2/2/03

FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 183

TITLE: WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?

TEXT: MATTHEW 27:15-26
 

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN OUR STUDY TODAY PILATE, THE ROMAN GOVERNOR OF JUDEA, THE JUDGE OF TWO PHASES OF JESUS CHRIST’S CIVIL TRIAL, WILL ASK 3 QUESTIONS.

*NO. 1 IN MATTHEW 27:17 PILATE WILL ASK THE MULTITUDE, JEWS WHO WERE GATHERED AT THIS 3’D AND FINAL PHASE OF CHRIST'S CIVIL TRIAL, “WHOM DO YOU WANT ME TO RELEASE FOR YOU? BARABBAS OR JESUS WHO IS CALLED CHRIST?”

** AND PILATE WILL ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN IN V.21 AND THE ANSWER FROM THE MOB WILL BE BARABBAS, WHO WAS AN INSURRECTIONIST, A ROBBER AND A MURDERER.

*** BARABBAS, A NOTORIOUS CRIMINAL OVER CHRIST, WHO WAS PROCLAIMED INNOCENT EVEN BY PILATE AND HIS WIFE.

**** NOW A SECOND QUESTION WILL BE ASKED BY PILATE IN MATTHEW 27:22, WHICH IS, “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS WHO IS CALLED CHRIST?”

(2) AND THE ANSWER BY THE MULTITUDE WILL BE, “LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.”

* WHICH LEADS PILATE TO ASK A THIRD QUESTION IN RESPONSE TO THE ANSWER HE HAD JUST BEEN GIVEN, “LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.”

** AND THAT QUESTION IS, “WHY, WHAT EVIL HAS HE DONE?”

*** BUT THIS CROWD THAT HAD TURNED INTO A LYNCH MOB KEPT SHOUTING, “LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.”

****NOW THE ANSWERS BY THE MULTITUDES WITH ALL THEIR QUESTIONS BY PILATE WERE WRONG ANSWERS, REMINDING US THAT THE MAJORITY IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.

(3) YET IN THE FINAL END, WHAT GOD ORDAINED CAME TO PASS, FOR WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY ORDAINS IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL FREELY CHOOSE IN TIME, AND I’LL EXPAND ON THAT IN MY CONCLUSION TODAY.

*BUT GOING BACK TO THE 3 QUESTIONS OF PILATE, THE 2’D QUESTION BY PILATE IS A PROFOUND AND INESCAPABLE QUESTION THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING FACES.

** AND THAT QUESTION IS “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?”

*** AND YOUR ANSWER TODAY TO THAT QUESTION WILL COMMUNICATE WHETHER YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN OR NOT.

**** FOR IF YOU SEE JESUS AS A GOD-MAN WHO WAS HOLY AND SINLESS, THE CREATOR, THE SAVIOR AND THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN, AND TURN TO HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR IN REPENTANCE AND FAITH, THEN YOU ARE A TRUE FOLLOWER OF JESUS AND HAVE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION WITH A RIGHT RESPONSE AND ACTION.

(4) AND I’VE MADE THAT VITAL SOUL SEARCHING QUESTION THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY, WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?

*AND UNDER THAT TITLE AND QUESTION, WE’LL LOOK AT 4 POINTS TODAY.

** NO. 1 THE CUSTOM OF PILATE TO RELEASE A PRISONER AT PASSOVER TIME, VV.15-18; NO.2 THE CONTRAST BETWEEN PILATE’S WIFE’S VIEW OF JESUS AND THE MULTITUDE, VV. 19-21; NO.3 THE CRY OF THE MULTITUDES TO CRUCIFY JESUS, VV. 22-23; AND NO. 4 THE COWARDICE OF PILATE, VV. 24-26.

**SO WE’LL LOOK AT THE CUSTOM, THE CONTRAST, THE CRY, AND THE COWARDICE, UNDER THE TITLE OF “WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS?”

***AND BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER TODAY, LOOK AT V. 15 AND WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE CUSTOM, LOOK AT MATT. 27:15 PLEASE.

