JOHN - Chapter 19 - KING OF THE JEWS
JOHN – CHAPTER 19 – KING OF THE JEWS
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
September 5, 2017, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
“Be assured beloved, when the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus begins to function under the Lordship and dominion of Christ, God’s people will be propelled to their cross as surely as our Lord Jesus was to His. The cross that you and I hope to exchange for a crown is not the one that Jesus died on, but the one He has provided for you and me to die on, and which we will discover as we cling to His.” George H. Warnock
John 19:19-22: Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. The writing was JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS…This title…was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, write not the King of Jews, for he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, what I have written I have written.
Jesus was evasive when Pilate asked him if He was a king.
John 18: 33-39: Pilate persisted, “Are you King of the Jews?” Jesus gave a direct answer: “My Kingdom is not of this world: If My Kingdom was of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from here. Pilate said to Him, Are you a king then? You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause I came into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears My voice.
Our Lord Jesus always promoted His Kingdom as it related to proclaiming the Truth, walking in the Truth, living the Truth; for this is the whole character and ultimate essence of the Kingdom of God.
President Donald J. Trump is persecuted today by the world system/kosmos because he has stood and confronted the political spirit, the mouth of the beast/media, and the spirit of antichrist manifest in lawlessness and lying. His weapon of warfare has been truth. Let us all stand in truth in courage and not fear. Many in the “church” cowered down under the Obama regime because of fear of persecution. Congress cowered down and did not do their job because of fear of the media and the lawless judicial system under Obama. When Donald J. Trump came forth in leadership, the “church” found some gumption and began to unify and rally around Truth.
In the days of Jesus there was a lot of expectation concerning the Kingdom of God. The 21st Century church has come into the revelation that Jesus came to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. There may still be some doctrines which believe it is to begin at His second coming; but scripture is clear. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God and the Disciples preached the Kingdom of God. We, the church are to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus made it clear that His Kingdom did not relate to eating and drinking; to the economy; to political movements; or to externally getting involved with the kingdoms of this world. They even tried to force Him to be their King. But when they fully understood that He came to change their hearts rather than rule over the nation of Israel; they were quick to crucify him. The Jewish Sanhedrin understood the nature of His mission.
Jn. 11:48: If we let Him alone, all men will believe on Him; and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
The High Priest prophesied the death of Jesus; that this One would not only gather together the people to God in their own nation, but would reach out and gather together the people of God wherever they were in all nations.
This prophecy became the crux of the whole matter, for we are told, Jn. 11:48-52: From that day forth they took counsel together to put Him to death.
What was the sentence, and what was the accusation of the Lord Jesus? THAT WHICH JESUS CLAIMED TO BE, THAT WHICH HE ACTUALLY WAS—THIS BECAME THE ACCUSATION AGAINST HIM. Pilate wrote it out in bold letters for all men and nations to read, for it was written ‘in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin’. (Jn. 19:20). I believe the Lord wanted it in the language of all men, for His Cross was to have great implications for the whole world. Pilate would not change the reading of it, even though the Jews pressed him to revise it to read: ‘This is Jesus who claimed to be the King of the Jews.’
For here was One crucified for an apostate but very religious people—the Hebrews.
Here was One crucified for the intellectual and the wise—the Greeks; for by His Cross He brought all their wisdom to naught.
Here was One crucified for the strong and the mighty—the Romans…and by that Cross He would bring all their power to naught.
--For the Hebrews professed to have knowledge and truth, yet walked in darkness.
--The Greeks were noted for their quest after wisdom and knowledge, yet they never found God in all of their searching.
--The Romans had become that powerful empire that Nebuchadnezzar had seen in his vision—strong as iron; and by the Cross their kingdom would be crushed and scattered like the dust of the threshing floor.
‘THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS’
(This became His Accusation)
I emphasize these things, because once again there is great expectation for the Kingdom of God, and rightly so. The truth of God has begun to shine afresh in the hearts of men—but once again it is shining forth in the darkness. God knows how to sort it all out. He still knows how to divide the light from the darkness, as He did in the beginning. It looks like a polluted mixture—and it is. Nevertheless God is preparing a people for His Glory. He is preparing—
A Glorious Church…
A Holy and Cleansed Bride---
A Godly Remnant….
