Is It I - Joel Schrock

Good morning.

Also want to greet everyone in Jesus' name and welcome

the visitors.

Thank you for being here.

The title of the message this morning, it was mentioned

that this is council meeting service preparation for communion and

the thought of examining ourselves. And the title this morning

is maybe a question of examination. It's taken from two

different places Matthew twenty six twenty two and Mark fourteen nineteen.

And the question is is it I now, I would

like to do something a little bit different this morning.

I'd like to look at mankind's response to the creator

of the universe coming as a man to save the world.

And I wanted to look at a little stretch of

time that takes up a lot of chapters of the Bible,

and that is from about the right before the Last

Supper till the Crucifixion. In looking at that and the

four Gospels, it's a little tough to tell sometimes which

detail came first, and there's different details in each one

that are meaningless meaningful. So I'd like to look at

this story in something hopefully close to chronological order. Used

a chronological Bible to help me get a little looking

around because I thought some things should be in there

that weren't found them back further anyways, And so.

I'll be.

Basically reciting telling the story, including verses from the different gospels,

and I'd like I'd like us to think about mankind's

response to Jesus. How did the Jews respond, How did

the Romans or Gentiles respond? How did the leaders of

God's people respond? How did the Jewish civil authorities respond?

How did the Roman rulers respond? How did the common

people respond? How did Jesus' family and closest friends respond?

How would have you responded? How what have I responded?

How do we respond?

Today? Is it I so the other? Forget exactly when

it was? It was a sun?

Even Jean told a story about Joseph and wanted us

to see who we could identify with in the story.

I would like you to do that this morning, and

maybe even how many of these people can you identify with?

So some details will be left out, and I don't

think any of us know exactly how each event unfolded,

and many sermons have been will be and should be

taken from very small portions of this story, but I'd

like to look at it a little bit more of

a bird's eye view, make some observations and hopefully some challenges.

So we'll start when it was nearly nearly time for

the passover and feast of unloving bread, and the chief

priests and the scribes and the elders. We kind of

run over those words chief priests, scribes, elders. These are

the people that were supposed to be shepherding God's people.

They were supposed to know about God, but they were

spending their time trying to figure out.

How by trickery, to capture Jesus so they could kill him.

But they had a problem.

They had a couple problems, but one big obstacle was

the people, the common people, the sheep that they were

supposed to shepherd, and they didn't think they could do

it during the feast because.

Well, there was a lot of people. It could cause

a riot.

And these self righteous people who were supposed to lead

God's people were too concerned about the power and wealth

that they had accumulated, and anyone that caused too much

disruption like Jesus was doing, could unsettle that uneasy balance

of power they were currently enjoying under the Roman occupation.

They didn't really want.

To throw off.

I mean, in theory, they wanted to throw off the

Roman occupation.

But they had it pretty good.

And about this time Jesus clearly predicts to his disciples

his crucifixion. Now in a couple of the gospels, at

least the story of Mary anointing Jesus with expensive And

I was going to say, you can turn to any

of the gospels and follow along as well as you can.

But if you like, where the story of Mary anointing

Jesus with the expensive perfume. But it's referring to when

Jesus was in deathany so it's probably a little bit

before this, but not much.

But maybe it's significant.

Maybe it's here because Jesus of Judas's reaction to this,

why are you doing it? You know, why are you

letting her do this? This money could used for something better.

He was a treasure in Jesus' small group there, and

Jesus appreciates it. He says, it's for my burial. And

this is given right before we see Judas. It says

Satan entered into Judas Iscariot. Judas left the door open,

and he went to the religious rulers and offered to

betray Jesus to them at a convenient time and place

so they wouldn't have to deal with the potential riot.

And he asked them, how much will you give me

for this? And so here we see a price put

on Jesus, the creator of the universe, by a treacherous

friend and religious rulers, thirty pieces of silver. Now whatever

that's worth in today's money, it doesn't really matter.

A price was put on, a price tag was put

on it.

