John 19:7-12 at CTZNS

Pray

Intro: leading up to verses 7-12, Jesus is flogged, given a crown of thorns, and a scarlet robe. Mocking our Savior.

Pilate proclaims yet again the innocence of Christ and presents Him, beaten and severely bruised before the Jews. We read further on tonight in verses 7-12 what events precede the crucifixion of our Lord.

Read John 19:7-12

19:7-8- Leviticus 24:16 “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.”

John 10:22-33 “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

Not just “son of God” only, but God Himself!

Didn’t make Himself the Son of God, He’s always been in the Trinity!

Pilate scared concerning “their law” and the accusation. Dealing with something “extra” or “powerful” here. Afraid of riot by the Jews.

19:9-10- Pilate decides to secretly ask Jesus where He’s from. No answer from Jesus.

Christ has spoken freely prior to this, why not answer now? JC Ryle says its due to the “state of Pilot’s soul”. “He deserved no answer, and therefore got none.” “[Pilate] had, in short, sinned away his opportunities, forsaken his own mercies, and turned a deaf ear to the cries of his own conscience”.

Have I done the same?

Pilate makes a claim here to “absolute power” in verse 10. Typical of Roman officials. Not a pleading for Christ to speak, but more of a warning.

Evident in verse 11.

19:11- Jesus comes back to correct Pilate here! He would have no authority unless it had been given to him, claims the one whom has and has had authority since before the beginning of time and was never given it, always had it.

John MacArthur explains this as Jesus indicating that even the MOST heinous acts of wickedness cannot circumvent the sovereignty of God! JC Ryle also says that Pilate, along with the Jews here, are mere unconscious instruments in the hand of God!

1 Peter 1:17-21 “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

No one could stop the sovereign hand of God accomplishing the salvation of His people. No one can stop the sovereign hand of God today. Christ is returning, His will WILL be accomplished, the lamb of God WILL receive the reward for His sufferings, and the Lord will receive the recognition of the glory due His name!

Many debate whether the “he” here is referencing Judas Iscariot or maybe Caiphas or perhaps the Jewish people as a whole. Regardless of who’s being referenced here by Jesus, the focus should be upon the judgement Christ gives here to the cold-blooded, heinous sin that is delivering the Lord unto death.

This was the last word Jesus spoke at his trial, showing Himself, as JC Ryle quotes, as the “true judge of mankind”.

19:12- Seemingly not minutes in between, Pilate goes from seeking to release Jesus, to being swayed by an earthly monarch.

Despicable acts of the Jews, pretending to care. Is this not us? Doing whatever we want to get what we desire. No regard for others.

Lord, help us!

Pray!