John 19:1-11 - Enduring the Shame

Intro:

I. Enduring the Shame (vs. 1-3)

1. Illegal Flogging

a. Flogging was illegal until condemned as guilty.

b. Criminal would have their hands tied to a pole that was waist high. They would be bending over with their back exposed.

c. The whips were leather with bits of metal or glass embedded into the ends. The body would be literally torn open by these whips. Many people would die during the flogging.

2. Crown of Thorns and Purple Robe

a. A crown was twisted together from a vine with long thorns. The soldier put the crown on Jesus head and pushed it in, digging it into his skull.

b. They put a purple robe on him, which would stick to his bleeding shoulders and back, causing intense pain when the tore it off him.

3. Cruel Homage

a. With the purple robe on his back and the crown of thorns on his head, the soldiers continued to ridicule and beat him.

b. They would cry out, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and then punch him in his face. They made a mockery of him, not realizing that they were beating and torturing the one who created them.

4. Jesus Endured the Shame

a. Isaiah 50:6

Isaiah 50:6 (ESV)

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

Isaiah 50:6 (新改訳2017)

打つ者に背中を任せ、 ひげを抜く者に頰を任せ、 侮辱されても、唾をかけられても、 顔を隠さなかった。

b. Jesus endured all this torture and humiliation willingly. At any point, he could have said, “Forget it,” and destroyed everyone who was coming against him. But he didn’t; he endured the shame for our sakes.

c. Hebrews 12:1-2 – Jesus endured the flogging, the humiliation, the cross, for what reason? For the joy that was set before him.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (新改訳2017)

こういうわけで、このように多くの証人たちが、雲のように私たちを取り巻いているのですから、私たちも、一切の重荷とまとわりつく罪を捨てて、自分の前に置かれている競走を、忍耐をもって走り続けようではありませんか。 信仰の創始者であり完成者であるイエスから、目を離さないでいなさい。この方は、ご自分の前に置かれた喜びのために、辱めをものともせずに十字架を忍び、神の御座の右に着座されたのです。

i) *Ill – Enduring the pain of getting ready for a race or a concert.*

ii) He was looking to the goal – defeating sin and death so that we can be with him for eternity. He endured and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

II. Innocent but Guilty (vs. 4-7)

1. The Innocent Man

a. As Jesus is wearing the purple robe and crown of thorns, Pilate took him out to the Jews, “Behold the man!” No doubt, Pilate was hoping they would see Jesus in his pitiable state and have compassion on him.

b. Pilate told the Jews that he found no guilt in Jesus. But the Jews cried out, “Crucify him!”

c. As Jesus stood there, he was innocent himself, but guilty as he stood as the representative of all mankind.

d. *Ill – Why do kings wear crowns?*

i) It symbolizes their place as the most important person of the kingdom. A crown would be made of gold and precious jewels showing that the person was extremely valuable to the nation.

ii) Jesus wore a crown of thorns. Thorns are a symbol of sin because Adam and Eve’s sin brought thorns among the earth. Jesus wearing a crown of thorns shows that, in taking our place, he became the lowest of the low. He took the sins of the world upon himself and became the King of Sin. In fact, 1 Corinthians tells us that Jesus actually became sin itself. And that when Jesus took our judgment on the cross, sin was judged and made powerless.

2. The Guilty Son of God

a. The motives of the Jews come out very clearly as Pilate answers their cries to crucify Jesus. He tells them to take Jesus and crucify him themselves if they want him crucified.

b. The Jews reply that Jesus deserves death according to the Jewish law, because he made himself the Son of God.

i) What does that mean? It means that by the words Jesus spoke and the actions he did he made it clear that he is the Son of God. The Jewish leaders didn’t believe that Jesus actually was the Son of God, so they considered him to be a blasphemer. Blasphemy was punishable by death in the Old Testament law.

ii) But Jesus was guilty of this charge – saying that he is the Son of God. He was not guilty of blasphemy; if he was guilty, he was guilty of actually of being God’s Son.

III. The Source of Authority (vs. 8-11)

1. Pilate’s Fear

a. When Pilate heard the Jews’ charge – that Jesus had made himself the Son of God, he became very afraid.

b. *Why would he be afraid? * (Roman myths about gods coming down to judge men, Jesus’ answer of being king of a kingdom not of this world, Pilate’s wife suffering in a dream and telling Pilate to have nothing to do with Jesus, etc.)

