BEHOLD YOUR KING

BEHOLD YOUR KING

John 19:1-22

Our text this morning picks up where we left off last week, in the Judgment hall of Pilate’s court.

You will remember that it is Passover day and the Jewish temple priests and the Pharisees are waiting outside the court.

They are trying to avoid any unwilling contact with an unclean Gentile that would disqualify them from observing the Passover meal later that evening.

You will also remember that last week we studied the exchange that took place between Jesus and Pilate, in which Jesus witnesses to Pilate of His identity and purpose.

You will recall that Pilate was particularly concerned with the accusation that Jesus claimed to be a king.

Jesus had arrested Pilate’s attention and made the conversation personal before answering Pilate’s question, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.”

Jesus had then challenged Pilate to accept the truth of His identity, to which challenge Pilate scoffed and stormed from the room lest Jesus see the conviction in his eyes.

The crowd outside was still intent on crucifying Jesus, so Pilate tried one more tactic, which is where we pick up in Chapter 19 today.

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There is a singular theme throughout this account, the idea and the claim that Jesus is a king.

In the previous chapter we found that Jesus had substantiated that claim, but had explained it, in a way, to Pilate that had satisfied the Roman judge that Jesus’ claim was not an illegal claim, nor a threat to the Roman Empire.

It was, however, Pilate’s tool to turn the event around and mock the Jews that had brought Jesus to him.

Pilate also clearly had it in mind that he might satisfy the Jews with something short of crucifixion.

This eventually led to more suffering than either option would normally entail.

We saw in verse 1 that, even though under conviction, Pilate had hardened his heart against the truth of Christ’s identity and showed little concern for human dignity and life as he sentenced Jesus to be scourged.

The scourging to which Jesus is sentenced here is particularly brutal, and the Roman soldiers to which Pilate commend Jesus are cruel and hard.

They took special pleasure in beating this Jewish “king” and made the most of their opportunity to hurt him.

In verse 2 we saw those same soldiers making a crown, laced from the thorns of an unfriendly vine.

They crown him unceremoniously with this homemade wreath and then wrap him in an old soldier’s cape of Roman army issue.

Then, with this rough maroon robe hanging from his torn and mangle back and a wreath of thorns pressed down over his forehead, the soldier mocked him.

In verse 3 we se that they beat and tortured Jesus while mocking his kingship.

This went on until Pilate interrupted their sadistic fun.

It is in verse 4 that we see Pilate present his option to crucifixion:

He calls for the soldiers to bring him their beaten prisoner if he can still walk.

He reminds the Jewish crowd that in this man he has found no fault at all.

In verse 5 Jesus is pushed forward into view of the crowd.

They can see that he has been tortured, beaten and mocked.

He is still wearing the old soldier’s coat and the thorns have been imbedded into his brow.

Pilate encourages the crowd to look closely at the pathetic sight in front of them.

“Behold the Man!”

Having orchestrated this whole presentation, Pilate is now hoping that the crowd will recoil in horror at the suffering that is embodied in Jesus, and lose their thirst for more blood.

He has underestimated the forces that flow through the crowd that day.

Verse 6 rings with the sound of the temple authorities screaming as if possessed, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

Even hardened Pilate is sickened by their brutality and turns away with resignation.

Wanting no part in the crucifixion of Jesus, he tells the crowd to do it themselves, knowing that the Roman law forbade it.

Still the crowd is not satisfied.

They too know of the Roman prohibition and they have temple business to attend to.

The lambs were already lining up at the temple for them to slay this afternoon in preparation for the Passover feast.

In desperation the Chief Priests explain that Jesus must die by their law.

They reveal what it is that has riled them up so violently: Jesus had claimed to be the Son of God.

This last shout from the Chief Priest catches Pilate as he is walking away.

He stops in his tracks.

Verse 8 reveals that this statement put more fear than ever into Pilate’s heart.

It is most likely that Pilate was a loose adherent to Roman polytheism.

He believed in the pagan notion that there were many gods, some of whom procreated regularly and whose progeny would often visit the earth.

He knew the stories of misery that were supposedly because someone had angered the gods.

If this man was a son of one of the gods, he could be getting himself into real trouble.

Pilate rushes into the judgment hall and confronts Jesus again.

In Verse 9, Pilate is asking Jesus where he is from.

Jesus stands silence, perhaps focusing on breathing after such a beating he has undergone.

He knows that Pilate is on the wrong track, and his question is not worthy of an answer.

Verse 10 shows that even when he is scared, Pilate is not used to being ignored.

His anger creeps into his voice as he demands a response from Jesus.

