What Will We Do With Jesus? John 19:1-15 Introduction

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1 Introduction We move from the accusation and examination of Jesus to the scourging of Jesus and the sarcasm directed towards Jesus and the ultimate rejection of Jesus. In this chapter of John s Gospel we are drawn to the innocence of Jesus; the attempts of Pilate to release Jesus and the hardness of heart of the religious leaders. How do you soften the hearts of men? How do you awaken the hearts of a people whose hearts are hard to the claims of Christ and the Gospel of God? The Bible warns Do not pervert justice (Lev.19:15). Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent--the Lord detests them both (Prov.17:15). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. awakened the conscious of a country whose soul had lapsed into a coma; he shook us and shook us until we had to wake up; he cried like an Old Testament Prophet Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We live in a world where people feel free to slander Jesus. We live in a world where people feel free to reinvent Jesus; reinvent his life, reinvent his death, reinvent his resurrection. Bible teacher Dr. Erwin Lutzer has rightly written; No other name has inspired such great devotion and so much controversy; no other person has been tweaked to serve so many agendas (see Slandering Jesus; p.6). We think of justice as something right, fair, deserved, appropriate. Justice is achieved when an unjust act is redressed and the victim feels whole again. Justice also means the offender is held accountable for his behavior. Persecution (vv.1-3) John 19:1 (NKJV) So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. Scourging often resulted in death. Long leather strips were attached to a wooden stick; with lead balls or pieces of broken bone or glass attached to the end of the strips; they were designed to lacerate the flesh; the hands of Jesus would have been tied securely above His head; it was the custom of the Romans that the presiding centurion would preside over the punishment; until the victim was near death; Jewish trials allowed for 40 lashes minus one (for mercy s sake). Let me help you understand. The first blow would have knocked the wind out of Jesus. The second blow would have cut the skin. As the punishment proceeded bits and pieces of flesh would have stuck stubbornly to the weights of lead or glass or bone. In some cases vital organs were exposed; and those who survived were maimed for life. Pilate had earlier ruled no basis for a charge (John 18:38). The scourging is technically illegal. 1

2 Jesus does not have Roman citizenship or the protection of influential friends. In Luke s gospel we are told that Pilate informed the mob that he would punish him and then release him. We are left with the impression that if Jesus could be sufficiently hurt, sufficiently persecuted, sufficiently humiliated, that would satisfy the crowd and still stop short of death. John 19:2 (NKJV) And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. The average Roman soldier had no love for the average Jew. There were noble exceptions. We are not told what evil thought prompted one of the soldiers to find a thorn bush and braid the thorns into a cruel crown and press the thorns on the Savior s brow. But we know their very existence owes to Adam and Eve and the curse in the Garden (Gen.3:18). Jesus is turned into a caricature of a king. With a mock crown and a mock robe called a sagum; this is the scarlet or purple robe of the Governor s soldiers; the body of Jesus would have been shivering in seizure like episodes; quivering, badly beaten; the soldiers press a long slender reed into his shaking hands as an emblem of mock authority. John 19:3 (NKJV) Then they said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they struck Him with their hands. John 19:3 (NRSV) They kept coming up to him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! and striking him on the face. Early Greek manuscripts include the phrase erchonto pros auton went up to him again and again (NIV). The accounts in Matthew and Mark include the information that Jesus was handed a mock scepter, a small thin reed. The soldiers render mocking oaths of allegiance; shouting Hail, King of the Jews ; they would tear the small reed from his trembling fingers and hit him in the face; others struck him with their fists; and others spit in his face at point blank range. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus did not open his mouth or complain. Compromise (vv.4-7) John 19:4 (NKJV) Pilate then went out again, and said to them, Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him. Pilate apparently had retired back into the palace but returns perhaps with his wife Claudia Procula; in one more effort to free Jesus in spite of the howling mob. In John 18:38 the same word fault (aitia) means cause or reason; again used in the technical or legal sense; there is no basis for a charge. 2

