The principle of worldly power is, “Destroy your enemies to gain life.” Everyone has their own vision for what “the good life” is and are often willing to fight over it. But this is because we do not understand God’s Kingdom. In this sermon on John 18:12 –27, wherein Jesus is brought to trial before Annas and Caiaphas, the high priest, Pastor Luke Herche shows that Jesus came not to destroy his enemies to gain life, but to die for his enemies to give life. And because of this, we are now free to rest in Jesus to find life and free to love our enemies to give it.

Part of a series on The Gospel of John.

From Sunday Worship, February 23, 2025.

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Want to go deeper? Take some time to reflect on the sermon with the following questions:


In what way were Peter and the religious leaders alike? How did that play out in this story?


What is your vision of the good life? How have you co-opted Jesus to bolster that vision? In what ways do you see Jesus as a threat to it?


What are you willing to “fight” for? In what ways can only Jesus provide the deep things we fight for? How does that free us to stop fighting?



Consider those in your life who are either a disappointment or a threat. What would it look like to love them this week? Take time to pray for opportunities to do just that.

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All Souls is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.