John Chapter 19:16-22

Holly was trying to let them go politic had declared a minister causes important because what powerful is good Hitler so what power he believed did not impact his actions. I mean is plain to see from the Scriptures that he thought he was in, but he never impacted his decision. Life lesson here Pollock's actions never lined up this police politics actions never bond the with his beliefs.

Many of us here today say we believe in Jesus, we say that this is God's word given to us to our lives lined up with the welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, in the story of Jesus trial. Pilate believed that Jesus was innocent perhaps Pilate even believe that Jesus was righteous. He may have even believe that Jesus was the son of God, but Pilate never acted on any of those beliefs today.

Pastor David explains why it's in Morton to act on our beliefs as we continue in the Gospel of John chapter 19 now, here's David McGee with his teaching across we're in kind of the high holy ground of the will of the Gospels in John 19 and in last week we looked at the exchange with Pilate and Jesus.

We recognize 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 are Kenya's obviously Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of lords.

But the question for us personally is.

Is he your King and is he your Lord to pick it up.

It verse 16. Then he delivered him to them talk about Jesus to be crucified so they took Jesus and led him away now. The amazing thing here are one of the things that stands out is that the Roman Republic, which stood and operated for about a thousand years was known for its justice. There was only brief periods of corruption throughout their history and in the midst of them being known for justice. The injustice of all this, how much of a aberration or how different this was compared to the way they usually handled themselves with justice and actually you prided themselves on the door was a system in place a Republic not a democracy. Sometimes people refer United States as democracy is not really a democracy of the Republic. But that's not really neither here another, but they they took care to make sure they did write things with how different this is because Pilate declares medicine and scourges them declares medicine hasn't crucified. What's interesting is when you start to really look at me he should've been turned loose politic clarity minutes and then engaged in all these things while because it was prophesied. That's what Jesus was here to do. Jesus was in control. Understand that Jesus is not the victim here. He's in control the whole timetable is his. He put Pilate in power that he might have him crucified Jesus but Judas that he might betray him. Jesus put Caiaphas in Annas in power. Knowing they would be the people that would plot and conspire against Jesus grew the very tree on which he was crucified were told the word.

All things are created by him and through him. Looking at the crucifixion you know to God the father. It was the payment for our sins to the son of God.

It was the sacrifice for our sins to us who believe it was the substitute for our sins.

The Satan it was his best victory, and yet by far his worst to the world cross is foolishness is don't get it.

To this day they didn't get in that day and they don't get it now were going to talk a little bit more about that in a moment of verse 17 says, and he talking about Jesus bearing his cross went out to a place called the place of the school which is called in Hebrew Golgotha now in the Hebrew Golgotha in the Latin is Calvary where we get our word for Calvary verse 18 where they crucified him Golgotha Golgotha where they crucified him, and to others with him one on either side of Jesus in the center now where is this place will reality is we don't really know when you go to Israel.

They they term places traditional with a little smile and then they call historical sites. Traditional sites to break it down really are is this this is probably were not where this happened, historical sites, where probably happen now a lot of the traditional site you need understand came about because Constantine's mother went over there that this get somewhere with a divining rod going. This is the place that this is the place. And all this is voice of the places are just historically inaccurate.

I believe this is my opinion I believe that the church of the holy sepulcher is one of those inaccurate places there's another place it's outside the city walls that has come to be known as Gordon's Calvary because I was a man who discovered about hundred years ago that I think is a much better place. The reason is is that there's some there some discussion with us to church of the holy sepulcher was inside the gates at the timer outside the gates is very important that the location be outside the gate. Also, Gordon's Congress can interesting at 777 m above sea level and it's on the mountain ridge that the Temple Mount is also on which is the place where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac and we understand if you been here very long Genesis chapter 22 is a very prophetic chapter. Now it was first to be outside the camp because in Exodus 29, 14 were told, but the flesh of the bull with its skin, and it's awful you shall burn with fire outside the camp.

It is a sin offering to sin offerings were supposed to be burned outside the camp. Hebrews 1312 and 13 says therefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people of this him blood suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. So I think it's Gordon's Calvary reality is, it is a matter is not in glory because I've been there.

And guess what, Jesus is not there.

His bones are not in the two. He has risen so this last verse mentions reproach. Reproach means the charger.

