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The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind
and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was the
very reason He came. In chapter 19 Pilate was presented with a choice of either recognition or
rejection of who Jesus was. The truth of Jesus will always move people into two groups, those
who recognize truth and those who reject truth. Pilate's action (of walking away) after his cynical
question of John 18:38 showed his contempt for the truth. He asked the question "What is
truth?" but never waited for the answer. If he had kept his heart open Jesus would have
answered his question. Pilate did not find Jesus a threat and wanted to dismiss the trial but couldn't. Pilate chose to have Jesus scourged to satisfy His blood-thirsty accusers. (To be scourged meant to be whipped 49 times with a long leather whip studded with bits of lead and sharp bones. Most people lost consciousness, some died, some went insane.) This compromise resulted in far more suffering for Jesus. Compromise with truth ultimately leads to a worse situation even though at the time it looks like the lesser of two evils. In the words of John 19:5, Pilate expresses a truth of great significance, "Here is the man." Jesus represents the new covenant, the last Adam, our source of strength and salvation. In John 19:9 Pilate asked, "Where do you come from?" Jesus gave him no answer. There comes a time when God's Spirit no longer contends with men. (See Genesis 6:3, 6:13.) Jesus had already clearly stated who He was and where He had come from (see chapter 18:36-37). The terrible consequence for Pilate's refusal to listen was silence. Could it be that Jesus is silent to you because you chose not to respond to the light already given to you? We have a merciful and forgiving God, but we must seek Him open-heartedly in our desire to know Him. Plead to Him, "Lord, be not silent. Move upon me again. At any cost I will follow." Pilate chose his position, (money, a good opinion by society, his comfort) but lost eternal life. Pilate feared man more than God. Pilate refused to say "Behold, my King and my God!" We have the same choice as Pilate. God makes the same claim to us as we read Scripture. We can choose Jesus as our King and Savior or choose to crucify Him. There is a cost to be paid on either hand. In John 19:16 we see the choice of the chief priests, "We have no king but Caesar." Who have you chosen? Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." This sign was written in three languages. The Jewish leaders wanted Pilate to change the sign, but he refused to yield. He was weak in his response to the truth but strong when it touched personal pride. Because of his unwillingness to respond to the truth, Pilate's name in every age is a name of shame. What will our names be in the annals of eternity? When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took all that he owned, his clothes and undergarments. Jesus suffered by taking the sins of the world upon himself, the pain of the crucifixion, and the humiliation of public exposure. Near the cross stood four women along with John. Mary the mother of James and John, Mary Magdalene, who had been possessed by seven demons, (See Mark 16:9 Luke 8:2), Mary the mother of Jesus, and His sister. In John 19:26 Jesus in His agony continued to have compassion on those he loved and committed His mother to John, for His brothers did not believe yet. The consequences of the eternal battle that was waged at the cross are still present today. If Jesus had even once opened His mind to the emotions of doubt concerning His resurrection and triumph, it would have been sin. Sin would have rendered His sacrifice void. Satan wanted Jesus to come down from the cross, but Jesus never once doubted His Father's promise. He knew the victory was His. The battle was won the night before in prayer. Jesus continues to fulfill the prophecies of Scripture with the words "I am thirsty." (See Psalm 69:21) The solders used the hyssop plant to give Jesus a drink. (See Exodus 12:22 and Hebrews 9:19 for other references to the hyssop plant.) The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe are the words "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Those are the final words in the redemption of humankind. His victory was won. His life was not taken from Him. He gave it up freely. Only John records the piercing of Jesus, the sudden flow of blood and water. Jesus spoke of Himself as the living water to the woman at the well. In Hebrews 9:22 we see that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." In Revelation 1:5 we read that Jesus Christ loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood. We have the choice of refusing to believe that this blood was shed for our sins, or come to trust by faith that His sacrifice is sufficient for our salvation. It was completed at the cross. |