handed control

over to you

Lord

father we ask

that we would

trust you

that we would

trust you

with every

moment of our

days

God help us

to

consider our

lives

and consider

the things

that are

very important

to us

and we must

hold

tightly to

Lord

father help us

to consider

our hearts

before you

and the things

that give us

a false sense

of security

father help us

to hand those

over to you

knowing that

it is only

you that are

in control

and that you

love us

and that you

take care of

us

and that you

will send

Jesus back

to bring us

to be with

you

we ask all

this in your

son's name

amen