From the little bit I looked, it might be fifteen

to twenty five thousand dollars in today's world. I'm not sure,

probably about fourth of an annual wage. Let's say this

was the value assigned to Jesus. And through this whole

story we can see the religious rulers disregard for human

life and they're lust for power, and it says they

were glad. So it's about time for the Passover feast

and Jesus tells Peter and John this is kind of

just an interesting side some details here. Jesus tells Peter

and John go fix the Passover feast and they're like, well, okay,

but where where where do we fix a feast like this?

And Jesus said, enter into the city, and you'll see

a man carrying a picture. Follow him into his house.

And when he questions you, just say the teacher.

The master.

Wants to know where he can eat the Passover with

his disciples, And Jesus says, then he will show.

You a large upper room already furnished and prepared.

So Peter and John listen, and that's exactly what they found,

and they prepared the feast.

That evening.

Jesus gave his disciples some beautiful examples. Some of those

will we will Lord willing observe next Sunday. But he,

their Lord and Master, stooped down with humility and washed

his disciples feet. And he makes the point here, if I,

if the Lord of the universe stoop down and wash

your feet, surely jesus followers could have enough humility to

be servants to each other and to wash each other's feet. Now,

during the feast, Jesus says, became troubled in spirit, and

he looked at what was his group of best friends,

closest friends in the world, and he tells them, assuredly,

you can be sure you can mark this down. One

of you who is eating with me tonight is going

to betray me? And the disciples response is interesting. You know,

you would kind of expect they would have a hunch

something was going on, but it doesn't say that. They

looked out at the corner of their eye at Judas

and yeah, I kind of always thought he might be

a snitch. They looked around, and they discussed who it

might be, and somehow in that conversation they started arguing

about who would be greatest records in one of the gospels.

Not sure how they got there. Their humanity was pretty

close to the surface. But then they looked at Jesus

and each one said, and here's where the title of

the message comes from, is it I? And it doesn't

say if Jesus answered them right then, But Peter sees

John leaning on Jesus and emotions to him and says.

Lord, who is it?

And Jesus answers, it's the one that I'm going to

give a piece of bread to after I dipped it.

And somewhere in here doesn't say if he did before.

Somewhere in here Judas says, Rabbi, is it I? He

had already received the money.

Jesus serves Judas.

The bread, and if you can imagine the group setting,

I imagine he looked at him and he answered him,

and he said, you have said it. Then he says,

what you're going to do, do it quickly.

Now.

What all Jesus communicated when he looked at Judas, we

can only imagine. But I think it's clear that Judas

could not stand to stay in that gaze. And it says,

having received the bread, he went out immediately. Couldn't say that.

And the next sentence is a fitting one, says, and

it was night, it was dark, and Jesus refers to

this later. The power of darkness seemed to be getting

the upper hand now somehow, And all of this some

of the disciples thought Judas is maybe running to buy something.

I don't know if they didn't hear the whole conversation.

And it's a little hard to tell when some of

these things happened, but Mark would give the impression that

it was towards the end of the time when Jesus

broke bread and served the wine. Beautiful ordinance, will observe,

like I said, Lord willing next week. And when they

had sung on him, they went out to the Mount

of Olives and Jesus and his closest friends that were

left stepped out into the night. Now before he told them,

one of you will do this. Now he tells them

all of you, all of you will forsake me tonight.

And he quoted the prophets or it said I will

strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. And

Peter says, Lord, even if everyone else forsakes you, everybody

else leaves.

You, I won't.

I am willing to go with you, even to death.

And Jesus says, Peter, will you really lay down your

life for me?

For my sake? Assuredly? Again, he says, you can be

sure about this.

By the time the rooster crows in the morning, Mark

says twice, by the time the rooster crows, you will

deny me three times. You will tell people that you

do not even know who I am three times. And

then Jesus tells them about the way of the Father,

promises the Holy Spirit, talks about the True Vine, warns

of the world's hatred, tells them their sadness will be

turned to joy, and he prays to the Father for them.

And they entered into the garden, and he told his

disciples you sit here and wait.

Well, I go pray.

And he took Peter, James and John, and he went

a little bit further, and he tells them, he says,

my soul is sorrowful, even unto death. Stay here and watch.

And Jesus went a little bit further and says that

he fell on his face.

And listen to his prayer.

Abba, Father, all things, and some of this is from

the new King James, that's chronological Bible.

I had.

