Jeff Shelnutt Sermons

As the Passover pilgrim travels toward Jerusalem, he sings this Song of Ascent to his Helper. The Helper is present on your journey, consistently watches over you, is precise in His care, and takes you through the trial, not around it.

Having been charged with the capital crime of blasphemy by the Sanhedrin, Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate. If He is actually to be put to death, then Jesus must be found guilty of high treason by the Roman governor of Judea. Jesus intrigues Pilate, and the governor is not at all convinced of Jesus' guilt, though he is convinced of the chief priests' envy of Jesus. In an attempt to please the crowd, Pilate reluctantly agrees to Jesus' crucifixion. The release of Barabbas gives us a picture of the Gospel of God's grace.

While Jesus was on trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter was on trial in the courtyard down below. While Jesus stood firm before His accusers, Peter fell before his. Unlike Judas, however, Peter's remorse led him to repentance and ultimately, to restoration. Peter's transformation from who hewas on the cold night before Jesus' crucifixion to who he became as an apostle of the early church was only possible through the power of the Helper Jesus promised to send.

While Jesus was on trial before the Sanhedrin, Peter was on trial in the courtyard down below. While Jesus stood firm before His accusers, Peter fell before his. Unlike Judas, however, Peter's remorse led him to repentance and ultimately, to restoration. Peter's transformation from who he was on the cold night before Jesus' crucifixion to who he became as an apostle of the early church was only possible through the power of the promised Holy Spirit.

After His arrest, Jesus is taken to the residence of the high priest for what essentially amounts to a show trial. The court proceedings are abnormal, if not illegal. The witnesses are pre-arranged and dishonest. The Sanhedrin condemning Jesus will make sure they end up where they want to be. Jesus openly confesses to being Israel's Messiah, and more besides. The Son of God is charged with blasphemy for claiming divinity. What the Sanhedrin doesn't know as they sit in judgment upon Jesus is that they are the ones who are really being judged.

What does Judas' betrayal and the disciples' flight at the arrest of Jesus teach us? These things teach us about our need to practice repentance and to embrace disappointment. Not only this, but we see in the unnamed man who fled naked from the scene our need to be covered--not with a garment of our own making, but with the garment of righteousness provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, we observe three components of His prayer that apply to our own praying. Peter, James, and John are to be spiritually alert during this time, yet they fall asleep. Though we learn about praying in the will of God, the experience Jesus has before His Father is unique. Only Jesus will ever be called to submit to the Cross, for only He could bear the punishment for the sins of the world. We can only begin to fathom the depths of dread and anguish Jesus felt, not as He contemplated physical death, but as accepted the hell of separation from the love of God that the Cross would entail.

Jesus tells the disciples they will scatter when the Shepherd is struck. In doing so, they will fulfill prophecy and make their own choices to flee. But even before they fail, Jesus promises restoration. Failure may take us by surprise, but not God. He uses our missteps, mistakes, and even disobedience for our refinement.

The last Passover Jesus shared with His disciples was also the first celebration of the Lord's Supper. Jesus sets a pattern for receiving the bread and the wine, a practice that the church is commanded to regularly observe. We seek to answer three questions from this passage. Why do we eat? Why do we drink? And, why do we sing?

As Jesus sends two of His disciples to prepare for His last Passover meal, He knows exactly what is coming. God has a plan. Both Jesus and Judas choose to be a part of it. Jesus will choose to do that which is pleasing to His Father, just as it is written. Judas will choose to do that which brings condemnation down upon himself, just as it is written. Every Passover since Moses focused on freedom from physical slavery. From this point forward, Passover will represent freedom from spiritual bondage.