Beholding the Man
Notes
Transcript
The promise of Hope
The promise of Hope
Introduction:
Last week as we came to the end of John 18, we came to an intermission in Christ’s courtroom drama as Pilate is presented with Jesus… the spiritual king that Pilate just doesn’t know what to do with. Pilate is torn between his desire to save his material kingdom and knowing that something bigger… something spiritual is going on.
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 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.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 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.” 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.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 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?” 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.”
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.” 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. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 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.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus,
As each scene of this dramatic play is lived out before our eyes,… and as we begin the anticipation of celebrating Christmas..... this week, as we work through the text together, I would like for you to consider how we are to “behold the man”… Christ Jesus!
This act opens with scene 1, which takes place as preparations are being made behind closed doors.
Scene 1: Preparing behind closed doors (19:1-3)
What John does not share with us is that Pilate, not knowing what to do and realizing that Jesus is from a region of Israel that falls under Herod’s jurisdiction, sends Jesus to Herod.... in hopes that he will just handle the situation.... letting Pilate off the hook.
So, at some point between John 18 and 19, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod and Luke records those events for us in his gospel.
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.
And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”
Knowing this additional background information makes the first scene in today’s drama more understandable. Frustrated at the situation… frustrated that Herod was not a great deal of help to him, Pilate decides to try and appease the crowd by giving Jesus a severe beating. Then appeals to the crowd… hoping for a sympathetic response..
So, John tells us in chapter 19, verse 1 that behind the closed doors of Pilate’s palace, that Pilate had Jesus flogged.
Pilate had tried to escape his responsibility… and he had failed. Herod returned Jesus to Pilate, the crowd has called for the release of Barabbas… so now Pilate tries one last time to rid himself of this Jesus business. So, he tries to punish Jesus and then release him. Pilate was hoping that if he mutilated Jesus then the mob would take pity on him and set him free.
That is why we read in verse 1 that Pilate flogged Jesus. Or rather the soldiers serving Pilate flogged him.
Flogging: Flogging or scourging was horrible. Most people would have just died from this punishment alone. So that we don’t get too graphic, flogging/ scourging meant to flay to the bone.... basically making whatever is inside of a person be seen from the outside. Not pretty… and super painful.... by design.
You can probably see what Pilate was trying to do. We’ll scourge Jesus and then present that horrible sight to the crowd, then they’ll feel sorry for him and give up this crucifixion business.
While still inside, the soldiers continue to prepare Jesus and in verse 2 we are told that the soldiers didn’t stop at just flogging Jesus. No, they wanted to have some fun. These Roman soldiers probably hated the Jews and most likely saw this an an opportunity to show their contempt for them. That is why they mockingly put a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head and a purple robe on his back. When you read the accounts in Matthew and Mark, they tell us that the soldiers also gave Jesus a reed scepter, then repeatedly took it from him and beat him with it. The way it is written gives us the idea that the soldiers got carried away with their duties and took things to an extreme.
As these atrocities are done to Jesus… and as the soldiers mock him… saying… “Hail, King of the Jews!”… little do they know that Scripture is being fulfilled.
David, prophetically nearly 1000 years before this day happened, groaned when he wrote, “I can count all my bones… they stare and gloat over me.” (Psalm 22:17).
The scourging had done its job… Christ’s ribs had been exposes as well as most of his back. Add to these image the prophetic words of Isaiah 52:14, “… his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance and his form marred beyond human likeness”.
By this point in the proceedings.... after what Jesus had been put through, his features would have been almost unrecognizable.
Behold the Man! Behold the Man Jesus… who… even in this horrible moment in human history.... going through more pain and agony than most of us will ever know… Jesus is the fulfillment of Prophecy!
How are you Beholding Him? Are you beholding Him as the fulfillment of Prophecy that He is? Innocent.... brave.... purposely enduring the pain being afflicted on him.... so that God’s plan of redemption can be accomplished.
After these horrible preparations take place behind closed doors, there is a scene change and the doors of Pilate’s palace opened wide and Jesus is presented to the crowd.... Pilate makes another attempt to persuade the mob before him.