All things are possible for you. Take this cup away

from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but what you will.

And Jesus walks back to his three disciples and finds

him sleeping. He says, Peter.

I don't know why, just Peter, but maybe because Peter

was going to be with him. Couldn't you watch for

one hour? Watch and pray, unlest you enter into temptation?

And he leaves again.

Now the words recorded in Matthew of his second prayer

really stood out to me. Says, Oh, my father, if

this cup cannot pass away from me unless I drink it,

it will be done.

So.

If the only way that this bitter cup of humiliation, pain, sadness, death,

If the only way that that can be taken, is

for me to drink it.

You will, your will be done.

Jesus finds his disciples sleeping a second time and a

third time, and the third time he says, sleep on

now and take your rest, or another translation says, are

you still sleeping and resting?

Behold?

The hour is at hand, and the son of Man

is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us

be going. Behold he is at hand that doth betray me.

Stepped out into the night, and he was in the night,

and it was dark, and he came with what light

and what protection he could find.

From the chief priest.

He had a detachment of troops, and why he thought

he needed this, or why they thought he needed this?

He had a detachment of troops with torches, swords, and clubs.

And Jesus steps out, knowing all things, steps out to

meet them, and he says, who are you looking for?

And they said Jesus of Nazareth, And he said, I

am he. So Jesus the Great, I am identified himself,

and the mouth that spoke worlds into existence.

Said I am he.

And the men with the earthly power, the swords, the clubs,

the fire.

Fell down. They fell to the.

Ground, and Jesus asks again, who are you seeking? And

they said Jesus of Nazareth, and he said, I am he.

And somewhere in here in the counts. The details are

in different gospels. But Judas comes forward with a predetermined

sign and says heil Master, and kisses Jesus. Two different

responses are recorded by Jesus. He says, friend, why have

you come? He says, Judas, are you betraying the son

of Man? With a kiss, the men recovered themselves and

came to bind and arrest Jesus. Now again, somewhere in

here Peter comes out of the darkness swinging a sword,

and you have to admire his bravery, taking on an

entire mob with swords and clubs and torches. But somehow

he managed to get one person's ear and whacked it off.

And Jesus tells him, Peter, put up your sword. If

you take the sword, you'll die by the sword. He says,

I could call legions of angels to save us, but

then how would the scriptures be fulfilled?

He says, shall I.

Not drink of the cup which my father has given me?

And he reaches out and he heals the ear of

the servant of the High Priest. I'm sure that servant

never forgot that, and I.

Wonder how he felt as he watched his.

Master condemn his healer to death. Jesus looks out at

those that came, and he says, have you come out

as against a robber with swords and clubs? When I

was daily in your temple, you did not try to

seize me. But this is your hour and the power

of darkness, and those are strong words. This is the

time where you and the devil have the apparent upper hand.

Matthew records, and this is a confession. Then all the

disciples forsook him and fled, and Jesus was right.

They all left him.

So the detachment of troops led Jesus away to the

High Priest along with the chief priests. Elders inscribes the people,

if anyone in the world that should have recognized the Messiah. Instead,

even after witnessing the miracles, the evidence of the miracles,

there were two interested in their own wealth and power.

John records that they went first to Annas and then

to Caphas, and he calls them both the High Priest

and somebody here probably knows more about it than me.

But apparently, according to Jewish.

Custom, the high priest was a lifetime deal, but the Romans,

showing their authority set him set Annas back from being

the high priest a few years back, and his son

in law, Caaphas, was a recognized high priest at this time,

but most a lot of Jews probably still viewed Annas

as the rightful high priest, and they both wielded a

lot of power. Later An Acts, it's recorded that Annis,

a high priest, and Caphus were present, but it does

seem that most of the lot of the questioning was

probably done by Caphus. Here and somewhere he Peter and

another disciple, and it seems like it was probably John

pulled themselves together enough to follow Jesus and the mob.

And it says this other disciple was known to the

high priests, so he was allowed into.

The courtyard and he came back. Peter had to stay

at the door.

But assume it's John here with the other disciple came

back and talked to the one at the door and

let Peter in and says the servant girl at the

door says, you are not also one of this man's disciples,

are you?

And Peter answers, I am not. As they questioned Jesus.

