John 19:16-18 – Hands on the Hammer – Bible study

John 19:16-18 Hands on the Hammer John 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. We are approaching one of Christendoms most sacred days. Although it is most often called Easter, I like the more descriptive term, Resurrection Sunday. However, before there could be a Resurrection Sunday, there had to first be a crucifixion day. If Easter is coming this Sunday, then on another day this week, we should be marking the crucifixion. There is some disagreement about which day of the week on which the crucifixion occurred. Most believe Friday. Some believe Thursday. A few believe Wednesday, but one thing is for certain. One day that week, mens hands grabbed a hammer and nailed Jesus to a cross, and before we celebrate the resurrection it seems good that we remember the crucifixion. Whose hands took that hammer? Lets consider that for a moment this morning. I. Political hands were on the hammer. A. Some do not like to discuss politics and religion. They think they do not go together, but I do not believe you can separate them for the hands that rule the world rule the religious as well. That is evident in the crucifixion of Jesus B. The Politically Incorrect had their hands on the hammer at the crucifixion. 1. We sometimes think our time is unique, but Ecc 1:9 theres no new thing under the sun. a. The concepts of being socially unacceptable in behavior is one of the many things that is NOT new. b. Herod was a man whom the Bible presents as always being politically incorrect. (1) This was not Herod the Great, the Herod who was alive when Jesus was born and who had all the infants around Bethlehem killed. (2) This was his son, Herod Jr; but he was pretty much a chip off the old block. 2. \#Luke 23:7-12\ records Jesus quick trip to King Herod. a. Both Pilate and Herod were appointed rulers by Rome, but Pilate was only a governor appointed over the city of Jerusalem while Herod was a king appointed over the area of Galilee. b. When Pilate found out that Jesus was from Galilee, and that Herod was in town on business, he happily sent Jesus to Herod to let him figure out what to do with Jesus. c. The Bible describes this mans reaction to seeing Jesus: Luke 23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. d. Like the first Herod, this Herod had made up his mind about Jesus without ever knowing Him. (1) It is amazing to me how many do that. (2) They hear someone make a derogatory comment about God, the Bible, or even the condition of this world, and they become instant authorities on all that is spiritual. (3) You have a free will and are welcome to do that, but you will one day findas this Herod already hasthat doing so makes you an eternal fool. 3. Herod was so politically incorrect that Jesus would not speak to him and once referred to him as a fox. a. Herod had it within his power to set Jesus free, but he did not. b. Instead, Herod had Jesus beaten and sent Him back to Pilate. c. The Herod of Luke 23 was cruel, sadistic, and a murderer, who showed no regard for anyone but himself. d. His hand, the hand of the politically incorrect, was on the hammer that nailed Jesus to the cross. C. But the Politically Correct had their hands on the hammer too. 1. As far as Herod was in the politically incorrect field, that is how far Pilate was in the politically correct fieldfor this event. a. History tells us that Pilates role in Jesus death was unusual for him. b. Pilate seemed to sense something about Jesus and worked to get Jesus released. c. Maybe he did that to aggravate the religious for he knew immediately why they had condemned Jesus, for envy. d. Perhaps he did it supposing the people would have turned further against him for the rumor was Jesus did good to the people. 2. One thing is for sure, Pilate did not want to condemn Jesus. a. Within a few minutes of talking with Jesus, Pilate sent Jesus to Herods, hoping to drop that political bomb hell into Herods lap. (1) But Herod sent Jesus back! (2) Jesus bruised and battered for the wear but still Herod sent Jesus back. b. Pilate then examined Jesus and told the people no less than three times, "I find no fault in Him!" \#John 18:38, 19:4, 6\; but still the people, who Pilate thought loved Jesus, wanted Jesus crucified. c. Pilate scourged Jesus, seemingly to gather pity for Him from the crowd; yet the crowd had no pity for Jesus. d. Pilate offered them the people a choice of releasing either Jesus, their miracle-worker, or Barabbas, a rebel-rouser and killer; but the people chose to release Barabbas. e. And when Pilate had no more tricks up his sleeve, Matthew tells what he did last. Matt 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 3. Yet all the water in all the oceans and rivers could not wash the blood of this "innocent and just person" off of Pilates hands. a. In the end, like so many of the politically correct of our day, Pilate was just a politician attempting to ride a popular political wave. b. But the politically correct had their hands on the hammer at the crucifixion. II. The priestly had their hands on the hammer at the crucifixion. A. There are so many Scripture references to the religious having a part in the crucifixion, that I could not list them all! 1. If you want one, just open your Bible to most any chapter in a gospel and read it. Youll probably find it. 2. What can you say when the forces that should stand FOR God are standing AGAINST God? 3. That is the stand the religious have taken at most every important, historical turn. B. It was the religious who: 1. first persecuted Jesus. 