Scene 2: Persuading the mob (19:4-8)
In this scene Pilate, again goes out to the Jews with Jesus in tow and says, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” (vs. 4)
Jesus is led out wearing the cruel crown of thorns and this purple robe and in verse 5, Pilate makes one of the most profound statements that has ever been made.
“Behold the man!”.
One one hand, Pilate was hoping that the crowd would be filled with pity and sickened at the sight of Jesus after his scourging. So Jesus declares… here is the man!
In other classical Greek writings this phrase has been translated as “poor man” or “the poor creature”. (Morris, The Gospel according to John, 793).
Pilate was hoping that the crowd would see this poor, bruised and bleeding man… and realize that they have had enough.
But, Pilate didn’t realize how profound and prophetic his words were.
Behold the Man, is a call to reflect on the incarnation itself. For it was “the man” who was standing before them. God had humbled himself and become a man. This man… standing before them… that is what God looks like. Every human being is invited to behold him!
John wrote in 1:18,
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Do you want to see how much God love us? Behold the Man! Watch Christ as he heads to the cross and hear him as he pays the penalty for our sins.... “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?”
That is how ,much we are loved… Only the guiltless son of God could have accomplished this.
What was the Chief priests and officers response to when they Beheld the Man? Verse 6 says that they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” (6)
What was driving the religious leaders hatred of Jesus? It was his sinlessness. People don’t like to admit it, but in the heart of every person is a sin nature.... desire to oppose true righteousness.
Jesus is pure righteousness.... and here.... he is being opposed by the crowd.
At this point… Pilate knows he is being used by the Jews.... and he doesn’t like it. Pilate says, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.” (6b)
The Jews response takes an already shaken, frustrated, and doubting Pilate and disturbs him even more.
This scene comes to a close with the Jews answering Pilate… saying, “We have a law and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” (7)
Pilate had seen Christ’s royal character and realized the reality of his innocence. Pilate had witnessed the scourging and seen his own guilt. Now he is confronted with the very nature of Jesus’ offense.
Behold the Man… who is the Son of God
Behold the Man… who is God in the flesh surrendering His guiltless… sinless life to give forgiveness to all those who would believe
Pilate’s attempts to persuade the mob have failed.... and now a terrified Pilate pulls Jesus back inside for another private conversation which leads to the declaration of true authority.
Scene 3: Declaring authority(19:9-12)
Verse 9 introduces another scene change. Shaken at this news that something spiritual is going on and that he may be standing in the presence of deity.... Pilate enters the building again and holds a private conversation with Jesus.
Knowing Jesus grew up in Galilee, but now confused about his true origins… Pilate asks… “Where are you from?” (9). Jesus remains silent.
Why did Jesus remain silent? His silence was actually fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 53:7.
“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.”
Jesus had already told Pilate that he was a spiritual king (18:36-37). Jesus’ silence is most likely judgmental in the sense that Pilate had heard the truth and rejected it. Now… Jesus would give no more answers. Throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament, the Bible teaches that when men continue in their rejection of God… God will reject them. (Jud. 10:13; 2 Chron. 15:2, 24:20; Ps. 81:11-12; Hos. 4:17; Matt. 15:14).
Through this conversation it is clear who the prisoner really is. There is only one free man in this scene… and it was the suffering Jesus. Jesus even controlled the conversation… by the u se of silence.
Jesus’ silence is even more prominent when you read this account recorded in the gospels of Mark (15:5) and Luke (23:9).
Frustrated at Jesus’ silence, Pilate says, “Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” (10)
Interesting that Pilate says this… because now for 2 chapters Pilate has been trying to release Jesus and is failing miserably. Pilat thinks he sits in the seat of authority since he has the Roman seal on his ring.... but Jesus knows better.
Jesus’ response is amazing. Remember Jesus is probably barely able to stand at this point. He has been scourged.... has lost an incredible amount of blood… and is barely even recognizable at this point.... and still he says… Pilate, “you would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (11)
Christ was the only free man in the room! The power was with him… not Pilate. Jesus alone could do as he pleased. Pilate really wanted to release Jesus, but he couldn’t. Nothing that happens… even the death of Christ… is outside of God’s sovereign control. Faced with evil opposition… just hours away from a cruel death on a cross… Jesus takes comfort in the Father’s sovereign control of these events.
