Alliance Church
Pastor David Welch
“The Path of Pain Pt 2” John 18-19
Review
I. The Public teaching and ministry of Jesus 1-12
II. The Private teaching and ministry of Jesus 13-17
III. The Personal salvation ministry of Jesus 18-21
Last week we began tracking the various elements of this salvation ministry. We followed Him as He entered a disturbing path of pain and suffering. We already encountered some difficult scenes and have yet to witness unfathomable atrocities.
We wonder, “Why?” We realize he did it for ME! We consider, “If only a death was necessary, why all the suffering and torture?” Why such a horrible prolonged death? We must come to grips with the apparent fact - he did it for ME! These events didn’t just happen by chance. The majority of the events along this path of pain were meticulously mapped from eternity. Many of them were predicted decades, even centuries before they occurred. The gospel writers appropriately pause to point some of them out. There are no less than 29 specific prophesies related to just this last day. There are over 300 Messianic prophecies finding their fulfillment in Jesus. The odds that all of these prophecies would converge at one time regarding one man’s experience are astronomical. The odds of just eight coming to pass in ONE person are 1017.
It is a good plan.
The LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11
The eternal Son who willingly embraced frail humanity in order to restore many sons to glory enters the final hours of the focal point of all prophecy.
A. Treachery and Trial 18:1-42
1. Garden Gloom
Our walk with Jesus down the path of pain began in a special familiar garden getaway where we gained a concise but gritty glimpse of the human side of Jesus. We tried to get in touch with the trauma Jesus experienced in this first stop on his path of pain leading to the rescue of man from the grip of sin. This was the whole reason for His earthly trek in a human suit.
a) A passionate Plea to the Father (Matthew, Mark, Luke)
The Holy Spirit inspired the gospel writers to describe His experience in striking terms.
“grieved”(physical or emotional pain or sorrow)
“distressed” (intense pain, excessive concern)
“deeply grieved” (profound physical or emotional pain or sorrow) to the point of death”.
“very distressed” (greatly or utterly astonished)
“agony” (conflict, tension, internal conflict)
All these terms describe the emotional state of Jesus as the harsh reality of the plan to reconcile man to God, established before time, began to unfold in time and space and fully flood His human brain. The emotional impact on the Son of Man should not ever be overlooked. The anticipation of bearing every person’s sin and the resulting separation from the Father weighed heavy on Jesus’ heart and mind. The cup Jesus appealed to the Father to circumvent represented the full wrath of God against the sin and rebellion of the creature. Jesus made a simple request really. Three times Jesus appealed to the Father.
"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me”
Three times Jesus obediently acquiesced to the Father’s will, to the eternal plan.
“yet not as I will, but as You will."
Jesus would willingly receive the cup of wrath against sin from the Father’s hand even in the midst of excruciating physical and emotional agony.
b) A bitter betrayal by Judas 3-11
Following this emotional ordeal, Jesus prepared to meet betrayal and abuse head on.
Judas arrived with a mob of 1000 officials and soldiers to arrest Jesus.
John records a graphic demonstration of the power of Jesus as he describes a divine blast blowing them to the ground. As a necessary part of the plan, Jesus submitted, for the first time, to the whim of evil men. The Creator confined and bound by the creature. God constrained by man. Omnipotence constricted by incompetence and ignorance. A scene the angels could hardly bear to watch.
There is much to learn watching the man of sorrows walking the path of pain for us.
• Jesus experienced the deepest sense of pain with much more to come.
• Jesus appealed to the Father in his darkest hour.
• Jesus committed Himself to the will of the Father in spite of a personal ache to avoid such pain.
• The more Jesus hurt, the harder Jesus prayed.
• Jesus demonstrated greater concern for the welfare of others than for His own personal comfort and support.
We also learn from the disciples.
• Physical limitations often overwhelm the best of intentions.
• Prayer guards against temptation.
• Lack of words with God (prayer) prevents wisdom with men.
2. Religious Railroad
Following this degrading detention and brutal betrayal, Jesus next endures three ridiculous religious trials and three lame legal or political trials; all a horrible miscarriage of justice. History records an elaborate and most profound system of legal proceedings related to the Jewish judges and court called the Sanhedrin that was venomously violated over the next six horrific hours. Interspersed among these terrible trials are the devastating denials of Peter. For sake of continuity and understanding we will treat those separately.
a) Trial before Annas
The first stop on the religious railroad was the house of Annas. This most likely served to buy them some time to assemble the main court (Sanhedrin).
