The Gospel of John Week 24
Scripture: John 18:38 - 19:24.

As we begin our story today, Pilate is telling the crowd he finds no basis for a charge against Jesus. So he offered to free a prisoner asking if they wanted Barabbas or Jesus released. The crowd wants Barabbas release and then Pilate has Jesus flogged.

Pastor talks in graphic detail what a flogging was like, the equipment used and what Jesus experienced: excruciating pain, horrendous suffering, brutal torture, and cruel ridicule.

Again Pilate goes out to the crowds telling them he can find no basis for a charge. Pilate brings Jesus out in front of the crowd and the crowd shouts to crucify Him. The Jewish leaders insisted that Jesus had to die because he claimed to be the Son of God.

Pilate says to Jesus, "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" And Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." From that time on Pilate tried to set Jesus free. But the Jewish leaders kept shouting, that if Pilate let Jesus go that he would be opposing Caesar.

So then Pilate brought Jesus out and Pilate sat down on the judge's seat and on this day, The Day of Preparation of the Passover, at noon, Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

The soldiers took Jesus. Carrying His own cross, Jesus was brought to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha) and Jesus was crucified with two others —one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Pastor shares in graphic detail about the brutality and reality of crucifixion. And how this is what Jesus endured for us. Jesus goes to the cross willingly, a clear testimony that God loved this world so much that He was willing to endure this and that, in a way beyond our ability to fully comprehend, is the love of the Living God in such a way that He took on human flesh, and He endured this for us. It is a clear indication of just how much He cares for us and when we read this it drives us to our knees realizing, "Oh Lord, have mercy on me a sinner." The the Son of God came to save us, because we could not save ourselves.

Pastor goes on to talk about archeological discoveries and the possible locations of Golgotha and Jesus' tomb along with sharing many personal photos including a picture of the "Jerusalem Cross."

We pick back up with the story with Pilate having a sign posted on Jesus' cross that said in three languages, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." The religious leaders protested because they told Pilate it was what Jesus only "claimed."

Pastor then shares a personal discovery that came to him as he was preparing for this study. It's a fascinating piece about the name of the Living God, written by Pilate and placed over the head of the crucified Jesus. (No I won't share any more than that!! You will have to take a listen to Pastor sharing what he discovered!)

In verse 23 of chapter 19 we read that the soldiers took Jesus clothes, dividing them into 4 pieces and then took his undergarment and cast lots for it. This is a fulfillment of the prophetic words from Psalm 22:18.

Pastor takes the time to explore more of Psalm 22 that has several verses fulfilled in the death and crucifixion of Jesus. We see that this is not a miscarriage of justice by evil human beings. Rather, this is a profound fulfillment of God's prophetic word that was uttered by King David a thousand years before it took place. And this is not just simply a story. This is history. This is His - story.

This is my Savior's story.

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⁃ The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.
⁃ The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible. Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before.

Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!