LOVE TRIUMPHS

John, you’ve taken Jesus’ mother home and now hurried back to watch your Master die.  Last night’s supper is just a memory as Jesus’ lifeless body hangs from the nails - the Lamb of God slain on Passover day!... while everybody rushes around after this morning’s drama to prepare for the big ‘holy convocation’ tomorrow: the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (John 19:31-42)                                           

The apostle Paul explains it for us: “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast... neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Is there malice and wickedness in this feast?                   
To uphold the Law, the Jews want those shameful bodies out of sight so here come the soldiers to smash their legs and hasten death. Imagine the agonies.       

Now don’t forget – Jesus has been bleeding ALL DAY!

Such is the hatred, they feel cheated that Jesus has died first so... ‘one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water’ ...from Christ’s dead body!  

It’s no wonder John insists... “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.” 
They’ve unwittingly fulfilled yet more prophecies!...

• “When I see the blood I will pass over you”
• “neither shall ye break a bone thereof”
• ‘He keepeth all His bones, not one of them is broken’
• “they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced”
• ‘with the rich in His death’  ... as Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, now in disregard for their reputations, lovingly place the body of Jesus in a new tomb nearby.

 God’s love triumphs over Man’s hatred!

PATHETIC...or PROPHETIC?

Jesus has been rejected by the Jews as their King – on Passover Day!                  

Now listen to John as he watches his Master being crucified as a criminal by Roman soldiers, outside the city....  
(Jn 19:17-30)                                                                                                     

Much he doesn’t mention so take note of the detail he does give us about this King of the Jews...

• Pontius Pilate hasn’t finished with Him: he PERSONALLY identifies to the whole world ‘Jesus of Nazareth’– a final insult!

• This King is being crucified stark naked! ...while the soldiers help themselves to His clothes

• This King has only 4 women and a lone disciple for support... and that soon goes

• This King gets only vinegar to drink

What a horribly pathetic coronation under a crown of thorns!...or is it?             

They have unwittingly fulfilled so many prophecies!...

• ‘the plowers plowed upon my back’
• ‘they pierced my hands and my feet’
• ‘they part my garments...and cast lots’
• “so must the Son of Man be lifted up”
• “Behold the Lamb of God”
• 'He was numbered with the transgressors’
• ‘reproach of men and despised of the people’
• ‘in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink’
• ‘...shall Messiah be cut off’

Finally, who is really in control here?...the Roman governor??  Maybe not.           

Jesus says: “It is finished” then... ‘bowed His head and gave up the ghost’     

(Why do they ‘sacrifice’ Him again every day at Mass?)  

NEXT:  Surely Rome’s governor and his soldiers have finished with this King of the Jews?   Perhaps they will unwittingly fulfil more prophecies!

"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