I. THE CUSTOM, (READ V. 15)

A. NOW AT THIS POINT IN OUR STUDY OF MATTHEW WE COME TO THE 3’D PHASE OF THE CIVIL TRIAL OF JESUS BEFORE ROME.

* NOW MATTHEW DOESN’T RECORD THE 2’D PHASE OF CHRIST’S TRIAL BEFORE HEROD FOUND IN LUKE 23:6-12, BUT SKIPS TO THE 3’D PHASE OF THE CIVIL TRIAL WHICH IS BACK BEFORE PILATE IN OUR TEXT TODAY.

** AND PILATE, HAVING FAILED IN PASSING OFF RESPONSIBILITY TO HEROD, DISCOVERS ANOTHER POSSIBLE WAY TO AVOID EXECUTING THE OBVIOUSLY GUILTLESS MAN.

***AND THAT IS, AS AN ACT OF DIPLOMACY AND TO HELP REDUCE TENSION AND BITTERNESS IN THE SUBJECTED NATION OF ISRAEL, A CUSTOM HAD BEGUN, PROBABLY BEFORE PILATE TOOK OFFICE, OF RELEASING ANY ONE PRISONER DURING THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION.

****SO PILATE HAS A LOOPHOLE, A WAY OUT OF CONDEMNING JESUS AND THIS STARTS TO UNFOLD IN V.16. LOOK AT V.16 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 16. NOW AT THIS TIME, THE ROMANS WERE HOLDING A NOTORIOUS, INFAMOUS, NOTABLE CRIMINAL NAMED BARABBAS.

*AND WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT HIM FROM LUKE AND JOHN’S GOSPELS IS THAT HE WAS A ROBBER, A MURDERER, AND AN INSURRECTIONIST, A REVOLUTIONARY AGAINST THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT.

**NOW BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF HIS CRIMES, HE WAS DOUBTLESSLY SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTION AND JESUS PROBABLY WAS CRUCIFIED ON THE CROSS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED FOR BARABBAS.

***ALSO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TWO ROBBERS CRUCIFIED WITH JESUS WERE BARABBAS’ FOLLOWERS, SO THAT JESUS LITERALLY TOOK HIS PLACE. IF THAT’S TRUE, WHAT AN IRONY.

****WELL, PILATE’S PLAN IS UNFOLDING, HE’LL OFFER BARABBAS TO BE RELEASED OR CHRIST, LOOK AT V. 17 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 17. NOW ACCORDING TO JOHN 19:14 IT WAS THE 6^TH HOUR, WHICH BY ROMAN RECKONING WOULD BE 6 AM.

*AND BY THIS TIME A MULTITUDE OF JEWS HAD ASSEMBLED IN FRONT OF THE PRAETORIUM.

**AND HERE’S PILATE’S PLAN. I’LL OFFER BARABBAS OR JESUS TO THE CROWD AND CERTAINLY, THEY’LL PICK JESUS OVER BARABBAS, A MURDERER, AND A ROBBER.

***I MEAN THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT THAT PILATE ASSUMED THE JEWS WOULD RATHER HAVE JESUS BACK ON THE STREET THAN A ROBBER AND A MURDERER.

****FOR AFTER ALL, THE ECHOES OF THEIR HOSANNAS IN HONOR OF JESUS JUST 5 DAYS BEFORE THAT IN HIS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM HAD TO BE STILL ECHOING IN THE BACKGROUND. “ HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.”

1. SO CERTAINLY THE MULTITUDES WOULD CHOOSE JESUS OVER BARABBAS – RIGHT?

*WRONG! FOR PILATE DID NOT ANTICIPATE THE FICKLENESS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS.

**FOR PILATE COULD SEE WHAT WAS MOTIVATING THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO BRING JESUS TO HIM. HE JUST UNDERESTIMATED THEIR INFLUENCE.

***FOR WHAT WAS DRIVING THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS IS REVEALED IN V.18. LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE.

