"BEHOLD THE MAN!"

What was it Pontius Pilate said of Jesus?... “I find in Him no fault at all”                       
So you will immediately release Him, right?                                                            
Umm...not so quick – they haven’t quite finished with Him just yet...                        
Let’s try to forget what the artists and Mel Gibson portray and read what John actually wrote: ‘oun lambano Pilatos – Iesous kai mastigoo’...  

‘then Pilate took Jesus and scourged [him]’



Healing hands

Yes, the barbarity of this man is unbelievable - watch what happens!... Jn 19:1-16

• The Roman governor is taking an innocent Man and is PERSONALLY FLOGGING HIM! (yes, other gospel writers agree)

• His soldiers now tie a crown of thorns on the head of the King of the Jews, then mock Him in a purple robe and punch Him

• Pilate now proudly shows off his bruised and bloody victim to the Jews:  “Behold the Man!”

• 3 times Pontius Pilate declares he finds: “No fault in Him”

• Next he drags this innocent Man - His back shredded from flogging - back into the Judgment Hall for another civil trial!...

• ...then out to the Judgment Seat for sentencing – all before 9 o’clock in the morning!

3 times Pilate identifies Jesus as the King of the Jews.                                                  
They realize the religious charge: “He made Himself the Son of God” was only making Pilate afraid, so switch to: “We have no king but Caesar”.                                                

3 times they beg: “Crucify Him!”  These ‘pious’ Jews at Passover would rather recognise a pagan emperor than God as their King.                                                               

Finally Jesus is released as a free Man?... oh no, He’s led outside the city walls as a criminal, wearing Rome’s curse of thorns, to be hung on a crucifix tree - a Jewish curse.

Okay Guv, now you can get back to your breakfast...enjoy!

The 'I AM' meets 'JUSTICE'

Can you imagine yourself in this position?...



Healing Hands

Last night you were hanging out with friends in a park, only to be arrested by a cohort of ~500 soldiers led by religious officers then dragged off to 2 illegal mock trials during the night.                                                                 



It is now early morning and very cold as you are led to the Roman judgment hall for a 3^rd trial. (Jn18:28- )  You are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty but the priests have got a festival on (the Lord’s Passover!) and you are considered a pest – even a criminal deserving of death.                                                           

"What's truth!?"

What is the indictment?   There is no indictment!

Who are the witnesses?   There are no witnesses!

The governor cross-examines you over hearsay, expecting you to incriminate yourself.  You came to tell the truth.

Your judge snorts: “What’s truth!?” ...but obviously you are no threat to the emperor, so the finding is... “No fault at all”

No indictment, no witnesses, no conviction, no sentence.... so you will now be released?   

The ‘pure’ priests would rather a real criminal: “Not this Man but Barabbas!”  

Yes, it’s all happening as Jesus predicted – of course.

 

NEXT: What to do with this innocent Man in custody?

 

TRIPLE TRUTH vs TRIPLE LIE

John told us so much about the Last Supper but now it’s time for Jesus’ arrest... 

Check who is in control here... (Jn 18)                                                                       

• The band?    A speira: Roman military cohort of ~500 armed soldiers!
• Officers from the chief priests and Pharisees?
• The captain?       A chiliarchos: colonel commanding 1000 soldiers
• Peter with his sword? ...against the Roman army!

• What about that young Man who rode into the city on a donkey?

Six times Jesus has claimed to be the ‘I AM’ so let’s see if He was being truthful...     

He now steps forward: “Whom seek ye?”                                                              

A: “Jesus of Nazareth”                                                                                                  

His response: “ego eimi”: I AM   (Translators have added: ‘he’)                      

‘...they went backward and fell to the ground’!!    WOW!

So we don’t miss it we’re told twice more... “I AM!” ...then:  “...let these go their way”                     Maybe it’s the great ‘I AM’ in control here??

"I am not!"

So, what was it Peter had said?...  “I will lay down my life for thy sake”         

Now given the chance to identify as a disciple of Jesus, Peter the spectator says: “ego ouch”: ‘I am not’ – yup...3 times even before cock-crow, just as Jesus had warned him!

Who’s telling the truth here?...Jesus?...or Peter?

NEXT: This is one ‘hot potato’ they want dealt with quickly. That’s 2 illegal trials at night – and more to come before 9am!
  http://guvsdesk.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/the-i-am-meets-justice.html                                                                  

TEAM JESUS

Let’s step into John’s sandals for a minute... no make that 3 ½ minutes...

