The images are from my preparation for the previous sermon manuscript for John 19:16b-30. Not everything I make note of is right or makes it into the sermon. However I try to write down anything that comes to mind so that I can work through it.
I always begin by translating the text. It’s such a huge help to me. In fact, I think it makes it much easier. ALL English translations nuance words not to sound redundant but we often miss the connections the writer intends for us to make.
My hermeneutics class in seminary changed my life forever. I’ve never gotten over the simple process of observations I learned from Dr. Scott Swain.
I’m not sure if this will help anyone without explanation but there are some good resources out there. Here is the textbook we used.
(Ps. 22:1-31) To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by…
(Ps. 22:1-31) To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet– 17 I can count all my bones– they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
The charge for which Jesus died was insurrection and sedition. To claim that one rules as King over what Caesar had already laid hold of resulted in capital punishment. But, as we know, the chief priests’ real charge was blasphemy for which the law demanded that one to be stoned. But there was no law for claiming to be a king. Therefore, if they were to carry out their plan to kill Jesus, they needed the Romans to do it because at that time they were a slave state and had no authority to carry out their desires.
So, the charge needed to change for that to happen. Jesus most certainly was the Promised Messiah/King of the Jews. But Pilate doesn’t hear theological categories but political categories. Therefore, Pilate’s sign reflects the charge for which Jesus died: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
But I have a problem with the sign. I don’t have a problem with its content. I believe it to be the truth. But rather it lacking my sin for which Jesus did not refuse and for which he willingly died and all of which he was innocent of committing. He died for his enemies like me that his strips might heal my sinful soul.
What about you? Do you have some additions to make to Jesus’ sign?
(Ps. 47:6-9) 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
Hymn No. 28 To God Be the Glory
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn No. 601 I’ll Fly Away
(Jn. 6:63) The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Hymn No. Wonderful Words of Life
Sermon
Hymn No. 304 Crown Him with Many Crowns
Benediction
(1 Tim. 6:12-16) 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time– he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
In the news today, the Roman Times documents the events that unfolded over the weekend. Officials brought a man before the governor but did not give the governor any formal charges. The governor was expected to trust the judgment of the officials that this man was indeed doing evil or they would not have delivered him over to him.
The governor questioned the accused man trying to find out what he had been charged with. He didn’t find out anything and publicly stated to the the officials that he found no guilt in him. The governor offered to release the prisoner but the officials said no. Release to us a man we knew to be guilty.
If a Roman citizen had read this news article on Monday, following these events, and found out that their governor executed this man with no formal charges against him and he himself found no guilt in him, what would he had thought about that?
(Ps. 145:1-10) I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. 7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!
Hymn No. 3 “Worthy of Worship”
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn No. 603 “When We All Get to Heaven”
(Heb. 10:23) He who promised is faithful.
Hymn No. 339 “Standing on the Promises”
Sermon
Hymn No. 249 “Jesus Paid it All”
Benediction
(Jude 1:24-25) 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
(Ps. 23:1-6) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Hymn No. 96 “Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Pastoral Prayer
Dear Father, indeed you are faithful. You have been faithful in the past. You are faithful now. And you will always be faithful. You changest NOT! We always know what to expect from you. Indeed, Your steadfast love never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lam. 3:22-23).
On this day, we celebrate your faithfulness. We will sing and pray and preach and fellowship with each other. But there are some who are missing among us. They have truly come home. This celebration today is just getting us ready for that heavenly homecoming that awaits us. We sincerely grieve the death of our sisters Judy and Doris but they have…fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
One day this will be true for all who believe: (Rev. 19:6-9) 6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”– for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Come Lord Jesus. Do with us as you please. Make much of your great name! In Christ’ name we pray, amen.
Hymn No. 149 “Praise Him! Praise Him!”
(Jas. 1:12) 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Hymn No. 447 “It is well with my Soul”
Sermon
Hymn No. 506 “In Christ Alone”
Benediction
(Eph. 3:14-21) 4 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith– that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ps. 67:1-7) May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Hymn No. 149 Praise Him! Praise Him!
Pastoral Prayer
O Father, Son, Holy Spirit you are worthy of our praise! May our praise of you fuel our desire to make your name known to all peoples.
As we prayed Wednesday night, we ask again for the Pashtun people of Afghanistan to be reached with the gospel. O Lord, so few people there know you. Make yourself known in that dark land and may your people fill that land with praise.
We also pray again for the suffering of Rama and Joseph who were recently married but had to flee their family and home because they follow Christ. Please, Lord, strengthen them by your grace to endure under trial for your glory. Give them wisdom in every move that they might find a place to resettle and live out their faith.
We are also excited about the new church plant in eastern Berlin. Please help them begin with a healthy start and grow that community as they seek to make your name known in that vast city for your glory.
O, Father, we ask along with many others that you would raise up labors for the harvest. Send help to us here that we might reach our neighbors and friends. Lord use us to make your name known here. To the praise of your glorious grace! Be honor and domain and praise forevermore! In Christ’s name, amen.
Hymn No. 40 All People That on Earth Do Dwell
(Tit. 3:5) 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy
Hymn No. 162 Wonderful, Merciful Savior
Sermon
Hymn No. 346 The Church’s One Foundation
Benediction
(2 Cor. 5:18-21) 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Word Is Not Imprisoned 