THEY TOOK JESUS AND LED HIM AWAY
JOHN 19:16-18
John 19:16, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.”
Introduction:
Jesus “had been all night in agony, he had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, he had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; he had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted him. They were eager for his blood, and therefore led him out to die, loaded with the cross.” —Charles H. Spurgeon.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ for our sins was a cooperative effort by both Gentiles and Jews contrary to what established religion has said for centuries.
I. JESUS WAS DELIVERED TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
A. The people were given a choice, Joshua 24:15, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
1. They chose Barabbas over Jesus, Matthew 27:26, “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”
2. They chose death over life, Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
B. The Roman soldiers were involved as Mark tells us, Mark 15:16-20, “And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.”
1. Jesus was led away from the Jews where the “whole” band of soldiers {400 to 600) could deal with Him, v. 16; Matthew 27:27, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.”
2. They clothed him with purple, any color mixed with red, (Matthew says scarlet), v. 17; Matthew 27:28, “And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.”
3. They crowned Him with a crown of thorns, v. 17; Matthew 27:29, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”
4. The soldiers mocked Him, humiliated Him, and led Him away to be crucified, vv. 18-20.
II. THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WAS TO CRUCIFY JESUS
A. “Behold, your King,” vv. 14-15.
1. Minutes before the soldiers had mocked Jesus calling Him “King of the Jews,” John 19:3, “And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.”
2. Now Pilate seeks to move the affections of the people in order to release Jesus, but to no avail, v. 15, “But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.”
3. The chief priests hated the Romans, but they hated Jesus more, John 11:48, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.”
4. Their greatest fear became a reality, Ezekiel 21:26-27, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”
CONCLUSION
Jesus will soon return and claim His rightful place on the throne of David His father. What if He came today would you be prepared to meet Him? Or would you be among the mockers who are so bold today to speak out against the Lord.
He suffered and died to pay for your sins and now just as the Jews were given a CHOICE, you are given a choice today. Who will you choose?