So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people. John 18:12-14
Annas was a former High Priest. He and his family had been “in charge” of things in Jerusalem for years. The only reason he did not presently hold the position was due to Roman influence that resisted the holding of power by one person over a long period of time even though Jewish law provided for more permanency. Thus technically both Annas and Caiaphas would have been considered high priests. Annas by the Jews - Caiaphas by the Romans
The temple “booths”, denounced and disrupted by Jesus earlier, were known as “Annas’ Bazaars”. No wonder he had a “chip” concerning Jesus. Nothing went on in Jerusalem without his knowledge. His would be the deciding vote. All the religious proceedings from here would simply carry out the decision of Annas. Perhaps that is why John only records this religious trial. Of course we already know that all these religious leaders had previously met and agreed to rid themselves of this threat to their way of life. Conviction and sentence had already determined way before this “trial”. This was no fair trial proceeding. This was a mere formality, a search for a way to legitimize their previously laid evil plans.
The railroad rolls then to the house of his son-in-law in order to appease the Romans. This whole proceeding was against the rules of prosecution.
• It was conducted before daylight – probably around 3AM
• It was conducted at a private residence not the public Judgment Hall.
• It was conducted by ONE judge not several as required by law.
• No witnesses were consulted or called.
• No representation for Jesus was allowed.
The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.
Annas fished for information to legitimize his preciously established conviction. Rather than acting as a “Grand Jury” to determine guilt or innocence, Annas assumes guilt and probed for anything to use against Him. He even tried to goad Jesus into testifying against Himself that was against policy. Characteristic of Jesus, he adeptly asked convicting questions.
Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said."
Jesus reminded Annas that he had done nothing covertly. His whole life had been an open book. It he wanted to know about the teaching, talk to the taught.
When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?" John 18:19-23
No court, either Jewish or Roman, tolerated violence in court proceedings. Before this blow in the face, no one had ever laid a hand on Jesus. Although there had been a number of times they wanted to seize Him and even stone Him on the spot, He walked right through them. Jesus now walked His path of pain willingly and suffered the first of much more maltreatment to come. Annas failed to gather any vital incriminating information he could use and thus ended the session by resorting to violence.
b) Trial before Caiaphas
So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. John 18:24
Matthew and Mark provide the details of this second trial. Each sought to highlight the illegality of this trial - an affront to Jews (Matthew) and Romans (Mark) alike. There is an urgency to get this over with before the people wake up and protest. It was still early morning around 3:30 or 4:00AM. This time there was a larger group of people assembled. They were still not legal as it is another private residence and not the Hall of Judgment. At this trial they sought to acquire some witnesses. The problem was they couldn’t find any witnesses who would agree on the facts, most likely because there was nothing to charge Him on. There were no formal charges. They were trying to manufacture something to pin on Jesus. The Sanhedrin was not to originate charges but only investigate charges made by others. Here the court became both prosecutor and judge. So much for impartiality!
Finally in frustration Caiaphas pressured Jesus to testify against Himself. “Why don’t you answer?” Jesus had nothing to speak to. Like the United States apologizing for the Chinese running into our plane. Caiaphas resorted to and appeal to the living God (who happened to be standing in front of him). “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?
Jesus only now answered in two parts.
“It is as you have said: I AM.”
“It is also true that you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming upon the clouds of heaven.”
At this point Caiaphas went ballistic. He ripped his robe and closed the case. “We don’t need any witnesses!” “He is obviously guilty and deserves to die!” This is the same guy who already marked Jesus as the one who would have to die for the people. Not an impartial judge by any means. The high priest was forbidden by Old Testament law to tear his clothes (Lev 21:10). Not only that, but any verdict or vote called for among the group was to begin with the junior member on up. Here, the High Priest declared the guilt and rendered the sentence all by himself. The evil only escalates from here.
Can you imagine watching this in a courtroom today?
“Then some began to spit in his face, and they struck him with their fists. And the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him, and when they had blindfolded him, kept slapping him in his face and asking him, saying, ‘Prophesy! Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?’ And many other things they kept saying blasphemously against Him.”
Humiliated with spit in the face. Exposed to menacing mockery. Slugged in the face with fists and slapped again and again. Even these despicable acts were accurately prophesied centuries before.
c) Trial before the Sanhedrin
As daylight dawns, they assembled at the Judgment Hall only as a mere formality. Matthew, Mark and Luke record the events. None of them mentioned the presence of any of the disciples at this trial.
