Scripture reading – John 19
Jesus Scourged but Declared Innocent (John 19:1-15)
Hoping to appease the murderous Jews, Pilate ordered Jesus be scourged by his soldiers, who then “platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head” (John 19:1-2). “They put on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands” (John 19:2b-3). After he declared to the mob, “I find no fault in him” (John 19:4), Pilate brought “Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe” and said, “Behold the man!” (John 19:5)
The sight of Jesus beaten and bloodied did not dissuade the crowd’s thirst for innocent blood. The chief priests and Sanhedrin officers cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him” (John 19:6). Hoping to deflect his guilt in crucifying Jesus, Pilate commanded the Jews, “Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him” (John 19:6). The Jewish leaders, however, asserted, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God” (John 19:7).
Having heard that claim, Pilate “was the more afraid” and questioned Jesus again and said, “Whence art thou?” (John 19:8-9) Implying, who are you? From where have you come? Yet, Jesus would not answer.
Pilate then declared, “Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” (John 19:10) Jesus, however, rebuked Pilate, and said to him, “Thou couldest have no power [no right; no authority] at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” (John 19:11).
Convinced that Jesus was innocent, Pilate “sought to release Him” (John 19:12). The Jews, however, warned: “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar” (John 19:12).
The Roman governor succumbed to the pressure of the mob and declared, “Behold your King!” (John 19:14). The Jews, however, answered, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him” (John 19:15). When Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15).
Jesus Scorned and Crucified (John 19:16-30)
The scene at the Cross fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 53), and I often wonder if any of that mob realized that Christ was fulfilling the prophet’s words. Isaiah foretold the Messiah’s humiliation, suffering, and death seven hundred years before the Cross.
Isaiah 53:3–5 – 3He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.
Closing thoughts –
Christ died on the cross intended for Barabbas, a thief, murderer, and insurrectionist. Yet, the people preferred him over Jesus, whom Pilate, representing civil authority, declared innocent. Though the Roman governor “took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person” (Matthew 27:24), he could not cleanse his soul from the guilt he carried to his death. He made the fateful decision to not only crucify an innocent man but seal the fate of his soul.
By His death on a cross reserved for a murderer, Jesus completed the portrait of a sinless, substitutionary sacrifice. He was innocent, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him…[and to] make his soul an offering for sin” (Isaiah 53:10). Christ fulfilled the prophecy, “He hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
Jesus died not only in Barabbas’ place but by His death, He “taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Is He your Savior? (Romans 10:13)
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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