3 Once again Pilate appeals to the mobs sense of justice, of fairness, of mercy and pity. But Pilate s appeal for justice falls on deaf ears! People are interesting. They want justice for others but mercy for themselves. John 19:5 (NKJV) Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, Behold the Man! Did Pilate expect the vision of a man, bruised, beaten, pulverized to awaken a sense of mercy; a sense of common decency; humanity? A declaration of innocence; coupled with a terrible beating; would certainly cause good and decent people to call for His release! The phrase of Pilate has been repeated in every generation; Ecce Homo. There is Jesus; He is man as God intended man to be; inhabited by God. We see a man; a perfect man, an innocent man; being treated by fallen men; one Bible teacher wrote; Here sin in all its ugliness met holiness in all its beauty. This is Jesus at his worst. But Jesus at His worst is still better than any man, all men everywhere at their best. I suspect it is here that Pilate washes his hands in a basin and includes I am innocent of the blood of this just person; you see to it. At that point the people answered, His blood be on us, and on our children (Matt. 27:24-25). I believe before Jesus was actually executed Judas went and hung himself in despair. It would not be long before Caiaphas would lose his position as high priest; the house of Annas would be destroyed by an angry mob of Jews; and his son dragged through the streets, scourged and murdered. Jerusalem would be dragged into a major revolt; with tens of thousands of its inhabitants killed and crucified. The Jews would be scattered throughout the land and then the world; humiliated, outcasts, persecuted, ostracized and scorned by almost every non-jew. John 19:6 (NKJV) Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate said to them, You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him. The sight through the religious leaders and officers into a rage! The mock crown and the mock robe was more than they could stand! Jesus of Nazareth our king! Jesus of Nazareth in spite of all his goodness, and all his miracles and all his teachings, could not give them what they really wanted! Pilate is baffled. How could these people require more? What will Pilate do? The Roman Publius Syrus said He hurts the good who spares the bad ; but this man was good not bad. Popular musician and part-time philosopher Jimmy Buffet used to say; Indecision may or may not be my problem. Samuel Johnson the famous Puritan writer commented; Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. 3

4 For the third time Pilate renders a verdict of not guilty. I find no fault in Him. Pilate told them; You take Him and crucify Him --as if he could shift the responsibility of killing an innocent man--from his shoulders to their shoulders. But nobody can really do that. When it comes to Jesus; each of us must make our own decision. But it is more than simply a decision. We must yield ourselves to His innocence and admit our guilt. Pilate has tried Jesus as a man and found Him not guilty. Now the religious leaders will introduce a new dimension into the trial of Jesus. Christ s claims to Deity. If Jesus is not guilty of any Roman Law; if he has committed no crimes worthy of death according to the Roman legal tradition; we propose he be put to death on the grounds that he being man makes himself out to be God. John 19:7 (NKJV) The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. What is the law that the Jews are referencing? Leviticus 24:16 (NKJV) And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. The Jews accuse Jesus of making the extraordinary claim of being the Son of God. Was it a crime to be the Son of God? The Jews understand the claim of Jesus to mean related to God in a unique and special way. Jesus claims to be God. The messages of Jesus and the repeated miracles of Jesus prove Jesus to be God. But the hard hearted sinners refuse to consider the evidence. Superstition (vv.8-11) John 19:8 (NKJV) Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, What does Pilate think of the claim? Pilate is convinced the man is innocent. If the religious leaders think Pilate will be persuaded with this new bit of information; it only makes matters worse--if in fact Jesus has some connections with deity. Clearly Jesus is an ordinary man; or Jesus is not an ordinary man! If Jesus is not an ordinary man; in what way is Jesus an extraordinary man? In the ancient Greek and Roman world there was certainly a pantheon of gods and goddesses; and there was the belief that Greek and Roman gods sometimes visited mortals and produced offspring that were both human but with god-like qualities and capabilities. 4

