John Chapter 19:1-10

So we see probably keep saying in an unfunny following kind of ironic given the same. He doesn't find following but at this point, Jesus is Artie been beaten and Jesus is our been scourged. Everything finally fought any.

Why did those things happen because Polly knew what was right but he didn't do what was came across this. This quote a coward to someone who knows what is right does not do it, our struggles as Christians because sometimes let's all be honest we know what is right and we sit here on Sunday morning. This is this is what right is we fail, sometimes it was awesome that your life is built around no one but not doing welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville North Carolina as we think about the cross and what Jesus did for us. It should change our way of life today pastor David encourages us in that change as he continues in the Gospel of John chapter 19. Now, here's David McGee with part three of his teaching. The trial John chapter 19 verse one says so then Pilate took Jesus and scourged them. Now understand something we are so familiar with the events of this chapter that I think we gloss over. I don't think we really stopped to consider what was going on here, even that word scourged. I don't think we get that mental image of what was really going on because here's what was going out scourging was an incredibly cruel punishment. There was a whip that had several pieces on it, and in those straps or pieces of metal and pieces about an what the soldiers would do is they would take those straps and they would fiercely whip the person and what would happen with those little pieces of bone and metal as they would in bed in the back of the victim and then they would jerk those things out. What would happen as it would leave the person's back in ribbons. A lot of times people did not survive the scourging I'm going to be real honest and real upfront many times that died during the scourging's with their organs exposed their spine exposed.

We need to understand that that the scourging usually was for interrogation purposes. You can imagine that after very much of that the person would give them whatever information they wanted and admit to whatever guilt they had bitsy with Jesus. Jesus was innocent. Jesus was not guilty of one single thing so there was no big horrendous crime that he could confess now, a lot of us understand the cross when he went to the cross to die for our sins why the beatings were told in Isaiah chapter 53 verse five it says, but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.

The chastisement for our peace was upon them by his stripes we are healed.

We see the fact that we can be healed and have peace came from those beatings. The fact that we can have peace came from the stripes.

The fact that we can be healed, came from those things as well.

When I say healing them.

Explain what I meant. I do include physical healing and that you understand that God still heals people today. I don't understand some churches as they were God no longer does that he did that and in you know in the age of the apostles, but he no longer heals people you know it show me that about it doesn't say that it's not in their God still heals people, a man anything that that confuses me is if you don't believe God heals people anymore. How we pray for the sick. We were told to pray for this ever told anybody if anybody is ill in my sick among you, let the elders to pray for so you know if God no longer heals people.

What are the owners pray Lord, we know you no longer heal people. So just take a moment home because they're sick.

Amen.

I mean really what you pray now you pray for God to heal. What is God still heals.

And he also heals us emotionally and spiritually. Amen. Verse two in the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on his head and they put on him a purple robe not purple is the color of royalty, but they were making. They were making fun of. Now we think of thorns as briars or perhaps even arose. Bullish thorns but the thorns in the Middle East for two and 3 inches long and so when it says they twisted a crown of thorns on his head. These thorns and batted in his head at least to where his goal is can imagine the pain of that. That's interesting, in part because thorns are mentioned early on in the Bible there product of sentient Genesis chapter 3 verse 18 says both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the herb of the field. Up to that point. I'm not sure thorns and thistles and mosquitoes and stinging bees and all the things I'm not sure they are part of creation but at that point thorns were introduced and since sin introduced thorns. I think it's a unappropriate picture that Jesus Christ took the thorns upon himself suffering the consequences, not for his sin but for our sin, she often we suffer for arson and justly so Jesus wasn't suffering for his sins. He was suffering for our sins. Verse three then they said, hail, King of the Jews and they struck him with their hands. Pilate then went out again and send them the whole time bringing them out to you that you may know that I find no fault in the again we see politics as we saw last week. Looking at chapter 18 we see Pilate declaring that Jesus is innocent, finding no fault in him saying that basically he's a good man was stopped for second because he hears a common misconception in the church and outside the church people think well it who was Jesus, and you know it that's a really good question asked people what you think about Jesus. John people say well yeah believe this. I believe that what you think about Jesus. Well basically he was a good man was a good teacher. Wait a minute, and I love what CS Lewis does with this is called the trilemma if you will. He was either a liar or lunatic, or he was the son of God see a good man doesn't go around talking about.

I'm here to save the world to die for their sin is not a good man. That's not even a good teacher that somebody that was seriously says that somebody that was like walking around saying their poached egg is not who they say they are people that say well yeah, I'm okay with Christianity, I'm okay with Jesus.