D. READ V.18, NOW PILATE KNEW THAT THE FALSE CHARGES PINNED ON JESUS WERE SPAWNED FROM ENVY.

*PILATE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO SEE THROUGH THEIR PLAN.

**THE BOTTOM LINE WAS THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ENVIED JESUS BECAUSE OF HIS POPULARITY AT ONE TIME, HIS ABILITY TO SPEAK LIKE NO OTHER RABBI, AND HIS GREAT MIRACLE WORKING POWER.

***SO PILATE KNEW OF THE ENVY OF JESUS, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS HAD DELIVERED HIM UP, NOT BECAUSE HE WAS GUILTY OF ANY CRIME, IT WAS PETTY JEALOUSY.

****SO BY PITTING THE PEOPLE AGAINST THOSE LEADERS WHO WERE NOT ALWAYS POPULAR, HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAFELY RESCUE JESUS.

1. AND IN APPLICATION AT THIS POINT, LET ME SAY WE HAVE MANY WARNINGS ABOUT ENVY IN SCRIPTURE.

*READ PROV. 14:30, PROV. 23:17, PROV. 27:4, AND JAMES 3:16

**NOW WHAT IS ENVY? WELL ENVY IS THE DISPLEASURE, THE JEALOUSY AROUSED BY SEEING SOMEONE ELSE HAVING WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE OR WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT THEM TO HAVE.

***ENVY IS MALICE. IT IS RESENTMENT OF AN ADVANTAGE ENJOYED BY ANOTHER JOINED WITH A DESIRE TO POSSESS THE SAME ADVANTAGE.

****AND THE ROOT OF ENVY COMES FROM JEALOUSY, DISCONTENTMENT, AND UNGRATEFULNESS.

2. IT COMES FROM A LACK OF CONTENTMENT WITH GOD’S PROVISION AND UNGRATEFULNESS WITH GOD’S PROVISION.

*AND BELOVED, IT IS EVIL. FOR GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED. AND THE LORD MAY BE PROTECTING US FROM SOMETHING WE WANT WHICH MIGHT HURT US OR MAKE US LOSE DEPENDENCE ON HIM.

**AND WE LIKE PAUL MUST LEARN TO BE CONTENT AND REALIZE THAT GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. READ PHILIPPIANS 4:11 AND I TIMOTHY 6:6-8.

***AND LET ME SAY CONTENTMENT WITH GOD’S PROVISION IN OUR LIVES IS A GREAT TESTIMONY TO THE WORLD OF THE GRACE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES. SO LET US LEARN TO BE CONTENT.

**** WELL, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF JESUS’ DAY WERE NOT CONTENT, BUT THEIR HEARTS WERE FILLED WITH ENVY TOWARD JESUS FOR HE TOOK THE SPOTLIGHT OFF OF THEM, SO IT WOULD DRIVE THEM TO KILL JESUS.

3. AND EVEN PILATE COULD SEE THAT, AND THOUGHT CERTAINLY THE MULTITUDES WILL NOT BE DRIVEN BY THAT. BUT WE’LL SEE THAT THAT WAS A MISCALCULATION BY PILATE.

* PILATE KNOWS THAT JESUS IS INNOCENT, AND HE’S TRYING TO USE A CUSTOM TO GET HIM RELEASED.

** AND CHRIST’S INNOCENCE WILL BE REINFORCED BY HIS WIFE’S DREAM BEGINNING IN V. 19, WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE CONTRAST. LOOK AT V. 19 PLEASE.

II. THE CONTRAST, (READ V. 19)

A. NOW WHILE PILATE WAS DELIBERATING, SITTING ON HIS JUDGMENT SEAT, THE WORD BEMA IN THE GREEK, HE GETS A MESSAGE FROM HIS WIFE, WHICH I’M SURE WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL.

* I MEAN A WOMAN INTERRUPTING A MAN AT WORK IN THE ROMAN CULTURE, NOT GOOD.

