John 19:17-22 March 31, 2002
They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. [18] There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. [19] And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross. And it was written, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS." [20] Therefore this inscription many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. [21] And so the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am King of the Jews.' " [22] Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."
John 19:30
(And) When (Jesus) had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 20:19-22
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
[21] Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." [22] And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out
your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
CCI: What will we write when we have encountered the resurrected Christ?
Intro: In our individualist honoring society, we encourage and almost worship the idea of Different perspectives. While searching for an illustration of different perspectives, in .2 seconds, I found about 1,300,000 websites dedicated to different perspectives. Everything from teaching 3rd graders how to view things differently, to divergent views of Australian history, to Boston University's Diversity chapel, to perspectives on art at Berkley. One fascinating, brief article made the point without even trying. Here is what it said, "As usual, the World Press Review of March 2000 enlightens us on the different vision of events around the world. This is evident in "Top 10 Stories of 1999," giving the ratings in different countries. The AP places first "President Clinton's Impeachment Trial." this event is not even mentioned in any of the foreign lists. Probably the story was dismissed as typical American nonsense." (http://www.stanford.edu/group/wais/media_perspectives.html)
As I have reflected on this, I find myself reminded again and that the way we choose to view something will affect what we see. Many times I have been asked how it could have been possible for people to have witnessed the miracles of Jesus and not been changed. I think the answer is this reality. Even those who witnessed Jesus in his ministry, did not understand God's work in his life without the perspective of faith.
I. The perspective from the foot of the cross
When Jesus was crucified, a sign was placed first around his neck as he journeyed to Golgatha, and then was pinned over his head on the cross. The sign was written so everyone could read it. It was in Hebrew, Greek and Latin, the languages of religion, culture and law. The sign depicted the charge for which he was being executed, it read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
Think of the different ways people may have read that sign. Pilot wanted other Jews to know what happens to people who claim to be king. He wanted the whole nation to know that usurpers to Caesar's throne would be dealt with and dealt with permanently. The soldiers saw the charge as absurd and while mocking him before his crucifixion, they bowed down and spit on him and said, "Hail, king of the Jews." Those who were simply passing by saw the sign as a joke and so they would add, "If you're the Son of God, come down from the cross!" The Priests added their perspective by deriding him and saying, "He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him."
And then there was a thief, who upon reading the sign, turned to Jesus and said, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." He chose to read that sign and look at Jesus through eyes of faith, and what he saw was a king in disguise, a king from a different kingdom.
What do you see when you look at the cross and read the sign? We each must make a decision. Do you see a joke? Do you see a warning? Do you see an absurdity? Or do you see a king in disguise? What does the sign say to you?
The disciples, like everyone else around the cross, read that sign from their own perspective. John indicates that he watched Jesus die on the cross. For the disciples, Jesus death was final. Some of them had watched as Jesus breathed his last, they had seen Jesus body taken by Nicodemus and Joseph. They saw the tomb that was sealed. The sign, in which they had based their hope, now seemed to them to be an ugly, sick joke. From the foot of the cross, the sign mocked their gullible souls. They had so wanted to believe that Jesus was the One. And now they were looking at his lifeless body. If he had been the king, the coupe had been successful.
Can you imagine the emptiness and hopelessness they must have felt that night? Some of you can. You have sat in a hospital waiting room and been shaken to your soul when the grave-faced doctor entered and told you he had done all he could. Suddenly, a thick veil of despair fell over you. Some of you have watched as a door has slammed when your spouse walked out of your life for the last time, and your hopes and dreams evaporated as the silence following the argument hung in the thick air. Yes, some of you can imagine what the disciples were experiencing that night.
II. The Perspective from the Grave
For three days, all of creation went silent in grief. And then, for those with eyes to see, something new happened. All four gospels agree that the news of that Sunday morning first was announced to the women who had followed Jesus. Today, that is understood, there is little amazing about that fact. However, in the 1st Century, women did nothing of note. That the gospel writers would place the discovery of the empty tomb, and the revelation of the resurrection in the hands of women is astounding. As news of their report began to circulate, the disciples gathered together in a locked room where they thought they would be safe from the Romans.
Suddenly, on the evening of that first night, Jesus was standing among them. Can you imagine the emotional state in that room at that moment. Their experience can only be compared to something like this. A number of you were at Howard Perkins funeral on Tuesday. Imagine what your reaction would have been if when you went downstairs to eat the luncheon, there, sitting at the head of the family table was Howard, waiting for his turn in line. What would be going through your mind? Would you be afraid? Would you want to run? Would you think you were seeing something? Probably all these things. And that is what the disciples experienced as well. Listen to Jesus' words, "Peace be with you!"
That must have been one of the most understated words of comfort that have ever been spoken. Then, Jesus showed him his hands and his side and it slowly began to sink into the disciples' hearts that this was Jesus. They had seen him raise Lazarus and a few others from death, but they had never imagined that they would see Jesus back from death.
Suddenly, the sign took on a whole new meaning. What been intended as a warning and read as a joke and believed only by a dying thief, suddenly became truth. When they looked at Jesus from the perspective of the resurrection, they realized they were in the presence of their king.
One of the disciples we missing however. Thomas, was not in the room with the others. Where was he? A friend with whom I was studying this passage suggested that he had been sent to get some take-out. I don't know where he was that first Easter night, but one week later, he was in his place, and when Jesus showed up, Thomas looked at him and said, "My Lord and my God!" He understood that the living Christ was not only the king, but he was the Lord, he was God come to live with humanity. When Thomas saw the resurrected Christ, he understood who Jesus was. It was all a matter of perspective.
APP: As we close this time of study, let me ask you why are you here today? Have you come because it's Easter and you always go to church on Easter? Have you come because it's Sunday and you go to church and worship on Sundays? Have you come because someone dragged you here and from your perspective this is all a bunch of foolishness because people who are dead, stay dead. What is your perspective today?
I hope that today you have gathered here to declare your faith. I hope that today you have chosen to look at the story of the resurrection through the eyes of faith and see the same Lord and God that Thomas saw. I hope that it is the Living Jesus who you will declare to be your king today.
Each of us must make our own decision. When the soldiers told the priests what they had seen outside the tomb, the priests convinced them to be quiet. When the women first told the disciples what they had experienced, only two of them went to the tomb, and they were not even sure what they were seeing. But when they each experienced the risen Lord for themselves, they were changed.
Now the choice is yours. In your bulletin is a recreation of the sign that was over the head of Jesus. What do you see? A sign of scorn? Or the greatest truth ever told? It's all a matter of perspective. But the perspective of faith will transform your life. I want to invite you to write your own sign that will identify Jesus to you. What will you write?
