A Travesty Of Justice

A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE

John 19.1-16

S: Trial of Jesus

C: Justice

Pr: BECAUSE WE ARE FOUNDED ON TRUTH, WE ARE TO ACT JUSTLY.

TS: We will find in our study of John 19.1-16 the process of how Pilate allowed justice to be set aside.

Type: Inductive

I. PERSECUTION (1-5)

II. APPREHENSION (6-12)

III. VACILLATION (13-16)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Treat people fairly

• Fear God

• Stand on the truth

Version: ESV

RMBC 25 March 07 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Justice (H)

Many of us know that airplanes don’t always depart at their scheduled times. There can be multiple reasons for this happening, including weather and mechanical failures.

One time, there was a long check-in line at the airport, and an air¬line agent was cheerfully directing peo¬ple to other counters for quicker service. When she asked one busi¬nessman his destination, he shouted, "I’m going to Orange County and I’m late! What are you going to do for me?"

The employee took a moment to refer to her chart, so to direct him to the right place. "Oh, great!" the impatient passenger remarked. "I need help, and I get stuck with a blonde."

She kept her eyes on the flight sheet, then looked up at him with a smile. "Oh, my," she sighed. "Ditz that I am, I just can’t think of a single thing to do for you." And she walked away.

The man missed his flight.

You know…

1. Sometimes, you get what you deserve.

Sometimes, you don’t want to get what you deserve.

You know that.

On the other hand, when someone is getting what they deserve – whether it is bad or good – there is a sense of satisfaction within us.

Justice has been served.

We cheer when that happens.

We cheer when the DNA evidence gets the right person.

We cheer when the DNA evidence exonerates someone falsely accused.

Sometimes the wheels of justice grind slowly, but we cheer when it is gotten right.

But let us understand this today…

Jesus did not get what He deserved.

In fact…

2. Jesus understood the wheels of injustice.

While the wheels of justice grind slow, it seems just the opposite when it comes to injustice.

The wheels of injustice go fast!

Just ask Jesus.

He is betrayed, arrested, put on trial, sentenced, and executed in less than twenty-four hours.

Talk about injustice!

It is a travesty of justice.

The story of Jesus is full of events that should not have happened.

Jesus did not deserve to be on the receiving end of what happened.

For example…

3. Jesus did not deserve the betrayal of Judas.

He did not deserve to have one of His own to betray His location to the chief priests.

Judas had been with Jesus through thick and thin, the good and the bad, and yet, Judas traded Him in for thirty pieces of silver.

4. Jesus did not deserve the denials of Peter.

Peter had boldly said that he would never deny Jesus.

He said that he would always be there for Jesus, no matter what.

He would even defend Him to the death.

Yet, when push came to shove, Peter denied Jesus, not once, but three times, just as Jesus said he would.

5. Jesus did not deserve the hatred of the Jewish leaders.

No doubt, the religious leaders knew they were in a power struggle.

Jesus’ popularity kept growing and growing.

They felt that they needed to put an end to the Jesus movement.

Not only that, they hated Him, because He had pointed out their own inconsistency when it came to spiritual matters.

This is why we should never underestimate the power of hate, for it always blinds you from seeing the truth about yourself and others.

6. Jesus did not deserve the rejection of the people.

As we noted last week, this was an absurd decision.

When Pilate offers the annual release of a prisoner of their choice, the crowd prefers Barabbas.

They choose the notorious murderer over the sinless Jesus.

And…

7. Jesus did not deserve the indecision of Pilate.

We studied a little bit about Pilate last week, but let me share just a little more of his background.

Pilate was a native of Seville, which is now in Spain.

He had joined the legions of Germanicus, and apparently fought well in the wars on the Rhine.

After that, he went to Rome, where he met and married Claudia Proculla, youngest daughter of Julia, daughter of Emporer Augustus.

He was a man that liked the position of governor.

He liked the prestige and power.

But this case of Jesus is giving him fits.

He thought he had figured out a way to release Jesus and be rid of this Jewish matter.

But he was faked out, and so the matter is still in his hands.