Matthew says that the chief priests, elders, and council sought

false testimony against Jesus. They didn't care if it was

if v accusations were true or false, as long as

they could get They're actively looking for people to provide

enough witness true or false to get him. And as

they went, the High Priest adamantly demanded that Jesus declare

whether or not he is the son of God. And

finally Jesus answered, And they knew enough about scripture to

know everything Jesus is talking about. Here, he says, I am,

and you will see the son of a man sitting

at the right hand of the power that's God the Father,

and coming in the clouds of heaven. And at this

the High Priest tore his clothes and said, ask.

Why do we need any more witnesses. We don't need

any witnesses. You all heard this. It's blasphemy.

What do you think And they answered, he deserves to

be put to death.

Now again.

Somewhere in a second person said to Peter, you are

one of them. And he says, I am not, and

I don't know how long it was. But a third

person in this account's given a little different different gospels,

but one of them.

Records that.

This was a relative of the servant that got his

ear cut off, said didn't I see you in the

garden with Jesus? And some people started saying, yeah, you

know this man. He's a Galilean. You can tell it

by his speech. And he begins to curse and to swear,

whereas one translation puts it.

A curse beyond me.

If I'm lying, I don't know this man. In the

strongest terms that Peter could come up with, he denied

Jesus the third time. Then Luke records it, while he

was yet speaking, the rooster crowed, and right then Jesus

turned and looked at Peter, and again, whatever was in

that look, we don't know. I can imagine, but I believe,

just as Judas could not stand before jesus presence, Peter,

remembering Jesus' words and seeing Jesus look at him, couldn't either,

and he went out and wept bitterly. Now Judas saw

his error and the trouble that Jesus was actually in

and he was remorseful. Whether he thought he would just

force Jesus to step out his king, whether he was

truly vengeful and wanted to see Jesus gone, whether he

was just after money, whatever his motivation was, I don't

think we know, But whatever the case, he saw the

error of his ways, and he went back to the

chief priests and elders and said, I have sinned by

betraying innocent blood. And the hardened leaders replied, what is

that to us? You see to it? That's not our deal.

That's your problem. And he threw the money that he

now despised on the floor and went out and hanged himself.

He was remorseful, but sadly he didn't repent. Now the

Jewish rulers had another problem. They wanted Jesus dead. In fact,

they condemned him to die, but under Roman law, they

did not have the authority to execute someone, so they

needed to rely on the Gentiles to get their job done.

So they took Jesus to stand trial before the Roman governor,

Pontius Pilot, but they wouldn't go into the hall because

then they would be defiled, and that would mean they

couldn't eat the feasts of the Passover, and you can't

let a good execution get in the way of a feast, and.

So they stayed outside.

Pilot asked, Jesus, are you the king of the Jews?

And Jesus answered, it is as you say. And they

accused Jesus of problem after problem, perverting the nations, telling

people not to pay taxes, and on and on, and

Jesus answered none of the accusations. And this surprised Pilot

never seen anything like this before. Jesus just took it all,

says he marveled greatly. Now I don't know if I

ever if it ever clicked with me, dawned on me. Apparently,

if you look at all the gospels together, how much

effort Pilot put into releasing Jesus. Now he still condemned

Jesus to die. He's not off scotch free. But it

was interesting to me. When he heard that Jesus was

from Galilee, he saw his opportunity and sent him over

to Herod probably think is Herod Antibus, and he was

in Jerusalem at the time, and Herod was delighted.

He wanted to see a miracle or two. He wanted

to see Jesus for a.

While, but Jesus answered no accusations in front of Herod either,

So Herod and his troops mocked him and sent him

back to Pilot. Pilot tells the Jesus says, take him

and judge him by your own law. They replied, we

can't execute anybody on our own and Pilot questions Jesus again.

He says, what have you done? Why do your people,

the leaders, the religious leaders of your people, want to

kill you. Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world.

If my kingdom were of this world, then would my

servants fight and I would not be delivered to the Jews.

So Pilot asked him, so are you a kingdom? And

Jesus said, you rightly say that I am. And he

goes on to explain that everyone that who is of

the truth will hear my voice. And Pilot, we don't

know if it was a retort, if it was a

actual question.

