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
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
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
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.
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