The Lamb King - Week 24

John 19:1-16

Read John 19: 1-16

1. Why did Pilate have Jesus scourged?
(a) In the hope of appeasing the Jews.

2. What did the Jews reveal in verse 7? What was Pilate's reaction to this revelation?
(a) The Jews reveal that they want to kill Jesus because of His claim to be the "Son of God". (b) Pilate became even more afraid.

3. Read St. Matthew's account of this event in Matt. 27. Did Pilate think Jesus was guilty?
(a) From the Gospel of St. Matthew:

1: When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death; 2: and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor. 3: When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4: saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." 5: And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6: But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." 7: So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8: Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9: Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10: and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me." 11: Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." 12: But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. 13: Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" 14: But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. 15: Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16: And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barab'bas. 17: So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Barab'bas or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18: For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19: Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream." 20: Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barab'bas and destroy Jesus. 21: The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barab'bas." 22: Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified." 23: And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified." 24: So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25: And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26: Then he released for them Barab'bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. 27: Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28: And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe upon him, 29: and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30: And they spat upon him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31: And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Matt 27:1-31)

17: But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the law and boast of your relation to God 18: and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed in the law, 19: and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20: a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth -- 21: you then who teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22: You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23: You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24: For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Rom 2:17-24)

21: Then Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Select lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the passover lamb. 22: Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood which is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23: For the LORD will pass through to slay the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to slay you. 24: You shall observe this rite as an ordinance for you and for your sons for ever. 25: And when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26: And when your children say to you, `What do you mean by this service?' 27: you shall say, `It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he slew the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. 28: Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. (Ex 12:21-28)

12: And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13: These are of one mind and give over their power and authority to the beast; 14: they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." (Rev 17:12-14)

13: 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: I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15: and this will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16: who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Tim 6:13-16)

After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel's redemption at the first Passover. Christ's whole life expresses his mission: "to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (CCC, 608)

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
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alfredo@nevarez.net
http://www.nevarez.net/alf/catholic/bible_study/