** BUT THIS IS SO SERIOUS, PILATE’S WIFE HAS TO GET THIS MESSAGE THROUGH. AND IT’S A WARNING.

*** DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT RIGHTEOUS MAN, FOR LAST NIGHT I SUFFERED GREATLY IN A DREAM BECAUSE OF HIM.

**** NOW WE’RE NOT TOLD WHAT SHE DREAMED ABOUT AND HOW SHE SUFFERED GREATLY IN THAT DREAM, SO I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO SPECULATE ABOUT THAT TODAY.

1. BUT WE DO KNOW FOR SURE THAT SHE UNDERSTOOD FROM THAT DREAM THAT JESUS WAS RIGHTEOUS, INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME, AND THAT PILATE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM, MOST LIKELY MEANING NOT TO CONDEMN HIM TO DEATH, BECAUSE HE WAS RIGHTEOUS.

* SO PILATE GETS THIS WARNING FROM HIS WIFE. AND THE CONTRAST HERE IS WHILE PILATE’S WIFE IS ENCOURAGING HIM TO NOT CONDEMN JESUS, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS ARE GATHERING VOTES TO CONDEMN JESUS. LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 20. NOW WHILE PILATE WAS HEARING THIS MESSAGE FROM HIS WIFE, MOST LIKELY BY A MESSENGER AND THINKING IT OVER, THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS ARE AT WORK.

* FOR DURING THIS TIME THEY ARE WORKING THE CROWD, THEY ARE PERSUADING THE MULTITUDES TO ASK FOR BARABBAS OVER JESUS.

** AND THE POWER OF THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WILL PREVAIL ON THE MULTITUDE. THEIR WILL, WILL BE USURPED ON THE PEOPLE. FOR LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS IN V. 21. LOOK AT V. 21 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 21. NOW UNAWARE OF WHAT THE LEADERS HAD MANAGED TO ACCOMPLISH AMONG THE CROWD WHILE PILATE’S ATTENTION WAS TURNED TO HIS WIFE’S WARNING, THE STILL HOPEFUL GOVERNOR ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM.

* “WHICH OF THE TWO DO YOU WANT ME TO RELEASE FOR YOU?”

** AND WITHOUT HESITATION AND SEEMINGLY WITH ONE VOICE, THEY SAID, “BARABBAS”.

*** THE CROWD PICKED THE ROBBER, NOT THE ONE WHO HAD RAISED THE DEAD, HEALED THE SICK, FED THE MULTITUDES AND CAST OUT DEMONS.

**** NOW PILATE IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. PRESSURES BOTH TO RELEASE AND TO CONDEMN JESUS WERE INCREASING.

1. FOR ON ONE HAND, HIS WIFE AND HIS CONSCIENCE ARE SAYING JESUS IS INNOCENT, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE MULTITUDES WANT BARABBAS OVER JESUS.

* AND THE CRY OF THE PEOPLE WILL BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR BEGINNING IN V. 22, WHERE WE WILL START TO SEE OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE CRY. LOOK AT V. 22 PLEASE.

III. THE CRY, (READ V. 22)

A. NOW IN A FINAL EFFORT TO RENDER JUSTICE, THE BEWILDERED PILATE SAID TO THE MULTITUDE, “THEN WHAT SHALL I DO WITH JESUS WHO IS CALLED CHRIST? THE ONE YOU CALLED YOUR MESSIAH.”

* AND PILATE GETS THAT IN HERE FOR CHRIST MEANS THE ANNOINTED ONE, THE MESSIAH. WHAT SHALL I DO WITH YOUR MESSIAH, SAYS PILATE TO THE JEWS.

** AND AGAIN WITHOUT HESITATION AND WITH ONE VOICE, “THEY ALL SAID, LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.”

*** THE MULTITUDES CLEARLY WANTED BLOOD, BUT NOT JUSTICE, AND EVEN TO THE HARDENED PAGAN MIND OF PILATE THEIR VICIOUS RESPONSE MUST HAVE BEEN BLOOD CHILLING.

