The King of Gabbatha
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Celebrating Jesus as the King of pain, scorn, shame, sacrifice-- and glory!
Text: John 19:12-16
Date: 06/21/2020, the Combined service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 182
Occasion: Father's Day
Description:
As Jesus' Roman trial draws to a close, Pilate makes one last attempt to free Jesus by presenting Him to the Jews and declaring "Ecce Rex", or "Behold your King". Though Pilate probably means this sarcastically, he has no idea how profound His proclamation is. The place where this judgment is made and the sentence of death declared was called "Gabbatha". We will use this title to symbolically represent the powerful imagery created by John of Jesus-- bound, battered, bloody and bruised, yet presented as our Savior and King. We will not turn our eyes from this pitiful sight, but gaze fully on His pain, His scorn, His shame, and His sacrifice as we reach a crucial understanding of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Ultimately we will exalt Him, recognizing the glory in His humiliation, and give Him the love, adoration and thanksgiving due the King of Gabbatha!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 19:12-16.
A. Context
B. The conclusion of the Roman trial.
1. The final straw, vs. 12.
a. Pilate's black hole.
b. The stalemate is broken.
i. The "ad hominem" threat.
ii. Pilate's "pickle".
c. The irony of Caiaphas' hypocrisy, John 8:33-34.
2. The judgment seat of Gabbatha, vs. 13.
a. Pilate makes his choice.
b. The place of judgment.
3. Presenting the King of Gabbatha, vs. 14.
a. Dealing with the chronology.
i. Questions concerning the day, John 18:28, Ex. 12:6, Luke 23:54, Mark 15:42.
ii. Questions concerning the time, Mar 15:25.
b. "Ecce Rex!"
4. The stunning apostasy of Caiaphas and the Jews, vs. 15.
a. The rejection of the King of Gabbatha.
b. Caiaphas' king.
c. Cutting off the branch, John 1:11, 15:6, Rom. 11:19-20, Matt. 27:24-25.
5. The sentenced is passed, vs. 16a.
III. Application
A. Looking upon the King of Gabbatha.
1. Re-painting the scene.
a. Lost in the crowd.
b. Two men of the world, John 8:44.
2. Do not look away, Isa. 53:2-3.
B. The nature of the King of Gabbatha.
1. The pre-existant and eternal King, John 1:1-3, Isa. 66:1, Dan. 7:13-14.
2. The King of pain and suffering, Isa. 53:5,10.
3. The King of scorn, Psa. 22:7-8.
4. The King of shame, Gen. 3:10,18, John 3:14-15.
5. The King of sovereign sacrifice, 1Cor. 6:19-20, John 19:30.
6. The King of glory, John 18:37,17:5, Matt. 24:30, Rev. 19:11-16, Phil. 2:9-11.
IV. Conclusion
