06AM September 3 John 19 14_19 28_30
September 3, 2006—Morning Worship
The “Life of Jesus” Series – Part 5
Premeditated Murder or Predestined Sacrifice?
The Suspects in Jesus’ Death
John 19:14-19, 28-30
Intro: The law of our land says that if you plan to take the life of another human being, & you carry out that plan, you are guilty of premeditated murder. That is a crime punishable by death. IOW the state says, if you kill someone w/malice of forethought, we will kill you.
The death penalty is not anything new. In Biblical times, there were many crimes that carried the death penalty. Those men crucified on either side of Jesus were said to be “robbers.” & that word literally means that those men used terrorist tactics to relieve people of their possessions.
Today, all over the world, terrorists are killing people in the name of God. They believe they are taking lives for religious reasons. However, these terrorists have never heard from the one true living God! They are carrying out their own plots & schemes of murder in cold-blooded premeditation!
The Jewish leadership, to which John refers in his gospel as “the Jews,” believed they too were taking the life of Jesus for religious reasons; which begs the question, “Was the death of Jesus premeditated murder or was He the predestined sacrifice for sin?” & if Jesus’ death was premeditated, who are the suspects responsible?
From our text this morning in John 19, we will address those questions as we identify the suspects in Jesus’ death & actually name those responsible.
Let’s READ our text, John 19:14-19, 28-30. Would you stand in honor of the Word.
We can find suspects in Jesus’ death by looking at…
1. The Heart of the Jewish Leadership (vv. 14-15b)
The popularity of Jesus’ ministry threatened their power & so…
A. Their hearts were filled with Anger (vv. 14-15a)
1. Time after time they had taken up stones to stone Him to death
2. Time after time Jesus merely slipped away from their grasp
3. He had humiliated them publicly & spoken against them repeatedly
4. Each time He revealed their weak minds & weak faith they plotted the more
5. Over & over Jesus proved their attempts to trick Him w/the word were useless
6. But now—Jesus stood before Pilate—one w/power to condemn to death
7. After all that Jesus had done, the Jewish leaders were ready for Him to die!
8. Away w/Him! Away w/Him! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! was the cry of their heart
9. IOW we hate Him so much we will not be satisfied unless He dies!
10. Everyone w/o a personal relationship w/Christ has this same heart—Anger!
11. We don’t want anyone telling us how to live or what to do—be my own man!
The Jewish leadership felt the same way about Jesus & as He stood before Pilate…
B. Their hearts were filled with Anticipation (READ v. 15b)
1. Pilate was mocking them by calling Jesus whom they despised their King
2. Yet, as you read the text, they were almost intoxicated by the possibilities
3. This man Jesus will finally be out of our hair! Finally we’ll be rid of Him!
4. These last 3 years have been an upheaval of our lifestyle
5. Jesus has caused us nothing but trouble! & here’s our chance to get rid of Him
6. They had been up all night taking Jesus from one trial/authority to another
7. John tells us that it’s the 6th hour, by Roman time, 6 am.
8. We have Him in our clutches, we must ensure His death!
9. Then our lives can get back to normal—w/the people respecting/looking 2 us
10. Satan & every sinner have often thought, “If I could just get rid of God’s influence my life would be so sweet! I’d be free!”
11. & in our own plans we strive to eliminate the influence of God from our lives
12. & that makes us suspects in the death of Jesus!
We can find suspects in Jesus’ death by observing…
2. The Hatred in the Roman Governor (vv. 15c-19)
The Jews were relentless in their approach to Pilate. He wanted to release Jesus but could not b/c of the persistence of the crowd. & so we see…
A. Pilate’s hatred for Jewish Intimidation (READ vv. 15c-16)
1. Pilate had mocked the Jews by calling Jesus their King
2. They came back w/the reply, “We have no king but Caesar!”
3. IOW they implied if Pilate let Jesus go, that Pilate would be Caesar’s enemy
4. In those days Caesar’s enemies didn’t live very long IOW they threatened Pilate’s life!
5. So to keep his political standing & position, Pilate did what he knew was wrong
6. We do that all too often as we give into temptations to sin!
7. We hate doing it, but we do it just the same & therefore, we’re no different than Pilate!
8. Giving into their demands, Pilate condemned Jesus to die by crucifixion.
9. The Jews sin affected Pilate & Pilate’s sin affected Jesus
10. Pilate trying to wash his hands of the whole situation yet he remains guilty!
11. Our sins affect those around us & influence them! Maybe we succumb to intimidation – but our sin still has personal & detrimental effects on us & others!