**** FOR PILATE RESPONDS WITH A LEGITIMATE QUESTION TO THIS BLOOD THIRSTY LYNCH MOB IN V. 23. LOOK AT V. 23 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 23. NOW PILATE KNOWS THAT JESUS IS INNOCENT – FLAT OUT.

* SO HE ASKS THE QUESTION, WHY? WHAT EVIL HAS HE DONE?

** AND BY ASKING THAT QUESTION HE IS PUBLICLY DECLARING CHRIST’S INNOCENCE BEFORE THE WORLD. WHY SHOULD JESUS BE CRUCIFIED? HE HASN’T DONE ANY EVIL.

*** BUT THAT QUESTION ONLY INFLAMED THE MOB TO GREATER FRENZY, CAUSING THEM TO KEEP SHOUTING ALL THE MORE SAYING, LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED.

**** BELOVED, THEY KEPT SHOUTING, CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!

1. THE JEWS WERE INTOXICATED WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS HATE AND SLANDER. THE MASS OF PEOPLE HAD BEEN MANIPULATED.

* AND THE CONTRAST BETWEEN THE SHOUTING AT THE TRIAL AND THE CHEERING A FEW DAYS EARLIER AS JESUS RODE THE DONKEY INTO JERUSALEM ON PALM SUNDAY IS INCREDIBLE!

** BUT THEY SMELL BLOOD, AND WANT JESUS CRUCIFIED. AND PILATE IN HIS COWARDICE WILL YIELD TO THE WILL OF THIS EMOTIONAL LYNCH MOB.

*** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE COWARDICE. LOOK AT V. 24 PLEASE.

IV. THE COWARDICE, (READ V. 24)

A. NOW THE COWARDICE OF PILATE IS SEEN IN THE WAY HE HANDLES THIS SITUATION.

* RATHER THAN CARRYING OUT JUSTICE AND DOING WHAT’S RIGHT, HE GIVES INTO PRESSURE, HE GIVES INTO EXPEDIENCY, HE GIVES INTO FEAR AND SAVING HIS OWN POLITICAL FUTURE.

** FOR THE PEOPLE ARE SO FRENZIED THEY ARE READY TO START A RIOT.

*** AND PILATE COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE ROME HEAR OF A RIOT.

**** PLUS ACCORDING TO JOHN 19:12, THE JEWS KEPT SHOUTING, “IF YOU LET THIS MAN GO, YOU ARE NO FRIEND OF CAESAR. ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A KING OPPOSES CAESAR.”

1. SO PILATE YIELDS OVER TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH SEVERAL TIMES HE PUBLICLY COMMUNICATED JESUS’ INNOCENCE. HE HAD TO PACIFY THE CROWD.

* BECAUSE OF THAT, AT THIS POINT HE WASHES HIS HANDS IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE, SYMBOLICALLY SAYING I AM INNOCENT OF THIS MAN’S BLOOD.

** HE WASHED HIS HANDS OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY.

*** AND NO DOUBT WITH A TONE OF BOTH DISMAY AND DISGUST, PILATE SAID, “SEE TO THAT YOURSELVES.”

**** AND WHEN HE GAVE THEM WHAT THEY WANTED, THE PEOPLE GAVE HIM WHAT HE WANTED. FOR IF HE WOULD PERMIT JESUS’ DEATH, THEY WOULD ASSUME ALL BLAME. LOOK AT V. 25 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 25. NOW THE JEWS HERE MAKE A TRAGIC DECLARATION, THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR JESUS’ DEATH.

* AND THESE JEWS WERE SAYING THAT NOT ONLY WOULD THEY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR KILLING JESUS, BUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY WOULD ALSO PASS ON TO THEIR CHILDREN, THE NEXT GENERATION.

