Jesus is led to the place of crucifixion and executed.
Click here for an online Bible John 19:17-30
John does not provide as much detail about the crucifixion as the other gospel writers. His focus is the big picture of God’s plan playing out. Pilate ordered that a sign be place above Jesus saying that he was the king of the Jews. The Jewish leaders objected, but Pilate would not relent.
John points out that the soldiers casting lots for his clothing is a fulfillment of Psalm 22. It also ties Jesus to David, the king of the Jews.
We also see Jesus charging John with caring for his mother. John said that from that hour, he took her into his home.
Jesus said he was thirsty, then immediately after drinking some of the wine, he died. Was this symbolic of him drinking the cup from the Father? He said “It is finished.” He had accomplished what he came to do. He did on the cross what was necessary to take care of the sin of those who would follow him. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Nobody took it from him. As he had said earlier, he laid down his life; nobody took his life from him.
Jesus was obedient to the Father’s plan. I look at my calling, and it is nothing compared to what Jesus had to do, yet I complain about how hard I have it.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday John 19:1-16
Pilate condemns Jesus.
Click here for an online Bible John 19:1-16
The religious leaders delivered Jesus to Pilate with the intention that he be executed. Pilate seems reluctant to kill Jesus. It is not because he is such a nice guy. He didn’t hesitate to kill anyone who threatened the peace or Roman rule. Some of it may be that he does not want to be backed into a corner by the Jewish leaders. He is not their hit-man. It may be because Pilate’s wife warned him that she had experienced a dream about Jesus. Notice that when the Jewish leaders tell Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the son of God that Pilate reacted with fear.
If Pilate were really afraid of the Jewish leaders, he could have had them all arrested or replaced Caiaphas as the high priest. I suspect he had a fear that there was something spiritual about Jesus. He was very clear to show that he did not condemn Jesus but the Jewish leaders did. He had Jesus flogged. He offered to release Jesus to the crowd, but he eventually relented and ordered that Jesus be executed.
Pilate tried to impress Jesus with his power and authority. Jesus was unimpressed. Even the power of Rome is nothing compared to the power of God. We often forget the real power of God and depend on our own power. We are afraid of the earthly powers that seem to oppose the movement of God, yet we know that the real struggle is spiritual and God is the superior power.
If Jesus could face torture and death confidently because of the power of God, then we should be able to face whatever we have to face in our lives.
Click here for an online Bible John 19:1-16
The religious leaders delivered Jesus to Pilate with the intention that he be executed. Pilate seems reluctant to kill Jesus. It is not because he is such a nice guy. He didn’t hesitate to kill anyone who threatened the peace or Roman rule. Some of it may be that he does not want to be backed into a corner by the Jewish leaders. He is not their hit-man. It may be because Pilate’s wife warned him that she had experienced a dream about Jesus. Notice that when the Jewish leaders tell Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the son of God that Pilate reacted with fear.
If Pilate were really afraid of the Jewish leaders, he could have had them all arrested or replaced Caiaphas as the high priest. I suspect he had a fear that there was something spiritual about Jesus. He was very clear to show that he did not condemn Jesus but the Jewish leaders did. He had Jesus flogged. He offered to release Jesus to the crowd, but he eventually relented and ordered that Jesus be executed.
Pilate tried to impress Jesus with his power and authority. Jesus was unimpressed. Even the power of Rome is nothing compared to the power of God. We often forget the real power of God and depend on our own power. We are afraid of the earthly powers that seem to oppose the movement of God, yet we know that the real struggle is spiritual and God is the superior power.
If Jesus could face torture and death confidently because of the power of God, then we should be able to face whatever we have to face in our lives.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Thursday John 18:25-40
Jesus was taken to Pilate.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:25-40
They took Jesus from the house of Annas to the house of Caiaphas. The term house is used loosely. It was likely a palace. A group of the Sanhedrin examined Jesus and heard testimony against him. John does not give any details of the events in front of the Sanhedrin. The other gospels provide the story. Jesus admitted that he was the Christ, so they declared that he was guilty of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65 & Luke 22:71). Blasphemy was punishable by death and they had been plotting to kill him anyway. The problem was that the Roman government would not let them perform executions.