We can find suspects in Jesus’ death by observing…
B. Pilate’s hatred for the Jews Demonstrated (READ vv. 17-19)
1. Jesus had been stripped naked & beaten repeatedly
2. His body bore the strips & His form was almost unrecognizable
3. As was the tradition, the condemned person carried their cross 2b executed
4. Jesus was crucified in the center – He’s the center of all things concerning all
5. On that day it seems all eyes were on that center cross
6. & Pilate nailed a sign above Jesus’ head to indicate His crime
7. Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews – the Jews protested/Pilate firm!
8. This is your King! This is who you serve—a man beaten & dying, helplessly!
9. Jesus’ crime was that He came to His own & they received Him not
10. His trespass was that He gave Himself for all who would believe
11. Pilate was clueless wanting only to be relieved of the guilt of condemning an innocent man to death—but being guilty of so much more!
12. & sometimes we are unaware of the extent of our sin until God reveals them!
& that makes us suspects!
But we can even find a suspect for Jesus’ death in…
3. The Honor for the King of kings (vv. 28-30)
Let me explain it this way—Jesus did not die in defeat but in victory!
& in His death we see…
A. The honor in the King’s Knowledge (READ v. 28a)
1. There was no guess work here! Being God, Jesus knew all things finished!
2. Jesus said, I always do that which pleases the Father
3. He was so in tune to/attentive/open/understanding of/the will of the Father!
4. Jesus knows – everything about everything!
5. He knows your need/situation/problems/trials/circumstances/pain/solutions!
6. Jesus honored His Father w/the fulfillment of His will
7. Do we honor God w/the same desire/frequency/commitment?
8. In your heart of hearts you know the answer to that question—God knows 2!
We also see…
B. The honor in the King’s Obedience (READ vv. 28b-29)
1. While on earth, Jesus did nothing except the Father’s will
2. He said, I have not come to do My own will, but the will of the Father who sent Me!
3. Jesus came, He said, to fulfill the law & He meant every word of the law
4. The Psalmist in Psalm 22:15 said that “My tongue clings to my jaws.”
5. He was expressing a deep thirst & excessively dry mouth.
6. This was literally true of Jesus as He was physically suffering asphyxiation
7. It could also be figuratively true as He thirsted for the salvation of His people
8. The point is that Jesus was willing to do whatever it took to do the will of God
9. The level of your obedience demonstrated the depth of your love for God!
But notice w/me the clinching piece of evidence as to the suspect in Jesus’ death…
C. The honor in the King’s Power (READ v. 30)
1. No human being is able to do that! You can give up your will to live/not spirit!
2. You’ll never leave this world 1 millisecond before God knows timing
3. You can’t stay 1 millisecond past His timing – But Jesus had the power!
4. He said that God had given Him that power—both to lay down His life & take it up again!
5. Jesus simply released His human spirit from His physical body & w/o the spirit, the body is dead.
6. That single Greek word that’s translated “It is finished” is also translated “Paid in Full”
7. The old hymn is right – Jesus paid it all! All to Him I own! Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow!
8. No one took Jesus’ life, He willingly gave it! But someone was responsible!
Conclusion: Was the death of Jesus premeditated murder on the part of the Jewish leadership? YES! Was the death of Jesus voluntary man-slaughter on the part of Pilate? YES! Was the death of Jesus negligent homicide on the part of the Roman soldiers? PROBABLY! Was the death of Jesus caused by the sin? DEFINATELY! Are we responsible in some way for Jesus’ death? ABSOLUTELY!
All these scenarios are provable in a court of law! But according to the Bible, God is ultimately responsible for the death of His Son Jesus! God sent His Son to die in our place! & Jesus willingly gave His life as the only acceptable sacrifice for your sin!
So was the death of Jesus premeditated murder or predestined sacrifice? The answer is YES! But the ultimate plan of God, formed before the foundation of the world, was carried out at Calvary’s Cross! IOW, as in most other cases, God uses people to do His will. Man’s redemption was secured as Jesus died!
But the story doesn’t stop there! Next Sunday morning we’re hear the rest of the story of the marvelous redemptive plan of God in the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Invitation: W/your heads bowed & your eyes closed, contemplate the fact that God sent Jesus to die in your place! It was a Sovereign act of Supernatural love for sinners just like us! Can you believe that God would do such a thing? If you are to be saved you MUST believe it! The Bible commands all men everywhere to repent & believe the gospel. Will you do that today?
If you are already a Christian, how has your life affected the lives of those around you? Are you sharing your faith? Are you living for Jesus? Are you making a difference where God has placed you? If not, would you repent of your sin & ask God to place within you a deep, overwhelming burden to reach others?
Hymn 133 The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power