Jesus Placed Between Two Criminals

Lesson #315

We ended the last lesson with Pilate delivering Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified. “So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha” (John 19:17 ESV). The soldiers took Jesus from Pilate, but John doesn’t give much detail about what happened. John simply tells us that they placed the cross on Jesus and he went to the place called The Place of a Skull. We are not told that along the way Jesus collapses and Simon of Cyrene was taken from those who lined the way to the cross and forced him to carry the cross (Matthew 27:32). John says, “he went out”. This going out was in keeping with the Jewish requirement that executions take place outside the camp or city (Leviticus 24:14, Numbers 15:35-36, Hebrews 13:12). So, the place of the skull was near the city, but outside the walls. The exact location is becoming clearer as information is being discovered.

Wherever the location was, “There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them” (John 19:18 ESV). Jesus was not crucified alone, but with two other convicted criminals. Jesus was numbered and reckoned among transgressors, but he was not a transgressor of the law of God as charged by men and treated as such. He was nailed to the cross, but he was without sin and as a result he was qualified and willing to take our place by taking on himself our sin and dying because of its curse. His death provided justice for us, allowing God to have mercy on us and by grace provide the gift of salvation.

Having been nailed to the cross Pilate added an inscription: “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”” (John 19:19 ESV). It may have been customary to affix a sign on the cross describing the offence, however, the sign placed on the cross of Jesus did not imply any offence or disgrace. The title Pilate chose, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”, does not imply guilt, but seemed to be an attempt to avenge himself indirectly on the Jews because they had just extorted an unjust sentence of death from him for an innocent man. The title Pilate wrote was not based on his belief, but on the charge the Jews brought against him; it was God who guided Pilate to write what he did to announce who Jesus really was. To emphasize the importance of that title, the Spirit caused the title to be written in three languages as we will see in the next lesson. 

Prayer

Father, how meaningful the journey has been to this point, to see your hand guide events and people, to see the tension between the sinless Son of God and sinful men, and to see your plan for our salvation stay on course. Before humans were created, you had a perfect plan for our salvation. Likewise, before we were ever born you had a plan for each of our lives, which you will carry our just as you did the plan for our salvation. All of the people you chose, each with a plan as to how they would develop to form a perfect body of Christ. We are many members, but we make up one body indwelt with the Spirit. Father, we really need to take time and try to wrap our mind around this.

Jesus Delivered to be Crucified

Lesson #314

As the last lesson ended, so did the conversation between Pilate and Jesus. “From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”” (John 19:12 ESV). Pilate continued to grow in his conviction that Jesus was innocence and became more unwilling to condemn him to death as the Jews wanted, but one way or another they would get what they wanted because it was the will of God that Jesus die on the cross for our sin. The Jews now turn on Pilate and point out that he is not acting like a friend of Caesar.

At the time the reigning emperor was Tiberius, but since the reign of Julius Caesar all emperors were called Caesar. During the latter part of his reign, Tiberius was the most cruel, jealous and wicked king to sit on the Roman throne. If the Jews passed the information on that Jesus had called himself a king and that Pilate had done nothing about it, this would put Pilate in a very bad light with Tiberius, which is something he could not allow to happen. “So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha” (John 19:13 ESV). With Pilate now personally at risk he is ready to pronounce the final sentence and brings Jesus out to a place called The Stone Pavement and sits down on the judgment seat. The judgment seat is believed to be a raised area used for official judgments, but its exact location is uncertain.

“Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”” (John 19:14 ESV). Since there is disagreement on the time mentioned here I will say nothing in addition to what John has written. The important point is that Pilate has surrendered to the demand of the Jews as he says to them, “Behold your King!” “[The Jews] 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.”” (John 19:15 ESV). Pilate seems to taunt them with the statement, “Behold your King!” and with their hatred of Jesus they shout back with passion to have him crucified. Once more Pilate questions them by saying to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” With the reply from the Jews that they have no king but Caesar, Pilate yields to their demands and delivers Jesus to be crucified: “So he delivered him over to them to be crucified” (John 19:16 ESV). The crucifixion will be carried out by the Roman soldiers, acting under the direction of the chief priests.

