Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL                                                                 2 APRIL 2023

Text: John 19:17-24

Subject: The suffering of the Lord Jesus

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 centre. 

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.”

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.

John 19:17-24

1. Bearing the Cross (John 19:17a)

a) Literal reference

b) Symbolic significance

2. Golgotha/ The place of the skull (John 19:17b)

The physical Crucifixion ground

3. The Crucifixion Scene

a) Two thieves

b) The Lord Jesus Christ at the centre (John 19:18)

4. The Inscription made by Pilate

a) JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS (John 19:19)

b) Written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (John 19:20)

5. The objection of the Jews and Pilate’s refusal

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.”   

John 19:21-22

a) The chief priests objected for this Inscription was insulting to Israel

b) Pilate refused to budge. This was his way of getting at the chief priests

6. The fulfilment of the Scriptures

a) The veracity of the Scriptures

b) The accuracy of the Scriptures

c) The gambling away of the garments of the Lord Jesus

LESSONS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES

1. The Nature of the Scriptures

a) The prophetic elements

b) The fulfilment part

2. What they indicate

a) The Power of the Lord

b) The sacredness of the Scriptures

3. What is our Regard for the Scriptures?

a) Do we read the Scriptures?

b) Do we seek a deeper understanding?

c) How have the Scriptures impacted our lives?