We return to John this morning. We are approaching the
climax of John's Gospel, Jesus' resurrection. Things are coming to a head. This
morning we will take a look at Jesus before Pilate and some of what was going
on there. Listen as I read what John wrote. (John 19.1-16)
Let's start with this. Why is this here? That's always a
good question to ask. Why did John write what he did? To answer that you'll
need to ask a larger question. What are the themes of John's work? It's as you
understand the big picture of this Gospel that you will be able to understand
the smaller parts of the picture, like Jesus before Pilate. So, for example,
consider Mark's Gospel. A big theme, you might even say the big theme, of his
Gospel is the coming of the Kingdom of God. The Gospel of Mark isn't about
Jesus coming to make sure people get to heaven. It's about the Kingdom being
established on the earth. And that affects how you understand the details that
Mark writes about. So, what is the important theme in John? Why did he write
his Gospel? Actually, that's easy to answer. He tells us.
Now Jesus did many other signs in
the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these
are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John's Gospel is all about people gaining life, the life of
eternity. That's the main theme, the big picture.
With that in mind, I think that you can see that one common
response to what happened in our text is just wrong. The response of so many
when they read about Jesus' suffering is a kind of sentimentalism, tinged with
a bit of guilt. 'Look at what innocent Jesus had to suffer for an awful sinner
like me.' I really don't think that John was hoping that his readers would feel
guilty when they read this part of his Gospel. It doesn't help express the main
theme of his Gospel. It doesn't move anyone to gain life. No, I'm quite sure
that he had something else in mind.
So, consider another portion of John's Gospel. Jesus is
speaking.
The hour has come for the Son of
Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls
into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much
fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Jesus is describing what it takes to gain eternal life. For
that to happen, you need to be like that grain of wheat. You need to die. And
that just might look like hating life in this world. Jesus is clear. Unless a
person dies, unless he does, in fact, hate his life, he will by no means gain
eternal life.
Now, let's take that and return to Jesus standing before
Pilate and our question. Why is this here? How does this help John express the
theme of his Gospel? Here's the answer. Jesus is showing you what it means to
be that grain of wheat. He is showing you what it means to hate life in this
world so that you will keep it for eternal life. Remember that following Jesus
isn't about trying to live according to some rulebook. It's about responding to
the Master as He calls you to this or that. So, the Master calls you to die
like a grain of wheat. And then, He shows you what that looks like. Do you want
to have life in Jesus' name? Then, heed His call and follow His lead.
That's the basic point, but we need to fill it out. Does
becoming like that grain of wheat mean that you have to be beaten within an
inch of your life like Jesus was? No. Or I should say, 'Not necessarily'. You
do need to be ready for that if Jesus calls you to it. However, it is, thus
far, unlikely for that to happen to any of you who are adults. It might be
different for your children.
But take a step back, and look again at what happened. Where
did Jesus' suffering come from? First, it came from the state. It was the
government that beat Jesus within an inch of His life. It was the government
that executed Him. Jesus suffered because of Pilate. One of the themes of the
book of Revelation has to do with the role of the state in the persecution of
the saints. The government has been, and will again be, a tool of Satan as he
fights against the Church. I have found it noteworthy that Timothy spent some
time in jail. Even timid Timothy ran afoul of the state. I suspect that
Christians like us are going to have to get used to the idea that there may
come a time to break the law and get arrested, and deal with the consequences.
It happened to Jesus. Why shouldn't it happen to you?
It wasn't only the state that made Jesus suffer. It was also
the Church. It was the chief priests and those with them who condemned Jesus
and handed Him over to Pilate. Sadly, the Church has not always been faithful
to her calling. Through the centuries there have been those who have seized
church authority and misused it for their own ends. As a result, some of the
saints have suffered. We see it still today. We will see more of that.
So, John has written about Jesus' suffering at the hands of
Church and state. He writes this to present Jesus as the example that you are
to follow. And you are to follow Him in this in order to gain the life of
eternity. He writes to prepare you for what, in some form or other, awaits you.
So, what are you to do in response?
The first thing is not to look for trouble; rather, quite
the opposite. From St. Paul:
If possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all.
Paul knew - and he knew it from experience - that there would
be times when it will not be possible for you to live at peace with others
because of the choices they make. But still he urged peaceable living. You need
to be sure that you are working at that.
So, don't look for trouble. Now, let's flip it over to what
you are to do. It is by dying that you will be fruitful for Jesus and gain
life. So, clearly, you need to be ready to die. But that doesn't have to mean
martyrdom, the death of the body. It may very well mean the death of your
dreams and desires instead of the death of your body. Right now a common
expectation is to enjoy a comfortable life where you marry, bear and raise
kids, marry off your kids, and then, as empty-nesters, relish being a couple
again. That's pretty common, at least for the generation that most of you are a
part of. And there is nothing wrong with wanting a life that turns out like
that. But you need to understand that your having that kind of life may not
happen. Jesus may call you to die to one or more of those desires. And that
will hurt. It may be more difficult than martyrdom because you have to choose
to accept this kind of death. Martyrs don't usually choose to be killed. Their
murderers choose to do that. But to let a dream die is a choice you must make.
And that is hard.
But as you are called to die to some desire, do it the right
way. Do it in hope. Remember Jesus' promises. The result of your dying, of your
being that grain of wheat, will be much fruit. It will be for your benefit,
but, more important, it will be for the benefit of others around you. You live as
part of the Body. What you choose affects all the others in the community.
Accepting the death of a dream can be an act of great love for the others in
the Church. Also remember that Jesus promised that anyone who does die will
gain eternal life. Your dying to dreams and desires because of Jesus becomes an
assurance of gaining life.
There have been and will be those who refuse to die to some
dream or desire, even though Jesus calls for exactly that. Jesus included a
warning when He talked about dying as a grain of wheat.
Whoever loves his life loses it …
Those who love the life of this world and refuse to let
dreams die will not gain the life of eternity. And that's according to Jesus.
Once again we see that simply professing faith in Jesus is not enough for
entrance into the glories of the age to come. The choices you make have far‑reaching
consequences.
There is one last promise that I want to point out to you
for your encouragement. Jesus says this right after those comments about the
dying grain of wheat.
If anyone serves me, he must follow
me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the
Father will honor him.
To serve Jesus as a disciple means that you must follow Him
into death. But, after all the dying, there will be life. It will be the life
of eternity. And Jesus promises that this life will be enjoyed in His presence.
That is amazing. One day you will see Jesus. You will see His smile. You will
hear His voice. You will be with Him. But that's not all. This life of eternity
will include being honored by the Father. Can you even imagine what that could
be like? Honored by the Father! That's what happened to Jesus. He died to
dreams and more. As a result, He was highly exalted and given the Name that is
above every name. The Father honored Jesus. And that's what He is going to do to
you. You will also be honored. Wherever there is loss in being a faithful disciple
of Jesus here, there is always greater gain there. A faithful disciple never
misses out.
But believing all of this and living it out is hard,
especially in a culture like ours. So, once again, let me remind you. Nothing
works unless God blesses. So, pursue the blessings of God by your daily prayers
and your weekly worship with the rest of the saints. Desire that God would
bless you with a willingness to die when Jesus calls for it. And ask that you
would be granted a robust hope as you wait for the promises to be kept.