But he says, what is truth?

And he heads out to give his pronouncement, and he

gets the chief priest's rulers and the people together and

he says, listen, you brought this man to me and

accused him, and I have examined him in your presence,

and I have found no fault in him. I sent

him to Herod and he didn't find anything worthy of

death either, So I'll chastise him and let him go.

And he probably hoped that their lusts for to be

satisfied with a good flogging, but it wasn't. Somewhere in here,

Pilot's wife also sends a message to him, had nothing

to do with this just man, for I've suffered many

things today to day in a dream because of him.

So now Pilot, it's like, well, he's remembering. And they

might have brought it up to that. His custom was

to release a prisoner of their choice at the feast

of the Passover, and Pilot knew that the Jewish leaders

brought Jesus to them out of envy, says, And so

he says to I presume the people that had gathered,

which included the chief priest, but many other people, I

imagined at this point, And he knew Jesus was popular

with the common people, and surely if he would offer

Jesus or this murderous insurrectionist Brabbas, the people would surely

pick Jesus. And what could the religious rulers say about that,

So he says, you know, who would you have me

released to? And the chief priest stirred up the people

to ask for Brabbas instead of Jesus. And Pilot says,

what then should I do with Jesus, who you call

king of the Jews? And the unruly crowd turned into

a mob yelled crucify him. Pilot seems, I don't know

if he's getting desperate. He says, why what evil has

he done? I have found no reason of death in him.

I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And

the crowd did not answer the question. The chief priest

did not answer the question of what he had done. Instead,

they just yelled loud or crucify him. And Pilot saw

that this was about to turn into a riot which

would get really unhandy for him around the time of

a Jewish holiday and Jerusalem, and he couldn't afford that.

He saw that he was outmaneuvered. He washed his hands

in water and said, I'm innocent of the blood of

this just person. You see to it, And the people

said his blood can be on us and our children.

Now.

Not very long later, when Peter was preaching to him.

They said, hey, you're trying to put his blood on

our heads. They took it right here, they took it.

Pilot took Jesus.

And scourged him.

And we can read that, but there's a lot that

goes into that which we don't have time for. The

soldiers put a crown of thorns on his head, and

they put a purple robe on him and said heyl

king of.

The Jews, and they struck him.

They likely didn't have time for rebel rousers or the

Jewish people in general, and they didn't mind mocking them

both at the same time. And Pilot tried again, and

he said, I'm bringing him out to you that you

may know that I find no fault in him. Jesus

was beaten crown of thorns, any person with humanity you

would think would have some sort of pity. And he

brings him out and he says, behold the man. And

they yelled, crucify him. And Pilot said, you take him

and crucify him, as I find no fault in him.

And they replied, according to our law, he should die

because he says he is the son of God. And

now Pilot was more nervous, and he takes Jesus back

into the hall and he says, where are you from?

And Jesus won't answer, and he says.

Won't you speak to me?

Don't you know that I have the power to crucify you,

and I have the power to let you go. And

Jesus replies, you would have no power except it we're

sent from about Therefore, the one who delivered me to

you has the greater sin. And again Pilot tried to

release him, but the Jewish ruler said, if you release

this man, you're no friend of Caesar's, because anybody that

makes himself a king.

Speaks against Caesar. Checkmate. He didn't have.

Any more maneuvering, really, but he tried again, says, behold

you're king, and they cried away with him crucify him,

and Pilot says, shall I crucify your king? And it

says now not the people, says the chief priest said.

The leader said, we have no king but Caesar. Then

he delivered them him to them to be crucified.

Again. We see moved through this part here. The soldiers, the.

Cynical soldiers mocked Jesus struck the crown of thorns that

was on his head with a reed, blindfolded him, slapped him,

said prophesy, and they crucified him. And again there is

so much cruelty in those few words. And we just

read over that Jesus was held by nails between heaven

and earth and was mocked by the people that came by.

Above him was a sign that said the king.

Of the Jews.

It was in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, so all the people

come and could read it. People came by it says,

They wagged their heads, and they said, you who destroy

the temple and build it in three days, save yourself

if you are the son of God, come down from

the cross. And the Jewish leaders, wrapped in their righteous

robes and stroking their righteous beards, said, he saved others himself,

he cannot save if he is the King of Israel.