A First fruits People
Sons of God…
Kings and Priests…
Overcomers.
There is one more which the great Apostle Paul used—Bond slaves!
Jesus Himself took this role, even though He was the firstborn Son and highly exalted over all creation. Not that we as God’s people are called to be “bond slaves.” We are delivered from being bond slaves. We are called to Sonship and to liberty—and foreordained to be conformed to the image of the Firstborn.
But what we are by calling—and how we attain to this high—calling these represent two different things.
For the ‘calling’ is according to God’s plan and purpose…But the attainment of it is according as we learn obedience and walk in His ways.
How important it is that we recognize God’s Way. Certainly God wants us to know the ‘hope of His calling.” But He also wants us to know the way into that calling. Our Lord Jesus is KING, but he took the position of bond slave, and discovered in this pathway of obedience THE HIGHWAY TO THE THRONE. ‘Wherefore God has highly exalted Him, and gave Him a Name which is above every name—“Why? Because He emptied himself…made Himself of no reputation…and came in the form of a BOND SLAVE. (Phil. 2:8-9)
Getting involved in ‘the ministry’ is not the high calling. This could very well lead to conceit, high-mindedness, and a sense of superiority and achievement—especially if one is successful. The ‘high calling’ is achieved by walking out the pathway of God that would identify us with the sufferings of Christ. (Phi. 3:8-10)…
In this pathway, you might find seasons of walking in a very unexciting, ordinary, or unpretentious pathway. Maybe your season is to work in shops and factories, or tending the children. It is this season in which you will walk in sanctification. But if you are in the right season of your life, your righteousness, peace and joy will be fulfilling. What a joy to be able to raise your own children! What a joy to be able to have a livelihood to support your family! Your appointed walk of life prepares you to be that special treasure that his heart is longing for.
On the other hand, you might walk in a ‘spiritual ministry,’ if it is by God’s appointment. This high calling is reserved for Him that is prepared to lay down in life, in order that he may find the life of Christ that proceeds from a walk of total obedience to his will.
Gal, 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
But we are talking about the accusation of the Lord Jesus, because it is in this context that we want to speak about our accusation...if we truly seek to walk in identification with Him.
Jesus is KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH. This became His accusation at the hands of a world He came to reprove. It was a perverted charge, of course—but it was because of who He was, and who He claimed to be, that He was crucified.
Who are you? Who am I? Part of a glorious and triumphant Church? Members of the Holy Bride of Christ? Overcomers? Sons of God being prepared and groomed for manifestation? Kings and Priests unto God?
But if you and I are any of these, not in our doctrine only, but because we have come into vital union with Christ, then these titles of the high calling will be the cause of our accusation. And if we walk in the pathway of obedience to the will of God, these titles of honor will be nailed above our head on our cross by men who seek to pervert the truth in order to bring about our destruction. It is not because we live in a ‘democracy’ that we are free from persecution. It is because we are bringing no vital reproof to the world of darkness about us.
But we had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raised the dead. (2Cor. 1:9) Paul was sentenced to death. He was on death-row. Not by the Roman Government—not yet. But right there in His walk with God—the word he preached, the word he lived, brought him into collision with the world about him; and his brethren in Judaism, and with false brethren in the Church. He was ‘crucified unto the world. The world was ‘crucified unto him. (Gal. 6:14).
“FOR MEN OF TRUTH, WHO NOT ONLY KNOW THE TRUTH BUT WALK IN IT, ARE ALWAYS NAILED TO THE VERY CROSS THEY ARE CONSTRAINED TO DECLARE. Paul carried his cross around with him wherever he went—not because he ministered death, but because he ministered life…He didn’t try to make a cross so he could boast he was like Jesus. The world made it for him, and nailed him to it, because he walked as Jesus walked.