Caiaphas had been installed as high priest by Pilate’s predecessor. He began as high priest just before Pilate became governor. Both Pilate and Caiaphas had been in position for only a couple of years. However, they both served for several years afterward. Apparently they got along well together.
The Sanhedrin decided that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy, but they accused him of treason in front of Pilate. Pilate could see what they were up to and at first refused to play along. He told that that the issue was religious so they should deal with it themselves. They were so determined to kill Jesus that they threatened to cause trouble for Pilate with Rome if he did not execute Jesus. Pilate tried to appeal to the people by offering to release a prisoner. The religious leaders prompted the people to call for the release of Barabbas. So, Pilate ordered the execution of Jesus.
As Jesus was interviewed by Pilate he spoke of truth. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” The irony was that he was speaking to the embodiment of truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
The Sanhedrin was so dedicated to stamping out threats to their tradition that they were at war with God. Pilate was so quick to avoid trouble that he couldn’t see the truth. We must make sure that we look for truth. Truth comes from God.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:25-40
They took Jesus from the house of Annas to the house of Caiaphas. The term house is used loosely. It was likely a palace. A group of the Sanhedrin examined Jesus and heard testimony against him. John does not give any details of the events in front of the Sanhedrin. The other gospels provide the story. Jesus admitted that he was the Christ, so they declared that he was guilty of blasphemy (Matthew 26:65 & Luke 22:71). Blasphemy was punishable by death and they had been plotting to kill him anyway. The problem was that the Roman government would not let them perform executions.
Caiaphas had been installed as high priest by Pilate’s predecessor. He began as high priest just before Pilate became governor. Both Pilate and Caiaphas had been in position for only a couple of years. However, they both served for several years afterward. Apparently they got along well together.
The Sanhedrin decided that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy, but they accused him of treason in front of Pilate. Pilate could see what they were up to and at first refused to play along. He told that that the issue was religious so they should deal with it themselves. They were so determined to kill Jesus that they threatened to cause trouble for Pilate with Rome if he did not execute Jesus. Pilate tried to appeal to the people by offering to release a prisoner. The religious leaders prompted the people to call for the release of Barabbas. So, Pilate ordered the execution of Jesus.
As Jesus was interviewed by Pilate he spoke of truth. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” The irony was that he was speaking to the embodiment of truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
The Sanhedrin was so dedicated to stamping out threats to their tradition that they were at war with God. Pilate was so quick to avoid trouble that he couldn’t see the truth. We must make sure that we look for truth. Truth comes from God.
Wednesday John 18:15-24
Jesus is taken to the house of Annas for interrogation.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:15-24
Annas had been the high priest but had been removed by the Romans. They made Annas’ son-in-law Caiaphas the high priest. Even though Annas was not the ruling high priest, it is obvious that he still had a lot of informal power since the temple police brought Jesus to Annas first.
Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple is most likely John. He never refers to himself in the first person but as “the other disciple” or “the disciple who Jesus loved.” Apparently John knew people at Annas’ house and was able to get in. He also got Peter inside. John seems to have gone into the courtyard area where Annas interrogated Jesus. Peter waited outside where a group were gathered around a fire.
The girl at the gate questioned Peter. She asked if Peter was a disciple of Jesus. Almost all English translations except the NIV include the word “also” or “too” when she asked about him being a disciple. It seems that she knew that John was a disciple of Jesus. Peter denied being a follower of Jesus. Then the people at the fire accused him of being a follower of Jesus. A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off accused him of following Jesus. Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Why did Peter not go in with John? It is possible that he couldn’t get in, but I think he didn’t try. He denied knowing Jesus, so he was afraid to be associated with Jesus at Annas’ house. He stayed back away from Jesus. John stayed close to Jesus. John withstood the temptation to deny Jesus, and Peter did not.
Why is John’s gospel a little different than the others? The other gospel writers just say that Jesus was taken to the high priest. John includes this stop at Annas’ house before going to Caiaphas. Although the gospels were written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were written by real people. Of the gospel writers, John was the only witness to the events in the courtyard at Annas’ house. John also wrote his gospel several years after the other gospels. He was aware of what was common knowledge of people from the other gospels and included these details that were not commonly known. The other gospels focus on the events at Caiaphas’ house. John just says that they went from Annas’ house to Caiaphas’ house, then to Pilate.
