People Are Fickle

So, I have a story about a wise old computing nerd and his new technological apprentice. He wanted to tell his young child some core life morals, as well as teach about old technology.

The wise man first showed the kid a polaroid camera. The kid quickly took it, and snapped a photo, but was very confused when the picture did not immediately show. The kid did everything to the picture to try and make it develop, but it didn't speed up, and when the photo did develop, the photo was fuzzy and unreadable. The wise old man put his hand on the shoulder, and told his apprentice that "memories take a long time to form, but are very fickle."

The wise old man then showed the kid a flip phone, and the kid immediately tried to send a text, but the cell phone didn't send messages very well. He was eventually unable to send messages due to reaching a bandwidth limit. The kid seemed confused, but once again, the wise old man put his hand on the kid's shoulder, and told them that "Sometimes, it is better to say a little than it is to say a lot."

Finally, the wise old man showed the kid a fax machine, which the kid almost immediately recognized. He tried to use the built-in scanner to copy a drawing he had made earlier, but yet the scanner would not print the image. The kid began to cry. Seeing an opportunity for a very important lesson, the man told them to keep crying, if for a little bit, and try again. The kid, still distraught and confused, decided to oblige. The scanner did not print once again. The man then told the kid to stop crying, and try one more time. Of course, the scanner did not work. At this point, the kid decided to read the error in detail, and saw it was out of paper. Refilling the paper, the scan went flawlessly. The man put his hand on his shoulder of the kid, and told his apprentice that "Fax don't care about your feelings.”

Historical/Cultural Context -

The Gospel of John was written between 90 AD and 100 AD. Scholars also believe that John wrote the three Epistles and the book of Revelation around the same time-frame as he wrote this Gospel. The Gospel of John was written after Matthew, Mark, & Luke had been written and circulated. John has been dubbed by most scholars as “The Spiritual Gospel.”

Biblical Text -

John 18:39–19:16 NKJV

“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they 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!” Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - No Matter What Is Going On, Endure Life Jesus, Speak Truth To Power & Don’t Be Dismayed When Your Words Are Twisted.

Life Point - Endure Like Jesus Did

Exegetical -

John 18:39–19:6 NLT

But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.) Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!” When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”

Homiletical -

People can change their minds so quickly it will make your head spin. Just a few chapters earlier the people received Jesus with praise. This we call today the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.

John 12:12–19 NLT

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him. Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Now they don’t care about the triumphal entry, now they are looking to get Pilate to do their will.

So what does Pilate do, he tries to find a way to release Jesus and brings him out to the people. There is a tradition where Pilate will free one individual each year about this time. So instead of asking for Jesus, who has done no wrong, the people ask for Barabbas who is a revolutionary to be released to them.

This man really wanted to overthrow the Roman government and even took up arms against them. Jesus didn’t, yet the people want Barabbas.

I will never understand the human capacity for following someone that common sense tells you is going to get you into a heap of trouble.

I guess, common sense wasn’t so common even back then

Then Pilate, in order to appease the people because he is a politician through and through, has Jesus whipped with a lead-tipped whip.

Pilate’s job for the Romans was to keep his province in peace and if he thought flogging Jesus was they way to do it, then he would do it so that he wouldn’t be removed from his post.

Now think about this, Jesus back was in tatters and they put a purple cloth on his back. What happens when Jesus has to walk with that blood dried to His back?

That would be painful. How about when they removed that cloth and opened up all the wounds on His back? That would be extremely painful.

Not only that but they put a crown of thorns on his head. This isn’t the vines we have here in Florida folks, no these were very sharp and very long and large thorns that would have embedded themselves under the skin of the head.

This would be extremely painful. The crown of thorns was not placed on His head lovingly or gently either. It was shoved down with force.

Not only did they do all this, they mocked Him and slapped Him across the face.

When all this was done, Pilate brings Him out to the people and reminds them that he find Jesus not guilty of anything. You see he did this to try and appease the Jews.

The chief priests call out to have Him crucified, but Pilate basically says no because he find no guilt in Jesus.