Prayer

Father, here is an example where justice did not prevail; where evil won out and the power of darkness, working through the Jewish leadership, claim the victory. Little do they know that their victory, which will ensure that Jesus goes to the cross, is actually what you were planning on. In a similar way in countries of persecution where justice does not prevail, Christians are being falsely charged and condemned, some to death. Like in the case with Jesus, you are using this perversion of justice to advance the gospel. It is clear that you allow trials in our lives and use them to produce in us Christ-like character. I don’t believe the western church embraces this belief very strongly because it upsets our desire for comfort. 

The Frustration of Pilate

Lesson #313

Since the Jews were not making any progress with Pilate with their charge of being a king, they make a new charge; that being the Son of God. This causes great concern for Pilate, so “He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer” (John 19:9 ESV). Pilate brought Jesus out to the people and announced to them that he found no guilt in him and now in the face of the charge of being the Son of God, Pilate takes him back into his headquarters again to ask Jesus privately where he was from. He wasn’t concern of his earthly beginning but more of his origin and nature. There are many suggestions of why Jesus remained silent at this point; each being a speculation. When Pilate asked Jesus, in John 18:37, if he were a king, “. . . Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” His answer implies that he was born as a baby in human flesh, but that he was from outside the world and that he came into the world to testify to the truth. Pilate treated that answer with impatience and so I believed Jesus thinks the same answer would not be received now and chooses to remain silent. Pilate was not ready to hear the truth from the voice of the Son of God, so that voice did not speak.

In frustration “. . . Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”” (John 19:10 ESV). Here is a man of pride who feels fear not knowing who he is really dealing with and he tries to increase the level of fear in Jesus by declaring that the life of Jesus resides in his hands. Pilate believes he has the power to condemn Jesus to death and he wants Jesus to fear him, but Jesus is in control and “[he] answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”” (John 19:11 ESV). Pilate is a proud Roman official who believes he has great power, but Jesus tells Pilate that any authority he has over him is granted from above. Any power that Pilate has over Jesus will be in accordance to God’s plan for why he sent Jesus into the world; to die for our sin. As we watch Pilate we sense that his conscience is bothering him, which indicates that he is involved in sin, but his sin is not as great as those who delivered Jesus up. That would include Judas who delivered Jesus to the Jews and the Sanhedrin, especially Caiaphas, the high priest, who as God’s representative, declared that he should die.

Prayer

Father, through our study of John we have clearly seen two layers of understanding: the natural and the spiritual. Many statements that Jesus made were viewed from the natural and not understood. For example, how can one be born again. Physically it is impossible, but at the spiritual level it is necessary and possible. Here on earth there is struggle between good and evil, but overlaying it like frosting on a cake is God’s will and sovereignty that allows and limits what happens to allow his plan to succeed. Father, we see that tension in this lesson as Pilate tries to free Jesus, but the Jews continue to press for his death. We will soon see Pilate break under this pressure and send Jesus off to be crucified, thus allowing your will to continue to be fulfilled. I find this to be true with my own life. I thank you for the transformation you are bringing about in my life.  

Innocent, but a New Charge

Lesson #312

We ended the previous lesson with the verse: “When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”” (John 19:6 ESV). If Jesus had just come from being scourged, he would show marks of cruel punishment. As Jesus stands quietly and with meekness before the chief priests and the officers, they are infuriated and with hatred for who is their King and Messiah, and cry out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” These Jews are determined on evil and cannot be reasoned with. Every argument used to defeat their plans seem to encourage them to press on with even greater determination to overcome him.

In total frustration, Pilate sternly says to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” At this point Pilate is satisfied of the innocence of Jesus and will not pronounce the death sentence. If you want Jesus dead, then you take him yourselves and you crucify him. You take the responsibility and assume the consequences because I don’t want to and do not believe that I should and remember, Pilate would have said, you will need my consent and without it you will stand guilty before the law and will face justice for your actions.

