A Mighty Disappointment

The Cowardly Lion - I’m sure you remember the scene. Dorothy (and Toto), the Scarecrow and the Tin Man quickly walking down the Yellow Brick road as it winds it way deeper and deeper into the forest. They are becoming increasingly nervous about the possibility of “lions and tigers and bears, OH MY!” Over and over the repeat the mantra, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”, “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” Until, all of a sudden a big, nasty growling and intimidating lion leaps out from behind the tree. He growls and threatens and scares the scarecrow, intimidates the Tin Man and frightens poor little Dorothy! All of a sudden, little Dorothy musters up the strength and slaps the lion in the snout and says “You stop scaring us right now!”. The nasty beast responds in a timid, fearful, cowardly voice...

“Oh! What did you have do go that for?”

The Mighty King of the forest turned out to be a mighty disappointment!

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Folks, if you can put yourself back 2000 years early on a Friday morning, this is the emotional framework the disciples and the Jewish crowd must have felt when they saw their Messiah being manhandled and maligned.

Where was the one who would restore Isreal to her Davidic glory days? When would this man stand up and be the warrior they had been praying for for hundreds of years. Perhaps He was just another charlatan posing as the King of Israel? Where was their Mighty Man of God that would deliver them from Rome?

Let’s face facts, Jesus, like the cowardly lion, didn’t live up to the hype! What a mighty disappointment!

I’m not sure what you are facing today, but perhaps you are in a similar place as the disciples and the Jews were. Maybe Jesus isn’t living up to the hype? Maybe you’ve prayed and sought his face about a challenging situation you are in only to have your prayers seem like they are going unanswered...

Modifier:

Maybe Jesus has been a disappointment to you?

Main Textual Idea:

And as I read and studied through the text that we are working through this morning, that’s what I see in this vignette. Jesus didn’t appear to be the man they thought He should be...

Main Sermon Idea: The Mighty King was a Mighty Disappointment

So how was Jesus a disappointment?

There are three ways that I see Jesus as a disappointment to the disciples and the crowd, and the first way is...

Body (Satisfaction)

1. Jesus’ Appearance Disappointed (vs. 1-5)

John 19:1–5 ESV

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 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.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

Before we get to John’s text, I want you to give you an update on the order of events. Dr. Doug Bookman lays out the Chronology this way for us...

(Covered last week) - Friday morning (shortly after dawn) – Jesus is tried by the Romans

1c. Jesus is taken to the "hall of judgment" very early ()

2c. At first, the Jews attempted to get Pilate to condemn Jesus without so much as a charge against Him; they expected Pilate to accept the very fact that they brought this One to him as ample evidence of His guilt and worthiness of death (,); however, Pilate would have none of that (18:31).

1d Notice that the problem faced by the Sanhedrinists is well expressed in .

Before Pilate the first time; Jesus remains silent (, ; ; ; )

2d Notice that by thus forcing the Jews to depend upon Rome to carry out the execution, our Lord accomplished His purpose of dying the “kind of death” () which would result in all men being drawn to Him (; ).

3c. Pilate took Jesus alone into the Judgment Hall (1st of 2 times), and there interrogated Him ()

Jesus is taken to the "hall of judgment" very early ()

Pilate: “Are you the King of the Jews?” The conclusion of Pilate: he brought Jesus out and declared, "I find in Him no fault at all" (18:38). This is the first of several times that Pilate explicitly states the innocence of Jesus.

4c. When Pilate announced this finding to the Jews, they were enraged.

They insist, Jesus is a troublemaker, “beginning in Galilee.” Pilate heard this as an opportunity to pass this trial off to Herod Antipas, whose jurisdiction included Galilee, and who was in Jerusalem for the feast.

At first, the Jews attempted to get Pilate to condemn Jesus without so much as a charge against Him; they expected Pilate to accept the very fact that they brought this One to him as ample evidence of His guilt and worthiness of death (,); however, Pilate would have none of that (18:31).

Notice that the problem faced by the Sanhedrinists is well expressed in .

Notice that by thus forcing the Jews to depend upon Rome to carry out the execution, our Lord accomplished His purpose of dying the “kind of death” () which would result in all men being drawn to Him (; ).

Pilate took Jesus alone into the Judgment Hall (1st of 2 times), and there interrogated Him ()

“Then” - before this “Then” there was a different trial before Herod...

When Pilate announced this finding to the Jews, they were enraged.