Let him now come down from the cross, and we

will believe him. He trusted in God. Let him now

deliver him if he will have him, for he said,

I am the son of God. Would have they really

believed him. Jesus recently raised someone from the dead, and

what in front of many Jews. The response of the

chief priests was that they wanted to kill the man

that Jesus raised. They wanted to get rid of the problem.

They would not have believed Jesus, but now they had

on it. He was on the cross. It was their

hour of darkness, and Jesus died on the cross. We

hear that often, we read it often, but I don't

think we comprehend it often. Jesus was killed by the Jews,

he was killed by the Gentiles. Nobody was innocent. The

people who were supposed to shepherd God's people were the

very ones who murdered the son of God. The people

he had fed, who watched his miracles, who administered to

were likely in the crowds that cried crucifying. Jesus' family

didn't believe that he was divine. His closest friends forsook him.

Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him three times. Jesus's body

was literally broken. He physically could not carry his cross

to the place of execution. He had the world's sins

on his shoulders. He had the power to stop it all,

but he took it all. He prayed for the men

that carried out the execution. How were they to know

that they were executing the son of God. They found

out soon Jesus was alone, his earthly friends forsook him,

and his father turned his face away. And we wonder,

how could these people do that to this man that

went about doing good? But the question haunt of the

disciples comes back to us, and that is Lord, is

it I? Can we relate to the Jewish rulers that

are so wrapped up in self importance, wealth and power

that they couldn't be bothered by God himself.

Appearing to them in the flesh.

Can we relate to the people fitting into the crowd

and going where the winds are blowing, one day laying

down palm branches and yelling Hosannah, and another day yell

and crucify him. Can we relate to the soldiers so

cynical in their daily life.

That they miss who they were mocking and killing.

Can we relate to his family who just had a

hard time believing that he was really God, or maybe

that there's really a God at all? Can we relate

to his disciples when the real trials of life came,

they stood out and they disappeared into the night. Can

we relate to Peter, scared of retribution, so he denied

Jesus three times, likely in his own hearing. Can we

identify with Judas so wrapped up an envy, money, pride,

or anything else that we would sell our soul for

thirty pieces of silver?

Is it I? The answer to that question, I believe

is yes, it is I.

We have all fallen short, we have all sinned, and

deserve eternal separation from God. But praise the Lord, Jesus

took those sins on his shoulders when he went to

the cross, and then, as we know, three days later,

he rose again and triumphed over the hour of darkness,

and it turned the impossible, hopeless darkness into joy and

eternal hope. Now maybe you can understand, yes it is I.

But I am so terrible that I never should be

allowed into the presence of God. And we think that

sometimes maybe true, But do not limit the power of God.

John three point sixteen says, for God so loved the

world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever

believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Whosoever every sinner, no matter how bad. Jesus prayed for

the soldiers that killed him and if they can be saved,

anyone can be saved. The people, the Jewish rulers, we

see stories of redemption through all of this. The Jewish rulers.

There was a sadducey and a Pharisee that got together

and buried Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus. Joseph, it says, was

a disciple. He was in the council, but didn't agree

with them. Later we see Paul, a Pharisee, became the

greatest New Testament missionary the people soon after this have

so the Holy Spirit came in the disciples. Many of

the people that were likely in the mob were part

of the thousands of people that were converted. The soldiers

were the ones that saw by Jesus' death, this is

the son of God. When Jesus took his own life,

took his soul out of his body, and at his

demand was dead. Surely this is the son of God.

And we see faith in Cornelius Centurion. Later his family,

after Jesus' resurrection, became powerful leaders in the church and

wrote some books of the Bible. His disciples, all empowered

by the Holy Spirit, drank of that bitter cup of suffering,

and most of them died as martyrs. There's hope for

all of them. So is it I, Yes, I believe so.

But new life is also for each one of us

that calls on Jesus' name, Peter said in his sermon.

Read this in closing after Pentecost a short time later,

and it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call

on the name of the Lord shall be saved. So

as we examine ourselves and ask is it I, how

and when is it I? If we call on the

name of the Lord, we shall be saved.