46. John 19:1-16 Jesus, the Suffering Servant Condemned

1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”

 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”

 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.

14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

• Jesus endured mockery, beating, and injustice, yet He loved us so deeply that He put that love into action. Jesus willingly accepted the suffering, not resisting or fighting back not because He was weak, but because He was strong in love. He chose to go through this suffering to save us. This also fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:3–7).

• Because of sin, our humanity is broken. We are selfish, we reject the truth, and we often choose the path of sin. The soldiers are cruel, finding pleasure in hurting an innocent man. Pilate, caught between doing what’s right and keeping his power, chooses to protect himself instead of standing for justice. The crowd, easily swayed, rejects Jesus and demands His crucifixion. Our fallen nature leads us to wrong choices. 

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What did this passage mean to its original audience?

• John’s readers—likely late first-century believers—were facing increasing hostility and persecution. This passage reminded them that Jesus suffered willingly, not as a failure, but to fulfill God’s plan.
  To Jewish readers, this would connect with the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. To Gentiles, it would show that Jesus is no ordinary man—He is a King who lays down His life, not a revolutionary who takes it.
  John includes this part of the story to show that Jesus is both fully in control and completely submitted to the Father’s will. It calls readers to trust Him—not just as a victim, but as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions? 
Through today’s passage, I am reflecting on how I’ve reacted in moments of external pressure and suffering, and how I should respond moving forward. Jesus endured mockery, flogging, and injustice out of love—not because He was weak, but because He was strong in love. This reminds me of Romans 12, where Paul teaches us to "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." He must have been remembering Jesus' example as he encouraged the Roman believers who were facing unjust persecution and suffering.
I often struggle to endure injustice, especially when it brings personal discomfort or loss. But I’m realizing that my reactions aren’t always the right ones. I want to stand firm in love and humility, just like Jesus did.

Looking at the Roman soldiers, Pilate, and the crowd, I see the sinful nature within myself. They knew the truth, but they gave in to fear and pressure. People sometimes know what’s right but choose silence or take the easier path. At times, we even willingly reject the truth for our own benefit. I confess that these tendencies are in me too. I want to daily examine myself in the Holy Spirit and remain faithful to the truth, staying true to Jesus in all circumstances.