Blaine for something wrong and we need to be careful and I love Pastor Chuck Smith. The cover Chapel Costa Mesa. His analogy with this.

He said you know. Too often the church shows up on the scene of an accident acting like a policeman trying to figure out who's the blame is at fault here got a charge somebody and we were supposed to be the ambulance that comes and says all man you're bleeding them a healthy the EMT. The emergency medical technicians.

That's what the church is supposed to be now we weird to be reproach understand we are to art to be falsely charged some things that Jesus said that you can have tribulation. You can have problems and anybody that's ever done anything for God understands this because the moment you step out is the moment you become a target and the more you step out the more vulnerable you are is a target understand that second Corinthians chapter 12 verse 10, Paul speaking your nieces. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches her needs and persecutions and distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. The life lesson here is when we are approached reproached for spiritual reasons we identify even more with Jesus.

We identify even more with Jesus. The guys I talk about serving. Don't be surprised when you step out to serve God.

If there's not some opposition if there's not some difficulty in that lot because you're stepping out to serve the Lord. This church is a body is stepping out to serve the Lord understand fully what that mean it's not that were just declaring war on the enemy that that would be significant enough that what were saying to the enemy is that you know what yes we are declaring war on you, as a matter fact there's people serving you now that we want to go in and grab and take out of the kingdom of darkness bring them into the kingdom of life and teach them how to fight against you as well. I don't expect to be okay with that and the only way you can skip this part of Christianity is to not serve and still you might not skip it. Seek the only way somebody will not criticize you of making mistakes in ministry and in your Christian walk is did not do anything and brother sister if you don't do anything you're making the biggest mistake of all.

How often we we start to serve and we get a little opposition in the Lord wants to grow us and and and us.to ourselves so that we can live for him and we turn tail and we run body news can be this hard and he knows can be this difficult. Peter first Peter 414 if you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you for the spirit of glory and of God rest upon you on their part he is blasphemed on your part is glorified. So when you're reproached your blast. You have a difficulty in the family because of your spiritual hunger for God, your blast it happens at work your blast now minted will not talk about because sometimes you will get confused about. I am not talking about you being rude to people and then responding to your rudeness and you call it persecution because that's happened. You know, as we you know the if you stand up in a restaurant on the table foam at the mouth and start a teller by that they're going to help. Don't be surprised. This might just get down all the debris you have to leave now and don't call it persecution.

That is, I got a term for all share with you that's being a jerk for Jesus. Don't be a jerk for Jesus because you don't see Jesus manager people do you well know, is the answer. He was certainly harsh to the religious authorities they would gotten into this traditional think and neglected the reality of the relationship part of the significance of them doing that was what they were being jerked for God will be deeply booked as a they don't know what they're doing is is wrong, some to communicate to them over and over and over you occasionally.

Rarely is a past dress. It was some money to have to clarify and correct them in something that they they have no idea that the wrong about, especially the young and the Lord when I do that with the meekness and hopefully with a gentleness in reality as it is Christians of probably driven for more people away from the cross than any other thing. How sad that is 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 or did you fill the churches up in the people to grow and thrive and begin to serve you and though we pray for those in government positions.

Lord, the mayor and police chief.

Those on the town Council everyone with authority, though 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. As we look at these things.

Again we see Jesus man Chris find the tendency Jesus was crucified in feel that you know what you should feel that in and it should tear at your heart may not. That's a far cry from what's really needed what is supposed to happen is you look at this and go if he did this when am I supposed to do if he did this, what does he want me to do since he was willing to do all this for me. What should I now do for him now. Meet me share something else because here's here's a an area we get confused.

The cross in our day and culture has been sanitized. Here's what I mean. Crucifixion across was the coolest form of punishment that was in existence in the world at that time it was cruel.

It was horrible. It took hours for somebody to die will go into that a little more next week. It took hours for some money to die.

It was not. It was a horrible thing was a horrible thing that happened it was a horrible thing to watch and it was so horrible that that room said we will never do this to any of our citizens. If somebody is a Roman citizen. We will behead them as a form of execution, but never crucifixion.

We understand that. Do you understand that people who were guilty of murder were executed on the cross that was a place of criminal execution in the modern-day equivalent would be like a hangman's noose or an electric chair. Think about that's the modern-day equivalent, and in and so and we have so sanitized it when I'm get ready site summary goal will but one is following me with this. What is you had a little electric chair that you hung around your neck while you are not all that for my Savior.client. Yes, he was crucified. He was executed in this electric chair.