He reminds Jesus that he has the authority to crucify or release Him.

To this Jesus reacts.

Verse 11 is Jesus’ answer to Pilate, a reminder in itself of the authority that He has over Pilate.

Not for an instant will Jesus relinquish His claim to Kingship.

It is His.

It is Who He is.

He may surrender to great suffering and humiliation for love of His subjects, but he will never surrender His Kingship.

Jesus gives Pilate some small consolation, in that, the greater sin is by the mob that has forced Pilate’s hand in this matter.

In Verse 12, Pilate appears before the crowd again seeking to release Jesus from custody and be done with this injustice.

The crowd threatens Pilate to gain their end.

They make it very clear that they will report to Caesar of Pilate’s disloyalty.

This does finally force Pilate’s hand, and he calls for Jesus to be brought out yet again.

Verse 13 opens up on the final scene of the trial, as Pilate steps into the judgment seat and has his prisoner dragged forward for sentencing.

Verse 14 reminds us of the coming events of Passover and the shortness of time to the slaying of the sacrificial lambs at the temple.

It also contains Pilate’s mocking cry, “Behold your King!”

It is this cry to which I would direct your attention this morning.

Pilate was convinced of Jesus innocence, but buckled under the pressure of insurrection to crucify Him.

Throughout the whole trial, Jesus had never given up His claim to be King, and Pilate gives Him that claim in his death.

He presents Him as King at sentencing.

In Verse 15 Pilate refers to Jesus as King again, mocking those Jews who had brought Him.

In Verse 16 the sentencing is over and the prisoner is being drug away to be crucified.

Verse 17 summarizes the scene of Jesus dragging his own cross toward Golgotha.

Verse 18 reminds us of the scene of the three crosses that stood on that hillside, with Jesus in the middle.

Finally, we see Pilate’s parting shot to the Jewish elite:

Verse 19, 20 reveals the claim that was written in three languages for all to see: JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS

Verse 21: The Chief Priests were not happy with this and tried to get Pilate to change the wording.

Verse 22: Our text concludes with Pilate’s statement, “What I have written I have written.”

This morning my challenge to you is to accept the Kingship of Jesus.

We can all picture Jesus suffering on the cross, and we are affected by the great love that motivated Him to suffer and die.

We can all see the silent prisoner in the face of accusations, because it was our sins that were laid on Him, and He was taking our guilt.

We all accept the suffering person of Jesus, but have you ever noticed that Jesus never relinquished His claim to Kingship?

While He has offered Himself as your only Saviour, He will never be satisfied as less than your King.

It is so easy for us to rule our own lives, and to make our own decisions, with the hope pf someday living forever with Him in Heaven.

But have you ever thought that you will be living with the One Whose Kingship you have rejected by not submitting to His rule?

It is time now to submit to His Kingship.

You and I have had enough time on the throne of our lives.

Let Him take His rightful place.

What is it that He is asking of you?

Is it a sin that you have held onto even though you are His subject?

Is it an attitude of rebellion to the authorities that He has placed in your life?

Is it a failure to be faithful to His word or His church?

Perhaps you have never accepted Him as Saviour.

If this is the case, you can submit to His kingship today, and be assured of your place with Him in eternity.

What Is Truth?

What Is Truth?

John 18:28-40

Our text picks up after the arrest of Jesus in the Garden and after Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin.

In order to understand the setting you must remember that Jesus was not observing the Feast of Passover when He instituted the Lord's Supper.

Rather, Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night before Passover Day which fell on Wednesday of that year.

After His arrest He was tried and harrassed under the darkness of night by the Sanhedrin and the High priests.

As soon as the sun broke on Passover Day, the priests and the Pharisees drug Jesus to the hall of Judgement to be tried by the Roman authorities.

The reason for this was they were intent on Jesus being crucified and shamed as only Rome was allowed to do.

Their limited authority would not allow them to crucify a criminal, so they brought Jesus to Pilate.

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The Priests' and Pharisees' aversion to enter the Gentile court sets the stage for this personal dialogue between Jesus and Pilate.

Normally the accusers would stand in the same hall and hurl their accusations.

The formalities of the normal proceedings would have certainly squelched any desire that Pilate may have had to know more about the accused.

However, with the events of Passover looming, the accusers insisted on staying out of the gentile court lest they be defiled and not be able to observe the Passover meal that night.

So Pilate is alone with the prisoner and takes the opportunity to question him more fully.

During this questioning we see Pilate trying to maintain an emotional distance from Jesus.

He has some pride and, as a Roman authority figure, doesn't want to appear too interested in this Jew.

