"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58)

Behold The Man!

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold the man"! (John 19:1-5 KJV)

Krystal Meyers - The Beauty of Grace

031305

JESUS: OUR ALL-SUFFICIENT SAVIOR
JESUS—OUR KING!


John 12:12-19 (Monday)
Around 430 B.C., Malachi, the last of the book of the Old Testament was written. At the point where we pick up in the book of John, the Jewish people had been without a prophet—without a spoken or written word from God for over 400 years!

Last week we touched on the silence of God. It is quite often in the silences that our faith is most strongly tested and refined. (See Psalm 28:1; Psalm 35:22; Psalm 83:1; and Psalm 109:1.)

Have you ever experienced God’s silence? How did it impact your life? What enabled you to hold on—to stand firm in your faith?

In these passages, the crowd following Jesus into Jerusalem were most likely the same people who had witnessed his many miracles, including raising Lazarus from the dead (see John 11:1-44.) Here, we find these very same people welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem in a triumphal procession worthy of a king of the Jews. In fact, they even called him the King of Israel!

Although God had been silent, it is amazing that the people still had a hopeful anticipation of His promises! And, what we see happening here is prophecy actually being fulfilled! See Psalm 118:25-26.Hosanna! This had become a word used to offer praise to God and is translated as “Saves.”

In Matthew 1:21, our Lord is given the name, Jesus, which is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Joshua (Yeshuwa`, meaning, “the Lord saves or he will save.”) It is interesting to note that Joshua was God’s chosen man to lead the Hebrew children into their earthy promise land, while Jesus, the God-Man, leads us into our spiritual Promise Land--heaven.

How were the people hoping to be saved? See Zachariah 9:9.

Gentle and riding on a donkey. A true picture of our precious Savior and King, clothed in all the glory of His humanity and His humility. This is not us, in our feeble and vain attempts to reach up to a fearsome and unapproachable God. No, this is our loving Father, reaching down to us. God—in human form, acting out of humility and obedience—meeting us at the point of our greatest need! This is the story of God’s plan of salvation and redemption!We would do well to take Jesus’ own advise and “…learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls..." Our souls. Always, always the desire of God is to “save” our souls! (See 2 Corinthians 5:18.)

By the way, the return of our King will be much different from the humble entrance we witness here. (See Revelation 19:11-16—Glory!) Humility does not come easy for us humans. This is evident in the fact that the Jews wanted an earthy kingdom, with an earthly ruler—me, me, me! Where is my next blessing! (Hey, I’m saying this to me, too!) They would not or could not see past the worldly into the eternal!

A powerful example of the rejection of God is when the Israelites asked the prophet Samuel for a king to rule over them. See God’s response in 1 Samuel 8:4-7.God Himself was Israel’s King—and they were not satisfied! Hard to imagine, choosing man to rule over us rather than God, who loves us. What do you suppose was in their hearts to lead them to make such a request? (See Matthew 13:15; John 5:37-43.) Who is the one who will come in his own name?

Since Jesus uttered these words, history tells us that at least 63 self-proclaimed messiahs has led many astray. Ultimately, Jesus’ words will be fulfilled in the anti-christ—the one who hates God and openly opposes His Son, Jesus Christ. (Read Daniel 9:26-27 and Revelation 13.) Don’t let this trouble you, dear ones, I’ve read the end, we win! (See Revelation 20.)

Are we often times guilty of de-throning God? What is the tragic result? (See Luke 14:26.) Less we be too quick to judge--I think it is important to remember that they were blind. and they were on the other side of the fulfillment of God’s promises through Jesus Christ. Even the disciples did not fully understand Jesus’ purpose until after His death and resurrection. (See Acts 1:6-9.)

Earthly kings—God laughs and scoffs at them! (See Psalms 2:1.) Notice how God speaks of the One He sets on high. How does God address Him?

Getting back to the text! The Pharisees are beside themselves and exclaim, “We’ve lost! Look, the whole world has gone after him!” What were they so afraid of losing? ( See Matthew 23:1-15; John 12:42b-43.

Were they correct that the whole world had gone after Him? (See John 1:9-14 and John 3:19-21.)

John 18:33-40 (Tuesday)
We need to go back a little bit here. Pilate had been warned by his wife about Jesus. (See Matthew 27:19.) Perhaps this is why he tried to find a human way to cleanse himself of Jesus’ death.“

Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus puts a little "spiritual spin" on Pilate’s question, and asked Pilate if he was asking out of his own desire to know the truth. (Who is really on trial here?)

