The Gospel of John Lesson 83 (08-10-14) John 19:16-7

The Gospel of John Lesson 83 (08-10-14)

Lesson 83 – John 19:16-7

Read Mt. 27:26-35a, Mark 15:15-23, Luke 23:24-5, 26-33 and John 19:15-8

So, Pilate now having done everything that he could do, using every possible approach in reasoning with the Jews that he could think of, finally gives up, washing his hands in front of them, declaring innocence to them, sends Jesus away to be crucified, Mt. 27:24. We know that Pilate was in no way innocent in the matter, for even though he was backed into a corner it was still his decision not to protect an innocent man handing Jesus over to the will of the people.

In Mark 15:15 we read that before Jesus was delivered to be crucified that He was first scourged. To scourge someone you would usually strip them of their clothing. A scourge would consist of numerous lashings, most often upwards of 30+, often 40 save one, using a whip, most often made of leather strips. However, this whip was special. It was designed as an instrument of punishment and cruel torture. At the end of the leather strands were knots tied with pieces of metal in them. These pieces of metal were usual made of lead which when applied would sink deep into the tissue causing resistance tearing the skin and tissue when retracted.

If this were not enough, the Romans having perfected the art of torture, would often tie pieces of sharp bone also in the tassels of the whip. These bones would not only embed themselves in the skin when applied, but would also tend to further rip the skin and underlying tissue penetrating further and deeper into the flesh usually ripping and lacerating the deeper underlying musculature. The end result of such a procedure, if one was fortunate enough to survive, was blood and sweat all over one’s body.

Much of this blood and sweat would very quickly begin to coagulate causing a sticky and tacky substance much like the consistency of glue. Again, at this point the one having the flogging or whipping most often was without cloths. John’s Gospel does not give us many of these details, but in Mark’s account it tells us that after Pilate had scourged Jesus and had delivered Him to be crucified, that Pilate delivered Jesus into the hands of a band of soldiers who had just for sport, or, in other words were having their fun at Jesus’ expense, had clothed Him in purple and planted a crown of thorns on His head mocking Him for being called or known as a king.

Well this robe when put on Him now stuck to His body somewhat like a form of glue. Even though the blood by this time had begun to coagulate some, Jesus’ wounds were still oozing profusely and to make matters worse He was now in the hands of a large number of soldiers who were not even yet at this time treating Him to nice. Jesus Himself was the object of their sport or entertainment.

Just so we can understand what was happening here, Jesus after Pilate had sentenced Him, placed Him in the hands of a band of soldiers. Many of the different commentaries that I had looked at placed a band of soldiers anywhere between as little as 60 soldiers to as many as 600. Most place the number between 100 and 120 soldiers. The other thing that is significant here, is that the longer the robe is left on Jesus the more attached the robe becomes attached to His wounds.

This is an interesting dynamic. Just think of what it would be like. A condemned man left unguarded with 100 +/- men, who were not just guards, but men of war where there were few restrictions as to what you could do. The only requirement was that they needed to keep Jesus alive enough to be crucified. It tells us that Jesus was so much the event or object of their sport for the night among this elite group of warriors (Mt. 27:27) that they even sent the word out for others in the palace to come and join in on the sport or their supposed good time.

It tells us that they had put the robe and a crown of thorns on Him mocking Him giving Him a reed for a staff. It goes on to say in Mark’s Gospel chapter 15 that after giving Him the staff and mocking Him as a king that they would take the staff away from Him and strike Him with it striking Him in the head in particular. These were men of war. I am sure that the blows to the head were not light taps. It is worth noting also that a reed was not a soft material that can be found in some reeds, but was more a hard stick like object that can cause injury when used as a weapon or instrument of discipline.

This is an ugly scene. Jesus is in the midst of at least 60 + men of war and almost all of them would want to get their licks in in one form or another. They mocked Him, they beat Him with the reed, they spat on Him, punched Him, kicked Him and all kinds of unimaginable abuse. Remember this was a large group of men of war. By themselves some of them may never have acted the way that they did that night, but get them with a group of guys and that competitive spirit kicks in and begins to take over and soon with a group that large there is no telling what you will find yourself doing. Again, the only restriction that these men were given was that they would need to be able to keep Jesus at least somewhat alive for crucifixion.

