The Gospel of John: Pilate, Peter & Judas: Three Men Bound by Different Chains—Which One Are You?
In this sermon covering John chapters 18-19, the pastor explores the theme of being "Bound" by examining how various characters in Jesus' passion narrative were enslaved by different spiritual afflictions. The message begins with Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, where soldiers physically bound Jesus (John 18:12), yet the pastor emphasizes that while they could bind Jesus physically, they couldn't bind Him spiritually. This contrasts with how many people today are spiritually bound by various afflictions.
The first character examined is Judas, who was bound by greed. Despite walking with Jesus and witnessing His miracles, Judas betrayed Jesus because of his insatiable desire for money. The pastor warns that "greed is matched up with idolatry" (Colossians 3:5) and "always leads to moral corruption and unethical behaviors." He emphasizes that greed creates perpetual dissatisfaction because "you never have enough."
Next, Peter is presented as someone bound by denial. When questioned about his association with Jesus, Peter denied Him three times, demonstrating how fear-based denial can overtake courage. The pastor makes a contemporary application, suggesting many Christians today are similarly bound by denial, unwilling to stand firmly for the Gospel. Yet despite Peter's failure, Jesus didn't give up on him, and Peter later became "set on fire" by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, leading thousands to Christ.
The sermon then examines Pilate, who was bound by people-pleasing. Despite declaring Jesus innocent multiple times, Pilate ultimately surrendered to the crowd's demands because "he wasn't strong enough to stand." The pastor candidly shares his own experience with resisting peer pressure throughout his life, stating that God gave him "the spirit of I don't care" about others' opinions, while emphasizing that he does care deeply about people knowing Jesus and walking in freedom.
The religious leaders and mob are identified as being bound by religion, which the pastor defines as "man's normal attempt to reach God" through rules and systems. This contrasts with Jesus, who "made a way to him, broke all the rules, destroyed all the bounds." The pastor warns that religion "takes the focus of God's ways and directs them to man's ways," ultimately leading to "separation from God and eternity in hell."
The solution to all these bondages is found in Jesus' declaration on the cross: "It is finished" (John 19:30). The pastor passionately proclaims how these words break every chain—whether it's greed, people-pleasing, religion, bad health, generational curses, depression, anxiety, or any other bondage. This statement becomes a "battle cry of our hearts" that reminds believers that "the wrath of God has been satisfied" and complete freedom is available through Christ's finished work.
Throughout the sermon, the pastor emphasizes "the fear of the Lord" as a lost treasure within today's church. He clarifies that this holy fear isn't being afraid of God but rather "being afraid of being away from God." When we properly fear the Lord, we're freed from all other fears, including the fear of man that leads to people-pleasing. The pastor encourages believers to consistently ask, "What does God think about this?" rather than seeking human approval.