Jesus Lays Down His Life

JOHN 18:33-38; 19:10-16, 25-30

GOLDEN TEXT: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”—John 18:37

“WHAT hast thou done?” asked Pilate of the “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:16) For three and one-half years Jesus had been ministering to his brethren of Israel, doing good to them, and nothing but good. He had fed the hungry, healed the sick, and raised the dead. He had preached the truth, the truth which was calculated to break the shackles of superstition and error by which they were bound and kept in subordination to a hypocritical priesthood. The acceptance of this message would have resulted in a greater blessing than anything else he did for the people. But they accepted neither him nor his message. Instead, under the leadership of their religious overlords they clamored for his life.

It was difficult for Pilate to realize that a man could be so hated unless guilty of some gross misconduct against his people, hence his effort to obtain a confession of wrongdoing from the Master. Of course Pilate knew that the Jews were accusing Jesus of claiming to be a king and that, this, if true, was treason to Caesar. But evidently Pilate had seen ‘no real evidence of this. Perhaps back of the question, “What hast thou done?” was the desire on Pilate’s part to learn what efforts Jesus had made to overthrow the authority of Caesar and to establish a kingdom of his own.

If this is what Pilate desired to know, Jesus’ reply would not be too enlightening. The Master explained that his kingdom was not of this world, and that this was the reason he had no soldiers on hand to protect him from his enemies, the Jews. In this, however, Pilate saw what seemed to be an acknowledgment by Jesus that he did consider himself a king, hence the question, “Art thou a king then?” Pilate was genuinely bewildered, for he was in no position to understand the great spiritual truths pertaining to the kingdom of heaven.

“Thou sayest that I am a king,” replied Jesus to Pilate; that is, this is the interpretation you have put upon my explanation, and since you take that meaning from what I have said, I’ll go a step further and acknowledge that I am a king—“To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” This testimony of the Master has come ringing down through the centuries, and still stands as a challenge to every would-be world ruler or world government that attempts to seize control of the human race. And it is now, when the nations are endeavoring to maintain control of earth’s populace by organizing, that Jesus takes unto himself his great power to reign in order to bless all the families of the earth.

Evidently Pilate was somewhat irked by Jesus’ indifference and asked him if he didn’t realize that he was in the presence of one who had power either to crucify or release him. In this again Pilate displayed his ignorance, for Jesus explained to him that he could have no power over him at all except that it was granted from above. Jesus was serene in his faith that his times were in the Father’s hands. He knew that he was to give his flesh for the life of the world. He knew that Pilate would be permitted to hand him over to his enemies to be crucified, but this mattered not to Jesus, for thus, and thus only, could he complete the work which had been given him to do as a human being.

From this point to the final end when upon the cross he cried, “It is finished,” it was merely a matter of enduring, with God’s help, whatever divine wisdom permitted in the way of ignominy, shame, and suffering. And what great “contradiction of sinners” the Master did endure! (Heb. 12:3) The kingship of the greatest of all kings of earth was made a mockery. His enemies, believing in their hearts that he could never be a king, nevertheless used what they did not believe themselves as a charge to destroy the Prince of life.

He who was interested in all mankind and who had come into the world to die that whosoever would might live, did not overlook small things, even during the hours of his severest suffering. While hanging upon the cross Jesus saw his mother, and standing near to her, John—that disciple whom he so especially loved—and he said to his mother, “Woman, behold thy son,” and to John he said, “Behold thy mother.” It was not a command, but a reminder to John that he had an opportunity, and an assurance to his mother that she could well trust herself to the tender care of this affectionate and devoted disciple.

The Word which was “made flesh” had now given his flesh to redeem the world. He had committed his life into the hands of his Father whose will he had come to do, and delighted to do. Meanwhile, he had engendered hope in the hearts of his disciples that they could be partners with him in the outworking of the divine plan. They were confused and discouraged when he was crucified, but later their hopes were revived and clarified.

QUESTIONS:

Did Pilate believe that Jesus was a threat to Caesar?

In what way was Jesus contradicted by sinners?

What did Jesus mean when he said to John, “Behold thy mother”?

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