Remember that throughout History this kind of treatment has been normal for Christians.

Does this mean though that this kind of thing could happen to a believer? Yes it does.

Look no further than the book of Acts:

Acts 5:34–42 NLT

But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

What does this mean? It means people can change their minds quickly and it means that no matter what we must continue to preach and teach Jesus is The Messiah.

Many well-known Christians in our day are compromising the faith or leaving the faith altogether because it is no longer popular to be a Christian. They are trying to appease the culture. What they don’t realize is that we can never appease the culture. People in the world will constantly look to condemn and berate the Christian. You know what you have to do? Continue to preach Jesus Christ.

Life Point - Speak Truth While Enduring

Exegetical -

John 19:7–11 NLT

The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Homiletical -

These so-called Jewish leaders replied that Jesus ought to die because he called himself the Son of God

This had a real effect on Pilate. He was more frightened than ever to kill Jesus. He was afraid that Jesus might be some kind of divine being. I believe the words of truth that Jesus had spoke were getting to Pilate and he didn’t really want to crucify Him but due to political pressure and crowd upheaval he did it to keep the status quo.

Pilate takes Jesus back inside the praetorium and asks Him “Where are you from?” But Jesus would not answer.

Why would He not answer. There are multiple theories but I believe the simplest answer is that it was to fulfill the prophecy that He would not speak in His own defense.

Now pilate is all bent out of shape that Jesus won’t speak to Him and reminds Jesus who is in charge. Jesus, however, really let’s him know that he has no real power because the power was given to him from above.

In other words, God is in control and Pilate is being moved like a pawn on the chess board to do the will of the Creator.

Even in all His pain, where any other man would have told Pilate something in his defense to get him to let them go; Jesus doesn’t do that. He speaks truth to power and let’s the truth be it’s own advocate.

That is what God’s people have done throughout history. It hasn’t always gone well, but that is what God expects from us. To speak truth to power.

Life Point - Know That Your Word Will Be Twisted To Suite An Agenda Against Christ

Exegetical -

John 19:12–16 NLT

Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.” When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, “Look, here is your king!” “Away with him,” they yelled. “Away with him! Crucify him!” “What? Crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the leading priests shouted back. Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.

Homiletical -

Pilate, due to what has been said, and the fact that he wasn’t guilty, has been trying to release Jesus while appeasing the masses. It doesn’t work. The Jewish leaders tell him he is no friend of Caesar if he lets Jesus go.

In other word, if you let Jesus go there will be consequences for you and your governmental position. You don’t want the Jewish leaders taking it up the chain of command as-it-were because it would mean a lot of trouble for him.

They then remind him that Jesus declared himself a king and therefore is against Caesar. But remember Jesus said His kingdom isn’t of this world. So they are taking what Jesus said and twisting it to fit their narrative.

This happens all the time to the Christian. People who are against us twist the meaning of what we say so they can twist it to make you look like the bad guy. This happened to John MacArthur during the COVID Pandemic because he wouldn’t shut his church down. They fined him millions of dollars and he still wouldn’t relent, nor did he pay his fines. Which, by the way, were thrown out of court finally. It only took years afterward.

The news would take what he said and twist it to make him seem like the bad guy. The news did it to other groups and churches during that time too. Many of whom capitulated.

So Pilate brings Jesus out again and says look here is your king. To which the people respond they want Him crucified. So Pilate turns him over to be crucified.

There is coming a day when the righteous will be turned over to the state to be dealt with however they see fit. Before the Pandemic I would have said it is a long way off, but now I believe it’s closer than anyone can imagine. I have said it before and I will say it again, the world has figured out how to control us and sway public opinion about something really quickly. Just sew seeds of fear and panic. There will be a day when that power is turned toward Christians.

All of This happened for the sake of saving us from our sins and was prophesied hundreds of years earlier. One great example is found in ….

Isaiah 53:3–12 NLT

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Life Principle– No Matter What Is Going On, Endure Life Jesus, Speak Truth To Power & Don’t Be Dismayed When Your Words Are Twisted.

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