His Last Week: full Good Friday presentation

To inquire about a full presentation like this, or another part of Scripture, contact us through our website, outloudbible.com.

We share a special Good Friday presentation by reading John 11 through 20 aloud, following Jesus from Lazarus’ tomb to the cross and the empty grave. We end by sitting with Jesus’ words “It is finished” and what tetelestai means for our sin, our sentence, and our victory when we trust him. 

• Jesus raising Lazarus and calling himself the resurrection and the life 
• The leaders’ fear and the decision to plot Jesus’ death 
• Mary anointing Jesus and the crowd welcoming him as King 
• Jesus teaching about glory through death and walking in the light 
• Foot washing as a picture of humble love and true discipleship 
• Jesus predicting betrayal and giving the command to love each other 
• Comfort for troubled hearts and the promise of the Holy Spirit 
• Remaining in the true vine to bear lasting fruit 
• Jesus praying for protection, unity, and joy for his followers 
• Arrest, Peter’s denials, Jesus’ trial, crucifixion, and burial 
• Resurrection appearances, Thomas’ doubt, and belief without seeing 
• Tetelestai as paid in full, sentence served, total victory

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Transcript

Good Friday Setup And Purpose

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome back to the Out Loud Bible Project Podcast. This is Kelsey. And for today's Living Out Loud episode, we are doing a special presentation. This is Good Friday. If you are listening as the episodes come out. So happy Easter week to you. Happy Good Friday. And for Good Friday, instead of having a conversation about the things you heard earlier this week, Mike is actually just going to pick right up where he left off yesterday. And in John chapter 11 and read through the rest of the book, this is actually the presentation that we will take on the road with us and do live at churches or events. This presentation we titled His Last Week because John 11 through chapter 20, the end of the book, is really the depiction of Jesus' last week on earth. And so as we come into this Good Friday, this Easter weekend, we thought, hey, why not just do the out loud Bible experience presentation? Since that's where Mike is in the book of John anyway. And Mike and I were talking earlier this week, and we don't want to elevate any one portion of scripture above another portion of scripture. All of it is God breathed and all of it is useful for teaching and development of your spiritual life and your relationship with God. However, I did say to Mike, if there was only one portion of scripture, there was a if there was only one chunk of chapters that we had to read, to listen to, to study, you could spend your entire life diving into this last half of the book of John and the gospel message that lies within. And so our prayer for you is that whether you are listening to this on Good Friday and celebrating Easter with us here, or you're picking up this episode at a later date, may you be blessed and reminded of Jesus' love for you as he spent his last week on earth thinking about you and his sacrifice on the cross that would save you from your sins if you trust in him. So without further ado, here is John 11 through 20, read in the New Living Translation. This is his last week.

