Seeing the Savior

John 19:1-42

Intro: 

1. What was it like for those who were there?  Were they in such pain that they only saw a friend suffering?  Did they see the Savior?

What I want to say: Jesus’ death on the Cross enabled the redemption of sinners by paying the price of freedom from the penalty of death with His blood.  In the crowd of witnesses to the death of Jesus we see a cross section of our own society.

I.      Beyond self-righteousness: A Pharisee’s view

A.    Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead

1.    But they also were self-righteous and doubted Jesus could be the Messiah

B.    A number of members of the Sanhedrin believed Jesus was the Messiah.

1.    Cp. Nicodemus (John 3)

2.    (John 19:39) Joseph of Arimathea

3.    They had a conviction about who Jesus was which enabled them to stand against the peer pressure of their fellow leaders.

4.    By caring for the body of Jesus and arranging His burial they followed their faith rather than public opinion.

C.   There are always religious people who are sincere in working to please God.  Are you good enough for God? Are you trusting in your own good works to save you?  Or do you see your savior?

II.    A mother’s grief: Mary

A.    Mary watched the events of Jesus’ life from the perspective that only a mother could have

1.    A mother always understands the hurts of other mothers. This was not only someone’s child – He was her child.

B.    These wounds were prophesied at Jesus’ dedication

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35 ESV

1.    Mary had seen the wonderful uniqueness of Jesus

2.    She had also seen his half-brothers and sisters rejects Him.

3.    She had seen and heard of the miracles He performed.

4.    She knew of the raising of Lazarus and that all Jerusalem rang with the praises as He rode into Jerusalem.

5.    Days later she had heard the cries, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

C.   More than seeing her son, Mary saw her Savior on the cross. Do you see beyond your own family circle to see the Savior?

III.   Confusion in the midst of a crisis: A Stranger

A.    A divine appointment kept. 

1.    Was he there to celebrate Passover?

2.    Was he there on business?

3.    On that day, in God’s providence, he was one of thousands in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. God confronted him there with deep things that he needed to consider: Who is this Jesus?

B.    That he was a stranger placed him outside the loop of information.

1.    Perhaps he had relatives or friends in the city but he was an outsider to the event of the past few days.

C.   There are always those who do not understand what is going on in front of their eyes.

1.    The question of who Jesus is remains in front of you today.

D.   Do you understand what is depicted here?  On this Good Friday, do you see your Savior?

IV.  Hearts broken by fear: A disciple

A.    The disciples present felt totally alone – abandoned –

1.    this could have been Peter or John or any of the remaining 11, they all were stricken with fear at the loss of Jesus.

B.    Those who once were self-dependent had come to depend upon Jesus

1.    At the time that Jesus told the growing crowd of followers some difficult truths, many left Him. He asked the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”  Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” (John 6:60-70)

2.    They realized the futility of placing their hope anywhere but in Jesus.

C.   We must also face the same question: To whom will I go if not to Jesus?

V.    Hardened hearts softened: A soldier’s view (19:1-3, 16b-18, 32-34; Luke 23:47)

A.    Soldiers are part of the daily routine in biblical Jerusalem

1.    Most soldiers are just depicted as doing their jobs – for kings and governors, apparently without much thought as to their souls or caring about the people impacted by them.

2.    Luke (3:14) records some Roman soldiers concerned about their souls questioned John the Baptizer about how they could honor God in their line of work.

3.    Some other soldiers, hardened by the cruelty of their jobs, carried out the scourging of Jesus under Pilot’s direction.

4.    Some treated Jesus with scorn, mocking Him, spitting on Him, crowning Him with thorns.

5.    How would their attitude change if they understood what He was doing and saw Jesus as their Savior?

B.    There are two centurions noted in the NT

1.    A centurion in Capernaum came pleading with Jesus to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5ff)

a)    He was a man of faith believing Jesus could heal.

2.    The centurion over the execution of Jesus was on an unexpected journey of faith

a)    He began with an assignment: execute a condemned man. But this was not like any other execution.

Two things impacted him that day: the natural phenomena and the way Jesus died:  “the earthquake and all that happened”…(Matthew 27:54)

b)    The earthquake split rocks and moved the rocks sealing the tombs of believers.

c)    The formerly dead believers were resurrected.

d)    The sun was blocked from noon to 3 p.m.

e)    The words that Jesus spoke

3.    The way Jesus died was that He let go of life – it was not out of His control.

4.    This centurion declared that He must be the son of God.  He came to Faith (Luke 23:47)

5.    What do you see in the death of Jesus that convinces you that this could only be God in flesh? Do you see the Savior?

VI.  God had a plan

A.    Man has sinned  --   Romans 3:23

B.    The Father loves the Son

1.    At the baptism of Jesus He declared:

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 ESV

C.   Jesus was our substitute – He died in our place

1.    The Son was wounded for our transgressions (Read Isaiah 53)

D.   In dying Jesus made restoration possible

1.    between God and man

2.    between man and man

3.    within man himself

Concl:

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.  Revelation 13:8

When you look at the Cross of Christ, you can see sins atoned for; you can see your substitute; you can see your savior!

Who do you see?