The Jews, hearing this, bring a greater charge: “The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”” (John 19:7 ESV). On the original charge of being a king, the Jews were now convinced that Pilate would not grant the death penalty, so they bring a different charge and pressure him again. The Jews had already arraigned Jesus on the charge of calling himself the Son of God and condemned him for blasphemy (See Matthew 26:63-65).

“When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid” (John 19:8 ESV). Because of the teaching of Jesus and its support by his miracles, Pilate probably had some idea that Jesus was someone rather unusual, but now to have Jesus accused of being the Son of God, he probably wondered who Jesus really was. The conscience of Pilate was probably beginning to bother him, causing him to fear the vengeance he might suffer if he put to death an innocent man who might have some special relationship to a god. It is clear that Pilate is convinced that Jesus is innocent and even for a pagan this additional pressure from the Jews about who Jesus is, is causing serious agitation within him.

In the next lesson the drama will continue as Pilate again confronts Jesus to try to determine who he is.

Prayer

Father, how amazing this is, that Jesus had to be condemned by sinful men to die on a cross in a public setting as a sinner. He was without sin, but being condemned as a sinner he took upon himself our sin and died in our place thus setting us free to be clothed with his righteousness to be able to stand before a righteous and holy God. How amazing that out of such evil you were to bring our salvation. In a similar way in countries of persecution, you are bringing out of such evil the growth of the kingdom of God. 

Hail, King of the Jews!

Lesson #311

In the previous lesson we left Jesus with the soldiers, who had just forced a crown of thorns onto his head and put his robe back on. Then: “They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands” (John 19:3 ESV). Matthew gives more detail: “And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”” (Matthew 27:28 – 29 ESV). In sportive mockery these soldiers abused Jesus not realizing that he was the King over all and the Messiah and in their judgment they will have to bow before him when they see him for who he really is. What a time of horror that will be for them.

After the abusing of Jesus by the soldiers, “Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”” (John 19:4 ESV). I believe Pilate was impressed with the patience and meekness of Jesus through his questioning and physical abuse and was convinced that Jesus was innocent and he went out to the Jews to report that he found no guilt in him. Pilate was anxious to release him and be free of this pressure to sentence an innocent man.

“So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”” (John 19:5 ESV). To this point, John has not said that Jesus had been scourged, but only flogged. Other gospel writers seem to think that by this time Jesus had been scourged. My answer to why the differences is that we have four different witnesses writing what they seem to remember after the passing of a number of years. Should God have guided them more carefully? These kind of differences are seen today in our trials when different witnesses report on the same situation and so I am not overly concerned by this. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” Look at his suffering – is this not enough? Pilate wanted to release him, but the Jews had other plans: “When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.”” (John 19:6 ESV).

We will end the lesson at this point and start the next lesson with verse 6.

Prayer

Father, this is an interesting situation. We know from our past study that your plan was to send Jesus into the world and allow sinful men nail him to the cross to die for our sins. Here we see the tension between the innocence of Jesus and power of darkness to hang him on the cross. We see you allowing evil to do your will because if good had won and if Jesus was released, then your will would not have been carried out. Sometimes maybe you allow evil to impact our lives to accomplish your purpose. We should think about those in countries of persecution who are suffering and dying for their obedience to the Lord’s command to be witnesses. Lost sheep are being found through a powerful witness fueled by the fire of persecution. Father, I fear that we don’t understand this concept. Why should we sacrifice our comfort and instead suffer and maybe die to be obedient to your call on our lives? It appears that maybe the world has gotten into our lives. 

A Crown of Thorns

Lesson #310

We have come to a new chapter, but the narrative of chapter 18 continues with the trial of Jesus and the ultimate success of the Jewish leaders in overcoming the stubborn will of Pilate to release Jesus. Looking ahead through chapter 19 we find we will be covering the topics of: Jesus delivered to be crucified, the crucifixion, and his burial.