On the other hand we see Jesus drawing him into the conversation, controlling the flow of the dialogue.

It struck me for the first time, having read the events of this chapter many hundreds of times, that Jesus is reaching out to Pilate!

He is seeking to reveal Himself to the one who, He knew, would condemn Him to death.

The most striking part of the conversation is when Jesus makes the claim about His relationship to the truth, and Pilate jerks his head up.

He's never felt this before, a burning feeling of conviction in his own heart!

He thought he was just enjoying another of many philosophical conversations about religious beliefs, when suddenly Jesus brought him to the point of deciding whether he would embrace truth if it stood before him.

The feeling was uncomfortable and Pilate reacted the way many do when faced with such a choice... He ran.

He closed the conversation with the first smart-alec comment that came to his mind and exited the judgment hall.

I wonder if, over the next couple of days Pilate concerned himself with how that conversation ended.

He most likely went over it repeatedly, like you and I do when we are involved in a debate or argument.

Should he have waited for an answer to his question?

Did he want an answer?

Was he more comfortable seeking for truth as an elusive and unattainable goal, or was he really seeking for truth?

Jesus brought Pilate to a decisive moment and, in that moment, Pilate failed.

Through the preserved pages of Scripture, Jesus is bringing you and me to the same decisive moment.

Every Person Must Embrace The Truth

1. Because some mean to distract you from the truth. (V33 the question was not Pilate's question)

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Today the doctrine of tolerance pervades our society as the highest attainable goal in philosophical pursuit.

It is a red herring.

Truth is attainable.

Settle for nothing less.

Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

2.) Because there is a penalty for failing to embrace the truth.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

(Illustration: Noyo Bridge)

3.) Because Truth Exists.

Relativism is self-contradictory, for if all beliefs have merit, and I believe relativism to be utterly false, then either my belief has merit, and relativism is false, or my belief has no merit and relativism is false.

“The Truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”

(Illustration: The earth rotates on its axis as it revolves around the sun.)

HOW THEN CAN WE EMBRACE THE TRUTH?

1.) By Hearing Jesus Christ's Testimony: V33-35

Pilate changed his question to the one he would have asked if he had not been under the influence of the mob outside: "what hast thou done?"

We must be willing to listen to the testimony of Christ if we are to make a decision about truth.

Jesus was always pointing out the unwillingness of people to hear him:

John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

He takes a singularly intolerant position here, but truth does not change for sake of comfort - it is truth, and must be heard.

The testimony of Christ is simple:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

This brings us to our second practical step towards embracing the truth:

2.) By Believing Jesus Christ's Identity: V36-37

Jesus claimed here to be a King, but not just any king.

He claimed to be a King of a spiritual kingdom.

It was his purpose to set up a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of men.

This is a kingdom that is above all other kingdoms.

As a King in the heart of a man - He has the first say.

He is a King of Kings.

I Timothy 6:13 ¶ I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Believing Jesus Christ's Identity means to be wholly submitted to His Kingship above all other influences or authorities.

Lastly, we come to the unanswered question of Pilate, the key phrase in this dialogue:

Pilate asked the question that came to his mind, because he had been bested in the dialogue with the Son of God.

It was a question that, even as it reach his mouth, scared him to speak it, so he laced it with sarcasm and then left lest Jesus answer it.

What is truth?

I want to challenge you to ask the same question, but do not leave the room before you get an answer.

3.) By Surrendering to Jesus Christ's Answer: V38

The truth is simple in that it is limited to that which Christ affirms, and yet it is complex as it applies to every facet of our lives.

So often we enter the presence of God with a quest for guidance, then, as we suspect what that guidance may be, we hurry away.

In doing so we are no better than Pontius Pilate, who would not surrender to the answer of Christ.

I challenge you to set aside your preconceived ideas and open the Word of God with a surrendered heart.

I am not asking you simply to believe me, but to believe God.

If you have come here today, with a question in your heart about how you might have a relationship with God, let me challenge you to stay around for the answer.

God has said, "there is none righteous, no not one."

God has said, "the wages of sin is death."

We need salvation!

God has said, Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Won't you embrace the truth this morning?

Child of God, I know how difficult it is to surrender to the answer of Christ, but there is great comfort in knowing that you have embraced the truth.

m� N s a @ � P� font-size:14.0pt'>Then we all saw the same great Saviour whose gift of eternal life we have accepted.

When we were without strength Christ died for the ungodly.

Now we are family.

We meet together, pray together, weep together, rejoice together and we stand beside each other in the spiritual warfare of this life.

We would be pleased of you would join us.