Saul Hiding in the "Baggage"

Israel wanted and king and the Lord gave them one. When Samuel first brought up the subject with Saul, he answered in 1 Sam 9:21 “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?” (ESV) He sounds like a humble person and this is what a great leader needs to be.

When it came time to reveal his kingship, all Israel gathered together. The Lord had them cast lots until the lot came to Saul. But where was Saul? The Lord told them, in 1 Sam 10:22 “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” (ESV) Was this still humility or a character flaw, hiding for his duty?

Later when Saul disobeyed the Lord big time, Samuel said in 1 Sam 15:17 “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel?" (ESV) He wasn't humble but insecure. His insecurity led him into disobedience because he didn't trust the Lord. Finally, it led him to envy, murder, paranoia, witchcraft, and suicide.

• Humility will seek the best for others and put them first.
• Humility will seek to be obedient to the Lord and trust him for the outcome of all circumstances.
• Insecurity takes matters into its own hands as Saul did in his disobedience.
• Insecurity is ultimately the sin of faithlessness or distrust.

Like any other sin, insecurity if not confessed and repented can lead to other sins as it did with Saul.

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John 19:16-30 NKJV, Jesus’ Crucifixion, Prophecies Fulfilled

 

16 Then they took Jesus and led Him away. 17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.

The other Gospels fill in many details that John omits. Since John had access to the other Gospels, guided by the Holy Spirit, he must have made the decision to include only these details. The only ones that are repeated is the location, two others were crucified with him, the wording of the accusation against Jesus, and the soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments. Since John repeated these, there must be some significance to them.

The Place of the Skull or Golgotha is the first significant point as it is outside of Jerusalem. Jesus is portrayed as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He is the sacrifice that appeases the wrath of God, and this is modeled in the Old Testament sacrifice (Lev 16:15-16). But this rite also includes a second animal, the scapegoat. “The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness” (Lev 16:21). By being crucified outside the city, Jesus also fulfils the role of the scapegoat as he carries the burden of our sins outside the city.

Golgotha also has some historical significance that raises much speculation. It can be traced back to Genesis 3:15 where we are given a cryptic prophecy about the coming Messiah (the seed of the woman) who will bruise the seed of Satan’s head while Satan bruises the Messiah’s heal. Then comes David and Goliath. Goliath has been considered by some as a seed of Satan who believe that Goliath and other giants were the offspring of demons and women (Gen 6:2-4). David is also considered as an offspring of Eve. The connection to Golgotha occurs when David cuts off Goliath’s head. “And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem” (1 Sam 17:54). The speculation is that Golgotha is the spot where David buried Goliath’s head and that when Jesus bled on the cross, his blood seeped into the ground and touched Goliath’s skull. This may be speculation, but the imagery is potent. The blood of Jesus conquers the work of Satan according to Colossians 2:15, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” Thus, the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled in Jesus’ death on the cross.

Jesus being crucified between two criminals is absolutely critical as it fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12 that says he was numbered with the transgressors. He had to be crucified with at least two others. But John leaves out the conversation with the one thief who repented and asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus’ answer is significant, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). It tells us that immediately after death we will be with Jesus in his kingdom. There isn’t going to be a delay or soul sleep and any such nonsense. We will be with Jesus and recognize him and he will recognize us. It tells us that Jesus’ human spirit didn’t go to hell or any other place.

19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'" 22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."

Writing the charges for a person’s crucifixion and posting them om the cross was a warning to others who would attempt to violate Roman law. The third fact that is included in other Gospels is the charges for Jesus’ crucifixion saying that Jesus is King of the Jews. This is obviously not a legal charge deserving of death. Pilate may have put the charges on the cross just to spite the Jewish leaders and he may have put it up there because he really believed it. It doesn’t matter what his motive was, the truth of the fact is that Jesus is the King of the Jews and was crucified.

Of course, the chief priests complained to Pilate which is a detail the other Gospel do not mention. They wanted a subtle change to the wording that would make it seem like a legitimate charge and not a statement of the truth. However, Pilate wasn’t about to change it. The charge against Jesus has been proclaimed for all to see for all succeeding generations that Jesus is, indeed, King of the Jews.

He is King of the Jews, but the question for us today is, is he your King? Does he rule over your lives and hearts? If he doesn’t then we are no better than Pilate who proclaimed the truth but didn’t do anything about it. Or we are no better than the chief priests who only saw it as Jesus’ claim and therefore not binding on ourselves.

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

"They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots."

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Each of the Gospels records the soldiers casting lots for Jesus’ clothes. John is the only one that adds the details that his tunic was without a seam and that this specifically fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 22:18. John must have added these details because the seamless robe is important as well as it is an exact fulfilment of prophecy. If the robe had not been seamless, they probably would not have cast lots but would have torn it into four parts as is suggested that they did with the other clothes. Most translations specify that they made four parts, not simply making four piles of clothes. When God fulfills prophecy, he doesn’t leave out details.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"  27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Luke says that the women who had been following Jesus from Galilee along with Jesus’ acquaintances were watching (Luke 23:49). Mark 15:40 mentions only three women by name who were “at a distance.” Matthew doesn’t mention any of Jesus’ followers being near Jesus during his crucifixion. So, this encounter with Mary and John is only provided in John’s Gospel. It is significant that John is the only one of the Apostles that dared stay so close to Jesus so that he could hear and record this very tender moment as Jesus entrusted his mother into John’s care.