Luke 23:6–12 ESV

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Before Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee: Jesus remains silent, despite accusations against Him

Luke 23:6–12 ESV

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

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Before Pilate a second time where ultimately we see a tragic miscarriage of justice because, in part, the Governor Pilate was afraid for his job and his life...

Pilate did start out strong...Take a look at our text this morning...

John 19:1–5 ESV

So after Herod’s

So, in order to placate the Jewish leadership and the Jews, Pilate has Jesus flogged.

Flogging - Three types

the fus-ti-gatio - a beating given for smaller offenses such as hooliganism, often accompanied by a severe warning;

1) the fustigatio, a beating given for smaller offenses such as hooliganism, often accompanied by a severe warning;

the fla-gell-atio - a more brutal flogging to which criminals were subjected whose offenses were more serious;

the ver-ber-atio - the most terrible form of this punishment, regularly associated with other reprisals such as crucifixion.

Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: John b. Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified (19:1–16a)

From least to most severe, there were three forms of flogging administered by the Romans: (1) the fustigatio, a beating given for smaller offenses such as hooliganism, often accompanied by a severe warning; (2) the flagellatio, a more brutal flogging to which criminals were subjected whose offenses were more serious; and (3) the verberatio, the most terrible form of this punishment, regularly associated with other reprisals such as crucifixion.

In the present instance, the flogging probably in view is the least severe form, the fustigatio, which was intended in part to appease the Jews and in part to teach Jesus a lesson. After the sentence of crucifixion, Jesus was scourged again, this time in the most severe form, the verberatio. This explains why Jesus was too weak to carry his own cross very far (see commentary at 19:17). Also, the nearness of the special Sabbath meant that the agony of crucifixion must be kept short in order not to interfere with religious festivities (19:31–33).

It’s safe to say that Pilate, convinced of Jesus’ innocence, started with the first of these three (fustigatio)...

Don’t get me wrong, this was not a simple slap of the wrist, it was still brutal. It was just less brutal by Roman standards.

This was a humiliating event. Mocking and scorn! Beatings and blood, being laughed at and whipped cruelly. A twisted thorn crown and a regal purple robe - a mocking greeting welcoming the newly declared “King of the Jews.” Only then to be met with being slapped with open hands.

This wasn’t death, but it was death to any good reputation Jesus had. This was Pilate’s intent. He wanted to elicit pity from the crowd and show them that Jesus was no threat to them or Rome. He was just a weak and pitiful man.

This is why Pilate pointed at the pathetic image and said, “Behold the Man”

Pilate publically declares that Jesus is not guilty of anything worthy of death. Four times between the trials of Pilate and Herod, they declared Jesus to be innocent! The two leading authorities found him to be not guilty!

For anyone in the crowd, including His disciples that held any hope that this guy was the Kingly replacement for the powerful, warrior king David. He certainly did not APPEAR like a warrior.

Instead, He appeared as a wimp. What a disappointment!

But there is a lesson we must learn as Christians and students of the Bible. Things don’t always seem as they appear. Jesus didn’t appear as the warrior, but He did appear exactly as God said He would in ...

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

If they would have understood the Scriptures they would have clearly understood that Jesus needed to appear as the suffering servant before He could ever appear as their conquering King!

And, don’t you worry, whatever you are facing today, if you are in Christ, what you are facing is no match for the conquering King. He will resolve it in His way and in His time even if it makes little sense to you right now. How do I know?

Look at how John describes this same Jesus when he saw Him years later after the resurrection...

Illustration -

Argumentation - I’m not sure your view of Jesus, but He is anything other than a mighty disappointment. He may have appeared as a bloody wimp in this scene, but oh man! You just wait until you see Him in the future...

Revelation 19:11–14 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

Jesus is no disappointment. Yes he was bloodied and beaten. But Jesus was no victim! He put Himself in that situation for a very special reason. You!

He needed to go through hell on earth so you wouldn’t go through hell in hell for eternity!

Application - I’m not sure what you are dealing with today? It may appear hopeless. But it is not. What can you do? Trust the one who beat the beatings. Trust the one who willingly endure horrific mistreatment. Trust the one who understands the bigger, eternal picture.

Like Spurgeon said, “Whey you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.”

