While Jesus was being tried, Peter was being tested. And John wanted us to be sure that we saw both things as they were happening at the same time. When we look at John 18, we discover that this portion of the chapter was written carefully, taking us back and forth between Jesus and Peter, seeing how each responded to the pressure that was being placed upon them. Jesus was being falsely accused, but Peter was only being asked to stake his position, to hold his place, to keep his faith. They were both having their faith tested, their character pressed. They were both where they belonged, but they had not equally prepared for what they were facing. Last week we talked about the difference being in the garden. In between the upper room and Jesus’ arrest, Peter and Jesus were in the same places, with the same opportunities, but had very different responses. Jesus was overcome by sorrow, but rather giving into that emotion, he shared it with both his Father and his friends. He chose fellowship and prayer even though I am sure his flesh, his heart and his emotions would have preferred something else. When we think about the situation Jesus was in, he could have run into a sorrow like Elijah had done. He could have chosen violence like Moses or even Peter did. He simply could have rejected the calling altogether like Jonah. But Jesus felt the sorrow, he embraced his Father and he leaned on his friends. In this week’s sermon, Pastor Abie Kulynych helps us understand the necessity to have our “Hearts Exposed” for change and true transformation to take place.
“Hearts Exposed,” John 18:12-27