John is my hero is this part of the gospel. He stays close to Jesus. Most of the disciples scattered at the arrest. He and Peter went to Annas’ house. John went inside. John stayed through the crucifixion.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:15-24
Annas had been the high priest but had been removed by the Romans. They made Annas’ son-in-law Caiaphas the high priest. Even though Annas was not the ruling high priest, it is obvious that he still had a lot of informal power since the temple police brought Jesus to Annas first.
Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. The other disciple is most likely John. He never refers to himself in the first person but as “the other disciple” or “the disciple who Jesus loved.” Apparently John knew people at Annas’ house and was able to get in. He also got Peter inside. John seems to have gone into the courtyard area where Annas interrogated Jesus. Peter waited outside where a group were gathered around a fire.
The girl at the gate questioned Peter. She asked if Peter was a disciple of Jesus. Almost all English translations except the NIV include the word “also” or “too” when she asked about him being a disciple. It seems that she knew that John was a disciple of Jesus. Peter denied being a follower of Jesus. Then the people at the fire accused him of being a follower of Jesus. A relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off accused him of following Jesus. Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Why did Peter not go in with John? It is possible that he couldn’t get in, but I think he didn’t try. He denied knowing Jesus, so he was afraid to be associated with Jesus at Annas’ house. He stayed back away from Jesus. John stayed close to Jesus. John withstood the temptation to deny Jesus, and Peter did not.
Why is John’s gospel a little different than the others? The other gospel writers just say that Jesus was taken to the high priest. John includes this stop at Annas’ house before going to Caiaphas. Although the gospels were written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they were written by real people. Of the gospel writers, John was the only witness to the events in the courtyard at Annas’ house. John also wrote his gospel several years after the other gospels. He was aware of what was common knowledge of people from the other gospels and included these details that were not commonly known. The other gospels focus on the events at Caiaphas’ house. John just says that they went from Annas’ house to Caiaphas’ house, then to Pilate.
John is my hero is this part of the gospel. He stays close to Jesus. Most of the disciples scattered at the arrest. He and Peter went to Annas’ house. John went inside. John stayed through the crucifixion.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday John 18:1-14
Judas betrays Jesus.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:1-14
Jesus took his disciples across the Kidron valley to the garden of Gethsemane. We know from the other gospels that he took them there to pray. Judas led the soldiers to the garden to arrest Jesus. Notice the contrast between the group and Jesus. There were many of them and one Jesus. They were carrying lanterns and torches; he is the light of the world. They were armed with weapons. He was unarmed, but not powerless. When Peter tried to defend Jesus with a sword, Jesus told him in Matthew 26 that he could summon 12 legions of angels to defend himself. A legion was about 6000 soldiers. Jesus was clearly in control of the situation. John said that Jesus got up to met the mob and identify himself because he knew what was going on.
Jesus scolded Peter for intervening. He said that he was to drink the cup the Father had given him. In order to understand the cup, we need to read Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. In those gospels, it was the cup that Jesus was praying about in the garden. He struggled with the cup that he faced. He finished his prayer with, “Not my will, but yours.” We often view the cup as his approaching death. That is not the complete picture. If you do a word search in the Old Testament, you find that cup is often associated with the wrath of God (Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15, Habakkuk 2:16, Revelation 14:10). The horror of the cross that Jesus dreads in his prayer in the garden is more than just physical death and suffering. It is the response of the Father to the sin of the world. Wrath is God’s holy response to sin. Jesus prayed about the cup, but submitted to the Father. Now, when Peter tries to stop the arrest, Jesus rebukes him. He is committed to carry out his mission.
Click here for an online Bible John 18:1-14
Jesus took his disciples across the Kidron valley to the garden of Gethsemane. We know from the other gospels that he took them there to pray. Judas led the soldiers to the garden to arrest Jesus. Notice the contrast between the group and Jesus. There were many of them and one Jesus. They were carrying lanterns and torches; he is the light of the world. They were armed with weapons. He was unarmed, but not powerless. When Peter tried to defend Jesus with a sword, Jesus told him in Matthew 26 that he could summon 12 legions of angels to defend himself. A legion was about 6000 soldiers. Jesus was clearly in control of the situation. John said that Jesus got up to met the mob and identify himself because he knew what was going on.
