John Chapter 19:19-26

Pilate was trying to let him go. Pilate had declared him innocent.

Why is this important? Because what Pilate thought is going to hit close to home, what Pilate believed did not impact his actions. I mean, it's plain to see from these scriptures that he thought he was innocent, but it never impacted his decision. The life lesson here, Pilate's actions never lined up with his beliefs.

Pilate's actions never lined up with his beliefs. Many of us here today say we believe in Jesus. We say that this is God's Word given to us.

But do our lives line up with that? Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David Magee. David is the senior pastor of the Bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. In the story of Jesus' trial, Pilate believed that Jesus was innocent. Perhaps Pilate even believed that Jesus was righteous. He may have even believed that Jesus was the Son of God.

But Pilate never acted on any of those beliefs. Today, Pastor David explains why it's important to act on our beliefs as we continue in the Gospel of John chapter 19. Now, here's David Magee with part two of his teaching, The Cross. We are in kind of the high holy ground, if you will, of the Gospels. In John 19 and last week we looked at the exchange with Pilate and Jesus, and we recognized that some people in that place declared that Caesar was their king and not Jesus. We talked about how that we need to make a decision who our king is. Obviously, Jesus is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, but the question for us personally is, is he your king and is he your Lord?

So we're going to pick it up at verse 19. Now, Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross, and the writing was Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, do not write the King of the Jews, but he said, I am the King of the Jews. Now, again, we see these chief priests pretty freaked out.

Again, whenever you see this, whenever you're reading through the Bible and especially in the Gospels and you read something and then you see the religious leaders or you see the Pharisees or somebody getting all freaked out and excited, stop, pause, and ask yourself, why are they so freaked out? Well, here, I mean, the obvious one is, you know, the title alone, that Pilate wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, not he said, I was the King of the Jews. Now, usually what they did is they wrote the crime of the person, that they were guilty of rebellion or they were guilty of whatever, sedition or whatever. They wrote that crime on the side. There was no crime that he could write for Jesus. And so the fact that he even wrote this is significant, but he wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

Now what's interesting, and I understand something, and follow me for a second. Rabbis were heavy in the symbolism. I mean, they did things when they were copying down the scriptures, they would do, they counted the letters as they copied down the scriptures. And if it was one letter off, they didn't look to see where that one letter was off.

They peeled the whole piece of paper, they threw the whole thing away. They were heavy into what's called acronyms, you know, taking the first letter of each word to form something, a symbol, a picture, significance. The reason this gets interesting is because when you write out in Hebrew what this says, you come up with this, Yeshua HaNazarim Vamalek HaYahudim. What's the significance of that? Well, look at the first letters of each word.

You have YHVH. Well, why is that significant? That's referred to as the Tetragrammaton, meaning four letters in Greek.

Why is that important? It's the name of God, Yahweh, in the Hebrew scriptures. That is the name of the Lord, YHVH. And these rabbis being into acronyms and symbolisms would have seen that sign and thought, Oh, my gosh, take the sign down. What's Pilate's response?

It's a little interesting. Verse 22, Pilate answered, said, What I have written I have written. Finally, Pilate finds a spine. He takes his stance on the wrong thing about the sign.

He should have taken it moments earlier. John 18, 39, John chapter 18, 39. You know, Pilate is speaking to him. He says, But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover.

Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews? So he's trying to release him there in chapter 19, 4 of John. Pilate then went out again and said to them, Behold, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no fault in him. Verse 5, Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate said to them, Behold the man. Verse 14 of chapter 19, Now it was Preparation Day, and it was Passover, and about the sixth hour he said to the Jews, Behold your king. Verse 15, But they cried out away with him, away with him, crucifying. Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king?

The chief priest answered and said, We have no king but Caesar. Pilate was trying to let him go. Pilate had declared him innocent.

Why is this important? Because what Pilate thought is going to hit close to home. What Pilate believed did not impact his actions. I mean, it's plain to see from these scriptures that he thought he was innocent, but it never impacted his decisions. Many of us here today say we believe in Jesus.

We say that this is God's word given to us. But do our lives line up with that? Now, I'm not talking about you occasionally stumble or you occasionally fall or you occasionally fail. We all do that. Let's be honest.