Never has he been to a supper like this one...it has taken him 3,500 words to tell us of his experience! 
The Messianic welcome has fallen flat but Jesus has provided the room, shared His Passover, washed all their feet like a slave, revealed who He really is, made some astounding promises, and as they head for the door they hear pleadings and warnings.                                                      

John knows Judas has gone to betray their Master so he is ‘all ears’...  (Jn 17) 
Whatever will Jesus say next?

A prayer of blessing!                                                   
The Holy Spirit has helped John recall this profound prayer...  
...but imagine his perplexity!   
Which words do you think would have grabbed his attention?

Glory?...  what glory? where is it?

Eternal life?... but their lives are in danger!

Glory ‘before the world was’...  really?... before Creation?

‘erotao’?...Jesus prays to God as an equal!... while addressing the Father as Holy and Righteous

‘not of the world’... yes 4 times, and hated too!

He signs off with... love, of course

Oh, one more thing...                                                                                  

He prayed: “...for them also which shall believe on Me thru their word”             

That’s you and me He’s praying for!...as He steps out the door to be arrested then crucified.

So why the Aussie Rules footballers??  

Notice they have no numbers on their chests, only their team colours. It’s all about teamwork guys, so your number goes on the back.  

Yup!...
Team Jesus must be ‘perfect in one’ to capture the world’s attention.
So how is that achieved?  By separating from evil ,then sanctification thru God's Word of Truth.

AMEN

 

 

WHAT A 'HEADS-UP'!



Let's have a heads-up...

Jesus wants to leave His worried friends filled with endless joy but He must warn them about what lies ahead... as He moves out the door to be betrayed.  (John 16)

Why??  He doesn’t want them to be caught unawares. 
Where will the persecution come from?... religious people thinking they’re doing God a favour.
Yes, by murder!

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit coming will be a witness to the world...

• of sin - Jesus Christ has been rejected
• of righteousness - Jesus Christ is honoured in heaven

• of judgment - the enemy has been defeated

...and “He will guide you into all truth...and He will show you things to come”!

So what’s just around the corner?                   

Anguish!

Anguish!... just like a mother travailing in childbirth: soon they won’t see him (dead in the tomb)... then they will see him (raised from the dead!)... then ascending to the Father!... who they will be able to petition in Jesus’ name.                                 

Wow, what a ‘heads-up'!...death, resurrection then direct access to God!

But what about tonight though?                             
(You can just about see John hanging on every word Jesus utters.  What's He going to say about betrayal by Judas?)                                                                                         

“You will be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone"

Oh.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

His final word??
Peace... from a Man expecting crucifixion in the morning!


NEXT: http://guvsdesk.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/team-jesus.html

 

STAY CONNECTED!

Well that’s the Passover done for another year... or is it?                                             
There has never been and never will be another Passover like this one: the gospel writers use ~4,850 words on this amazing tension-filled supper – yup, nearly 5,000 words!                                                                                       
Jesus personally washed all their dirty feet, then claimed one of them was going to betray Him, then said He was leaving them but promised to return FOR them and promised the Holy Spirit would come and dwell IN them.  He’s even revealed who He really is!
Now He’s called them to their feet with a “let’s go”... but this Man facing crucifixion in the morning so much wants to leave them full of joy, He’s got even more to say!...


Jewish disciples know the prophets likened Israel to a vine, but now Jesus claims:                  “I am the True Vine...”  (John 15)                                

Every branch counts – either bear fruit or be pruned and burnt – there’s no Freddie Freeloaders on for the ride here.                                                                                             

God’s Word keeps the vine clean, while Jesus’ love is the sap.                         
There will be fruit, more fruit, even much fruit!... and love for others... if you stay connected.  Otherwise you won’t be able to do anything.                                   

Now we have all 7 – I Am...

• the Bread of Life
• the Light of the world
• the Door
• the Good Shepherd
• the Resurrection
• the Way, the Truth & the Life                                     
• the True Vine 

(Do you think maybe the writer, old John the fisherman, can still count to seven?...that's one of God's favourite numbers...as he details what he remembers of that fateful night.)


So how much love should I have for others?                                                    

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”

Meanwhile He can feel the hatred outside....                                          

“They that hate me without a cause...”                                                                                                     

What about you?...do you love like He loves?                                     

Are you hated by this world?


NEXT: http://guvsdesk.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/what-heads-up.html