Who is in control?

John 19:1-16, Part 1

This is the first part of a sermon on John 19. In this passage, the question of who is in control takes center stage. Does everything happen by the laws of nature and the exercise of human free will? Is God sovereign over everything that happens in this world, both good and bad?

 
 
 
 
 

Notes:

 

Questions:

“An act of God” …a natural hazard outside human control, such as an earthquake or tsunami, for which no person can be held responsible.
Wikipedia

“An act of God” (as a Christian would use this phrase) is something
good that happens, such as a positive surgical outcome or securing a
new job, to which credit is given to God.
Hennig

  • What about when bad things happen? Is God working? Who is in control?

  • What about the Covid-19 pandemic, is this an “act of God”? Is God responsible?

  • Does everything happen by the laws of nature and the exercise of human free will? Or, is God sovereign over everything that happens in this world?


Scripture:

“Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
John 19:7-11

  • Who is in control? Pilate (human free will)? Or God (sovereignty)?


But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread
has turned against me.’ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
John 13:18,21

  • Who is in control? Judas (human free will)? Or God (sovereignty)?


“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross… “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2:22-23,36

  • Who is in control? The Jews (free will)? Or God (sovereignty)?


If we are subject to humans acting freely (and to nature that acts by arbitrary “laws”), then how can we trust God? If God is sovereign, in control over everything that happens, then “no person can be held responsible.” Are we just God’s puppets? It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9:16-21

The answer to this question—”Who is in control?”—should have a profound effect on how you live your life.

Pastor David Hennigsermon, control, john 19, series1