From Prayer to Victory-Doug Crum

Sunday's sermon presented by Doug Crum 03/29/26


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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling on the ground. When he rose from prayer, he went back to his disciples and found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. He went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. He went back and again found them sleeping because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and he went back once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to his disciples and he said to them, Are you still sleeping? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise and let us go. Here comes my betrayer. Now Judas knew the place that they were because Judas, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priest and Pharisees. They were carrying torches and lanterns and weapons. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. Arrest him and lead him under guard. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Rabbi, and kissed him. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, asked them, Who is it that you want? Jesus of Nazareth, they said, I am He. When Jesus said, I am He, they drew back and fell on the ground. And so again, Jesus asked, Who is it that you want? Jesus of Nazareth. I told you that I'm he, Jesus answered. If you're looking for me, then let these men go. This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled. I have not lost one of those that you gave to me. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. When Jesus' followers saw what was going on, they said, Lord, should we strike with our swords? Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. This servant's name was Malchus. Put your swords back in its place, Jesus said, for all who draw the sword die by the sword. Do you not think I cannot call on my father? And he will not at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would scripture be fulfilled that say it must happen this way? No more of this. And he touched the man's ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard and the elders who had come for him, Am I leading a rebellion that you come at me with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you didn't lay a hand on me. But this is your hour when darkness reigns. Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. Then all the disciples deserted and fled. A young man wearing nothing but a linen garment was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. They bound Jesus and brought him first to Ennes, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jews that it was good that one man would die for all the people. Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus and went into the courtyard. You're not one of his disciples, are you? The girl at the door asked Peter. I am not, he replied. Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. I have spoken openly to the world, Jesus replied. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me, surely they know what I said. When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. Is this the way that you answer the high priest? If I said something wrong, Jesus replied, testify to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, then why did you strike me? Then Anis sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas, the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. When the group had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, This man was with him. But Peter denied, Woman, I don't know him. The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking at evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they couldn't find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some came and gave this false testimony against him. We heard him say, I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days will build another not made by man. Yet even their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood before them and asked Jesus, Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the mighty one and coming on the clouds of heaven. The chief priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? You've heard this blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death. The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking him and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, Prophesy! Who hit you? And they said many other insulting things to him. After a little while, those standing around Peter said to him, Surely you're one of them, for your accent gives you away. And then he began to call curses down on himself and he swore to them, I don't know the man. And just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him. Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times. And he went outside and he wept bitterly. At daybreak, the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus would let was let out before them. Are you the Christ? They said. And Jesus answered, If I tell you, you would not believe me, and if I ask you, you would not answer. But from now on, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the mighty God. And they asked, Are you the Son of God? And Jesus replied, You are right in saying that I am. Then they said, Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard from his own lips. Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. So Pilate came out to them and asked, What charges are you bringing against this man? If he were not a criminal, they replied, we would not have handed him over to you. And then they began to accuse him, saying, We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes paying taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ a king. And Pilate said, Take him yourself and judge them by your own law. But we have no right to execute him, they objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken, indicating the kind of death he was going to die, would be fulfilled. Peter went back inside the palace, summoned, Pilate went back into the palace, summoned Jesus and asked, Are you the king of the Jews? Is this your own idea? Jesus asked, or did others talk to you about me? Am I a Jew? Pilate replied. And Jesus says, My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. You're a king, then, said Pilate. And Jesus answered, You're right in saying that I'm a king. In fact, it was for this reason that I was born and that I came into the world to testify to truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. What is truth? Pilate asked. With this, he went out again to the Jews and said, I find no basis for a charge against him. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, Don't you hear the testimony that they are bringing against you? But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge, to the great amazement of the governor. But they insisted he stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and he's come all the way here. When Pilate learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at the time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased because for a long time he was wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he had hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate had become enemies, and now they were friends. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, and said to them, You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence, and I have found no basis for the charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. As you can see, he has done nothing that deserves death. Therefore I will punish him and I'm going to release him. Now it was the custom at the feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionist who had committed murder in the uprising. Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews? asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priest had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priest stirred up the crowd to have Pilate ask for Barabbas instead. They shouted back, No not him, give us Barabbas. With one voice they cried out, Away with this man, release Barabbas to us. What then shall I do with this Jesus who was called the cross? And they all answered, Come is gonna find him! Why? What crime has he committed? What they shall come in all the lobber! Come on, he's gonna find him! Come on, he's gonna find him. For the third time he spoke to them, why? What crime has this man committed? I found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him punished and I'm gonna release him. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. Then the governor soldiers took Jesus into the praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and they put on a scarlet robe and they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They placed a staff in his right hand and they knelt in front of him and mocked him. Hail, king of the Jews! They spit on him and they took the staff and they struck him on the head again and again. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him. When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, Here is the man. But as soon as the chief priests and the officials saw him, they shouted, Crucify! Crucify! But Pilate answered, You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him. But the Jews insisted, We have a law, and according to the law, he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God. When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid. And he went back inside to the palace. Where did you come from? He asked Jesus. But Jesus gave no answer. Do you refuse to speak to me? Pilate said. Don't you realize that I have the power to either free you or crucify you? And Jesus answered, You would have no power over me if it was not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed you over to me is guilty of the greater sin. From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the Jews just kept shouting, If you let this man go, you're no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar. When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat. Here is your king, Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, Take him away, take him away, crucify him. Shall I crucify your king? We have no king but Caesar, the chief priests said. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but instead an uproar was starting. I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility. And all the people said, Let his blood be on us and our children. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder and surrendered Jesus to their will. And when they had mocked him, they took off his purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. Carrying his own cross, he went out. A certain man from Cyrene named Simon was passing by on the way from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing. Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. It was the third hour when they crucified him. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took bread and he broke it. And he gave it to his disciples and said, Take eat. This is my body which is broken for you. And so at this moment, as we join together to remember the sacrifice of Jesus, I want you to be reminded that this is the broken body of Jesus. And this morning, as we come together to remember his sacrifice, I pray that we not only focus on his broken body, but how he calls us to have broken hearts and broken egos and broken regrets. Let us set all of those aside and remember the sacrifice of Jesus. Would you bow with me? Father God, as we examine the death of your son, we are just heartbroken. We want to cry out, no, stop. God, rescue him. Jesus, thank you so much. For allowing yourself to be broken for us. As we partake of this, may we do this in remembrance of you. It's in your name that we pray. Amen. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Many of the Jews read the sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. The chief priest and the Jews protested, Do not write the King of the Jews, but that this man claimed to be the King of the Jews. But Pilate replied, What I have written, I have written. When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them. And all that remained was the undergarment. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. Let's not tear it, they said to one another. Let's decide by lot who gets it. This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled, which said, They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their head. You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself. Come down from the cross and we'll believe in you. In the same way, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders mocked him. He saved others, they said, but he can't save himself. He's the king of Israel. Let him come down from the cross if he's the son of God. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants to. For he said, I'm the son of God. The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine and vinegar and said, If you're the king of the Jews, save yourself. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him. Aren't you the Christ? Save yourselves and us. But the other criminal rebuked him. Don't you fear God since you're under the same sentence? We are punished justly for what we've done for our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said, I tell you the truth. Today you will be with me in paradise. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister. Mary, the wife of wife of Clopus and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple, whom he loved standing nearby, he said, Dear woman, here is your son. And to the disciple, here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over the whole land. About the ninth hour, he cried out, Eloy, Eloy, Lama Sabotany. Which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? When some of those standing there heard this, they said, He's calling Elijah. Later, knowing that all was completed, and so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I'm thirsty. Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, It is finished. And Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And with that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. After they had taken of the bread, Jesus took the cup and told his disciples, drink from this, all of you. This is the cup of the new covenant, which is given for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. And so as we partake of this cup in just a moment, I pray that you will be reminded that it's more than just some amount of juice. Instead, you will know that as we drink it, we proclaim the death of Jesus and what he gave up for us. Would you pray with me, please? Father God, as we continue this communion, we are mindful of the sacrifice that you made and the sacrifice that your son made. And Lord, we just pray that we will come to you humbly, that we will come broken, acknowledging the fact that you came to save us. And it was your blood that was offered. I pray that as we partake of this, we remember Jesus and how He gave all for us and what that blood does for us. It's in Jesus' name that I pray. Amen. When the Centurion and those who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, Surely he was the Son of God! When all the people had gathered to witness this sight, saw what had taken place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things. Now it was the day of preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus, they found that he was already dead. So they didn't break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. These things happened so that the scriptures would be fulfilled, not one of his bones will be broken, and another scripture that says, they will look on the one they have pierced. With Pilate's permission, Joseph of Arimathea came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it with the spices in strips of linen. This was in accordance with the Jewish burial customs. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his new tomb that he had cut out of the rock, because it was the Jewish day of preparation, and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance of the tomb and went away.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where he prayed. They led him through the streets in shame. They sat upon the Savior, so pure and free from sin. They said crucified.