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Crucified King
This morning we are going to look at Jesus’ crucifixion.
We have already looked at the trials that led up to the crucifixion.
We have already seen the betrayal, cowardliness, and attitudes of those that wanted Jesus crucified.
These things are readily apparent in the pages of John’s gospel.
But even in the midst of those things, I want us to remember something that can be easy for us to forget.
Jesus wasn’t a helpless victim.
He wasn’t out of control.
He wasn’t a pawn by the religious leaders or Pilate.
Jesus was in control of the entire situation.
From beginning to End, John’s Gospel illustrates the power and magnificence of Jesus.
John wants us to see Jesus as God in flesh.
John wants us to see Jesus as sovereign or in control of every event in his life, including his death.
Throughout the events of the gospel we are continually reminded that the time for Jesus’ death had not arrived.
That the events leading up to his death were not set in motion, that is until Jesus says that they are in John 12:23 “23 Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
We have also seen that Jesus is willingly giving up his own life.
John 10:18 “18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again.
I have received this command from my Father.””
And Last week we see that he holds the authority over Pilate and the Jewish Leaders.
John 19:11 “11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above...”
Jesus is aware of his calling.
He is resolute in his mission and
He is in control of the situation.
We will also see this in the scriptures we are going to read this morning.
John makes a special effort to let us know that everything that happens at the crucifixion is to fulfill scripture.
And again b/c Jesus is the creator and the one who came down from heaven, he is making sure that the scriptures he authored are fulfilled by the events that are taking place.
Not one thing regarding Jesus’ crucifixion was accidental or circumstantial.
There was purpose in it all.
John also records it the way that he does, b/c there is purpose in his description.
His purpose is “so that you may believe.”
That being said, John includes and excludes things found in the other gospels.
But everything that is included is purposeful and everything that is excluded is also purposeful.
I don’t want us to get too hung up on those things this morning, so we are going to focus on what John tells us.
Before we do, let’s pray.
Crucified King
The crucifixion of Jesus isn’t narrated in a horrific way here in John’s gospel.
Jesus is handed over to the soldiers and made to carry the cross.
Most likely he would have only carried the cross beam and not the entirety of the cross.
The vertical beam was usually left at the crucifixion site and the cross beam was attached when the execution was going to happen.
One of the glaring omissions of Jesus’ journey compared to the other gospels is that John doesn’t include Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry the cross.
Instead, Jesus carries the cross himself.
What is happening here is that Jesus carried the cross until he couldn’t carry it anymore, and then Simon helped him out.
But initially, John wants us to see that Jesus is the one carrying the burden to the Cross.
He is the one that has been whipped and condemned all the while being innocent.
He is the Shepherd king laying down his life for his sheep.
In John 18-19, John takes special effort to make sure the audience that reads his gospel knows that he is portraying him as King.
Jesus is the messiah.
The savior.
The king of all creation.
This is seen in the exchanges with Pilate during the Roman Trial.
This is seen in the mockery placed on Jesus with the crown and robe.
This is also seen here by what Pilate inscribes above Jesus’ head on the cross.
It wasn’t unusual for the Roman leader to write or have written for him the crimes of one sentenced to be crucified.
This would act as a warning to those traveling in and around the city that there is a proper way to act and if you don’t act that way you will be taken care of in the most brutal of ways.
The place of crucifixion was near the city, so many people, would see the sight.
In fact, crucifixions and capital punishment in general was a widely viewed event.
It was entertainment for the people.
So many people would see the three being crucified.
Especially b/c the Passover brought in a lot of extra people to the city.
Jesus was on full display for all of Jerusalem to see.
And Pilate’s inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” was a way for Pilate to poke at and antagonize the Jewish leaders.
That’s why they wanted it changed.
That’s why they petitioned Pilate to rewrite the inscription.
But for whatever the reason, Pilate discovered his backbone in this moment and refused to change it.
John tells us that the Inscription was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
This is important and serves a greater purpose than Pilate could ever have known.
Aramaic was the language spoken by the Jewish People.
Latin was the Official language of the Roman Empire.
And Greek was the universal language of Commerce.
Pilate’s decision to display Jesus’ condemnation in all three of these languages shows us the universality of Jesus’ death.
That Jesus didn’t just die for the Jewish people.
But his death is for anyone who will believe.
Jew or Gentile.
Jesus exaltation on the Cross draws all types of men to him.
That’s what Jesus said in John 12:32 “32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.””
Here that truth is on full display.
Scripture Fulfilled: Divided Clothes
As a Roman Executioner, one of the perks you recieved was the right to take from the guilty whatever you wanted.
Much like a robber rifling through the pockets of their victim, the executioners were granted the right to take from their victim.
And here John tells us that those crucifying Jesus, took his clothes.
This would have included his belt, sandals, and outer tunic.
But there was one piece of clothing that was most majestic and beautiful.
It was a seamless tunic.
This would have been an expensive piece.
It held value and they didn’t want to tear it.
So they cast lots to see who will receive it.
John tells us that this was to fulfill scripture.
Psalm 22:18 “18 They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.”
Psalm 22, is known as a Messianic Psalm.
A Psalm written by David about the coming Messiah.
And here we see part of that Psalm fulfilled in the actions of others.
Again we see God’s hand and sovereignty over the situation.
There is no accidental happening at Jesus’ Crucifixion.
This is the first of 3 times that John outright refers to Scripture being fulfilled in the actions that took place at the cross.
While those soldiers are spending time figuring out what to do with Jesus’ clothing, the scene shifts to Jesus, his friend, and his mother.
Jesus’ Compassion
We see here in John’s gospel the only people mentioned at Jesus’ crucifixion were John and 4 Women.
What John wants us to see here is Jesus’ compassion and care for his mother.
Jesus saw his mother and John standing there and he commissions John to take care of her.
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