2. arrested Jesus. 3. first beat Jesus. 4. lied about Jesus. 5. paid others to lie about Jesus. 6. condemned Jesus to death. 7. lead others to condemn Jesus to death. 8. took pleasure in the death of Jesus. 9. then started the process all over for those who followed Jesus. C. Down through the corridors of time, the religious have stood on the wrong side of Gods affairs, and I do not see that changing anytime soon. D. The religious had their hands on the hammer at the crucifixion. III. The people had their hand on the hammer at the crucifixion. A. Pilate summed up the role of the people in Jesus crucifixion. John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? THINE OWN NATION and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 1. Of late, I have been noticing the order of words in the Bible, and I am coming to the conclusion that they mean something. 2. Pilate did not say "the chief priests and thine own nation" have delivered You to me, but "thine own nation and the chief priests" have delivered You unto me. 3. I know the religious had stirred up the people, but the people were not without blame in Jesus crucifixion. 4. The people could have stopped the crucifixion, but they did not. B. In fact, the religious leaders were fearful that the people WOULD stop it. 1. Both Matthew and Mark recorded the religious leaders making their plans to take Jesus. Mt 26:5/Mark 14:2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 2. The only reason they took Jesus during the feast days was that Jesus revealed to Judas that He knew Jesus had betrayed Him. a. That revelation spooked Judas who immediately left the supper and told the religious leaders he had been found out. b. They, in turn, decided to arrest Jesus that very night and have Him on the cross the first thing the next morning, BEFORE THE PUBLIC COULD DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT. (1) That is why they broke their own laws and had Jesus trail during the night. (2) That is why they were at Pilates palace the first thing the next morning. (3) And that is why by the third hour (9 AM) they had Jesus nailed to the cross. C. But even Pilate supposed that the Jewish people would defend Jesus! 1. The first two of three times that Pilate pronounced Jesus innocent was directly to the people \#John 18:38, 19:4\. a. \#John 18:38\ To empahsize that, Pilate said, "I find in Him no fault AT ALL." b. \#Matt 27:24\ Pilate called Jesus a "just Man." 2. When Pilate had Jesus scourged, he presented Him to the people! 3. When Pilate offered a choice between Jesus and Barabbas, the offer was made to the people. 4. Listen to what happened on Pilates portico as he attempted to reason with the people. Luke 23:20 Pilate therefore, willing (wanting) to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they (the people) cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them (the people) and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 5. And when Pilate, in a last-ditch effort, attempted to change the peoples minds by washing his hands in front of them, listen to what the people said. Matt 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. D. No. I do not think Pilate misspoke when he told Jesus, "thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me," for the people had their hand on the hammer at the crucifixion that day too. E. But I think we should list at least one more group who had their hands on the hammer at the crucifixion. IV. The politically dominated had their hands on the hammer at the crucifixion. A. In the midst of that group who screamed, "Crucify Him, crucify Him," there had to be a few who stood in silence, perhaps even with tears running down the faces. 1. Goodness. There just had to be. a. There had to be a man who had received his sight. b. There had to be a mother whose son has been freed from a demon. c. There had to be hungry belly that had been fed. d. There had to be soul that had trusted in the Messiah. e. There had to be a disciple who had followed from a far. 2. There just had to be. B. But they stood in silence, weeping, for they were afraid of the consequences of speaking up. 1. There are things that I just do not understand, and I will never understand how a city that on Sunday bowed before Jesus could on Thursday demand his crucifixion, but at least some did. a. Maybe the crowd at Pilates palace was a planted crowd. b. Maybe most of the everyday people were still in their hammocks and enjoying public adventures. 2. But from everything the Bible plainly says, even those who loved Jesus, on that day stood in silence. 3. Are sheep born or made, that is a question we should be asking ourselves today for on that day, those who were dominated by political winds as good as put their hands on the hammer that nailed Jesus to the cross. C. Who stood with our Lord that day? Whose voice spoke out? Whose hands were not on the hammer? I do not see a one.