John 19:1-37, Ultimate Service

Objectives

• Congregants will recognize the need for brave service.
• Congregants will recognize the need for determined service.
• Congregants will recognize the need for careful service.

Introduction

• What is the most seen film in history? According to the Library of Congress, it is The Wizard of Oz. . Today we are going to talk about Christ, the Ultimate Servant. As we look at Christ I want us to pay attention to three important characteristics that we at times exhibit.

• • Courage
    • The Cowardly Lion - Instead of being the king of the beasts, the cowardly lion cowers in fear dreaming of the day when he could be "King of the forest." Desiring nothing less than king, not queen, not duke but king, the lion actually demonstrates bravery under pressure but demonstrates cowardice at all other times.
  • Passion
    • The Heartless Tin Man - The Tin Man longs for the emotions and joy that comes through the heart.
  • Focus
    • The Mindless Scarecrow - desires above all else to possess the intellect that comes with having a brain. To be able to focus on details and understand the world is the Scarecrow's greatest desire.

• The three characters from the most seen movie in history demonstrate three characteristics that Christian servants must exhibit.

Main Proposition

As Christians we must serve boldly, completely dedicated to God, and focused on God's will for our service.

Main Body

Setting the Stage

• In John 18 Jesus was falsely accused, falsely tried, found innocent, and yet, still condemned. The trial is complete and the narrative moves into the sentencing phase. Philippians 3:10 declares "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death". What does it mean to know the fellowship of his suffering? As we celebrate Christmas we often talk about God becoming flesh, Immanuel, God with us. In fact, Hebrews 4:15 tells us that "we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." God became human in Christ, he experienced all that it meant to be human. In fact, Christ experienced more of what it means to be human than all of us, Christ experienced death, the final enemy that all of us have yet to experience. As we look at the death of Jesus Christ we can see what ultimate servanthood looks like. We are going to contrast three representatives with the great Servant Christ: the coward, the guilty, and the convention.

Contrast: The Servant and the Cowards (V. 1-16)

• Don't forget that in John 18:38 Pilate stated "I find no fault in Him at all."

The manipulations of a coward (V. 1-5)

• Verse 1: In Luke 23:16 we see that Pilate thought that flogging Jesus (an innocent man) would be a compromise that would appease the crowd. Roman flogging was a common brutal punishment that could itself result in death. The victim was stripped, tied to a post or thrown on the ground and beaten with flagella, leather whips with pieces of bone, iron and spikes. Someone who knew what they were doing could remove entire patches of skin with the flagella. Furthermore, unlike the Jews, the Romans had no limits to the number of lashes that could be given a victim.

• Verse 2-3: Next the soldiers add insult to injury by mocking Christ. They place a crown made from the long spikes of a date palm and array Christ in a purple robe. A wreath would have often been used to coronate a victor, here the soldiers use the crown to mock the one who they see as just the opposite of a victor. In the ultimate act of mockery the soldiers declare Christ King of the Jews and begin to strike Christ. Remember that at this point there is probably very little flesh remaining on His body, He is probably barely recognizable as human. The phrase "Hail the King of the Jews" is similar to phrases that soldiers would have pledged before Caesar before giving a kiss of loyalty. Little did the soldiers know that one they again will give hail to King Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.)

• Verse 4-5: Now hoping that the crowd will be appeased Pilate presents Jesus back to the crowd and emphasizes that He is a man. Two words stand out "Behold (ιδε)" and "so that (ιωα)". Pilate begins by using the exclamation to draw attention to what he is about to say. Then he lets the people know that he is going to bring Jesus out so that they will know that he finds no basis for guilt. Then they bring Jesus out as one who according to Isaiah 53:3 "He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him." Pilate again declares "behold (ιδου)" the man. The king of the Jews is a pathetic beaten man who, in Pilate's eyes, amounts to nothing.

The scheming of cowards (V. 6-7)

• Verse 6: For the third time Pilate declares Christ innocent. But the scheming religious leaders will have nothing to do with this verdict. They are cowards afraid to lose their power and will stop at nothing short of the complete destruction of this One who they perceive as a threat to their power.

• Verse 7: Finally, at last, the truth comes out. The religious leaders really want Jesus tried for claiming to be the Son of God. Ironically, they have not actually tried Jesus for this crime. A trial for this crime would have revealed Jesus to be telling the truth.

