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Jesus in HD 184: A Steady Hand on the Wheel (of YOUR Life)

Jesus in HD 184: A Steady Hand on the Wheel (of YOUR Life)

Last updated on: December 20, 2016 at 5:03 pm by Christian Podcast Central

Jesus in HD 184: A Steady Hand on the Wheel (of YOUR Life) 2016-12-20T17:03:35-08:00 Christian Podcast Central

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It was an epic one-two punch to the gut.

Jesus’ gut, not to put too fine a point on it.

A brutal betrayal coupled with a devastating denial by two of Jesus’ handpicked and beloved disciples.

In this PODCAST, I am referring of course to Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s three-time denial.

If there is a silver lining to these increasingly billowing clouds, it is this: There is a clear pattern emerging here in John 13. A pattern that tells quite a tale, striking subtext to the entire crucifixion story.

A pattern that should illuminate for you a bright, blazing beacon of hope to light your way during your darkest hours and most difficult days.

But, before we dig into this pattern, we will begin by reading Peter’s words that he spoke in the upper room to Jesus in John 13:37-38…

“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”

38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.

Now, emerging from Jesus’ prophetic words that Peter would deny Him three times is this incredible and undeniable truth: Every time we face situations that are, by all outward appearances, spinning hopelessly out of control, there is a steady hand on the wheel of our lives that is very much in complete control.

If you think about it, if anyone throughout history had reason to feel as if their life were spinning hopelessly and completely out of control, by all outward appearances, it was Jesus. However, in all actuality, He was very much in control of every detail of Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and Jesus’ crucifixion at all times.

To grasp this, we need to become familiar with the word “antinomy”. Antinomy is another word for a paradox, or an apparent contradiction between two equally valid principles, truths, beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable.

And the truth is that antinomies exist all throughout the Bible.

For example, Jesus is 100% God, AND He is 100% human. But, how can one person be 200% of anything? It can’t be. But, it is. He isn’t 50/50 God and human – a living antinomy.

Another example: did John write the Gospel of John, or did God write it? The answer is a resounding YES. God did not dictate the Scriptures to its writers. John and the others were not just mindless stenographers. No, every Biblical writer had their own unique style. For instance, John wrote in the most simplistic Greek – more simple than any other book in the New Testament. Yet, he wrote the very words of God.

Yet another example: was Mary, Jesus’ mother a virgin? Yes. Was she pregnant with Jesus? Also, yes. How can this be??

Did Jesus choose you for salvation, or did you choose Jesus? Yes. You see, if you tilt onto one side or the other of this argument, you will find yourself in a theological trap from which there is no Biblical escape. If you emphasize strictly the fact that Jesus chose you, then you end up in the Reformed Calvinistic camp. On the other hand, if you emphasize the fact that you chose Jesus, then you end up in the Armenian camp. But, the Biblical truth is right in the middle… or even across both sides of the argument. Jesus chose you. You chose Jesus. Two independent actions, not linked with a “because” anywhere in the equation. This can’t be true. But, it is.

Finally, did Jesus predict Peter’s denial because He knew in advance that Peter would deny Him, OR did Peter deny Him because Jesus decreed that he would? YES. Likewise, who calls the shots in our lives? Are we destined to pay the price for our poor choices or other people’s poor choices; OR is God truly sovereign and use each and every one of our heartaches for our good and His glory? YES.

Yet, the fact that there are antimonies – apparent contradictions – throughout the Bible only strengthens, not weakens my faith. I am profoundly comforted by the fact that there are aspects of God’s working in my world that I cannot begin to figure out.

Getting back to this week’s passage in John 13, Peter’s denial was indeed a choice that Peter made AND an action that Jesus controlled. Jesus also controlled the number of times Peter would deny Him, as well as the timing that it would take place.

This amazes me. You would think that after the second denial, Peter would think “Oh my… Jesus just said that I was going to do this. I need to stop at two!” Yet, Peter didn’t stop. He consciously chose to deny Jesus three times that night/early morning.

Also, how could Jesus be deeply troubled by circumstances that He, Himself controlled, as we read a few verses earlier in John 13:21,

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

Whenever we face daunting situations, Jesus' hand is in control There it is. Divine sovereignty collides with human responsibility.

So, this begs the question – What is causing you to be deeply troubled?

Who is calling the shots in your life? You? Someone you know? Or is God, who will use every heartache for your good and His glory? The answer is YES!

The Bible strikes the perfect balance between these arguments. We humans are responsible for our own choices. Consequently, we do not yield to fatalism and we do not yield to despair. Additionally, God is sovereign and always in control. Yet, we are not mindless puppets.

These collide to produce in us HOPE.

Jesus talked about this in John 10:17

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

Did you catch that? Jesus is doing the sacrificing, and Jesus is doing the resurrecting. Therein lies the antimony.

Who killed Christ? The Romans? The Jewish leaders? The mob who cried out for His crucifixion? God, who gave His only begotten Son? Jesus, who voluntarily laid His life down? Judas, who betrayed Him? Peter, who denied and disowned Him, thus refusing to defend Him?

Who called these shots? All of the above? YES.

You gotta understand this… human responsibility not withstanding, from start to finish, in this – Jesus’ darkest hour – Jesus was in complete control. Look again at John 10:18. Jesus said, “I have the authority to lay my life down when I want to.”

His control extended to and beyond the means and the timing of His suffering and death.

The one and only reason He allowed Himself to suffer and be killed was because He loves you.

And, out of His love, in your darkest hour, Jesus is equally in complete control.

Out of all this emerges beauty out of your ashes, His radiance out of your darkness, His glory out of your calamity. God’s promise to make good even out of what men intend for evil held true in Jesus’ life and it holds true in each of our lives today.

In the same way the Holy Spirit comes to us and helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself knows our need and at the right time intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words.27 And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes before God] on behalf of God’s people in accordance with God’s will.

28 And we know with great confidence that God who is deeply concerned about us causes all things to work together as a plan for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)

That’s God’s promise to you.

Even though our world may seem daunting, depressing, and overwhelming, we are never helpless. Because, side-by-side with human responsibility lies God’s sovereignty. And He, in His sovereignty, has declared to you this precious promise: So, too, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bares us up in our weakness. We may not know how or what to pray and it doesn’t matter. He does our praying for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs and aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves. And He keeps us present before God.

And we know with GREAT CONFIDENCE that God, who is deeply concerned about all of us, causes all things to work together as a plan for our good, for those who love God and are called according to His plan and His purpose.

And that is you.

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