In the upper room, Jesus had fully informed his closest disciples of his departure, but they didn’t completely understand what was about to happen. Mary had been informed shortly after Jesus’ birth that something would happen that would cause a sword to pierce her heart (Luke 2:34-35). This cloud had been with her all her life. It informed her understanding of what the Messiah would as she pondered these things (Luke 2:19). Jesus doesn’t forget her. Jesus doesn’t forget any of us.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" 

One thing is clear, Jesus couldn’t die until everything is accomplished that must happen to him and by him. What things must be accomplished? It starts with Jesus fulfilling the Law as he said in Matthew 5:18, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” Jesus had to live a life in perfect obedience to the Law in order to live a righteous life. He had to do what Adam didn’t do so that his death could not be for any sin of his own. It is his righteous life that he now gives to those who believe in him for salvation.

Jesus also said in Luke 18:31, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.” If you want to see many of the things that had to be accomplished, read Psalm 19 and Isaiah 53. Many of these things occurred while Jesus was on the cross and are recorded in the other Gospels.

Jesus also said in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” In John 5:36 he said, “For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.” So, Jesus had to do the miracles that testify to the fact that Jesus is the Mesiah. Ultimately, the work that Jesus was sent to do was to have us believe in him as he told inquirer in John 6:29, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Of course, the final thing that had to be accomplished was Jesus being a propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). We don’t use this word very often because many people can’t imagine that God would require his own Son to die to appease his wrath. But that is exactly what Jesus did on the cross. But his wrath was against us, not Jesus until “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).

29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

The final prophecies are fulfilled in these last two verses. Psalm 69:21 says, “For my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” This isn’t the same wine mixed with gall, which he refused (Matt 27:34), because it would have deadened his senses. It may seem minor, but every prophecy had to be fulfilled. Finally, Jesus had to die, and he uttered those famous words, “It is finished.”

It is finished means that for you and me, the doorway into the presences of God is made available by Jesus’ sacrifice. This was signified by the curtain in the temple being torn in two from top to bottom (Matt 27:51). The Law was accomplished by Jesus for us all.

This word, finished, was used by merchants when a debt had been paid in full. Jesus paid our debt in full. The Old Testament sacrifices could not pay the debt for our sins, they could only cover our sins. But Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away our sins (John 1:29, Heb 9:24-28).[1]

Jesus gave up his spirit. He decided when he was going to die. This highlights Jesus’ own statement in John 10:17-18:

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

This demonstrates that Jesus’ death and resurrection is a trinitarian work, which we will discuss in chapter twenty.

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[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, “John 19:28-30,” The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1989).

John 19:1-16 ESV, Political Maneuvering, Jesus - King of the Jews

 

What we see in this passage is political maneuvering as Pilate and the Jewish leaders attempt to have their own agenda carried out. It is a tug-of-war to that none of the players understand that God is the one in control. Read this and try to understand the angst of Pilate as his career could depend on the outcome. Read it and try to understand the deep “righteous” anger of the chief priests as well as their dread if Jesus is released and gains power. Read it to see who they serve.

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.

Why did Pilate have Jesus flogged? What was the purpose? Was it just out of his sadistic nature? Looking at what he said in Luke 23:14-16 gives a possible motive.

15 “I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.”

It is possible that Pilate hoped that when they saw the results of a Roman flogging or scourging as it is often translated would appeal to their sense of outrage. The brutal treatment would peel off strips of skin and flesh from Jesus’ back. As we’ll see below, Pilate really did want to release Jesus.

Apparently, when Pilate left Jesus with his soldiers to be flogged, he really didn’t care how they treated Jesus. Their brutality wasn’t limited to physical torture, but included the worst humiliation they could muster. Certainly, they knew as much as Pilate in that Jesus was being called King of the Jews. Why would anyone want to treat a prisoner to this kind of mockery after a brutal flogging? It boggles my mind. Perhaps it is a fulfilment of Micah 5:1, “With a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.” As well as Isa 52:14, “As many were astonished at you—his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind.” Indeed, the mockery and cruelty can be attributed to Satan’s hatred of Jesus. But these things could only be done to the Lord in accordance with God’s plan.

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!”

This is the second time that Pilate finds Jesus without guilt. As pointed out before, this is an important legal declaration. The sinless Jesus is not guilt in the eyes of the state. The government is appointed to carry out justice according to Rom 13:4, “For he [the government] is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” Obviously, we will see that the flawed government doesn’t always act justly. In this case, Pilate is spot on in his judgment.