Thus, continuing from chapter 18: “Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him” (John 19:1 ESV). Pilate would not have personally flogged Jesus, but delivered him over to others who do that. Notice that Pilate had him flogged not scourged. Looking at Matthew 27:26, one sees a possible second beating: “Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified” (ESV). The flogging comes before the sentencing and before Barabbas is released, then after releasing Barabbas, Pilate has Jesus scourged and delivered to be crucified. It was customary to scourge the person who was to be crucified and at this point Jesus hasn’t been sentenced to be crucified. I believe the flogging was a lesser punishment than scourging and that Pilate was hopeful that by releasing Barabbas and punishing Jesus with a flogging, he could satisfy the Jews.

Note that flogged in John 19:1 comes from emastigosen and scourged in Matthew 27:26 comes from phragellosas; two different Greek words. A flogging is the infliction of punishment by dealing blows or whipping while scourging is a beating with a scourge. Flogging is designed to bruise not break the skin while scourging is designed to shred the skin so it hangs down in pieces. I confess there is confusion here because Matthew says, “having scourged Jesus” which seems to imply the same time as the flogging in John. The commentaries are divided on this so I must leave this unresolved and stay focused on what John is saying and move on to verse 2.

“And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe” (John 19:2 ESV). The crown of thorns and the purple robe are two examples of mockery of the claim of Jesus being a king. It appears from Luke 23:11 that Jesus was sent from Herod to Pilate wearing a gorgeous purple royal robe. This robe would have been taken off before Jesus was scourged. After being scourged, a crown of thorns was placed on his head and the robe put back on him. The crown of thorns may point back to the disobedience of Adam and as a result he would experience thorns and thistles among the good plants. This crown is a reminder of the curse on us because of our sin; a curse that, as our king, Jesus was about to take on himself in our place. The crown of thorns and the robe may be a way of satisfying the rage of the Jews by implying that the accusations which were brought against Jesus were true.

Prayer

Father, like Jesus was condemned to death without any evidence of guilt, so too our brothers and sisters who are brought to trial and condemned without real evidence. The suffering and death of Jesus purchased our salvation and from the suffering and even death of those under persecution, the church expands. Jesus promised we would be hated as he was and for many this is played out with great suffering even death. Father, we who are living in comfort and safety need to learn about them and pray for them. 

Jesus Is Left in Limbo

Lesson #309

We will pick up where we left off in the last lesson. “Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him”” (John 18:38 ESV). The more I think about Pilate’s response of “What is truth?” the less sure I am that it was said in jest. I say this because back in verse 31, “Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.”” because at that time the Jews were unable to furnish a formal accusation. It is very possible that Pilot was simply frustrated with the Jews for trying to get him to sentence Jesus to death for no substantial reason. Pilot has neither the time or the will to go along with the Jews and goes from the palace back outside to tell the Jews that he finds no guilt in him.

Pilate’s statement of innocence’s to the Jews should have brought this episode to an end, but Pilate gives the Jews an option when he says: “But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”” (John 18:39 ESV). This option allows God’s plan to continue to move Jesus closer to the cross. In mockery Pilot refers to Jesus as their king and wants to know if he should be released to them to satisfy the Passover custom of releasing one prisoner. There is no doubt how the Jews will respond. If Jesus were released, then they had accomplished nothing toward ending the life of Jesus.

“They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber” (John 18:40 ESV). The Jews did not want Jesus to be released to them. They wanted to keep him in the hands of Pilot to deal with. In the next lesson, which begins chapter 19, we will learn what Pilot did with Jesus.

 

Prayer

Father, this is a short lesson, but the chapter abruptly ends. It is clear that a purpose of sending Jesus to earth was to have him die on the cross as a means of purchasing our salvation. I find it interesting how you are allowing the sin of the Jews and Pilot to carry out your will to have Jesus condemned to death on the cross without any evidence. In countries of persecution, you are allowing evil men to cause great suffering, even death, of believers to further the kingdom of your beloved Son. It is amazing how you can take that which is evil and out of it create something beautiful.