Let's be real. But is your life one of desiring to apply the truths of God's word? Because if you say that you believe Jesus and you say you're following Jesus, it should.

It should. There's many people this morning, still in bed, who think they should be in church this morning, but they're not going. There's plenty of people that think they should share their faith with other people, but they won't. There's plenty of people that think they should ask Jesus to forgive them of their sins, and they may never do it.

Why? Because their actions aren't lining up with their beliefs. And see, guys, this is what we need to be careful when we examine our lives. And I'm not talking about in some legalistic way. Understand, the grace of God is there for you. But understand, God has laid out in his word that we're to follow him.

The word tells us to love one another. That's scary, isn't it? Sometimes that is scary. Sometimes you hesitate to love somebody because you think you might get hurt.

Welcome to the human race. What if Jesus would have thought that about Judas? Jesus didn't think Judas was going to end up bad. He knew he was going to end up bad, still chose him, treated him no different.

How do we know that? Because the disciples weren't sure who was going to betray him. That shows us that. That shows us that Jesus treated Judas no different even knowing what he was going to do. Now, isn't that convicting? That's convicting to me because sometimes I treat people differently on what they might do.

And I think most of us are like that. Had Judas been one of the 12 followers? Let's say Judas was an elder here at this church.

Oh my gosh. As a human, man, he would be what pastors call sermon fodder, always being an example. Take Judas for example. Don't be like Judas and on and on and on. Don't be like that.

Jesus who were following said to love one another. Is that scary? You betcha. You going to get hurt? Oh yeah.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. That's what Jesus did. Verse 23, then the soldiers when they had crucified Jesus took his garments and made four parts to each soldier a part and also the tunic.

Now the tunic was without seem woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves let us not tear it but cast lots for it. Whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled which says they divided my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots. Therefore the soldiers did these things. Now, let's be clear. They said and if you're a new King James, I'm not sure where the quotations or if there's quotations in the New Loomian translation or the King James, I can't remember, but it says, quote, let us not tear it but cast lots for it whose it shall be, end quote.

Okay. They did not say let's cast lots whose it should be because the scripture said this. These are Roman soldiers. They didn't know what the scripture said.

Now how amazing is this? Here we have Gentile soldiers unfamiliar with Hebrew prophecy, unfamiliar with Hebrew scripture and fulfilling it down to the last detail. Because Psalm 22 16 says, for dogs have surrounded me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots.

This is an amazing thing. Fulfilling scripture. It's interesting that another person in the scripture that's required to have a one piece garment, the high priest in the Hebrew scriptures. We're told in Hebrews, a New Testament book, that Jesus is our high priest. And just like the high priest in the Old Testament in the Hebrew scriptures, it was a one piece garment. And you may think, was that a big deal?

Well, back then it was an absolute big deal because you took small pieces and put them together. We'll be right back with more from David McGee on Cross the Bridge. Right now, here's a word from associate pastor D.A.

Brown. Hey, we want to take just a couple of minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience, specifically Polson and Whitefish, Montana, and also Franklin, Norfolk and Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, and Battle Mountain and Carson City, Nevada. Lord, thank you for the people tuning in right now listening in these cities. Lord, we pray that they would be encouraged, that you would fill them up with faith to say yes to you, and Lord, that they would trust you with all that you want to do. God, we pray for the churches in the area, that you give the pastors wisdom. Lord, that you fill the churches up and that people would grow and thrive and begin to serve you. And Lord, we pray for those in government positions.

Lord, the mayor, police chief, those on the town council, everyone with authority. Lord, we pray for unity. We pray for wisdom, discernment, and peace. God, we pray that you bless these cities and that many people would put their trust in you. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

Thank you, brother. And now, let's get back to David Magee as he continues teaching verse by verse. In verse 25, now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. Well, there's a lot about Mary Magdalene these days. It was not Jesus' wife.

Okay, that's just ridiculous. And even as you look at this, he was going to, in a moment, he's going to provide care for his mother but not designate who's going to care for his wife. That doesn't make any sense. And other people have said Mary Magdalene used to be a prostitute. One of the popes early on came up with that. That's not scriptural. That's not scriptural. Understand, if you've ever said that, you didn't say that based on the scripture. Actually, a couple of problems are presented if you portray Mary Magdalene as a prostitute.