Signs That Trigger A Death Plot

Perfume, Palms, And Rising Tension

Glory Through Death And True Light

Foot Washing And A New Command

Remain In The Vine Through Trials

Jesus Prays For Unity And Joy

Arrest, Denial, Cross, And Burial

Empty Tomb And A Wounded Peace

SPEAKER_01 2:44

He lived in Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, Lord, your dear friend is very sick. But when Jesus heard about it, he said, Oh, Lazarus' sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God, so that the Son of God will receive glory from this. So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, Let's go back to Judea. But his disciples objected, Rabbi, they said, only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again? Jesus replied, There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day, people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night, there's a danger of stumbling because they have no light. Then he said, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I'll go wake him up. The disciples said, Well, Lord, if he's sleeping, he'll soon get better. They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. So he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and for your sakes, I'm glad I wasn't there, for now you'll really believe. Come, let's go to him. Well, Thomas, nicknamed the twin, said to his fellow disciples, let's go to and die with Jesus. When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Now I know that God will give you whatever you ask. Jesus told her, Your brother will rise again. Yes, Martha said, He'll rise when everyone else rises at the last day. Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never, ever die. Do you believe this, Martha? Yes, Lord, she told him, I have always believed you're the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who's come into the world from God. Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mortars and told her, The teacher's here and wants to see you. So Mary immediately went to him. Jesus had stayed outside the village at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus' grave to weep, so they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. Where have you put him? he asked them. They told him, Lord, come and see. And then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, See how much he loved him? But some said, This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying? Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. Roll the stone aside, Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, Lord, he's been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible. Jesus responded, Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe? So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here so that they will believe you sent me. Then Jesus shouted, Lazarus, come out. And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth, and Jesus told them, Unwrap him, let him go. Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen, but some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the High Council together. What are we going to do? They asked each other. This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this soon, everyone will believe in him, and then the Roman army will come and destroy both our temple and our nation. You don't realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed. He didn't say this on his own. As high priest at the time, he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation, and not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus' death. As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples. It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before the Passover began. They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around the temple, they said to each other, What do you think? He won't come for Passover, will he? Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately, so they could arrest him. Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from the dead, and a dinner was prepared in Jesus' honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with a fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, That perfume was worth a year's wages. Should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Not that he cared for the poor, he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples' money, he often stole some for himself. Jesus replied, Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You'll always have the poor among you, but you won't always have me. When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see him, and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him, and they shouted, Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel! Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said, Don't be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your king is coming, riding on a donkey's colt. His disciples didn't understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him. Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. And this was the reason so many went out to meet him, because they had heard about his miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, there's nothing we can do. Look, everyone's gone after him. Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Beth Seda in Galilee, and they said, Sir, we we want to meet Jesus. Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus. Jesus replied, Well, now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels, a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am, and the Father will honor anyone who serves me. Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, Father, save me from this hour? But this is the very reason I came. Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again. When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, This voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out, and when I'm lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. He said this to indicate how he was going to die. And the crowd responded, We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man anyway? Jesus replied, My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you still can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they're going. Put your trust in the light while there's still time, and then you will become children of the light. And after saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted. Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? But the people couldn't believe, for as Isaiah also said, the Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that their eyes can't see, and their hearts can't understand, and they can't turn to me and have me heal them. Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah's glory. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders, but they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue, for they loved human praise more than the praise of God. Jesus shouted to the crowds, If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I've come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I've come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I've spoken. I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it, and I know his commands lead to eternal life, so I say whatever the Father tells me to say. Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything, and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin, and then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with a towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, Lord, are you going to wash my feet? Jesus replied, You don't understand now what I'm doing, but someday you will. No, Peter protested, you'll never wash my feet. Jesus replied, Unless I wash you, you won't belong to me. Simon Peter explained, then wash my hands and my head as well, Lord, not just my feet. Jesus replied, A person who is bathed all over doesn't need to wash, except for the feet to be entirely clean. The new disciples are clean, but not all of you. For Jesus knew who would betray him. That's what he meant when he said, Not all of you are clean. After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, Do you understand what I was doing? You call me teacher and lord, and you're right because that's what I am. And since I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I've given you an example to follow. Now do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master, nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. I'm not saying these things to all of you. I know the ones I've chosen. But this fulfills the scripture that says, the one who eats my food has turned against me. I tell you this beforehand so that when it happens, you will believe that I am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me. Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me. The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table, and Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, Who is he talking about? So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, Lord, who is it? Jesus responded, It's the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl. And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, Hurry, do what you're gonna do. None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night. But as soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he'll give his own glory to the Son, and he'll do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you'll search for me, but you can't come where I'm going. So now I give you a new command. Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you're my disciples. Simon Peter asked, Lord, where are you going? And Jesus replied, You can't go with me now. But you will follow me later. But why can't I come now, Lord? He asked, I I am ready to die for you. Jesus answered, Die for me. I tell you the truth, Peter. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you'll deny three times that you even know me. Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There's more than enough room in my father's home. If this weren't so, would I have told you that I'm going to prepare a place for you? When everything's ready, I'll come and get you so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I'm going. No, we don't, Lord, Thomas said. We have no idea where you're going, so how can we know the way? Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you'd know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. Philip said, Lord, show us the Father, we'll be satisfied. Jesus replied, Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and still you don't know who I am? Anyone who's seen me has seen the Father. So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you've seen me do. I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I've done, and even greater works, because I'm going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, obey my commandments. And I'll ask the Father, and He'll give you another advocate who will never leave you. He's the host. Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans. I'll come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you'll see me. Since I live, you also will live. And when I'm raised to life again, you'll know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my father will love them, and I will love them, reveal myself to each of them. Judas, not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name, said to him, Lord, why are you gonna reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large? Jesus replied, All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them and will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I'm telling you is from the Father who sent me. And I'm telling you these things now while I'm still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative, that is, the Holy Spirit, he will teach you everything. And will remind you of everything I've told you. I'm leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you. I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I'm going to my father, who is greater than I am. I've told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you'll believe. I don't have much more time to talk to you because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going. I am the true grapevine, and my father's the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so that they'll produce even more. You've already been pruned and purified by the message I've given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it's severed from the vine, and you can't be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it'll be granted. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. I've loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I've told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, but your joy will overflow. And this is my commandment. Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for using my name. This is my command. Love each other But if the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you're no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world. So it hates you. Remember what I told you? A slave is not greater than the master? Well, since they persecuted me, naturally they'll persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they'd listen to you. They'll do all of this to you because of me, for they've rejected the one who sent me. They wouldn't be guilty if I hadn't come and spoken to them, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my father. If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty, but as it is they've seen everything I did, and yet they still hate me and my father. This fulfills what's written in their scriptures. They hated me without cause. But I will send you the advocate, the spirit of truth, and he will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me, because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry. I've told you all these things so that you won't abandon your faith for you'll be expelled from their synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they're doing a holy service to God. This is because they've never known the Father or me. Yes, I'm telling you these things now, so when they happen, you'll remember my warning. I didn't tell you earlier, because I was going to be with you for a while longer. But now I'm going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I'm going. Instead, you grieve because of what I've told you. But in fact, it's best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I'll send him to you. And when he comes, he'll convict the world of its sin and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you'll see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. There's so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he'll guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own, but will tell you what he's heard. He'll tell you about the future. He'll bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That's why I said the Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me. In a little while you won't see me anymore. But a little while after that you will see me again. Some of the disciples asked each other, what does he mean when he says, In a little while you won't see me, but then you will see me, and I'm going to the Father. And what does he mean by a little while? We don't understand. Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, Are you still asking yourselves what I meant? I said, In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth. You will weep and mourn over what's going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You'll grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It'll be like a a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she's brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I'll see you again. And then you'll rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven't done this before. Ask using my name, and you will receive, and you'll have abundant joy. I've spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I'll stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you'll ask in my name. I'm not saying I'll ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father. And his disciples said, Ah, last you're speaking plainly and not figuratively. Okay, now we understand that you know everything, and there's no need to question you. From this we believe that you've come from God. Jesus asked, Do you finally believe? But the time is coming. Indeed, it's here now, when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I'm not alone, because the Father is with me. I've told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart, because I have overcome the world. After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that he can give glory back to you. For you've given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you've given him. And this is the way to eternal life, to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. I've revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they've kept your word, and now they know that everything I have is a gift from you. I passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. My prayers not for the world, but for those you've given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you've given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I'm departing from the world. They're staying in this world. But I'm coming to you. Holy Father, you've given me your name, now protected them by the power of your name, so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of your name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost. Except the one headed for destruction, as the scriptures foretold. Now I'm coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in the world, so they would be filled with my joy. I've given them your word. And the world hates them because they don't belong to the world, just as I don't belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They don't belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth. Teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I'm sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. I'm praying not only for these disciples, but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one. Just as you and I are one. As you're in me, Father and us, I am in you. May they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I've given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one as we're one. I'm in them, and you're in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me, that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me where I am. Then they can all see the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began. Oh, righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do. And these disciples know you sent me. I've revealed you to them, and I'll continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them. After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples, and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and temple guards to accompany him. Now, with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. Who are you looking for? he asked. Jesus the Nazarene, they replied. I am he, Jesus said. Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with him, and as Jesus said, I am he, they all drew back and fell to the ground. Once more he asked them, Who are you looking for? And they replied, Jesus the Nazarene. I told you that I'm he, Jesus said. And since I'm the one you want, let these others go. He did this to fulfill his own statement, I did not lose a single one of those you've given me. Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave, but Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering my father has given me? So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest at the time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders it's better that one man should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching the gate, and she let Peter in. The woman asked Peter, You're not one of that man's disciples, are you? No, no, he said, I'm not. Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself. Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. Jesus replied, Everyone knows what I teach. I've preached regularly in the synagogues and the temple where the people gather. I've not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said. Then one of the temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. Is that the way to answer the high priest? He demanded. Jesus replied, If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me? Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest. Meanwhile, as Simon was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, You're not one of his disciples, are you? He denied it again, no, I'm not. But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus? And again, Peter denied it, and immediately a rooster crowd. Jesus' trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning, and then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn't go inside because it would defile them and they wouldn't be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked what's your charge against this man? We wouldn't have handed him over to you if he weren't a criminal, they retorted. Then take him away and judge him by your own law, Pilate told him. Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone, the Jewish leaders replied. This fulfilled Jesus' prediction about the way he would die. And then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. Are you the king of the Jews? He asked him. Jesus replied, Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me? Am I a Jew? Pilate retorted. Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But uh my kingdom's not of this world. Pilate said, So you are a king. Jesus responded, You say that I'm a king? Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true. What is truth? Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, He's not guilty of any crime. But, I mean, you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this King of the Jews? But they shouted back, No, not this man. We want Barabbas. Barabbas was a revolutionary. Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. Hail, King of the Jews, they mocked as they slapped him across the face. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, I'm gonna bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty. Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate said, Look, here's the man. And when they saw him, the leading priests and temple guards began shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him! Take him yourself and crucify him, Pilate said. I find him not guilty. The Jewish leaders replied, Oh, by our law, he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God. When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever, and he took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, Where are you from? But Jesus gave no answer. What why don't you talk to me? Pilate demanded. Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you? Then Jesus said, You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin. Well then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leader shouted, If you release this man, you're no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar. When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again, and then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that's called the stone pavement, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover, and Pilate said to the people, Look, here is your king. Away with him, they yelled. Away with him! Crucify him! What? Crucify your king? Pilate asked. Oh, we have no king but Caesar, the leading priest shouted back. Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross himself, he went to the place called the Place of the Skull in Hebrew Golgotha, and there they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either Side with Jesus between them, and Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, where the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek so that many people could read it. Well then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, Change it from the King of the Jews to He said I am King of the Jews. Pilate replied, No. What I've written, I've written. When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said, Well, rather than tearing it apart, let's throw dice for it. This fulfilled the scripture that said, They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing. So that's what they did. Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, his mother's sister Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, Dear woman, here's your son. And he said to this disciple, Here is your mother. And from then on, the disciple took her into his home. Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill scripture, he said, I'm thirsty. A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. And when Jesus had tasted it, he said, It is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath, and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover week. So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that the legs be broken and their bodies could be taken down. But the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you may continue to believe. These things happened in fulfillment of the scriptures that said not one of his bones will be broken, and they will look on the one they pierced. Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus, because he feared the Jewish leaders, asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body. When Pilate gave permission, Jesus came and took the body away, and with him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. And following Jesus' burial custom, they wrapped Jesus' body with the spices in a long sheet of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden where there was a new tomb never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover, and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and she said, They've taken the Lord's body out of the tomb and we don't know where they've put him. Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb, and they were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first, and he stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there. But he didn't go in. And then Simon Peter arrived and went inside, and he also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed. For until then they still hadn't understood the scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home. Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. Dear woman, why are you crying? The angel said to her. She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. Dear woman, why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who are you looking for? She thought he was the gardener. Sir, she said, if you've taken him away, please tell me where you've put him, and I'll go get him. Mary, Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, Happen I don't cling to me, Jesus said, for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers, find them, and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father. To my God and your God. Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, I have seen the Lord. And then she gave them his message. That Sunday evening, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. And suddenly Jesus was standing there among them. And as he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and at his side, and they were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. And then again he said, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. And then he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they're forgiven. If you don't forgive them, they're not forgiven. Well, one of the twelve disciples, Thomas, nicknamed the twin, was not with the others when Jesus came, and they told him, We've seen the Lord, but he replied, I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands. Put my fingers into them and place my hand into the wound in his side. Well, eight days later, the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. Peace be with you, he said. And then he said to Thomas, put your finger here. And look at my hands. Put your hand into my wound and my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe. My Lord and my God, Thomas exclaimed. And then Jesus told him, You believe me because you've seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me. The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him, you will have life by the power of his name.