5 Pilate had dealt with a lot of criminals. Pilate had peered into the eyes of liars, thieves, con-men, rebels, and charlatans. Jesus was no criminal. There were in his eyes not even the hint of deceit; even after the beating Jesus was calm, unafraid. There was something else about this man Jesus; a sense of dignity, royalty. He must find out more about this extraordinary claim to be the Son of God. What if its true? But that s absurd! God in Galilee? But wait there is an urgent message from Pilate s wife; the granddaughter of Augustus; Jesus is taken into a private audience chamber. John 19:9 (NKJV) and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, Where are You from? But Jesus gave him no answer. Why didn t Jesus answer Pilate? Why didn t Jesus tell Pilate the truth about coming from Heaven and being God s Son? Jesus has told Pilate the truth. Pilate has rejected the truth. John 19:10 (NKJV) Then Pilate said to Him, Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You? Pilate s boast becomes Pilate s own sentence of guilt and personal condemnation. Pilate has the power of a human being; placed in a position of authority by other human beings. Jesus has the power of God; placed in the position of God by God. God is supreme-and human beings have no power unless God gives it to them. Do you have the power to crucify Jesus? Do you have the power to release Jesus? If you know Jesus is innocent (19:4); and you can rule on Christ s trial based on the evidence; why not let Him go? Pilate is in the hands of God. But Pilate is still responsible before God for the choice Pilate makes and is guilty of sin (see verse 11). R.Kent Hughes: Christ was the free man! Power resided with him, not with Pilate. He alone could do as he pleased. Pilate wanted to release Jesus in the worst way, but he could not. If ever a man was caught and crushed like a helpless doll on the wheel of life, it was Pilate! (see page 433). People may not have the power to kill Jesus all over again; but they do have the power to reinvent Jesus; so that Jesus can become something more in keeping with their own worldview. Former participant in The Jesus Seminar Robert W. Funk--maintains the fiction Jesus was only a man; What we need is a new fiction...we need a new narrative of Jesus, a new gospel, if you will, that places Jesus differently in the grand scheme, the epic story. John 19:11 (NKJV) Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin. 5

6 Jesus is making a reference to Caiaphas and the religious leaders. They are the ones who delivered Jesus over to the Roman Governor. The sundial casts its shadow over the third hour of the watch; nine o clock in the morning. Once again Pilate takes his seat in the courtyard of the palace. Decision (vv.12-15) John 19:12 (NKJV) From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. This is crass political blackmail. The Emperor Tiberius lived like a recluse on the isle of Capri. Like Howard Hughes in the last generation; Tiberius lived alone, surrounded only by those he could trust. Any hint of unfaithfulness meant Caesar s wrath. If Pilate could be found guilty of disloyalty to Caesar; the repercussions would be catastrophic for Pilate. John 19:13 (NKJV) When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. (The Stone Pavement). John 19:14 (NKJV) Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold your King! John reminds the reader that it is Passover Eve. Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate on the Eve of the Jewish Passover. We cannot artificially divorce the Jesus of history from the Jesus of faith. The final rejection takes place at the sixth hour; on the Passover Eve; the very hour the priests on the Temple Mount began the slaughter of the Passover lambs; the Lord God of the universe calculated and accomplished that the sacrifice of Jesus would coincide with the sacrifice of the lambs. Pilate s words continued to be bent towards God s perfect plan. John 19:15 (NKJV) But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The religious leaders reply; We have no king but Caesar! Over and over again the Lord God revealed Himself as the sovereign Lord of the nation (Judges 8:23; 1 Samuel 8:7; 12:12). You will remember in chapter 6:15 the Jews wanted to crown Jesus king! In chapter 12:13 they hailed Jesus as king! Jesus threatened the religious leaders security; Jesus threatened the religious leaders authority, position, power. Jesus threatened their livelihood, honor. Jesus would not allow them to continue to function in their selfishness and their religion. 6

7 Yes--their religion. Wasn t the religion of Jesus the same as the religion of the chief priests? Conclusion The answer in one sense is no. The religious sentiments of the Jewish leaders had more in common with Pilate. Both loved material wealth, both loved power and position; both loved pleasure, both loved celebrity status, both were thrown onto the stream of human history and travelled down the current of God s ultimate plan and purpose. Both had their minds set on earthly things (Phil. 3:19). Both were slaves to sin (Romans 6:17). Both had as their king Caesar. Who is your king? There is an ancient Latin saying; Justice is the foundations of kingdoms. Jesus is a king. The angel told Mary; you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:30-33). He came unto His own, and His own did not receive Him (John 1:11). When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory (Matt. 25:31). Justice demands that our sins be punished. Paul told the Corinthians And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Rom.3:22-23). Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just (Blaise Pascal). 7