Review - The Mighty King was a Mighty Disappointment

Jesus’ Appearance Disappointed

2. Jesus’ Authority Disappointed (vs. 6-11)

The irony in this passage is breathtaking. The King and Judge of the universe is subjecting himself to His puny creation. The Sanhedrin and even Pilate thought they were in control of their world. Little did they know they were merely pawns in a much larger chess game! But from a human perspective, Jesus, the supposed King of the Jews, didn’t appear to be someone with any authority! Take a look at the text...

John 19:6–11 ESV

6 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.” 7 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.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So 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?” 11 Jesus 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.”

Explanation -

The Chief priest wanted to capitalize on their momentum! Pilate had not given them enough and they let him know in no uncertain terms! “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate was fed up! His “beat Jesus up” plan didn’t work. Him giving into their demands only created a thirst for more! They were not placated, they were now even more demanding.

Again we hear Pilate’s words, “I find no guilt in him”

“But he broke our law and that law demands His death...”

Leviticus 24:16 ESV

Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

And because your Roman law will not allow us to fulfill our Jewish law, they you must do it for us!

“Wait!” Pilate thought, “what did you say Jesus said about Himself?” He claims to be God!

Well, as a pagan this was a terrifying thought…Why did this cause Him fear??

First of all, even thought he was a hardened Roman soldier, He was still very superstitious. The idea of god-man was definitely within his worldview (Greek/Roman Mythology - Zeus/ Jupiter, Poseidon / Neptune). And He had just had this “god-man” flogged. Oops!

Not to mention he remembered the warning his wife gave him about this man.

Matthew 27:19 ESV

Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

So Pilate wanted to get to the bottom of this strange scenario...Pilate wants to find out what is going on here. So he asks, “Where are you from?”

Pilate wants to find out the deal. “Where are you from?”

And Jesus, just as predicted in the Scriptures, said nothing!

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.

Pilate reminds Jesus that it would be a good idea for Him to respond because he held Jesus’ life in his hands.

And Jesus does respond to this and says the authority Pilate enjoyed was given to him by God above...

And while Pilate certainly had responsibility in the whole drama, the one who handed Jesus over to Pilate was more responsible...

So who is Jesus talking about? Satan? Judas? The Sanhedrin? Probably the best answer is Caiaphas

John 11:49–50 ESV

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

He also said that the one who handed Jesus over to Pilate was

Caiaphas had the greater sin because He offered up the Son of God for a sacrifice for the people...

Jesus is in a situation where He appears to be one who is helplessly under authority. And it’s true, He is under authority, but it is not true that He is helpless. He may appear to be out of control. It may have even felt like things were out of control.

But make no mistake, JESUS IS NEVER OUT OF CONTROL! He is the ultimate authority and the only reason He was in the seemingly helpless position He was in is because that is exactly where He placed himself! Jesus was no Victim! He wanted to die! He needed to die so you might live!

The hero gets captured on purpose because he has an elaborate plan to rescue someone who has been captured by the same bad guys...

Ladies and gentlemen, that’s our Jesus! It was always His plan to not only be captured but to die a cruel death on a cross to be the sacrifice for your sin! You need rescue from God’s wrath because there is Hell to pay for your sin! And the Son of God is the only one who has the authority over life and death. He is the only one who can pay your debt!

He may appeared to Pilate, the Sanhedrin, the disciples and the crowd to be this helpless little man without any hope. He may have appeared as someone without any authority whatsoever. But He has all authority!

Romans 14:11–12 ESV

for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Application -

Pilate will bow before the Lord. The Sanhedrin will bow before the Lord...

You will bow before the Lord of lords. The question is will you do it joyfully and willingly?

Bow your life before the Lord. Things may seem out of control just like they did that day. But just like that day Jesus was very much in control and the ultimate authority of the universe!

Remember, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess!

Review - The Mighty King was a Mighty Disappointment

Jesus’ Appearance Disappointed

Jesus’ Authority Disappointed

3. Jesus’ Sovereignty Disappointed (vs. 12-16a)

By sovereignty I don’t mean control as much as I mean His Kingship. He was and is the Sovereign King! But at the time, it sure didn’t look like it!

John 19:12–16a ESV

12 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.” 13 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. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 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.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

As I said earlier, Pilate found no reason to execute this man. He was not guilty of insurrection, he was no kingly threat to Rome. There was no reason, from Pilate’s perspective, for Jesus to die.

Yet, the Sanhedrin had him right where they wanted him. If you ever want to see self-righteous, deviousness in action, this is your best chance.