We might continue on as we are—teaching, preaching, evangelizing, establishing churches, healing the sick, writing books, singing songs—and we could go on and on enumerating the various areas of service that God has committed into the hands of His servants in the House of God. And all this may be bringing joy and blessing and deliverance to many of God’s people---BUT BE PREPARED IF YOU WANT TO BE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THE WILL AND THE WAY OF GOD---BE PREPARED FOR THE DAY WHEN MEN WILL TAKE DOWN YOUR BANNER OF HONOR, AND NAIL IT ABOVE YOUR HEAD ON YOUR CROSS---Because the truth of God is sterile as long as it remains a teaching or a doctrine; but it becomes offensive to the world about us when we begin to walk in it.”
John 18: 38-39: Pilate said to Jesus, what is truth? When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find in Him no fault at all. But you have a custom that I should release to you one at the Passover; will you release the King of the Jews? They all cried again, saying, not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.
Matthew describes Barabbas as one who had committed murder.
Mt. 15:7: There was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him who had committed murder in the insurrection.
Barabbas sits guilty in a jail cell in Jerusalem staring at the four walls and Golgotha hill. He knows he will be crucified by noon, dead by sundown. Because of his crimes, it will be death nailed to a cross.
Outside his cell in the Antonia Fortress, is a small gathering of men: Pilate, Jesus, and the Jewish religious leaders.
The Grace of the Cross just released Barabbas. He is unworthy, defiant, violent, a thief, and murderer. Pilate didn’t have the desire to show this grace to Barabbas. This grace came to this undeserving sinner unwittingly as His Savior took his place.
We as Christians are not very sympathetic toward Barabbas. After all, Jesus was innocent and knew no sin. Barabbas was guilty. Pilate confirms it.
However, we have no more righteousness in our defense than Barabbas. We are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1`). We are “lost” (Luke 19:10), doomed to “perish” (John 3:16), under “the wrath of God” (John 3:36), “blinded” (2 Cor. 4: 3-40) and “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world”. Our best is only filthy rags before a Holy God. There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom 3: 10-12) NIV.
Just call us Barabbas.
“You’re free to go. They took Jesus instead of you.”
The guard opens the door and we see the light of the morning sun, our chains are gone. We have been set free, sins forgiven, crimes pardoned….
Christ took away my sins and remembers them no more. God declares me not guilty.
We are not told what Barabbas did when he learned an innocent man died in his place. I want to believe he stood at the foot of the Cross humbled, thankful and weeping that unmerited Grace set him free.
Calvary was a fixed appointment in time, and everything either moved toward it or flowed from it. All believers who follow the example of Jesus, find we too have a schedule to meet, a schedule which demands we be prayed up, paid up, and postured.
19: 23-25a: After the four soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His clothes among them, each taking a share. His tunic was left over. Now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to each other, “but draw lots to see who gets it.” This was the fulfillment of the Scripture passage which says, They divided my clothes among them, they cast lots for my tunic. (Ps. 22:18)
The early tumult of the crucifixion has subsided. The crowds have withdrawn to sit and watch (Mt. 27:36).
Then four women are seen near the cross. A man is with them. We believe it was John. Jesus sees His mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved. He said to the disciple, behold your mother! From that moment the disciple took her into his own keeping.
19 28-30: After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled said, I thirst. There was a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
Many books have been written from this chapter. How can I possible cover it in one teaching.
But I must address the hyssop.
George H. Warnock wrote by revelation of the insignificant “hyssop.”
1 Ki. 4:33: And he (Solomon) spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall.
“Much reference is made in Scripture to both the Cedar and the Hyssop; but whereas the Cedar speaks of stature, honor and glory, the Hyssop always relates to sacrifice…and therefore to humility, weakness and contrition of heart.
It is a bitter herb, belonging to the mint family, and was once used for medicinal purposes. It seemed to grow plentifully in Egypt, for on the Passover night it was readily obtainable to every Israelite family, who would use it for the sprinkling of the blood. It was used for various sacrificial purposes in the Levitical order. So at Calvary when the supreme Sacrifice was being offered, it is the lowly hyssop which delivers the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Ps. 51).