Remember it was Jesus who in John 6:43-44 said,
Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Behold the Man.... who has sovereign authority over All things
We are told that from that moment on, Pilate tries even harder to release Jesus. But these corrupt and blood thirsty Jews have Pilate where they want him. They cry out.... “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend.” And you know well and good that “everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” (12)
This statement segues into the fourth scene of this act, which takes place out on the pavement before the judgement seat.... the bema seat.
This entire courtroom drama… each act and each scene has been masterfully designed to lead up to this moment.... to this timely verdict.
Scene 4: The timely verdict (19:13-16)
Pilate was known as a “friend of Caesar”. But, the crowd also knew that Caesar was a paranoid recluse who responded savagely to any sign of unfaithfulness. Pilate knew that if this charge of “not being a friend of Caesar” ever made it back to the Caesars ears… there is a very good chance that Pilate would lose his title and his life.
Pilate takes Jesus back outside to an open area on the pavement called Gabbatha.
Here seated on the judgement seat… Pilate is preparing to pass judgment and sentence Christ.... who will one day pass judgement on Pilate’s eternal sentence. Pilate was preparing to pass judgement on the One to whom the Father had given all authority and power to judge.
For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
John gives us an interesting note about this scene. In verse 14, he writes that it was the day of Preparation of the Passover and it was about the sixth hour.
John is using the Roman method of measuring time, which starts at Midnight… so the sixth hour would have been about 6am.
If you were to read the crucifixion account in Mark’s gospel, you’ll see that he uses the Jewish method of measuring time. The clock started at sunrise.
So, if you are ever reading through the different gospels and see those differences, its not because one is right and the other is inaccurate. It is just that 2 different methods of measuring time are being used.
It is also worth pointing out that in Jesus’ day, people did not have watches. So, people related to time by estimating to the closest 3 hour mark. So, really anytime between 9am and noon is probably accurate.
Now, what is interesting about it being that time of the day is that time frame would have been when the priests in Jerusalem would have begun slaughtering the Passover lambs in the temple.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, timed his sacrifice to be in synch with that of the passover lambs.
As Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd, his words continue to be led by Christ’s sovereign control. This time instead of saying, “Behold the Man”, he cries, “Behold your king”.
Christ was still in control. Christ was never more regal and royal than at that moment.
As Jesus is presented… his actions declare.... Behold, the Man!.... Behold what divine love looks like!… Here is your king.... bow to His lordship!
When presented with Christ… the crowd, provoked by the Jewish leadership cry out… “Away with him!!!.... crucify him!!!”
Really!?! Pilate says.... Shall I crucify your king? This man who is innocent of any wrongdoing… who may even be deity? This poor, bruised, bleeding man! Look at his wretchedness! How can you possibly wan to keep hounding and persecuting this man and pushing him to an unnecessary death? Shall I crucify him?
But, what Pilate didn’t realize is that Christ’s death was necessary.
As part of God’s plan of redemption, designed before the creation of the world.... and set in motion back in the Garden of Eden.... Jesus would have to die..... and the hour which God had planned for this perfect sacrifice who would pay for the sins of the entire world was at hand.
Look at the end of verse 15. As Pilate asks… shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answer by saying... “… we have no king but Caesar.”
Ironic. They had rejected their messianic king and were now left with Caesar as their king. The chief priests had accused Jesus of blasphemy and now they are committing an act of blasphemy of their own, since God alone was Israel’s true King (Judg. 8:23; 1 Sam. 8:7; Ps. 149:2; Isa. 33:22).
As the scene closes, and the verdict is passed... Pilate feels like he is at the end of his rope. He doesn’t know what to do… so he gives into the demands of the mob.
But all the while, Jesus is exactly where he is supposed to be. Jesus is at that very moment in the exact spot that he and the Father had designed before the foundations of the world were laid.
At the moment, as all the Passover lambs were being led to the temple to provide an atoning sacrifice for the nation..... at that exact momentJesus, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world is handed over to be crucified and would be led to the slaughter just like those pascal lambs.