• Notice the presence of the gospel in this section of Scripture. Pilate declares the innocence of Christ and the Jews proclaim the deity and death of Christ.

The dedication of the servant (V.8-11)

• Verse 8: Upon hearing that the charge against Jesus, Pilate is afraid. No doubt, Pilate would have been familiar with Greco-Roman mythology of gods taking human form in order to test humanity. Matthew 27:19 tells us that right about this time "his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”"

• Verse 9: Pilate finally asks Jesus the ultimate question. "Where are you from". The Greek contains the emphatic pronoun συ placing emphasis on you. Pilate is asking, are you a man or a god. Ironically, Pilate had earlier just stated "behold the man." Now everything is being called into question, and in this comment we see the dedication of the Servant. Jesus did not answer. In fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7 Christ, totally dedicated to the mission, remains silent. He silently proclaimed that the answer to Pilate's question is above Pilate's pay grade. Pilate was not worthy or ready for the truth for otherwise he would have already recognized the truth.

• Verse 10: Pilate empathetically states "Εμοι ου λαλεις" including the empathetic "to me". In other words, "are you kidding me, you, a bloody, beaten prisoner will not speak to the Roman prefect? I am the one with the power over you."

• Verse 11: Finally, Jesus answers, and in one concise statement declares that Pilate's power is not ultimate, Pilate is a pawn of the Jews, and that everything that is happening is happening because Jesus is in control. In contrast to the cowards in this passage we see Jesus, in complete control yet willing to suffer and die.
• Have you ever asked yourself why Jesus allowed Himself to suffer? Could He not have atoned for sin by just dying? We must realize that Jesus, ever the servant was willing to suffer, He truly is the great high priest who "was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." Moreover, we must realize that the physical suffering was only the tip of the iceberg. Over 90% of the mass of an iceberg sits underwater if you were to see a large iceberg at sea you would need to realize that an even larger iceberg sat underneath. Similarly, the physical suffering of Christ was nothing in comparison to the spiritual agony as God took on the sins of the world. In Matthew 27:46 Jesus cries out "my God my God, why have you forsaken me." A cry not of physical anguish but of spiritual anguish. Isaiah 53:11 prophesied "He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities."
• In contrast to the cowardice of cowards we have the strength of the Servant.

The folly of cowards (V. 12-16)

• Verse 12: Pilate thought to release Jesus but his fear of losing his influence led him to kowtow to the Jews.

• Verse 13-14: John chooses to emphasize the judgement seat, the day, and the time. Why? Because the Judge of the land is about the be crucified at the time when all across the land preparations are being made for the great passover feast. Pilate one final time declares "behold (ιδε)"

• Verse 15: In an act of outright rebellion the Jews align themselves with the Romans declaring Caesar to be their king. Earlier, Pilate was faced with the choice, Jesus or Caesar, now the Jews are faced with the choice Jesus or Caesar and in both cases, they foolishly choose Caesar. Moreover, at the moment when they should have been dedicating themselves to God as they prepared themselves for Passover, the Jews instead betray God as they proclaim their loyalty to Caesar. If nothing else the should have seen God as their King, but in complete rebellion they proclaim Caesar king.

As Christians we must not cower under the pressure of the world but dedicate ourselves to selfless service for the one who made the ultimate sacrifice of service for us.

Contrast: The Servant and the Callous (V. 17-27)

The recognition of the callous (V. 19-22)

• Verse 19: It was common place for a criminal to have to carry a placard with the crime around his neck. In this case Pilate carefully wrote "the king of the Jews."

• Verse 20: the title, written in three different languages (Greek: the language of the cultured world, Aramaic, the language of the people, and Latin, the language of the empire) clearly identifies Jesus for anyone who comes. Ironically, Pilate, in an almost prophetic role, proclaims the kingship of Jesus in a universal way. All the world can know King Jesus.

• Verse 21: Remember why the Jews wanted Jesus killed? Not because He proclaimed Himself king, but because He proclaimed Himself the son of God.

• Verse 22: Pilate's response is read almost like a scriptural preface "it is written". Pilate declares "What I have written I have written (Ο γεγραφα γεγραφα).