** THE JEWS ACCEPTED THE BLAME FOR THE EXECUTION OF JESUS AND DID NOT HOLD PILATE OR TECHNICALLY ROME RESPONSIBLE.

*** AND THESE JEWS WOULD HAVE BLOOD UPON THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN. IN FACT, A TRAIL OF BLOOD HAS FOLLOWED THEM FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN A.D. 70 AND ALL THE BLOODSHED THERE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

**** AND NO NATION HAS SUFFERED AS MUCH AS ISRAEL.

1. AND YES THEY WERE GUILTY OF KILLING JESUS, BUT SO ALSO WAS PILATE AND EVERY ONE OF US THAT JESUS DIED FOR.

* FOR IT WAS OUR SIN THAT NAILED JESUS TO THE CROSS. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED, WE SHOULD HAVE SUFFERED AND DIED, FOR ISAIAH SAYS IN ISAIAH 53:5 (READ IT). ALSO READ II CORINTHIANS 5:21 AND I PETER 2:24.

** AND BELOVED THE JEW’S STATEMENT HERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION TO BE ANTI-SEMITIC, FOR JESUS WAS A JEW, THE EARLY DISCIPLES WERE JEWS, AND THE JEWS ARE GOD’S SPECIAL PEOPLE THAT WILL BE RESTORED ONE DAY.

*** BUT WE ARE ALL GUILTY, IN FACT ACTS 4:27&28 SAYS: V. 27 - “FOR TRULY IN THIS CITY THERE WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THY HOLY SERVANT JESUS, WHOM THOU DIDST ANOINT, BOTH HEROD AND PONTIUS PILATE, ALONG WITH THE GENTILES AND THE PEOPLES OF ISRAEL.”

V. 28 – “TO DO WHATEVER THY HAND AND THY PURPOSE PREDESTINED TO OCCUR.”

**** NOW WHO WAS AGAINST JESUS? WELL, HEROD, PILATE, GENTILES AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.

2. AND ALTHOUGH PILATE WASHED HIS HANDS WITH WATER, ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD COULD NOT WASH AWAY HIS GUILT AND SIN.

* AND IN HIS COWARDICE HE WILL TURN JESUS OVER TO THE JEWS AND HAVE HIM SCOURGED. LOOK AT V. 26 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 26. NOW THE TRIAL CONCLUDED WITH 3 RULINGS FROM PILATE: NO. 1 THE RELEASE OF BARABBAS; NO. 2 THE SCOURGING OF JESUS; AND NO. 3 THE DISPATCHING OF JESUS FOR CRUCIFIXION.

* AND AT THIS POINT JESUS IS SCOURGED.

** NOW THE WHIP USED FOR SCOURGING HAD A SHORT WOODEN HANDLE, TO THE END OF WHICH WERE ATTACHED SEVERAL LEATHER THONGS, WHICH YOU SEE A PICTURE OF ONE ON THE SCREEN.

*** AND EACH THONG WAS TIPPED WITH VERY SHARP PIECES OF METAL OR BONE.

**** NOW THE MAN TO BE SCOURGED WAS TIED TO A POST BY THE WRISTS HIGH OVER HIS HEAD, WITH HIS FEET DANGLING AND HIS BODY OUTSTRETCHED WITH NO SLACK, TIGHTLY DRAWN.

1. OFTEN THERE WERE TWO SCOURGERS, ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE VICTIM, WHO TOOK TURNS LASHING HIM ACROSS THE BACK.

* MUSCLES WERE LACERATED, VEINS AND ARTERIES WERE TORN OPEN, AND IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE KIDNEYS, SPLEEN, OR OTHER ORGANS TO BE EXPOSED AND SLASHED.

** AS WOULD BE EXPECTED, MANY MEN DIED OF SCOURGING BEFORE THEY COULD BE TAKEN OUT FOR EXECUTION.

*** AND WE DO NOT KNOW THE FULL EXTENT OF JESUS’ WOUNDS, BUT HE WAS SO WEAKENED BY THEM HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CARRY HIS OWN CROSS ACCORDING TO MARK 15:21.

**** BUT ON TOP OF THAT, CRUCIFIXION WILL FOLLOW. AND I CRY OUT FROM MY HEART, BELIEVER, OH HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME!

IN CLOSING, I WANT TO MAKE SOME APPLICATIONS FROM OUR TEXT TODAY.