Through Christ’s death sentence.... the world is given life. At that moment when Jesus’ fate seems sealed.... an opportunity for hope is opened up for each one of us.
Behold the Man… who has been born to give hope to the world! — Jesus Christ, the Son of Promise, was born so that He could arrive at this very moment in time.... Like a lamb being led to the temple to have his blood shed to atone for the sins of many… (As we watch Christ take steps towards the Cross.... we can have hope… knowing that Christ’s ministry gives us life.
This act of the drama comes to a close with this fourth scene.... our characters are now all positioned out in the morning sunlight on the pavement as Pilate yields to the crowds demands and… with frustration in his heart… and a shakiness in his hand.... he renders his verdict..... crucify him.
Conclusion/ Application:
Throughout this entire drama, Pilate has been trapped in his predicament. He is trapped between what he wants to do… and what he is being pressured to do. Truth be told, pressure is on both sides. In the moment of decision, Pilate chooses what kingdom to which he will bow… and serve and yet… Jesus is still in control!
As Pilate sentences Jesus to death… he seals his own fate as well as all those who would reject the truths of Christ. But also… in this dark and painful moment.... Christ opens up the hope of forgiveness, reconciliation.... and restoration to all those who would believe.
It’s a paradoxical moment. An innocent man is sentenced to death and those who are guilty are given an opportunity to receive life.
As we begin turning our minds and hearts towards celebrating the birth of Christ this Christmas season, how does this passage we looked at today give you hope?
But, this entire passion play… this entire drama recorded for us in Chapters 18 and 19 have been preserved for us so that we can have hope.... so that we can believe.
Throughout John’s gospel, he is asking his readers to be conformed to the ideal spiritual man. John wants us to look to Jesus and become like him and as we do… we become increasingly free.
We do not have to remain in the bondage of sin. We can be free when we are conformed to Christ.
What are the promises in this passage that we can cling to in times of joy and depression?
Is there anything about Beholding the Man… Christ Jesus that gives you hope?
Behold the Christ! Jesus is the One who fulfilled all prophecies concerning the promised deliverer who would one day come to provide a solution to mankind’s sin problem.
Behold the God Man! Who being God, took on human flesh in order to lay down his guiltless and sinless life so that forgiveness could be granted to all those who believe!
Behold our Sovereign Lord Who has all authority in heaven and on earth. Nothing is outside of his control and no one is too far from his care.
Behold our King! This man, Jesus Christ, who being God in the flesh was born for the purpose of giving glory to God.... as he provided hope to the world. As Jesus, the perfect passover lamb is led to the place where he would be offered up as a sacrifice for our sins.....
The world had been anticipating this moment for thousands of years. And on that day.... standing before Pilate.... being yelled at by the mob..... Jesus, the promised deliverer.... the promised hope provider… does exactly what he was born to do.
Jesus fulfills the plan of God that provides the promise of hope to all those who believe.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ this year.... let’s not forget why he was born. Let’s not forget to celebrate the sovereign plan of God’s salvation.
As we look forward to celebrating the beginning of Christ’s life.... let’s not forget to also.... possibly with even more excitement and passion... celebrate the outcome of the end of his earthly life.
People who are alive right now have more opportunity to learn about Christ than in any other day in human history? Books, magazines, radio programs, internet searches.... are all telling about Him.
How do you Behold the Man Jesus Christ in your heart?
How are you taking advantage of all the opportunities being provided for you to Behold Christ?
Let’s make sure we are truly Beholding Him in the same way that the authors of Scripture Beheld him.
Truly embracing who Jesus is.... whole-heartedly surrendering to Him as Savior… and humbly submitting to Him as Lord of every area of our lives.
What main truth is John presenting us with in the text today?
Behold the Man! Jesus Christ who brings hope to all those who truly believe!
Behold our God… who provides salvation, security, joy and hope… through Christ… to all those who truly respond in faith to Him.
Let’s celebrate the hope we have in Christ today! Let’s take every opportunity given to use by the Lord to Behold Jesus.... and Proclaim Him to the everyone we meet each and every day.
Let’s rejoice as we stand and praise the Lord together!