Beholding Jesus

On His Way to the Cross… October 29, 2009

I can’t imagine the love and intimacy that Jesus had between Peter, James, and John. For Jesus to take them with Him to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew the hour that was at hand and He chose these three guys to come with him. John the beloved laid on Jesus’ chest during the last supper. He was also the youngest. He left everything behind to follow Jesus, but why was John singled out by Jesus? Did not the rest of the disciples have a relationship with Him? There was a connection between Jesus and John that was deeper than the rest. Jesus chose Peter even though He knew that he would deny him three times. He knew that all of his disciples would forsake him and hide in fear when the time would come for him to be taken away, but he still wanted these men to accompany him to the garden.
Jesus is a God of relationship and love. Even in His deepest, darkest moment in life, he wanted his friends near him. He asked them to tarry with him that night. Jesus didn’t want to be alone in the last hour. He showed His misery and became “greatly distressed.” I translate this as he was freaking out and breaking down in the garden praying that His father would have mercy and “that this hour would pass from him.” Even in His distress, Jesus said not my will, but your will be done Father. The love for His father was so strong that He was willing to go through the most excruciating death possible in order for us to be with Him forever. Then He came and found the three closest to His heart sleeping. He addresses Peter and says, “Simon are you sleeping? Could you not watch with me one hour?” Jesus must have been hurt by this action. Then He warns Peter saying, “Watch lest you fall into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Why did Jesus say this? There could be two meanings of this statement. The first being that He was trying to tell them that even though their flesh is weak the spirit is strong and willing to overcome. And the other that the spirit is willing, but the flesh hinders the spirit by being weak. So many people interpret this the second way, but what if that is not what Jesus was saying at all. What if he wanted them to ask for help and allow the spirit to guide them and keep them awake while Jesus was mourning? I don’t think this statement was a rebuke. I think it was an exhortation to come up higher, but the disciples fell asleep anyway.
I wonder what it would be like for Judas to kiss the man he was betraying as a sign that he was the messiah. The betrayal kiss. This is what so many people call this action between them. What was Judas feeling? How could he be so deceived. He betrayed the man man that he spent every day. Jesus spent time with him. Jesus taught him just like all the other disciples, but what was in his heart that he could betray the very man that loved him enough to die for him? Judas walked with Jesus. He performed the same miracles, ate the same food, and slept in the same places with Jesus. He threw all of that away, and for what? Money?
In the garden, Peter struck one of the solders and cut off his ear. Peter was ready to fight for Jesus. He would have helped Jesus escape, Jesus told him to put his sword away because this was what His father had for Him. This is so bold of Jesus. He obeyed His father and went with the officers. He didn’t fight back. He was a silent lamb lead to the slaughter. Some translations say that Jesus healed the officer’s ear that was cut off. This is an extreme act of love. Jesus healing the man that is taking him away to crucify him is extraordinary. Jesus showed compassion when there was no compassion or mercy shown upon Him. This is an ultimate act of agape love for a stranger. Jesus did not know the man, but He loved him with agape love. The love for someone with having no expectation of being loved in return.
I can’t imagine being in Pilates position. He spoke directly with Jesus, the God of the Universe, but did not recognize Him. He took him outside to the Jews and the Jews said that he must crucify him because it is in the law that he must die because he made himself the Son of God. This grieved Pilate and he was afraid of the Jews, for they were massive in numbers greater than his own and they were violently demanding Jesus’ death by crucification. He tried to save Jesus by releasing him back to the Jews instead of Barabbas, but they cried out that the wanted Barabbas and not Jesus. So Pilate thought that if he scourged him, it would be enough for the Jews to see this punishment as fierce and not kill him. Jesus was beat and whipped 40 times. This is the largest number of lashing in all of history before someone dies. I can’t believe that Jesus endured this kind of pain for me.
They mocked Him and put a purple robe on Him, along with a crown of thorns. Jesus was unrecognizable when the lashings were over. Pilate brought him out, thinking that this punishment would be enough for the Jews. He said, “Behold the Man.” This is significant because Jesus was the son of God, but He shed blood like a man. He was a human. This scourging proved that He bleeds like every other human being on this earth. He is a man! He goes back into the Praetorium and has the most important conversation with Him there. Pilate asks Jesus where He is from. Jesus does not answer. Pilate says, “ Why are you not answering me? Do you not know that I have power to kill you or set you free?” And Jesus replies with, “You have no power over me except what has been given to you from my Father above. So the man that delivered me to you has the greater sin.” The last part of this statement is crucial. Jesus is saying that Pilate will be condemned if he kills Jesus, but Pilate does not believe that Jesus is the son of God. The Jews delivered Jesus to Pilate; therefore, they will have a greater judgment upon them because they believe that Jesus is the son of God, yet they are still crucifying Him. At that very moment something happened between Pilate and Jesus. Pilates eyes were opened and he believed Jesus! His heart was changed and he sought to save Jesus from that moment on. He came out with Jesus and said, “Behold your KING!” Before Pilate said, “Behold the MAN!” Something changed in Pilate by calling Jesus the man and then changing it to the king. He knew the truth; however, the Jews yelled out, “crucify him!” Pilate could not save Jesus. He released Jesus to the Jews and let them crucify Him. Pilate did not want Jesus’ blood on his hands because he found no fault in Jesus. He saw the power in Jesus’ eyes and words. He knew that Jesus was speaking the truth. He said, “Do you want me to crucify your King?” He said this because of the comment Jesus made inside. Pilate knew that the Jews would receive a greater punishment because they believe He is the son of God and, yet they are still condemning Him to death. The Jews deny that they have any other King, but Caesar. So Pilate released Jesus to the jews to crucify their King. This must have been a very difficult decision for Pilate to make.