Jesus scolded Peter for intervening. He said that he was to drink the cup the Father had given him. In order to understand the cup, we need to read Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. In those gospels, it was the cup that Jesus was praying about in the garden. He struggled with the cup that he faced. He finished his prayer with, “Not my will, but yours.” We often view the cup as his approaching death. That is not the complete picture. If you do a word search in the Old Testament, you find that cup is often associated with the wrath of God (Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15, Habakkuk 2:16, Revelation 14:10). The horror of the cross that Jesus dreads in his prayer in the garden is more than just physical death and suffering. It is the response of the Father to the sin of the world. Wrath is God’s holy response to sin. Jesus prayed about the cup, but submitted to the Father. Now, when Peter tries to stop the arrest, Jesus rebukes him. He is committed to carry out his mission.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday John 17:20-26
Jesus prayed for all of his followers for all time.
Click here for an online Bible John 17:20-26
Jesus prayed for himself, and then he prayed for his disciples. In verses 20-26, he prayed for those who would come to believe later. That includes us.
Jesus prayed for unity. He prayed for unity with each other and unity with him. The purpose of that unity is to be a witness for him to the world. Jesus said that he wants the world to know about him.
Verse 22 is interesting. Jesus said that he has given us the glory that the Father had given him. What does that mean? One clue is that it leads to unity. If you do a word-search on glory, you find that it relates to the presence of God. When Moses said to God, “Show me your glory” in Exodus 33, the Lord said that his goodness would pass before Moses and God would speak his name to Moses. So the glory of God relates to his revelation and his presence. Jesus has passed this on to us. We have a relation of God through the gospel. We experience the presence of God through the forgiveness that Christ offers.
The unity that Jesus prayed for is the unity of faith in Christ and the unity of the mission to be witnesses of Christ to the world.
Click here for an online Bible John 17:20-26
Jesus prayed for himself, and then he prayed for his disciples. In verses 20-26, he prayed for those who would come to believe later. That includes us.
Jesus prayed for unity. He prayed for unity with each other and unity with him. The purpose of that unity is to be a witness for him to the world. Jesus said that he wants the world to know about him.
Verse 22 is interesting. Jesus said that he has given us the glory that the Father had given him. What does that mean? One clue is that it leads to unity. If you do a word-search on glory, you find that it relates to the presence of God. When Moses said to God, “Show me your glory” in Exodus 33, the Lord said that his goodness would pass before Moses and God would speak his name to Moses. So the glory of God relates to his revelation and his presence. Jesus has passed this on to us. We have a relation of God through the gospel. We experience the presence of God through the forgiveness that Christ offers.
The unity that Jesus prayed for is the unity of faith in Christ and the unity of the mission to be witnesses of Christ to the world.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday John 17:6-19
Jesus prays for his disciples.
Click here for an online Bible John 17:6-19
Jesus prayed for his followers. He prayed for their safety. He had promised the disciples that the world would hate them. He recognized that the world was a dangerous place for his followers. However, he was sending his followers into the world just as the Father had sent him into the world. When Jesus prayed for their safety, he told the Father that he did not want him to remove his disciples from the world, but to protect them from Satan.
Often went we pray we pray for God to remove the obstacles from our lives. There is nothing wrong with that. The Psalms are full of prayers for deliverance from problems. But God’s plan is not for us to live problem-free lives. God’s plan is for his glory. Almost all of Jesus’ disciples died as martyrs. They were not spared problems but were protected to the extent that they were successful and obedient in glorifying God.
Click here for an online Bible John 17:6-19
Jesus prayed for his followers. He prayed for their safety. He had promised the disciples that the world would hate them. He recognized that the world was a dangerous place for his followers. However, he was sending his followers into the world just as the Father had sent him into the world. When Jesus prayed for their safety, he told the Father that he did not want him to remove his disciples from the world, but to protect them from Satan.
Often went we pray we pray for God to remove the obstacles from our lives. There is nothing wrong with that. The Psalms are full of prayers for deliverance from problems. But God’s plan is not for us to live problem-free lives. God’s plan is for his glory. Almost all of Jesus’ disciples died as martyrs. They were not spared problems but were protected to the extent that they were successful and obedient in glorifying God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