Whether we know it or not, this is a question we must all come to grips with. Who is this Man? (See Matthew 16:15.) I hope you have taken the time to consider your own personal response to this question. If not, please speak with me or with one of our lead pastors! Your response is a matter of eternity—life or death! (See Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Chose life!

“My kingdom is not of this earth.” (Yet!) Closing following the promised Messiah, or Savior, the kingdom of God is one of the most underlying themes of both Testaments. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, asking that God’s kingdom come! The gospel of Matthew alone mentions the kingdom of heaven thirty-two times and the kingdom of God four times! Read Revelation 11:15b to see what God’s purpose for earth has always been!

Pilate asks a question that has probably astounded, and perhaps puzzled many who have read it, “What is truth.” Do you sometimes question what is true about life, or maybe, what is true about yourself? (See John 1:14; John 1:17; John 3:31-33; John 7:17-18; John 8:32 and last, but certainly, not least, read John 14:6!) So, describe truth. Can you understand why Jesus answered that those who love truth will recognize what He was saying was true?

John 19:1-6 (Wednesday)
The verb for the actions taking here is a repetitive verb—meaning that Jesus was not hit once, was not mocked and spit upon once—but, over and over again. (See Isaiah 52:13-15.) Purple was the most valuable of all dyes and was the color of royalty. A very costly robe for Jesus—fit for a King! A crown of thorns. Galatians 3:13 reminds us that Jesus became a curse for us—so that we would not have to be cursed. Read about the curse poured out by God upon the serpent, Adam and Eve as the result of sin entering the world in Genesis 3. Aren’t you glad Jesus took this curse upon Himself. The final curse, our great enemy, death, is destroyed once and for all when Christ returns! Yeah, God! (See 1 Corinthians 15:26.)You know, I sort of felt sorry for Pilate as I read all the different ways he tried to squirm out of crucifying Jesus. He appealed to their sense of justice—they demanded a murderer be released instead. He appealed to their compassion—they had none, even after witnessing how brutally He had been treated. Yes, I sort of felt sorry for poor old Pilate, that is, until I read Luke 23:6-12. Pity just went right out the window! You know, he had the power—he let fear of the Jews and Caesar outweigh his own judgment and his own declaration that Jesus was an innocent man. In reality it was fear of loss of power and position, yes, even fear of his own life that motivated Pilate. I guess you can dismiss what he did if you, like Pilate, fail to recognize Jesus for Who He really is—our King!

John 19:12-16 (Thursday)
Having a Jewish person tell a Gentile authority that he was not a friend of Caesar is so ironic. The Jews hated being ruled by the Romans! You can really see the desperation here! Then, the say they had no king but Caesar—unbelievable. Actually, Herod was ruler or king over them, but they went over his head and went straight to Caesar, the emperor! Upset someone who thinks of himself as being a deity, and boy, you are asking for trouble! Politics in action! Actually, claiming to have no other king than Caesar was blasphemy for them—the very thing they accused Jesus of! (Remember, day one—question 7!)

John 19:17-22 (Friday)
It was common practice for criminals to have a sign placed on the cross over their heads announcing their crime against society. Pilate made a bold move here—and I have to give him credit. “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Now here is where God’s wisdom truly confounds the wise. The mocking sign was actually true! And, no one passing by could fail to interpret it's intent and purpose because it was written in the most commonly spoken and written languages of the region--Hebrew, Latin and Greek! Naked, exposed, and lifted up—Jesus was on the very threshold of fully bringing about His kingdom! See what Jesus predicted in John 3:14-15 and John 12:32. Can you see how high God’s ways are above our ways? (See Isaiah 55:8-9.) Oh, glory to God!

What is the difference in the sign saying, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” and “He said, I am the King of the Jews?” How would you have the sign read?

Beloved, I know it appears that man, and man alone, is behind what took place over 2000 years ago. Jew, Gentile--whatever! Go back and look at God’s promise to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15. In today's passage we are actually witnessing the battle for earth and man! Sadly, satan indeed bruised Jesus’ heel. Oh, but one day, (soon, please God) we shall all be witnesses to Jesus bruising satan’s head! (See Ephesians 6:12.) Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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