Here's a couple. Luke 8, here's one. Luke 8, 2, and 3. It says, In certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for him from their substance. Now, Mary was from Magdala, this is a city that's still there on the Sea of Galilee, that was kind of known for prostitution. That doesn't mean she was a prostitute. And it mentions her as out of her substance supporting the ministry of Jesus. Now, if you portray Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, you have an ethical dilemma. Because you have a lady who from the proceeds of her prostitution was supporting the ministry of Jesus. I'm sorry, that doesn't work. I'm not going to get into the whole, that whole thing.

But understand, I think that's an inappropriate picture. Now, this other lady who is here, Matthew 27 illuminates a little bit. Matthew 27, 55 says, And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministered to him, were there looking on him from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Hosea, or John, and the mother of Zebedee's sons, the mother of Zebedee's sons.

I have to wonder this. And I know that often we paint the disciples as these spiritual superheroes. It's not really the way the scripture records them. Scripture records that, well, they were human like you and I. See, because while we think they, well, the disciples with Jesus, man, I wish we'd have been there because they'd have been having these deep theological discussions. And that's what the disciples did. They had these deep theological discussions, and they were tall men with deep booming voices.

Yes. But what does scripture record? The scripture records the thing that they talked about the most, who's going to be the greatest in the kingdom. Oh, that's deep and theological, isn't it?

Even to the point at the Last Supper, Jesus had to rebuke them. Why? Because they were talking about who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom.

Why? He was talking about dying. So understand the picture. And if that's not enough for you, this whole greatest in the kingdom thing, understand two of them sent their Jewish mother to ask Jesus who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom. That is the clear picture scripture represents. Matthew 20, 21, Jesus said to her, what do you wish? And she said to him, grant that these two sons of mine may sit one on your right hand and the other on the left in your kingdom. And I wonder as she sat there looking at Jesus with a cross on his left hand and a cross on his right hand, if she realized for the first time what she had been asking for her sons. James, we know died a martyr's death. John went through tremendous persecution. What's interesting too is who's gathered by the cross at this point?

Guys, this is going to sting a little bit. The ladies. John was there.

We know from the intimacy of the details that John was there and then Jesus speaks to John and his mother Mary. But it was the ladies. Where were the guys? They were gone. They were gone. And it's interesting because, you know, Jesus went from having thousands of followers to having hundreds of followers to having a dozen.

Down in the garden it got whittled down to three and at this point there's one. But the ladies who are supportive of the ministry are there. I am so appreciative of the women who minister in this place, who give of their time, give of their resources, give of their gifts and their talents to minister here.

I so appreciate that. And you see here that women are an integral part of ministry. And you know what? Yes, I recognize that there is a danger in the world today of elevating women to senior pastor levels. I don't think that's God's design. But there's also a danger, guys, of us acting like women are some kind of spiritual second class citizens in Christianity. Jesus never meant for us to take that picture.

Never. And so I think we need to be careful that we understand the biblical picture here of these women being in this place, a significant place of ministry. And even later we'll see in the resurrection of Jesus Christ the women believed that the guys didn't. That's a little convicting, isn't it? For guys.

Ladies are doing the elbows, right? He's good. Boy, we need to stay.

Just get a little sound loop. And again, if you have any questions about what I just said, let us know. And I hope that what I just said, it's biblical truth.

I hope you weren't offended in that. Galatians 4 16 says, have I now become your enemy because I'm telling you the truth? This is something I have to do. I don't shy away from the truth. I teach the truth.

I teach God's word. And some of these subjects that we deal with on occasion, well, they're difficult. Jesus didn't shy away from the difficult issues. I mean, the rich young ruler came to him and says, hey, what do I got to do? And he says, sell everything.

Well, I wasn't very seeker friendly. But he told him what he needed to hear. Jesus will tell us what we need to hear.

And at times friend, let me be honest. At times when Jesus says something to me, it's like, ouch. Oh, but I don't go ouch. I'm running. Ouch. I'm bolting.

No ouch. Help me to grow, Lord. I don't want to just, I don't want to be one of those people that just, well, there's a problem and I'm going to bail.

I'm here. Why? Because I'm following Jesus. John chapter six says, but Jesus is talking and he says, but there are some of you who do not believe for Jesus knew from the beginning who they were, who did not believe and who would betray him. And he said, therefore, I've said to you that no one can come to me unless it's been granted to him by my father. Verse 66.