In Mark 15:20 it tells us that when they had had their fun that they pulled the robe off of Him… a big ouch! Can you imagine men of war taking off Jesus’ robe? Men of war are not known for their tact or bedside manner. As a matter of perspective their point of view in the matter would have most likely been the more pain in the process the better. It tells us that after taking off Jesus’ robe that they put His own cloths back on Him, leading Him away to be crucified.

It is amazing to me that Jesus at this time was even able to walk. After receiving this type of torture and treatment most would be unconscious and on the floor unable to move, if not already dead. It appears from John’s Gospel that at first Jesus was required to carry His own cross. Estimates vary as to how much the cross actually weighed. Some estimate it to be as much as 3-400 pounds.

At any rate, it is obvious that Jesus was unable to bear His cross very far alone. To me it is inconceivable that He could have carried it at all. However, John tells us that He did. But, He never would have made it to Golgotha on His own. The other three Gospels tell us that they grabbed a passerby named Simon. We are unsure as to exactly who this man really was, but is apparent that he was probably a Jew from North Africa in Jerusalem for the Passover. There is also good evidence that later two of his sons would be found to be prominent members and workers in the early Church.

It is also not clear as to what exactly is meant by the other Gospel writers by Simon carrying the Cross. Some have suggested that he may not have carried the Cross alone, but had assisted Jesus in carrying the Cross, Lk. 23:26. In doing so, I can only imagine what Simon was thinking in his heart seeing Jesus in this state right in front of him.

Not much is said about the actual journey to Golgotha except that in Luke’s Gospel it tells us that a great company accompanied Jesus as he went to the Cross and Luke also records an interesting conversation that Jesus had with some of the women of Jerusalem that were following Him. These women were bewailing and lamenting for Jesus. Rightly so, for Jesus was a sight to be seen. Anyone who had seen Jesus on that day should have had pity on Him.

However, an interesting thing happens. Jesus for the first time in some time breaks silence and has a conversation with them giving them a prophetic warning. It is amazing that here Jesus is all beat up and torn, carrying a heavy cross, barely able to move and He turns not to thank them for their pity for His present state, but instead to warn them of coming events that they had better beware of.

He warns them in particular about the coming desolation that would be coming very soon that would in all likelihood personally affect most of them present. He tells them not to weep or have pity for Him as bad as He looked, but He told them that they should have pity on themselves for even though they did not know it death and destruction lay at their door.

This statement from Jesus must have shocked, no… stunned them. Jesus in saying this was not at all rebuking them for their pity and compassion that they sincerely had for Him. But, in looking at Jesus they had assumed the wrong thing. In looking at Jesus they had assumed that He was in an unfortunate position and deserved their heartfelt sympathy. However, what they had failed to realize was that Jesus was exactly where He had chosen to be, even though it was a painful situation, and that although pity was still an appropriate response from them that very soon He would come forth as the Victor having completed His work.

However, their position was the position that was tenuous. Jesus knowing the future takes the time even in His present condition to warn them of coming events. Little did they realize that soon many of them would be in His position being the recipients of Roman fury. The only real difference however would be that they would be on their own. They as a nation of people had rejected the Savior that was right in front of them and soon would experience the consequences of that decision.

He tells them something very interesting at the end of His conversation with them. In v. 31 of Luke 19 He warns them in essence saying “If they, the Romans, treat an innocent man this way, a green tree, then what will they do to a rebellious nation that is dry and unruly toward them. Most believe that Jesus was warning these daughters of Jerusalem of the judgment that was about to fall upon them from Rome. When seeing the destruction that was to come they would cry out asking the mountains to fall upon them and cover them. It is believed that this was fulfilled in 70 AD.

Luke also records in Luke 23:42 that Jesus was not alone on His way to the Cross. Two others accompanied Him on that day. They would be put to death with Jesus, however, unlike Jesus they were sinners, guilty of their offenses. This would fulfill Isaiah’s prophesy in Isa. 53:12 that Jesus even though sinless would be numbered with transgressors.