I believe he was a good man are far from the truth he was and is the son of God was talking to a Muslim who was saying yeah you know basically I'm okay with Jesus Christ, that he was a good man. You know what we were not agreed on this as he was trying say let's all get along so were not agreed on this and at some point you have to make a decision about Jesus Christ whether he is the son of God, and died for the sins of the world, or he was just another profit we need understand verse five then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe and Pilate said to them, the whole man echoed normal he is proclaiming Jesus in front of these people help understand this is the man the God man but the man who will take away the sins of the world. This is not just another man. This is the man the perfect man the earth had never seen anything like him. And until his return will never seen anything like him again and guys man. He is our model of manhood and that a lot of times we have this mistaken impression of what being a man is we get that to a large degree from Hollywood, twisted place to get your sense of masculinity as little kids as well point. We grew up without watching John Wayne I love John Wayne but watching John Wayne and all you know and all he man in an ember told the boys don't cry and you start to read the Bible, Jesus went and David wept, and you begin to wonder see true masculinity, look at Jesus taking the suffering taking the beatings as he was hanging on the cross, asking God to give those who are crucifying not taking names, trying to settle scores. What a picture hold the man in the and and when you think about this when you see these things just got the crown of thorns in the room on and he's been beaten stirs the heart, and you can begin to have sympathy for Jesus. Now I think that was part of college plan is to get the religious leaders to be sympathetic to Jesus and allow power to release but there in the cold hearts, there wasn't any sympathy which is a sad comment.

I think on organized religion. They were so hardhearted there so callused, they were able to look at Jesus evidently feel little or nothing.

The religious hearts had long ago grown cold and hard to the suffering of people that never happened here when I see somebody gets hurt and I want her to feel for looking.

How can I help what can I do and as a church we need to do that to that needs to be our mentality. Here's how can I help what can I do how can I encourage you. How can I help you through this struggle not look what you did to yourself to have been in that position and had people encourage me to get it in in struggling to my face and even falling away have had people look at me know what I got down to his vomit in a that really encouraged me a lot and being facetious is currently at all but on occasion, some I would come up same in love you. Praying for anything under the heart of Jesus. Now understand as you look at this and in your compassion and your sympathy is is drawn into this understand that's not what Jesus is looking for Jesus and thinking okay well as long as you're sympathetic as long as you have some compassion. That's not the point. The point is you know you that emotion needs to be awakened to action is not enough just to look into society. Look into culture go outlets in that's messed up. So I'll do some about the there were the ones that God's chosen to do something about the life lesson here is when we think of what he suffered for us. She change the way we live. She change the way we live. When we think of what he suffered for us, it should change the way we live not just all loud. She look what he did look at suffer all feel bad. How are you living in the light of the fact that he took your punishment willingly. I should change the way your heart and your mind work and leisure coming just a coldhearted monster. As we look at the things you're going to be started. But, again, is it just can't be stirred okay well it went to church I felt was third got out there pretty quick so I could get over it or my heart was stirred to action and you know what I'll be hurt in the process. I've been hurt before reaching out exposing the heart to somebody only to have them slap it away. That's okay that's part of ministry. People must people solidly stumble the understand that that's part of serving God is feeling that pain because look at our leader.

No point in this chapter days ago you know that in those who be all this I'm out here. I can't believe that they looked at me wrong or said something about me know he endured beating, I would venture to say there's very few people here this morning who have endured beatings for Jesus Christ, but sometimes just somebody saying something you're looking at is weird is enough to drive us out of ministry, family, loved ones – and be should be will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey we want to take just a couple minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience.

Specifically Polson in whitefish, Montana, and also Franklin, Norfork and Scotts Bluff Nebraska and battle mountain in Carson City, Nevada, Lord, thank you for the people tuning in right now listening in the cities while 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 church is an area that you give the pastors wisdom. Where did you fill the churches up in the people to grow and thrive and begin to serve you and we pray for those in government positions. Lord, the mayor, police chief. Those on the town Council everyone with authority.

We pray for unity. We pray for wisdom, discernment and peace God. We pray that you bless the cities that many people would put their trust in you in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse. We are called to to suffer the sacrifice and the servant here you see Jesus declaring hope to a hopeless world declaring love to a coldhearted world without meaning, and that's what were supposed to know we should consider the cross we should do more than consider the cross, Jesus didn't say every day. Consider the cross. So I said as look up your cross daily ever thought about the word daily wasn't in their because he knows us. He knows he can use weekly or monthly or yearly and to often, to be honest in Christianity we think in terms of huge events and you rededicated my life and praise God. If you if you rededicate your life that's an awesome thing.

Praise God for the first time you asked Jesus to forgive you, ever since. Don't stop to pick up your cross daily, not just think about the cost, but actually pick it up and carry it want because Jesus did and and understand why is he doing all this.

