MANY PEOPLE FAIL TO FIND JESUS AS SAVIOR BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING PSYCHIC & MYSTERIOUS

1. The Trial of Jesus continued one step at a time- before Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate, Herod, etc.
2. They thought to snare Jesus- to get from His lips something to use to condemn Him -
3. If we would look beneath the surface of men's behavior- and see the heart of man- ours are the same hearts- we need not make the same mistakes today!

I. "TELL US PLAINLY" JESUS WAS ASKED !

John tells us about Annas pulling strings, Caiaphas holding a council- and Jesus being accused

A.- JESUS BEFORE ANNAS (John 18:19-23) - THE SOLDIERS BROUGHT JESUS TO AN OLD, EX HIGH PRIEST

1. Annas was High Priest for 6-7 years- then gave his office to 5 sons- son-in-law, & Grandson
2. He ask Jesus of His disciples- seeking to snare them; then of His Teaching- to snare Him.
3. Jesus reminded him that His teaching had been public, nothing secret!!  Nothing magical

B.- JESUS WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS (Matt 25:57,59) AND THERE A MOCK TRIAL HELD

1. False witnesses were brought in, all they could produce was v.61- to rebuild the temple-3 days
2. This they would reason could only be done through magic- and many of them believed in black magic.
3. Jesus did not even honor their foolish remarks with an answer- v.63 -and was rebuked for it

C.- THE HIGH PRIEST FINALLY ASKED JESUS DIRECTLY FOR A PLAIN ANSWER TO A PLAIN QUESTION - 63b

1. The Question-"I adjure thee-tell us-whether thou be the Christ"- almost swearing at Jesus
2. The Answer- Mark 14:62-"I Am"/ Matt 26:64 "Thou hast Said" meaning was clear to those present
3. Jesus told them more - 64b- you will see "Power, Coming in clouds" -And so they shall!

But the plain words of Jesus produced terrible results- v.65- & like a mob- a decision- 66

II.- "PROPHECY UNTO US" THEY DEMANDED 67-68

The Sanhedrin turned their backs on Jesus and the men in charge of the jail took over-

A.- Luke 22:64 TELLS US THEY BLINDFOLDED JESUS, BEAT ON HIM, AND ABUSED HIM

1. They had to cover the piercing eyes of the Almighty - For he knew their hearts- see through
2. How cowardly- to buffet and spit on a helpless man- Mark 26:67 - He let them- for your sake
3. They knew not they were rough-handling the dynamite of God- -foolishness of men -

B.- THEY TAUNTED HIM " PROPHESY UNTO US, THOU CHRIST, WHO SMOTE THEE?"

1. They accused His miracles, & rebuilding the temple- of being cheap magic tricks-
2. He knew the minds of men- and could have told them- could have scorched them with a word
3. But He had come to earth to die- and He would allow nothing to keep you from being saved.

C.- MEN HAVE ALWAYS REACHED OUT TO THE PROPHETIC, MAGIC, MYSTICAL, AND HAVE MISSED GOD'S TRUTH

1. Men have sought their future through astrology, witchcraft, familiar arts & spirits,-
2. The Emperors of Rome even had their official soothsayers- & read fortunes- entrails of chickens
3. But the Early Christians burned any books of curious arts- separated themselves from magic

Men will go one direction or the other - your natural curiosity will destroy you.-

II- YOUR  CHOICE - PLAIN TRUTH OR FORTUNES

A.- WE HAVE OUR MODERN DAY FORTUNE TELLERS AND PSEUDO PROPHETS, AND THEY ARE IN AMERICA

1. The Futurists- use pseudoscientific devices- "Future Shock"- by Tofler & many others- planners
2. We have grand fortune tellers- Jean Dixon, Dorothy Allison -read news clipping
3. We even have preachers- Richard Ikeland & Neil Frisby of Phoenix- see materials-

B.- BUT GOD'S WORD IS PLAIN IN WHAT IT HAS TO SAY ABOUT FORETELLING THE FUTURE, BEWARE!

1. II Pet 1:2--21- No scripture is of any private interpretation- Study well for God's message
2. Matt 24:36-"No man knows the hour"- Jack Van Impe- missed on the Hippies destroying America
3. Acts 1:7- "Not for you to know the hour"- Would not be good for us to know tomorrow-

C.- BUT GOD'S WORD IS PLAIN TO TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE

1. Jesus Came to die- to save sinners- & God commands of us repentance- & confession of Christ
2. The Christian Life is ours to live- He will give us changed hearts- & we take care of work
3. The Future is in his Hands- & He is unfolding His plan before our eyes- with us or without us

I am glad that I know the Lord- So the cry of peace won't fool me- what of you?

I WANT JESUS TO BE MY SAVIOUR, NOT JUST A GLORIFIED FUTURE TELLER, & IF YOU LOVE HIM, YOU DO TOO!

1. Will you open your heart to Jesus- throw away your Ouija board and be saved!
2. Will you live for the Lord- come what may-! Say yes to His commands, desires, wishes-
3. The future will take care of itself!- And now watch God work!