Last time in John 18 we saw that Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested. We saw Peter deny knowing Jesus 3 different times just as Jesus had predicted. We saw Jesus question and tried before Annas, Caiaphas, and Pilate. Pilate offered to release 1 prisoner as was the custom during the Passover. The crowd chose Barabbas instead of Jesus.
John 19:1-16 – Jesus Sentenced
Now in
this chapter Pilate, the Roman governor, had Jesus flogged. The soldiers made a crown of thorns and
placed it on His head. They clothed Him
in a purple robe and shouted at Him over and over again, “Hail, king of the Jews!” – John 19:3. They struck Him
in the face.
Flogging
was a dreadful kind of torture. Some
even died during flogging before they were ever crucified. Pilate thought by flogging Jesus if would
satisfy His accusers. Soldiers would
whip the prisoner with a long leather strap studded with bits of lead and bone
tearing the flesh to pieces.
Pilate
brought Jesus out to the people and once again he told them he could find no
charge against Him. The chief priests
and officials shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” – John 19:5. Pilate said to take Him and crucify Him and
that he found no basis for a charge against Him. The Jews insisted that according to the law
he must die, because He claimed to be the Son of God.
Pilate
was afraid. He feared the Jews would
report him to Rome so he didn’t want to offend them. He was also a superstitious Roman that
believed the gods came to earth and that they must be treated well or life
would be made miserable for him. Even
his wife said to have nothing to do with Jesus, because of a dream she had. (Matt.
27:19). So Pilate questioned
Jesus again asking Him where He was from, but Jesus didn’t answer. This angered Pilate telling Jesus that he had
the authority to free or to crucify Him.
Jesus
told Pilate that he had no power over Him.
Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews keep shouting, “Crucify Him!” – John
19:15. He knew Jesus was innocent,
but he was afraid of the Jews. He made
the choice to deliver Jesus to be crucified.
When we
live to please everyone so we can get ahead, we’re always fearful. We don’t want to offend people. It might get back to the boss. Sometime we fear God’s judgment, because we
don’t always live up to God’s standards.
When we put trust in Jesus as our Savior, we don’t need to fear people
or God’s judgment. We need to trust that
He has forgiven us through Jesus’ death on the cross. “Therefore there is
now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” – Rom. 8:1
Pilate
was arrogant, weak, and a self-serving man.
He wasn’t a strong or wise leader.
He was a people pleaser. Pilate
didn’t have anything against Jesus. He
knew Jesus was innocent. If he let Jesus
go free, it would anger the crowd even more and it might cost him his job. He was out for his own interests. He compromised his integrity to save his
career. He feared man more than God.
When
and how have you comprised your integrity?
How can
you speak the truth so others will listen?
Jesus
was spit on, hit in the face, scourged, wore a crown of thorns, mocked and
unjustly crucified. He could have call
12 legions of angels and destroyed His persecutors. But He didn’t. He bore all the abuse for all sinners. We wore the crown of thorns so we could wear
a crown of glory. He was clothed in a
robe of shame so we could be spotless and stand before God in white robes. He bore contempt so we could receive praise
and glory.
Principles:
God
wants all people to know Jesus.
God is
in control and over rules man’s evil schemes.
Trials
reveal who we really are.
John 19:17-27 – Jesus Crucified
Jesus
had to carry His own cross. The soldiers
lead Him to the place of the Skull.
That’s where they crucified Him along with 2 others. Pilate prepared a sign to the cross reading, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” – John 19:19. Pilate meant it as sarcasm; God meant it to
be truth. Jesus really was the promised
King of the Jews. Pilate wrote this to
mock the Jews. The Jews didn’t like what
Pilate had written.
The
soldiers crucified Jesus cast lots for His clothing. This was another prophecy fulfilled. “They divided my
garments among them; and for my clothing they cast lots.” – Ps. 22:18.
Jesus’
mother was there at the foot of the cross along with His sister, and Mary
Magdalene. Jesus saw His mother there
and told John to take care of her, which he did.
Jesus
was the fulfillment of all Old Testament sacrifices. He was “the Lamb of
God, who takes away the sin of the world.” – John 1:29. What a
Savior! He loved us so much that He died
for us while we were still sinners.
Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except
through me.” – John 4:16. Neither our riches nor good works can give us
access to God. Only Jesus.
What is
the cost of your sin? The Jews and the
Gentiles were guilty of the death of the Son of God. Pilate represents all human beings. He was worried about his reputation and
position in the world. He refused the
faith and truth Jesus offered. Many
people refuse Jesus and total commitment to Him for the same basic
reasons. None of us can escape eternal
destiny. It will be heaven or hell. We have a choice. Which side are you on? Do you reject Jesus’ deity or do you join
other believers in following and trusting in Jesus as your Savior of the world?
Next
week we will study John 19 part 2. Have
a blessed day and thanks for visiting my site.
Hope to see you here next time.
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