12th May 2011

John 18:1-11 – Jesus Arrested

• “Opting Out”
• I have never been arrested.
• I have been chased by German officials for breaking an underground train in Berlin and I have been frisked by the police whilst spread eagled and up against a metal fence in Manchester.
• But I have never been arrested.
• God was though.
• Jesus is arrested like a common criminal.
• And He allowed it to happen. In fact verse 4 informs me that He already knew it was going to happen.
• On several occasions and through several ways Jesus was given the temptation to opt out.
• He had a supernatural opt out – angels could have rescued Him.
• He had a human opt out – the disciple with the sword could have rescued Him.
• He had an independent opt out – He could have recued Himself – when He said “I am” He associated Himself with God and the power knocked the soldiers to the ground.
• But He did not succumb.
• When we are tempted to opt out of our calling we have those three options presented to us . .
• We have a “supernatural” B plan – we do something similar to what God wants – it still brings glory to Him but deep down we know it is not exactly what He asked us to do.
• We have a Human B plan – we can always find people who will tell us its too hard and therefore cannot be God’s will – they even say ‘if you don’t have peace it cannot be God but mean if it’s not peaceful.
• We can have an independent B plan – we can rescue ourselves.
• We can save ourselves or we can fulfill our calling and allow God to save us.
• Almost every Pais applicant has had one of the same three temptations before they were about to come on; a loved one falls seriously ill, a chance of job is offered they were not expecting or a relationship with a member of the opposite sex presents itself.
• The Bible says there is no temptation that is not common to man.
• We all face the same temptations – we are not unique.
• In this matter it seems, neither ids God
• What makes Him special is He stepped out in faith knowing for a fact that it would hurt.
• We step out in faith only suspecting that it might.
• Challenged by Jesus’ courage today. Praying He will give me some of that.