Why is he enduring this pain in the suffering he's doing it for you is doing it for me now where to go and tell others about what he did and why did it the world to our street. They don't understand this chapter, I think it was a political conspiracy quilt was they think will is a tragedy. Well, it was they think it was an accident kind of much more than that was the plan of God created from the foundation of the world so that Jesus Christ could for ever to the scales of the world in favor of hope for you and the good news. That's why they call it the good news. Verse six.

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers on the cutouts and crucifying crews of five and Pilate said to them you take an increase of five for I find no fault in him. So we see Pauly keep saying in an unfunny thought any kind of ironic and it is saying he doesn't find following but at this point, Jesus is Artie been beaten and Jesus is our been scourged with it and finally fought any. Why did those things happen because Pauly knew what was right but he didn't do what was right.

Pauly knew what was right. But, didn't do what was right came across this. This quote a coward is someone who knows what is right and does not do it.

Coward is someone who knows what is right does not talk about our struggles as Christians because sometimes let's all be honest we know what is right and we Sitton here on Sunday morning. This is this is what right is and we fail, sometimes we fall. Sometimes, but your life is built around no one but not doing. That's why I encourage you to put wheels on your face to be have your faith is an active one so you can begin to do some listening I, is read over seven the Jews answered him, we have a wall and according to our law he ought to die because he made himself the son of God's apparently even the enemies of Jesus understood what Jesus said and while the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Dan Brown's of the world say will Jesus never claimed to be God. Wait a minute, Jesus was put on trial, condemned and executed because the people they understand.

He was claiming to be God. The Jewish people set as much rightly claim to be the son of God, so he should be condemned, no the Jewish leaders. Obviously clearly understood his claim to deity ever say. Therefore when Pilate heard that saying he was the more afraid, and went again into the purgatory him and said to Jesus, where you from, Jesus gave him no answer.

This is as it was more afraid that he was afraid but he was more afraid that makes us think that he was Artie fearful for what he was saying.

Why, because in the midst of all this, Jesus was very composed. Jesus is not losing the spite of being in such a vice grip of life at that moment he was at peace 101 a model for us to understand a lot of times when we get a vice grip of life. People are watching to see our reaction and if we stay composed and we stay at peace at rest. It piques their interest in actually can create an opportunity for us to share the truth so Pauly is more afraid, and he comes back and he says where you found is interesting to me and come back and say leave you crazy walk around told people your God. Another something that he saw in Jesus. What was was probably the Halo you know that we all see in the photos of Jesus, right now. Jesus didn't have a halo always is beautiful blue shining eyes scan interesting. It was Jewish, but anyway, what was it his face was glowing. You got me. Jesus's face gloomy everywhere want to just know it then, the things that we attribute to Jesus. Obviously we had halos or of his face was gonna resplendent 6 inches off the ground, easy to figure out the reset different about this man so what was it that was speaking politics curiosity. It was this piece is pieces. He said you know what my army is not of this world was amazed and and among the Romans and among the Greeks. There were stories there were tables if you will about God's liturgy coming to earth as men. And so Pauly wandered. Could this be. Could this be.

Is it true that is really what he was asking Jesus gave him no answer. I find that interesting.

When people came up to Jesus and asking legitimate questions answered when when they really wanted to know the answer when they didn't even that's interesting. I think again it's a it's a role model for us in front PEOPLE in our while all have heated passionate discussion sometimes if I get the sense of so I just wants to argue and argue with all they're trying to do is convince me of what they believe to be very carefully as is Jehovah's Witnesses or some people come knocking at your door of having a mentoring discussion.

The Lord God leads you do it do it, but understand there there. The purpose of evangelizing you and and a lot of times it's just not very productive in that discussion with the Muslim. I ended up in the discussion. They said hey can we talk some more later as you need to make make some decisions because these are all I just I love talking about religion. I love talk about theology. I talk about Jesus and you have to make a decision about Jesus. Jesus then given an answer. Verse 10 then Pilate said to him, are you not speaking to me.

Do you not know that I have power to crucify you empower to release you while notice something Jesus is our spoken truth to him even easier.

You know where you are you the king of the Jews and so you said Jesus is unwilling to reveal deeper truth to him. I think there's a concept there's a spiritual truth. There rarely does God reveal deeper biblical truth to somebody when they are neglecting or rejecting the truth that he's Artie given them. He doesn't take them to a deeper truth when they saw understand that if you make an application of God's truth in your life, what he'll do is continue to speak deeper and deeper truth. But if you rejecting what he's Artie speaking to you not acting out what is our spoken to you about.

He will give you deeper and deeper truth is you're here this morning and you don't feel like the Lord has spoken to you in a while go back to the last thing he said and begin to apply that and act on that and let me promise you God will speak to you again friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. 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 can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent 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 it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. So congratulations bring you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.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 PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're 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 like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or 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 ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart.

David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God