2. Authority’s Source

a. Pilate took Jesus back into his headquarters and asked him, “Where are you from?”, but Jesus gave him no answer.

i) Isaiah 53:7

Isaiah 53:7 (ESV)

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:7 (新改訳2017)

彼は痛めつけられ、苦しんだ。 だが、口を開かない。 屠り場に引かれて行く羊のように、 毛を刈る者の前で黙っている雌羊のように、 彼は口を開かない。

b. Pilate was aggravated with Jesus’ silence. “Don’t you know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” (If Pilate had the authority to release Jesus, he should have released him when he found in not guilty.)

c. Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.”

i) Jesus gave Pilate a lesson on authority – authority is given by God.

ii) Romans 13:1-2

Romans 13:1–2 (ESV)

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Romans 13:1–2 (新改訳2017)

人はみな、上に立つ権威に従うべきです。神によらない権威はなく、存在している権威はすべて、神によって立てられているからです。 したがって、権威に反抗する者は、神の定めに逆らうのです。逆らう者は自分の身にさばきを招きます。

1) We are called to obey the authorities God has established. Rebelling against them would be rebelling against God. (Remember that God’s law –love- trumps human law.)

iii) 1 Peter 2:21-23

1 Peter 2:21–23 (ESV)

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 2:21–23 (新改訳2017)

このためにこそ、あなたがたは召されました。 キリストも、あなたがたのために苦しみを受け、 その足跡に従うようにと、 あなたがたに模範を残された。 キリストは罪を犯したことがなく、 その口には欺きもなかった。 ののしられても、ののしり返さず、 苦しめられても、脅すことをせず、 正しくさばかれる方にお任せになった。

1) When Jesus was mistreated by the authority in place at the time, he didn’t fight back. Instead, he entrusted himself to the True Judge.

d. Ill – Habakkuk – Watching wickedness, violence, injustice and destruction increase in the nation of Judah. Asked God, “How long will you let this happen?”

i) God answered, “Watch and be amazed. I am going to bring the Babylonians against Judah to destroy the place.” – in judgment against their sin.

ii) Habakkuk couldn't believe it. “Lord, you’re going to bring a wicked nation to punish Judah? How can you bring such terror upon us?”

iii) God answered, essentially, “Don’t worry about the Babylonians. After I have dealt with Judah’s sin, I will deal with Babylon’s sin.” And God speaks about the judgment that will come upon Babylon for her pride.

iv) But in the middle of this conversation, God reminds Habakkuk that he should not live by sight. He reminds him, “The righteous shall live by his faith.”

e. God raises up and tears down authorities based on his purposes.

i) But what he tells us to do is to obey and trust him, the righteous judge. Whether the authorities over us are good or bad, we are called to live by faith, not by sight.

3. Authority's Responsibility

a. Jesus then tells Pilate that, because his authority comes from God, he is responsible for his actions.

i) He says that, “he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

ii) Who delivered Jesus to Pilate? Caiaphas the High Priest. He was the top one responsible. He knew the Scriptures. He had every chance to repent and recognize Jesus as the Messiah. But he was set on having Jesus killed.

b. However, it says that Caiaphas has the “greater” sin.

i) That means that Pilate is still responsible for his actions. Pilate will be judged for sending Jesus, an innocent man, to be crucified.

ii) Judas and every other individual involved in Jesus’ death are all personally responsible for their decisions and actions.

c. With God-given authority comes great responsibility – God holds us accountable for how we use the authority he gives us.

IV. Conclusion

1. Here we have seen Jesus pronounced innocent, and yet flogged, beaten and mocked.

a. We have seen him charged as making himself the Son of God.

b. We have seen him submit to earthly authority and commit himself to the True Judge.

2. What was Jesus willing to go through so much shame?

a. Hebrews 12:2 – for the joy that was set before him… He endured it for you. To bring you into his kingdom and his flock.

3. Hebrews 12:3 continues by telling us to consider him, or think about Jesus and all he suffered for us, so that we will not grow weary.

Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:3 (新改訳2017)

あなたがたは、罪人たちの、ご自分に対するこのような反抗を耐え忍ばれた方のことを考えなさい。あなたがたの心が元気を失い、疲れ果ててしまわないようにするためです。

a. As trials and even persecutions come our way, remember what Jesus has done for you. He endured the shame for you, and he has given you the strength to endure it for him.