It's kind of interesting. It's John chapter six, verse 66. From that time, many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. It didn't say the fluffy ones.

It didn't say just the ones who were kind of there to check him out a little bit. It says his disciples. Then Jesus said to the 12, do you also want to go away?

But Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of return on life. We got nowhere else to go, Jesus. The life lesson here is make a commitment to follow Jesus. Make a commitment to follow Jesus. How far will you follow Jesus? You have to do.

I can't decide that for you. I wish I could, but how far will you follow Jesus till it gets inconvenient, uncomfortable, painful. I want to follow him all the way.

I want to follow him all the way. Verse 26. When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother, woman, behold your son. Now understand when he says woman and with our American ears, we hear this a little different than the address was.

It was not one of disrespect. It was, it wasn't a little, it's a different way to address your mother though, to use this term woman. What it reminds me of is in John chapter two, when Jesus addressed her just the same way. If you remember, they're at the wedding at Cana and John two, three said, and when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. So Mary said to him, they have no wine. Jesus said to her, woman, what does your concern have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. Now this is interesting to me because again, this is a cohesive book.

This is a book that is dovetails in such detail that it boggles our mind. And the last time he called on her woman was when he was saying, it's not yet my time. And she is saying, we don't have any wine. What's wine a picture of in the scriptures? One of the things it's a picture of, we know through communion is the blood of Jesus Christ. And he says to her, it's not yet my time, but as he's dying on the cross, it was this time Hebrews chapter 13 verse 12 says, so also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates in order to make his people Holy by shedding his own blood.

So let us go out to him outside the camp and bear the disgrace he bore. It was his time and the wine or the grape juice that we have at communion is symbolic of his blood. And it was time for his blood to be poured out.

Why? The final life lesson. His blood was for you. His blood was for you. Understand that.

Think about that. Not just for your neighbor, not just for the person on the row with you, for your spouse, for your kids, for your parents. His shed blood was for you.

Now let me ask you a question. After he did that for you, what should you be willing to do for him? So often I come back to this simple truth. Jesus, after what you did for me, there shouldn't be anything I'm not willing to go through. There shouldn't be anything I'm not willing to endure after what you did. That verse in Hebrew says, let us go out to him because of what he did.

Let's go out to him. What type of opposition or difficulty have you endured as a believer? Maybe even as of late as a follower of Jesus.

If you've had any, you're blessed. Certainly the things that we go through don't compare to what Peter or Paul or those guys went through and what they went through didn't compare with what Jesus went through. Is your commitment to follow Jesus until it hurts a little bit, until maybe some area in your life is dealt with?

Is there a commitment? Jesus, I'm following you because I got nowhere else to go. There's nobody else that's telling me that they will forgive my sins that will make the divine transaction of a holy life for my beat up life. Maybe you're here this morning and maybe you've had a difficult week. Maybe you've went through some of the things we're talking about.

And maybe, just maybe you were willing to, for the moment, throw up your hands and go, man, I don't know if I can do this. But in your weakness, he becomes your strength. Friend, do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven?

You can know right now. I want to lead you in a short, simple prayer, simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Now, God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me, that I could be forgiven. And I believe you were raised from the dead, that I could have a new life. And I've done wrong things. I have sinned. And I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you all of my days. In Jesus' name, amen. Friend, if you prayed that prayer, according to the Bible, you've been forgiven. You've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him.

And he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness, those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations, friend. You just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you. If you prayed that prayer with David for the first time, we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossthebridge.com to receive our First Steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to Cross the Bridge at P. O. Box 12515, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27117, and share how God is working in your life. The Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio, through the internet, and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use. So if you'd like to support this ministry, please go to crossthebridge.com, click on the donate button, and ask God how much he would have you give, either on a one-time basis or a continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's Word continues to go out through Cross the Bridge.

Thank you so much. Well, DA, before we go, what are some ways that we can bless our listeners? Each day you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David through the Word of God, with his email devotional, life lessons to consider, a daily reading plan, and a thought to meditate on throughout your day from the heart of David McGee. Those are terrific, and it's easy and it's free, so folks, sign up today at crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening, and join us next time as David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John.