That's the reality of what it talks about the cross being a place of foolishness is what is speaking about it was the modern-day equivalent of electric chair sure changed a lot of our zone. There's room at the chair for you. There's power in the chair. He now you know I don't do that. Just a joke. I'm trying to make a picture so you understand that the cross was a place crucifixion was a death of shame and guilt and punishment. I think we forget that as we wear gold crosses.

We don't consider it was a bloodied, torturous death that Jesus went through verse 19 a pilot 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 was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and therefore the chief priest of the Jews said the pilot do not write the king of the Jews but he said I am the king of the Jews again we see these chief priest pretty freaked out and again whenever you see this whenever you redo the Bible and especially the Gospels and you read something and then you see the religious leaders we see the Pharisees or some I get all freaked out excited, stop, pause and ask yourself why are they so freaked out here.

I mean, the obvious one is. Note that the title alone that pilot wrote Jesus announced 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 what exhibition or whatever. They wrote that on the there was no crime that he could write for Jesus is the fact that he even wrote this is significant, but he wrote Jesus of Nazareth, being a Jew now. What's interesting and understand something and follow me for sex. Rabbis were heavy in the symbolism I mean they did things when they were copping down the Scriptures I would do that, they counted the letters as they copy down the Scriptures and if it was one letter. All they didn't look to see where that one letter was they feel the whole piece paper lately through the whole thing away and they had this very in depth system of doing it. They would count the letters on the page that would count the letters on the line. They would count the letters going down the letters going across and if all that was right then. It was a a verified copy of the word.

So they were heavy into what common acronyms you taken the first letter of each word to form something simple picture significance now.

The reason this gets interesting is because when you write out in Hebrew.

What this says you come up with this. Yes, you can as I really thought my lack high Yahoo to him what's the significance of that well look at the first letters of each word you have why H VH one is not significant that's referred to as the tetra grandma taught meaning for letters in Greek. Why is that important is the name of God.

Yesterday in the Hebrew Scriptures that is the name of the Lord why H VH and these rabbis being into acronyms and symbolisms would've seen that sign and thought oh my gosh take the sign down.

This is an incredible book their stuff in here. You note that the joy of digging in Scriptures and finding things like this is a lifetime of pleasure.

The name of God and so they were freaked out, not only in the title but when they looked at the acronyms. I thought they did not which pilots response.

It's a little interesting. Verse 22 Pilate answered said what I have written. I have written. Finally polyp finds a spine he takes his stance on the wrong thing about the sign he should of taken it moments earlier you knows parents. That's an important lesson you pick your battles.

Pick your battles.

You know what I found is it if you battle everything you're just going to be battling all the time. Pick your battles with your kids. And in those sorts of you know Tom I picked this battle. It was I think perhaps the wrong battle but here's the thing. Let's look at this, John 1839 John chapter 1839 Hippolytus speaking to Mrs. 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 chapter 19 for John Pollock then went out again and said to them, behold, I bring them out to you that you may know that I find no fault in him. Verse five then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe and pallets of the behold the man verse 14 of chapter 19 now was preparation day and it was Passover in about six hours of the Jews, behold, your King restricting but they cried out away with them away with in crucified pallets of them shall crucify your king the chief priest answered said we have no king but Caesar pilot was trying to let him go. Pollock had declared a menace and why is this important because what pallets all is good hit close to home. What Pollock believed did not impact his actions and reminisce plain to see from the Scriptures that he thought he was in, but never impacted his decision. Life lesson here pallets actions never lined up with this belief, pallets, 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 to our lives. Line up with that. Now I'm not talking about you occasionally stumble and occasionally fall you occasionally fail.

We all do that was to 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 your following Jesus is shut. 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 only people that think they should share their faith with other people, but they want.

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 are lining up with their beliefs and suggest this is what we need to be careful when we examine our lives and not talk about some legalistic way understand the grace of God is there for you. But understand, God has laid out in his word that were to follow him and he gives us direction on how to do it and you're in a church that will not only encourage you in doing that we show you how to do that. So your beliefs can line up with your actions and your actions can line up with your beliefs so that you want in the like.

Judas so that you won't end up like I want more for you than the 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.

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 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. 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 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'd 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