The ignorance of the callous (V. 23-24)

• Verse 23-24: A crucified party was stripped of clothing, all his worldly possessions. However, there is so much more here. Notice the care and description that John uses in describing the tunic. The tunic is seamless and woven from the top. The tunic John describes seems like it might be the type of garment the high priest would normally have worn. What is the significance? Through the trial we had seen that Jesus is God's High Priest, here we see the tunic removed from Jesus. The functions are about to change, no longer will there be a need for a high priest to perform sacrifice and cleansing. No, Jesus Himself is presenting Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. Unaware of this or Psalm 22:18 the soldiers "divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." The soldiers ignorantly carry out their custom.

The servants burden (V. 17-18, 25-27)

• Verse 17: Have you ever been in the midst of serving and someone asks you to do yet one more item and you think to yourself, "do you not see what I am working on?" Roman custom required the condemned to carry the cross beam for their own cross. Jesus was forced to carry His cross as far as he could. It would have been easier for God to arrange for someone to carry His cross the entire distance yet that is not what happened. No, the broken, battered, weak Jesus was forced to go further, to serve more, and to carry His cross for as long as his weakened frame could support the weight.

• Verse 18: In complete shame Christ was crucified along with two other criminals. Christ, the savior of the world was forced to share His crucifixion with two lowly criminals. Imagine you are suffering, the last thing you probably want is two other random people suffering along side you, mocking, screaming in agony, but this was the burden Christ bore. Sometimes God asks us to serve in truly annoying environments, but that if that is God's will then so be it.

• Verse 25: The public nature of crucifixion brought shame to the family. Here we see four women with Jesus, his mother, his aunt on his mother's side, tradition places Clopus as the brother of Jesus so Mary the wife of Clopus would be Jesus' aunt on Joseph's side, and Mary Madeline.

• Verse 26-27: The fact of service is that we also have other obligations in our life. However, these obligations should not and cannot replace our mission, to serve God. Here we see that John takes Mary and cares for her. Jesus did not allow worldly obligations to alter His plan. Joseph was likely dead at this point and Mary would now be without her oldest son. However, that didn't change God's mission for Jesus. No God's mission required Jesus to give himself in humble service regardless of other obligations, was this hard to do, a burden to bear, almost certainly, but it was the burden of God's servant.

As Christians we must accept the burden of serving.  We cannot recognize the need to serve and ignore it because the cost it high. We cannot bury our heads in the sand in ignorance.  No, we must be willing to sacrifice all, to endure all, to serve our Lord.

Contrast: The Servant and the Mindless (V. 28-37)

The focus of the servant (V. 28-30)

• Verse 28: The verse indicates that Jesus was in complete control. Even to the smallest detail. Jesus, in fulfillment of Psalm 69:21 "They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." calls for a drink.
• Verse 29: Notice on what they place the sponge with the drink, hyssop the very item that had been used to sprinkle the door posts in the first passover.
• Verse 30: Notice who the agent is, who is it that I in control, Jesus. Jesus alone is the one who gives his life.

The ignorance of the mindless (V. 31-36)

• Verse 31: In an effort to maintain ritual purity the Jews asked Pilate to remove the body from he cross.
• Verse 32: Pilate approved of the measure
• Verse 33-37: Jesus was not supposed to be dead yet, it was too early. However, Jesus was the one in complete control, he alone had laid down His life. When we serve we must serve recognizing that Christ is the ultimate one in control and He has the right to do things His way.

If we are to serve effectively, we must serve as Christ.  Our service must focus on the details as we do everything as unto the Lord.

Conclusion

Are you serving boldly, courageously stepping out in faith, and willing to sacrifice your worldly position for a heavenly position?

• At the end of the Wizard of Oz we find that the Lion possessed all the courage he needed. Emboldened by the medal of courage the lion can face any challenge. We are no different, through Christ we possess all the courage we need, are we willing to act?

Are you willing to lay aside all your other obligations, customs, and culture to serve God?

• Throughout the Wizard of Oz we se a Tin Man brought with emotion but it is not until he receives his heart clock that the Tin Man understands his emotions and passions. Christians have the holy Spirit indwelling us, we should be passionately serving, dedicated to our Lord.

As you serve, are you paying attention to the details, are you doing it right, or are you just going through the motions?

• The mindless scarecrow only needed a diploma to realize that everybody has a brain (although he completely botched the Pythagorean theorem in the movie). Nevertheless, God has provided each of us intellect, we have the ability to carefully execute the service that God has laid before us.

As Christians we must serve boldly, completely dedicated to God, and focussed on God's will for our service.