THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

JESUS IS PUNISHED AND REJECTED

JOHN 19:1-15

The Lord stands before Pontius Pilate in His last judgment scene. Pilate had tried to release him and again seek to release Jesus saying that he had found no fault in Him. However, the unruly crowd incited by the priest demand that Jesus be crucified. The Lord suffers in quiet submission.

I. JESUS SUBMIT TO THE PAIN AND SHAME

A. That the scripture might be fulfilled, Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

B. God spared not His Son, Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

1. Jesus truly suffered for our sins, Isaiah 50:6, “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.”

2. The Roman scourgings were ordinarily very severe, not limited, as among the Jews, to forty stripes, Psalm 129:3, “The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.”

C. Jesus himself likewise had foretold it, Matthew 20:19, “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him : and the third day he shall rise again.”

II. PILATE PRESENT JESUS SAYING,  “BEHOLD THE MAN”

A. Now Jesus was a bloody figure wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Isaiah 52:14 “As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”

B. The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and shouted for His death, vs. 6-7.

1. They raged against the Lord, Psalm 2:1-3, “Why do the heathen rage (tumultuously assemble), and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”

2. Crucify Him! They cried out DESPISING the Lord, v. 6; Isaiah 53:3, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

3. Pilate again states that he had found no fault in Him, but SUBMITS to their demands, v. 6.

a. In verse 4 Pilate had sought to release Jesus having found no fault in Him.

b. At this interval in v. 6, it was that Pilate’s wife warns him, Matthew 27:19, “When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

4. Now the REAL REASON for His death comes out, v. 7, “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

a. The council had questioned if Jesus was the Son of God, Matthew 26:63, “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”

b. The Lord’s reply was, “You said it”, Matthew 26:64, “Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

C. Pilate reacts and asked Jesus, ‘Whence art thou?” Art thou from men or from heaven? vs. 8-9.

1. He had before asked directly, Art thou a King? John 18:37, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then ? Jesus answered, Thou sayest 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. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

2. The Lord did not reply. It was a PATIENT SILENCE that the SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED, Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

a. His silence SPOKE LOUDLY HIS SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER’S WILL, Hebrews 10:9, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”

b. “If Christ had avowed himself a God as plainly as he avowed himself a king, it is probable that Pilate would not have condemned him (for he was afraid at the mention of it by the prosecutors); and the Romans, though they triumphed over the kings of the nations they conquered, yet stood in awe of their gods.” M. Henry.1 Corinthians 2:8, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

JESUS IS ARRESTED AND LED AWAY

JOHN 18:12-27

The Lord had prayed and prepared Himself for this moment. His determination to fulfill the Father’s will was undaunted. Now He was in the hands of His enemies. His disciples had been scattered and he was taken to be judged by the ruling body of the Jews, the Sanhedrin, made up of the Saducees and Pharisees and elders of the community. Traditionally it had 70 members.

I. JESUS IS TAKEN TO THE SAHEDRIN

Matthew 26:57, “And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.”

A. Annas received Him first, v. 13. Annas had been the High Priest for 15 years and still maintained much influence over the Sanhedrin.

B. Jesus is sent to Caiaphas bound, v. 13, John 18:24, “Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.”

1. Caiaphas had prophesied that one should die for the nation, John 11:51, “And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;”

2. The gift of prophecy does not mean one is a true believer, Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

a. These were ferocious wolves who appear harmless as sheep, Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves”

b. One need only look at the fruit they produce. Grapes and figs do not grow on thornbushes or thistles, Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

C. Now Jesus was alone since His disciples had been scattered, John 16:32, “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”

II. JESUS IS FOLLOWED BY SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES

A. All of the disciples were offended because of Jesus that night, Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

1. Peter follow “afar off,” Matthew 26:58, “But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.”

2. The Lord had said that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crew, Matthew 26:34, “Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.”

a. The first denial, v. 17; John 13:37, “Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now I will lay down my life for thy sake.”

b. The second denial, v. 25.

c. The third denial, vs. 26-27.

B. Another disciple, probably John, was more involved, v. 15; this disciple knew the high priest and therefore had access into the high priest’s courtyard.

III. JESUS IS EXAMINED BEFORE THE HIGH PRIEST

A. He was asked about His doctrine that they might charge him with heresy, v. 19; Deuteronomy 17:12, “And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.”

B. They hoped to make him an offender for some word or statement, Isaiah 29:21, “That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.”

C. Having failed in that attempt they charged him with blasphemy, Mark 14:61-64, “But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven . 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.”

1. Jesus is found guilty of being the Son of God.

2. To these unbelieving Jews this was blasphemy and the penalty was death, Leviticus 24:15-16,“And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD , shall be put to death.”

3. Jesus had predicted this outcome, Mark 10:33, “Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.”

CONCLUSION:

Now Jesus is taken to Pilot to be condemned because the Sanhedrin had no authority to sentence a man to death under Roman rule. John 19:7, “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

JESUS IN THE EYES OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
JOHN 1:14-34

John the Baptist had a very special mission given to him by the God of Heaven. John prepared the way for the Messiah. He recognized Jesus as that Messiah. He shows through his statements in this chapter that his relationship with Jesus Christ was more important than anything else in his life. Jesus was everything to John. He said in John 3:29-30, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

I. JOHN SAW JESUS AS THE ONLY HOPE OF MAN.

A. He saw the HUMILITY of Christ, Philippians 2:5-11, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

1. He took the form of a SERVANT, v. 7.

a. “Was made in the likeness of men:”

b. “Dwelt among us,” John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

2. “And became obedient unto death,” v. 8.