SPEAKER_00 52:30

I've heard it said that as Christians, we ought to preach the gospel to ourselves every day. And so as we walk away from this uh portion, this half of the book of John, let's preach the gospel to ourselves. Let's be reminded of the sacrifice of Christ and what it actually does for us. When he was on the cross, he said, it is finished. And it is finished, translated into English, was the Greek one word, tetelistai. And tetelistai had multiple meanings. And one of those meanings was in a financial sense, a tetelist would be the stamp put on a debt when it was paid in full. The debt was completely paid, they would say tetelist die. It's paid in full, it's finished. Also, it was used in a judicial sense in court when a criminal had served their full sentence for a crime that had been committed, when the sentence was complete and there was no more time left to serve, it was tatelist die, it was finished. Thirdly, when a uh in a military sense, when a a nation would experience victory in battle or in war, they would cry out, tatelist die, it is finished, complete and total victory. And so as we remember Easter this weekend, whether it's Easter for you or not, remember Easter this weekend and remember to teleste. Remember that when Jesus was on the cross, he cried out, it is finished. And for you and for me, that means our debt of sin was paid in full by his death on the cross. It means that the sentence you and I ought to pay, paying with our very lives for the sins that we have committed, Jesus Christ served that sentence in full. For you and I, if we trust in Christ as our Savior, the victory is ours completely. It is finished. May that bless you. This Easter, this day, Tatalistai, it is finished. Thank God and amen. We'll see you next time.