The Man In The Middle

John 19:13-18-When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

INTRODUCTION: In John’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, he shares a similar account of the trial of Jesus as was told in Matthew 27. In our scripture in John 19:13-18, Jesus was led away after He was condemned to be crucified and He was led away to the place called Golgotha and was crucified with two other criminals and Jesus was in the middle of the two criminals who were also crucified with Him. Jesus was the man in the middle in this story. Jesus was and will always be the mediator or middle man in God’s plan of redemption.

1 Timothy 2:5-For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1) THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE IS OUR PROPITIATION

Romans 3:25-Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

1 John 2:2-And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:10-Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

“Atonement by the blood of Jesus is not an arm of Christian truth; it is the heart of it.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” (C.S. Lewis)

2) THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE IS OUR HEALER

Isaiah 53:5-But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24-Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

“It is inconsistent to have Jesus pay a price for healing and for us to believe it s not God’s intention to heal” (Bill Johnson)

3) THE MAND IN THE MIDDLE IS OUR PEACE

Mark 4:39-And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

“If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.” (Thomas Watson)

John 14:27-Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33-These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

I

n the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms," (Deuteronomy 33:27) full of support, provision, comfort and strength.

- (Oswald Chambers)

John 20:19-Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

John 20:21-Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:26-And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.