B. “Let this mind be in you,” v. 5.

1. Our attitude should be like the attitude of Christ.

2. Obedience to Christ as He was to the Father, should have priority in our life.

3. God’s blessings are connected to our obedience.

II. JOHN SAW JESUS AS THE SOURSE OF GRACE AND TRUTH.

A. Jesus, “full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.

1. You are FREE in the truth, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2. Jesus, THE ONLY SOURSE of the truth, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

B. Jesus, being the Saviour, manifest the grace of God, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

III. JOHN RECOGNIZED JESUS AS “THE LAMB OF GOD.”

A. THE CHOSEN of God, v. 29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

1. God is WELL PLEASED with His Son, Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2. Here we have the Son of God OBEDIENT to the Father.

B. “THE LAMB OF GOD.”

1. John introduced Jesus to the religious crowd of Israel.

a. To the gentiles this expression had no significance.

b. But to the JEWS the LAMB was the SACRIFICE FOR SIN, the lamb of the PASSOVER.

C. “Which taketh away the sin of the world.”

1. Every year, once a year, the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies of the Temple with the blood of the lamb.

2. BUT THIS LAMB WAS DIFFERENT! God chose this lamb and He was sacrificed only once, Hebrews 10:10-14, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

a. Jesus FINISHED THE WORK of Redemption, vs. 12, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

b. NOTHING was left to do, v. 14, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 9:26, “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

CONCLUSION:

John understood that Jesus was his Saviour, the Lamb of God that was sacrificed to save him from his sins. And he declared that Jesus is the Saviour of the world.

John dedicated his life 100% to the Lord. For this reason it is not difficult to understand why John was ready to die for Jesus Christ.

JESUS GOES TO GALILEE

JOHN 4:43-54

Although Jesus was as welcome among the Samaritans as he could be anywhere, and had better success, yet after two days he left them because he had to preach to other cities. Luke 4:43-44, “And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.”

I. A PROPHET IN HIS OWN COUNTRY

A. The Lord leaves Samaria to go to Galilee, v. 43, “Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.”

1. Jesus had success in Samaria, vs. 41-42, “And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

a. The Samaritan woman had testified about Jesus, v. 39, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.”

b. Some had heard for themselves and believed, v. 41, “And many more believed because of his own word;”

2. There He openly declared Himself to be the Messiah, vs. 25-26, “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

a. Jesus could not do that in Judea until later in His ministry because of their belligerence.

b. In Samaria there were no political implications with the Jews.

B. The Lord goes into Galilee, v. 43, “Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.”

1. Jesus is received by the people, v. 45, “Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.”

2. Jesus had avoided His hometown because He knew the people, v. 44, “For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.”

a. He knew how they thought, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”

b. He knew that they would not accept Him, Mark 6:4, “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”

C. He came unto His own…

1. He came to His own world, the one He had created, but there was no welcome, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

2. He came unto His own people, the Jews, but was rejected by them, Isaiah 53:1, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”

II. EVEN IN GALILEE THE POWER OF GOD IS NOT LIMITED

A. Jesus does His Second Miracle.

1. Jesus encounters a certain nobleman (ruler) in Cana where He did His first miracle, v. 46, “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.”

2. Apparently he was a Jew because Jesus includes him in those who wanted to see signs, vs. 47-48, “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:22, “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:”

3. Jesus heals the nobleman’s son, v. 50, “Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”

a. The nobleman believes and goes his way.

b. There is confirmation of the Lord’s power, vs. 51-53; Luke 4:14, “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”

CONCLUSION:

Verse 54 say, “This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.” The Lord had done two miracles in Galilee and still the Jews were not convinced that He was the Christ. He had told them directly in Luke 4:15-30, and they tried to kill Him.

JESUS GIVES THE SPIRIT

JOHN 20:21-23

Introduction:

There are two great truths mentioned by the Lord in these verses. The first is the giving of the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer. The second is that of the forgiveness of sins not by man, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

I. THE SPIRIT GIVEN

A. Our Lord’s breathing upon the Apostles reminds us of when God breathed life into Adam, Genesis 2:7, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

B. God breathed the Word of God referring to the inspiration of His Word, 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

C. In the same fashion Jesus breathed the Spirit of God into each individual, v. 22, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

1. Here we see the Spirit of God indwelling a new creature in Christ, Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

a. The Spirit of God, Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

b. The Spirit of Christ, Romans 8:9, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

c. The Spirit of Truth, John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

2. The Spirit of God now lives in the believer, Galatians 4:6-7, “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

3. The presence of the Spirit is one of the tests of life.

a. We know that we are His sons by the presence of His Spirit, 1 John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

b. We know that we dwell in Him by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, 1 John 4:13, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”

II. THE QUESTION OF FORGIVING SIN

A. There is no instance in the New Testament of any apostle forgiving sin.

1. Peter speaking of Jesus Christ.

a. Jesus the Savior, Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

b. Remission of sins through His name, Acts 10:43, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

2. Paul speaking of the Lord.

a. Through this Man,.. Acts 13:38, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”

b. Through the shedding of His blood, Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

c. To receive forgiveness of sins, Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

1) In whom=In Jesus, Ephesians 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

2) Redemption through His blood, Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

B. The Apostles spoke by the authority of Christ.

1. Paul magnified or honored the ministry of his office, Romans 11:13, “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:”

2. God’s chosen vessel to the Gentiles to preach the truth, 1 Timothy 2:7, “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

3. Paul never forgave anyone his sins, but preached forgiveness through Jesus Christ.