John

Jesus hung on a cross, suspended between heaven and earth. Completely sinless, he was there to pay the penalty for your sins and mine. While he hung on the cross, soldiers gambled for his seamless tunic that was “woven in one piece from top to bottom” (John 19:23).

Pilate was caught between a rock and a hard place. He saw no reason to declare Jesus guilty, and moreover, his wife told him she had been warned in a dream not to punish the righteous man. When he learned that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, “he was even more afraid” (John 19:8). Making things more difficult for Pontius Pilate was that his career and life were in danger. Sejanus, the trusted official who had appointed Pilate as governor of Judea, was executed for treason by the paranoid emperor Tiberius. Now, all of Sejanus’s friends were seen as suspects. The Jewish leaders argued that if Pilate released a man claiming to be a king, then he was no friend to Tiberius; so, Pilate gave in and handed Jesus over to be crucified. 

During Passover, releasing a prisoner was customary. When Pilate offered the crowd a choice between a notorious criminal and Jesus, he thought he had found a sure way to free Jesus. But the people, many of whom on Sunday had shouted “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” now called for Barabbas, a criminal, to be released and for Jesus to be sentenced to death. 

The Romans didn’t like the Jews, and the feeling was mutual. Past rebellions had increased the tension, so when crowds started to follow Jesus, the religious leaders worried that the Romans might see this as an opportunity to punish them. That’s why Caiaphas said earlier in Jesus’ ministry that it would be better for one man to die “for the people, not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:49-50). He believed that killing an “insurrectionist” would show loyalty to the Roman government. 

Today, we follow Jesus as events unfold just hours before he is crucified. Let me reiterate what I’ve said before: Jesus was not a victim of circumstances. His death was not caused by religious leaders feeling threatened or because the crowds turned against him. Jesus was on a mission to become the sin-bearer and pay the penalty in full for our sins. John reminds us, in the account of the crucifixion, that Jesus knew “all that would happen to him” (John 18:4).

WEEKEND RECHARGE!
God’s Story in Our Savior

WEEKEND RECHARGE!
God’s Story in Our Savior

John 13-17 is a powerful section of Scripture. These chapters include content unique to John’s Gospel. As we read this part of the Bible, it feels like we’re sitting in the Upper Room where Jesus specifically interacted with his disciples just before heading to the cross. 

In John 13-17, we witness a special moment of interaction in the shadow of the cross. Jesus and his disciples share the Passover meal, during which he takes on the role of a servant and washes their feet. Meanwhile, Judas is on his way to betray Jesus, and there is rich teaching about what is coming and what to expect.