Sermon Tone Analysis

Not Much About Palm Sunday Today

That’s because it puts things out of sequence for the preaching points I have been sharing with you from the Gospel of John since February 13.

I began at the end of the Seder meal that was Jesus’ last supper.

To start, we looked at the new commandment that Jesus gave us to love one another, which I tied with 1 Corinthian’s 13.

I stayed in the Gospel according to John, following the journey that began there, looking at the final lessons that Jesus was teaching his disciples on the way from the upper room to the Crucifixion.

And then next week we will be celebrating the resurrection.

We are finishing up chapter 18 of John, coming today to chapter 19, where the crucifixion is recorded So I’m skipping Palm Sunday and teaching instead about the coming crucifixion.

That means I’m using the other term for today, Passion Sunday which is church lingo for the self-sacrifice of Christ because of the immeasurable love of God.

The entry into Jerusalem was recorded in John chapter 12, so we won’t go back to that just to wave some branches and pretend we are welcoming the King.

Recalling the Religious Arrest, Trial and Hand-off

Two weeks ago we taught about the prayer of Jesus for himself, his disciples, and even for us.

Last week we walked out of the Upper Room, and into the Garden with Jesus, only to see his betrayal by Judas, Peter’s brave but misguided attempt to protect Jesus in the garden, but then his fear outside the home of Annas the Priest and Peter’s denial of knowing Christ 3 times as the rooster chimed in after the last, as Jesus said would happen.

Well, while Peter was hanging out, Jesus’ hanging death was being planned inside.

The abuse against the Son of God was beginning even their, as you see the repetitive questions and cross examination was answered by Jesus with sort of a non-answer approach that told them to go see what people really knew about him.

Although the one acceptable sacrifice for the sin in their lives was right in front of them, they mocked him and the slapping began.

Well, Annas wasn’t getting anywhere, so he shuffled Jesus off to his son-in-law Caiaphas whom was the Roman-appointed high priest that year.

We don’t have anything from John about what went on there; he didn’t have access like he did at the house of Annas.

That’s were we start our message today.

After opportunities to set Jesus free.

Caiaphas has finished his questioning,

So because John had followed them there, and they did not enter the governor’s headquarters, John is again sharing as an eye-witness.

And so he records the encounter with Pilate:

Jesus’ words were coming true, like lined up dominoes, the fall of one leads to the next, and the next, and the next.

The Drama Continues as Jesus Faces Pilate

When they first brought Jesus to the Roman Governor Pilate, a man already known for his brutality against any challengers, John tells us Pilate didn’t want to be bothered with their arguments first thing in the morning.

They not bring any real charges against Jesus that Pilate had to deal with.

Now the ones who had plotted against Jesus were showing their hand to the governor.

First they claimed he was a criminal, and now Pilate hears that their goal is the death of Jesus.

And no longer was it about the community of Jews stoning Jesus; now it was to be a Roman execution.

Pilate Interrogates Jesus About Who He Is

Jesus Invites Pilate to See the Truth

Jesus was inviting Pilate to see who he was.

A King indeed, but not trying to take the place of Pilate or Caesar.

A king with a kingdom, but his armies were not here to fight against the prophecies.

Pilate was not fond of religious claims and the practices of the Jews who were a hard people to manage.

So when Jesus comes to testify about truth, Pilate was not interested.

Still, He did not find Jesus guilty of any crime against Rome.

Pilate Offers to Release Jesus

Pilate didn’t care about Jewish customs, but he did want Jesus off his hands.

His question did not get the response he expected:

Pilate Hopes a Beating Will Be Enough

This too was a fulfilment of Jesus’ words to His disciples:

Pilate Wants Jesus Acquitted

So he brings out Jesus, beaten, bloodied, wearing a crown of thorns, and with a purple robe as a king might wear.

This crown of thorns could have been twisted together out of thorny palm leaves.

There are some that are very thorny, and if so, this would have looked like the Emperor’s crown of laurel that was designed like a sun with rays shooting out.

Imagine now a little different picture of Jesus standing before them, with this “radiance” on his head and his purple robe.

Representing a king, still glorious in his capture.

Why would they need Jesus killed now?

The Drama of the Death Sentence

The Words That Trouble Pilate

This brutal, confident suppressor of uprisings was not worried about Jesus as king of the Jews.

But now he was faced with the fact that the Jews who brought Jesus here under false charges now were claiming that Jesus was lying about being the Son of God.

And so, when liars claim another person in lying, it’s probably the truth: Jesus is the Son of God?

If I were in Pilate’s shoes, I’d be scared of this news too.

And John says Pilate had never been more scared.

Pilate Wants to Find Out Who Jesus Is

Pilate Threatens Jesus

Pilate Doesn’t Want to Execute Jesus

but the Jews were insistent, and threw a threat back to Pilate:

Pilate On the Judgement Seat

The Jews Demand Execution

No king but Caesar.

That’s not the claim of the Jews he was used to hearing.

They kept calling the Lord God their king.

So enough is enough.

This is where the death sentence had been pronounced.

Not by Pilate but by the Jews.

They show more guilt than Pilate.

At this point Pilate knew he was being played, but he gives in.

And that’s when . . .

Pilate Hands Jesus Over for Crucifixion

Jesus Carries His Cross

Jesus is Crucified Between Other Criminals

Pilate Posts the Truth on the Cross

Not to humiliate Jesus any further, but to humiliate the Jews who brought him for execution.

That’s why they complained.

More Prophecy Fulfilled

Jesus Tells John to Care for Mary

It Is Finished