And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. (Luke 22:2)
And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”
But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And
immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. (Luke 22:55-60)
The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus away from the public eye because they feared the people. Peter denies association with Jesus, despite earlier claiming that he would die for him, and there can be no other reason than fearing that the people around him would drag him into the same position Jesus was.
Fear of man is a powerful motivator. It motivated Peter to lie and desert his best friend. It motivated the religious leaders reject the son of God and kill him. And it motivates pretty much everything we say or do. What will people think if I...?
The only solution is a better fear. The fear of God. Matt Chandler recently said we are like people who are scared of domestic cats but go and slap a lion in the face. Why do we care so little about what God thinks, but live our lives based on what other people think? When we see God's holiness and love it sets us free from the fear of man because we realise the one we should really fear is God, and in him we have nothing to fear because of Jesus.
He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. (Luke 22:10-13)
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” (Luke 22:21-22)
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34)
On the surface, it appears as though the wheels are coming off Jesus' mission. There are crowds following him, leaders plotting to kill him, one of his inner circle about to betray him and another that will deny having anything to do with him. It seems like out of control chaos, but throughout it all, Jesus is calmly in control.
He describes where they will have the passover meal. He tells them he is going to be betrayed. He tells Peter about his denial and subsequent restoration. No one takes Jesus life, he has the power to lay it down and lift it back up again. This is happening becuase He wants it to, that doesn't mean it's not difficult (see the garden of gethsemane) but he does it out of great love for us.
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
The second coming of Jesus sounds terrifying, and it is - some people will be fainting with fear. But it's not terrifying for those that know Jesus. In the midst of the signs in the sun, moon and stars, the distress of nations, the roaring of the sea, the fear, perplexity and foreboding, we can stand and look up. We look at Jesus' return with hope and confidence, not fear, because we know he's not coming to destroy us but to redeem us.
You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. (Luke 21:16-18)
This seems like a contradiction - some of you will be put to death... but not a hair on your head will perish. Contrary to how it seems in this life, death is not the end, it is not the worst thing imaginable that should be avoided at all costs. Death is not out of control if you're in Jesus' hands, where every hair on your head is known and protected. Some of you will die, but you wont perish, you will be with Him.
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent. (Luke 20:19-26)
Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars's and give to God the things that are God's. The things that belong to Caesar and therefore should be given to him were the things with his likeness or image on them. Therefore the things that belong to God and should be given to Him are the thing made in his image and likeness - us!
God's not after your money, it's much bigger than that. Everything about you belongs to Him, you are made in his image, give yourself to Him.
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