We know it is not the hyssop, but the Blood that cleanses us
One day soon, I will preach a message on the hyssop throughout the Holy Bible and its glory to deliver the finished work of Christ.
This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought into the priest; and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and behold, if the plague of leprosy be in the leper; then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet and hyssop. The priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water (Or, in a clay vessel that contains fresh spring water). As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water; and he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy…(Lev. 14:2-7). The Blood is mingled from the Living Water.
How determined we are sometimes to get the cleansing of the blood without the use of the hyssop. We would do anything in the flesh to rid ourselves of the weight and burden of sin, other than simply humbling ourselves in the sight of God.
Jn. 19:30: Jesus bowed his head (it didn’t fall down) and gave a command to His own spirit. He dismissed Himself from his own body. He is Spirit! This is the miracle of the cross. The cross didn’t kill Jesus. His death was miraculous. He had the power to do this and said so (Jn. 10:18).
We know what Jesus accomplished at the Cross, because we believe His Word. But only His spirit can make it vital and real in our lives. For just as a bird was slain for the cleansing of the leper, and its blood mingled with pure, running water in an earthen vessel (and this became a cleansing stream for the leper in Israel)---so when the blood of the Lord Jesus was shed, there issued forth from His sacrifice a cleansing stream of BLOOD AND WATER.
John 19: 34-35: One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and there came forth blood and water. He that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and He knows that He said truth, that you might believe.
BLOOD AND WATER! BLOOD AND WATER! This is the stream that cleanses---Only the presence of the Spirit of God can make our baptism in water to be effectual and meaningful. That elevates the importance of water baptism as a sealing of the Holy Spirit.
Whatever we do in obedience to the Lord must be accompanied by His Presence and spirit if it is going to be effectual. The water that the children of Israel drank in the wilderness was “spiritual,” because it was impregnated with the Life of Christ ( 1Cor. 10:4). The bread they ate in the wilderness was “spiritual” because it was prepared in Heaven and endued with the Life of Christ (1 Cor. 10:3). The Water of the Word is “spiritual” when it is endued, impregnated, and anointed with the Holy Spirit. It becomes a living, flowing stream. The water of purification that God ordained for the cleansing of the leper had to be “running” water, or “living” water. It was effectual because the living bird was dipped in the water and in the blood, and released to soar into the heavens and over the fields (Lev. 14: 4-7).
Now our baptism in water is a testimony to all…that we are washing in the blood, and are committed to walk in the way of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is the faithful witness, as He soars in the heavens… with Blood and Water dripping from His wings. Hear Him, as we soar with Him in heavenly places. “There is cleansing, perfect cleansing from all sin and defilement! His blood has made us clean! The water of truth applies the blood to our hearts! The Spirit is witness to the truth, for He was there when Jesus died. He bears witness, That the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. There is nothing more pure in Heaven or in earth, than the sinner who is washed in the water and the blood of the Lord Jesus.
THE THREE WITNESSES:
The blood and the water flowed from His side,
And sprinkled the earth below,
For earth was the vessel that God did provide
To receive this cleansing flow.
And the Spirit of truth was there on that day,
God’s Witness, so faithful and sure,
That our sins are removed and taken away,
And the heart of the leper made pure.
His pinions are stained with the blood of the Son,
As He soars o’er the hills and the fields,
O hear His clear witness. “The work has been done,
You are cleansed in the stream that heals!”
For the Spirit is witness that water and blood
Flowed from His wounded side,
That we might be cleansed in the streams of God,
Ever with Him to abide.
There is nothing more clean on the earth below,
Nor in Heaven’s pure realms above,
Than the children of men who abide in the flow
Of the streams of His mercy and love.
O plunge and be clean in the River of God,
And soar on the wings of the Dove,
Immersed in the Fountain of Water and Blood,
Redeemed by the Son of His love! (George H. Warnock)
Taught by: Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
I entered into the labors of Chain Reactions in the Realm of the Spirit AND The Hyssop that Springeth Out of the Wall by: George H. Warnock.