Pilate still tries to get Jesus released by calling Jesus “the man.” The Jews have more to say about Jesus, but Pilate downplays the fact that Jesus is the King of the Jews. Yet, he allowed Jesus to appear in the purple robe, a sign of royalty.

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.”

They saw Jesus with the robe, but they couldn’t see that he had been flogged. There was blood on his face from the crown of thorns, but the real brutality had been hidden. Was that a mistake by Pilate or was it the way the sovereign Lord arranged it? The result is obvious that the Jewish leaders were not going to be pacified by mere torture. They wanted blood and they wanted all of it.

But Pilate is trying to save his own neck. He pushes back on the leaders to take responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion and for the third time repeats that he finds Jesus not guilty. He knows full well that they have no authority to crucify Jesus. If they did, he would have something to hold over their heads.

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.

Back and forth goes the posturing. The Jews don’t take Pilate’s bait and up the ante. The stakes are getting higher as they reveal their real reason for requiring the death penalty. It shakes Pilate to the core. Now, he is on the run. You would think that this claim by the Jews would have no affect on a Roman who probably has many gods but as a military leader and governor, doesn’t really give a rip about gods. Yet he has been in the presence of Jesus. When we are in the presence of holiness, we are changed. We should have a realistic fear of the holy Jesus. This is the fear that Simon felt when he realized who Jesus was in Luke 5:8, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

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.”

Pilate still wants to be in control of the situation. After all, that is what a governor is supposed to do. But he can’t even get Jesus to answer him. Then he uses the threat of his position to “force” Jesus to answer him. But Jesus’ answer isn’t what he expected.

Who has the authority here? Clearly it is God and God is allowing Pilate to stew over this mess. What Jesus says is very important for all of us. Jesus knows that Pilate will turn him over to be crucified. Jesus knows that this is a horrendous miscarriage of justice. Jesus is declaring that even though Pilate is carrying out God’s plan, it is still injustice and therefore a sin. Yet this sin is not as great as the ones who have accused Jesus of blasphemy and are crying for is crucifixion.

This brings up the question, does the magnitude of a sin cause a lost person to suffer more in hell than one who has not been as evil. Will Hitler have it worse in eternity than a “good” person who has never received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? I think so. Jesus told us three times that it would be more tolerable for Sodom than the cities that rejected his disciples (Matt 10:15) or his miracles (Matt 11:23-24). We should take careful note that this doesn’t mean that there will be anything pleasant about hell for anyone who has rejected Jesus.

Just as there are worse punishments for the evilest people who reject Jesus, so will there be better rewards for those who know and obey Jesus better than others. Consider the several parables that Jesus taught about giving minas or talents to servants then going away. Those who obeyed better than others had greater rewards. Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” He reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:14-15, “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

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.

So Pilate is still trying to release Jesus. The Jews are becoming even more adamant that Pilate authorize his crucifixion. What they say is an unveiled threat to Pilate’s political position. They are telling Pilate that if he releases Jesus, they will make sure Ceasar will hear that he released a pretender to the throne over Israel.

Pilate is not savvy enough to get out of this predicament. What a contrast to the way the Jews had tried to trap Jesus on multiple occasions, but they couldn’t deal with his wisdom. It just shows that human wisdom and manipulation is no match for God’s wisdom and his plan.

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.

This is the final moment when Pilate could have rescued Jesus. But it is obvious that he had already made up his mind to give in to the chief priests’ demand. If he really wanted to save Jesus, he would not have announced to them that Jesus was their King. He knew it would infuriate them. But since he couldn’t have his way, he made sure that he would at least have the last jab.

It makes me think of arguments we have. I’m not talking about good discussions, but when we are emotionally invested in trying to win another over to our way of thinking or action and it isn’t going well. There comes a point where we know we won’t win so we throw out a verbal rejoinder that is not designed to win the other over but to make them feel as angry as we are. It is not the way we are taught by the Word. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:1).

Pilate’s statement pushes the Jewish leaders’ buttons, and they respond showing how great Satan’s stronghold is in their lives. Deep down the must know that Jesus is King but they have committed themselves to having Jesus crucified. When they say they have no king but Caesar, they have just announced to the world that their allegiance is not to God but to the world and its system. They are committed to Satan’s governance.

Earlier, when Pilate “washed his hands” of the affair and declared he was innocent of Jesus’ blood (Matt 27:24), the people responded, “And all the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’” (Matt 27:25). Now the chief priests confirm this horrible curse upon themselves and their descendants who reject Jesus as their Messiah. Indeed, anyone, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, who does not acknowledge Jesus as the Lord, King, Savior, Priest, and Judge, will suffer the eternal condemnation that these swore on themselves that day.

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This one was for my post about how Ruth is an inspiration to us as she decided to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem from Moab. This is based on Ruth 1:11 and 15-17 “But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me?’ … And she said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God’”. (ESV) You can watch this post, click here.

I also used this picture to talk about where bitterness come from based on Ruth 1:19-21 “And the women said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?’” (ESV) You can watch this one by clicking here.

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