Then immediately when it was day all the elders of the people came together, both the chief priests and the scribes, and held a consultation against Jesus to put him to death; and they brought him up into their whole Sanhedrin, saying, ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’
But he said to them, ‘If I should tell you, you would not a t all believe; and if I also should make inquiry, you would not answer me not let me go. Hereafter will the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God.!’
Then said they all, ‘So you are the Son of God?’ And he said to them, ‘ It is as you are saying, for I AM.’ And they said, ‘What need have we for more testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!’ And the entire company of them arose, and they bound Jesus and took him away, delivering him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.”
The interesting thing about this trial is that in order to make Jesus guilty of blasphemy they would have to prove His claims were wrong. All the evidence and the myriad of prophesies clearly revealed Jesus as who He claimed to be. They denied the need for any witnesses. Plenty of witnesses could have been subpoenaed to bear witness to His claims. One of the high-ranking Pharisees (Nicodemus) recognized that no one could do what He did without the power of God. But of course they weren’t interested in the truth.
The bottom line had already been discussed.
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. "If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." John 11:47-48
People today still ignore the clear evidence surrounding Jesus.
People still refuse to acknowledge Him as Messiah.
People today still treat Jesus and His followers with contempt and maltreatment.
Man’s court is not the final court. There will be a final Judgment Day and it won’t be Jesus on trial. Every living creature will be called to give account to God Himself.
Only those who embrace Jesus will escape that Day in Court.
3. Devastating Denial
Peter who vehemently swore his allegiance to Jesus to the death will vehemently swear he never even knew Him. First we should note carefully not one, but two predictions concerning Peter’s denials.
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." But he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!" And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me." Luke 22:31-34
But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing also. Mark 14:29-31
Trying to harmonize the four accounts is sometimes difficult given the fact we can’t talk to eyewitnesses and two thousand years have passed. One view of the denials is that there were actually six denials. Some identify up to eight.
For now I see at least six. Three before any cock crows. Three after the first cock crow.
Denial One – Annas’ House accused by servant girl
Denial Two – House of Caiaphas standing by the fire accused by group of guards
Denial Three – House of Caiaphas sitting by the fire accused by high priest’s servant girl
First Cock Crow
Denial Four – Courtyard by another woman and another man.
Denial Five – Courtyard by the Servant girl again
Denial Six – Slave and people standing around
Second Cock Crow
“And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crowed a second time; and the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows , you will deny me three time,’ and ‘Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.’ And stricken in his thought, he went out and wept bitterly.”
The Lord’s intercession prevented a spiritual melt down and failure of Peter’s faith.
The Lord’s intercession allowed Peter to be “stricken” in his thoughts and remember.
The Lord’s intercession brought Peter back to the place of repentance and strength to encourage the rest of the disciples.
Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus prays for the firm establishment of our faith in times of “sifting”. Does that mean that we won’t fail? No! But Jesus maintains that fore faith of which He is the author and promises to finish.
4. Legal Lethargy & Travesty
a) Trial before Pilate #1
Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" They answered and said to him, "If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you." So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"
And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.
b) Trial before Herod
But they kept on insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching all over Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as this place."
When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.
Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate. Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been enemies with each other.
Luke 23:5-12
More anger, hatred and mocking.
c) Trial before Pilate #2
Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. "No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him. "Therefore I will punish Him and release Him." Luke 23:13-16
"But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, saying, "Not this Man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:28-40
B. Condemnation and crucifixion 19:1-42
1. The Condemnation of Jesus 19:1-16
Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him." Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold, the Man!" So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God."
Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, "If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar."
Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!" So they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. John 19:1-16
2. The Crucifixion of Jesus John 19:17-42
What does is it all mean?
Jesus was born to die that I might live.
He did it for ME!
He became sin for ME that I might become right before God.
John the Baptist cried out…
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!.
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5
Paul miniaturized the gospel message for the Corinthians.
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1 Cor. 15:1-5
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-14
Jesus willingly trudged the path of pain and suffering to restore our relationship with God.
It is inconceivable to ignore such a sacrifice.
Come to Him just as you are this morning.
• Come in absolute humility.
• Come with deepest gratitude.
• Come with eager resolve to trust and obey.
• Come with enthusiastic desire to share such great news with others.