* NO. 1 WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS TODAY? IF YOU DON’T KNOW HIM, WILL YOU REJECT HIM, OR WILL YOU REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR?

** WILL YOU SAY, I DON’T CARE, TAKE HIM AWAY AND CRUCIFY HIM, WASHING YOUR HANDS OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY, OR WILL YOU TURN TO HIM TO TRUST HIM AS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN FORGIVE YOUR SIN?

*** WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH JESUS?

(2) NO. 2 PILATE KNEW JESUS WAS INNOCENT, HE KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT, BUT REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

* HE WAS ONLY WILLING TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE IN THE FINAL END. PILATE LOOKED FOR THE EASY WAY, NOT THE RIGHT WAY.

** HE LOOKED FOR THE POINT OF LEAST RESISTANCE, AND WHAT WOULD COST HIM THE LEAST. BUT IN GOING AGAINST HIS CONSCIENCE AND WHAT WAS RIGHT, HE WOULD TURN JESUS OVER TO THE JEWS.

*** AND THOUGH HE SYMBOLICALLY WASHED HIS HANDS OF CHRIST’S INNOCENT BLOOD, HE WOULD SUFFER GREATLY FOR THAT WRONG DECISION.

**** FOR HIS GUILT, ACCORDING TO WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHERS COMMENTARY REPORTS, THAT HIS GUILT MATCHED THE REST OF HIS LIFE; FOR LATER PILATE HAD SOME SAMARITANS KILLED AND WAS RECALLED TO ROME TO EXPLAIN HIS ACTIONS BEFORE THE EMPEROR, AND SHORTLY AFTER HE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

- AND MORE TRAGIC THAN THAT WAS, IT IS NOT RECORDED THAT PILATE EVER REPENTED, SO HIS WRONG DECISION TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT WOULD COST HIM HIS LIFE AND SOUL.

* WAS IT WORTH IT? NO WAY. FOLKS DON’T VIOLATE YOUR CONSCIENCE, AND DON’T LIVE TO PLEASE PEOPLE, LIVE TO PLEASE CHRIST AND DO WHAT’S RIGHT. READ JAMES 4:17.

(3) NOW NO. 3 AND OUR LAST APPLICATION. A VICTORY NOTE BY ASKING SOME QUICK QUESTIONS. WHAT DID GOD ALMIGHTY ETERNALLY DECREE WOULD HAPPEN TO HIS SON?

ANSWER: HE WOULD BE CRUCIFIED.

* WHAT DID THE JEWISH CROWD IN OUR TEXT DEMAND OF PILATE?

ANSWER: THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST.

** MY POINT: WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DECREES IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL FREELY CHOOSE IN TIME.

QUESTION: WHAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL SATISFY THE CHARACTER OF A HOLY GOD?

ANSWER: THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST!

**** QUESTION: WHAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD SATISFY THE HATE AND PASSION OF THE CROWD BEFORE PILATE?

ANSWER: THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST!

(4) MY POINT: WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY ORDAINS IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL CHOOSE BY HIS OWN FREE WILL IN TIME. GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND MAN IS RESPONSIBLE.

* BELIEVER: REST IN GOD’S SOVEREIGN PURPOSE AND PLAN EVEN WHEN IT HURTS. OUR GOD REIGNS TODAY! MAY WE REST AND TRUST IN HIS WILL AND TRUST HIM AT ALL TIMES. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!

* ALSO WE MUST NEVER FEEL THAT WE ARE “PAWNS” OR “VICTIMS” OF THE UNGODLY, LIKE PILATE. WE SHOULD ALWAYS SEE THE HAND OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER CONTROLLING ALL THINGS.

** AND IF THE WICKED PREVAIL, AS THEY DID IN THE DEATH OF JESUS, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE GOD HAS PURPOSED IT FOR HIS GLORY AND FOR OUR GOOD. MAY WE PRAISE OUR SOVEREIGN LORD TODAY THAT HE REIGNS AND RULES WITH POWER, WISDOM AND LOVE – AMEN!