“If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

Pilate was in no position to be reported to Tiberias Caesar...

Holman New Testament Commentary: John A. Sinful Sentence (19:1–16)

Tiberias, the reigning emperor, was notoriously bitter and suspicious of rivals. If such a report were sent to him, he would instantly end Pilate’s political career and probably his life, too (Tenney, EBC, p. 178).

“If you do not do our bidding, Pilate, we swear we will make sure Caesar knows you decided to let a man go who claimed to be a King - a rival of King Caesar!

First of all, do you see the awful thing the Sanhedrin is doing?

God was their King and they were to have no other.

The irony continues. The place where Pilate sat down was called Gabbatha

So, Pilate sat down in the judgment seat no doubt with his mind spinning to see how he could get this innocent man off the hook without causing a riot in the streets.

Obviously his plan to beat him and cause Him to look like a pitiful person who was no threat, failed. What was he going to do?

John adds this tidbit in verse 14… “Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover around 6am”

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John d. Jesus Sentenced (19:1–16a)

John used a ‘Roman’ method of computing time, beginning the day with midnight and thus taking about the sixth hour to refer to 6.00 a.m.

Do you know what they did on the “day of preparation for the passover”? The Jewish people prepared the lambs for the festival of passover just as they were told by Moses in the book of Exodus...

Isn’t it amazing to think that while the thousands of lambs were being prepared to commemorate the God’s rescue from the evil egyptians, God was preparing the Lamb of God who would rescue them from their eternal condemnation!

Preparation also included attention to other details. Items such as jars of water, bitter herbs, unleavened bread, a fruit-and-nut paste, and a raw vegetable dipped in tart dressing had to be gathered and prepared. Also, wine had to be secured. In addition, the room had to be arranged with floor cushions so everyone could recline at the table. Timing was critical in the preparation of the Passover meal. The roasted lamb and all of the items had to be prepared by 6:00 p.m. That's when the family would recline at the table and the meal would begin.6

Illustration -

As Pilate sat down, loaded with frustration. I believe he truly wanted to do the right thing! He truly wanted to release this innocent man. But if He did, He would no doubt lose his position and very possibly his life. So, he resorts to sarcasm. “Behold your king!”

They will have nothing of that talk! “Crucify him, Crucify him,”

Again, wishing to dig at them verbally because he can do nothing else, he sarcastically ask, “Shall I crucify your king?”

And the Sanhedrin, the supposed experts in God’s law and representatives of God to His people say the most horrifying words imaginable for a good Jewish person...

“We have not king but Caesar!”

They are forsaking Yaweh as the King and turning to a pagan as their king!

Illustration -

God was their King and they were to have no other.

They wanted Jesus dead so badly that they were willing to turn from their God and turn to a less powerful “deity” to get what they wanted...

Pilate simply gave up. He too wanted something more than the truth. His position, His life.

And, from the outside looking in, Jesus, even though clad in false regalia, didn’t look anything like a King. The Soverein was anthing but powerful

Pilate handed him over to the Roman soldiers to see to it that he would be properly crucified.

It is at this point that Jesus isn’t just flogged, but He is level three ver-ber-atio (scourged) and led off to be crucified.

Mark 15:15 ESV

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus didn’t look like the King he claimed to be. He was only like a sheep being led off to slaughter...

Illustration - Strength under control...

Argumentation - You and I have a very special king. You have a king who would be humiliated, flogged, scourged and ultimately crucified. Not because He was a victim, but because of love! He loved you enough to be humiliated and killed which satisfied God’s wrath against you! Amazing!

Application - What should one do with that knowledge? Worship, and offer ones life to be a subject of that kind of King.

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Review - The Mighty King was a Mighty Disappointment

Review -

Division 4 Statement:

Explanation -

Illustration -

Argumentation -

Review - The Mighty King was a Mighty Disappointment

Application -

Jesus’ Appearance Disappointed

Review -

Division 5 Statement:

Jesus’ Authority Disappointed

Jesus’ Sovereignty Disappointed

Explanation -

Illustration -

Argumentation -

Application -

Review -

Conclusion (Visualization)

Reiteration

Action

Jesus didn’t appear to be the man they thought He should be...

The Mighty King was a Mighty Disappointment

Just because you don’t see Christ working in the way you think he ought to be working doesn’t mean He isn’t working His plan.

We live by faith and not by sight...

Invitation

Connection Group Questions / Reflection Questions

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