In our evening home Bible study, we are studying John’s gospel and have recently been looking at Jesus’ arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion. It was John’s aim to exalt Jesus Christ in His majesty and deity so that his readers would “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, (you) may have life through His name” (Jn. 20:31). Even in the events of the Passion Week, John continued to focus on how Jesus was not the victim, but the victor, totally in control of every detail that took place. 

     Several times during Jesus’ ministry there were attempts on His life, but it was not time for Him to die, so He would always escape (Eg., Jn. 7:30).  Also on a number of occasions John stated that “His hour has not yet come” (Jn. 2:4; 7:8,30; 8:20).  The time for Him to offer Himself as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29), hadn’t arrived yet. All would be accomplished in the Father’s perfect timing and in the exact way planned.  Even as Jesus came to Jerusalem for His final Passover, He made sure to fulfill the prophecy in Psa. 118:26 and Zech. 9:9. He had his disciples obtain the “foal of a donkey” on which for Him to ride. The crowd waved palm branches and shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD, even the King of Israel!” (Jn. 12:13).  And then Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (v. 23). The time had come for which He had been working throughout His ministry; namely, the time of His death and resurrection. After celebrating the Passover with His disciples in the upper room, Jesus poured out His heart to the Father, beginning with: “Father, the hour has come…” (Jn. 17:3). 

     Next came the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, trial and torture, and crucifixion; the details of which fulfilled the prophecies given centuries ago by the Psalmist (Psa. 22) and by the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 53).  During the political trial, Pilate said to Jesus, “Do you not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify you?” (Jn. 19:10).  But, notice Jesus’ reply: “You would have no authority over Me unless it had been given you from above…” (v. 11).  All throughout Jesus’ ministry and then in His suffering, death and resurrection, we see the Sovereignty of God in control of every situation and every detail, fulfilling every Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah’s mission on earth. Never was Jesus at the mercy of the evil and hatred of sinful mankind unless it was all part of God’s plan from before the foundation of the world. God, speaking through Isaiah said, “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors…For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure…Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it’ ” (Isa. 46:8-11). 

     It would appear that it was the jealousy and hatred of the Jewish leaders, the cowardice of Pilate and the ruthlessness of the Roman soldiers that cost Jesus His life. But note what Peter said in his sermon at Pentecost: “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know–this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to this agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:23,24).  Then, in Acts 4:27,28, in a prayer offered by Peter and John and their companions, they said: “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.”  In both passages we see that responsibility for the death of Christ is laid upon both Jews and Gentiles, but only because that was all in the predetermined plan of God.  God works out His purposes through both holy and sinful men. No sinful, hateful man will ever, even for a split second, violate the plan of God.  “Man’s steps are ordered by the LORD…The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Pr. 20:24; 21:1). 

      Jesus was in total control of all the events surrounding His death and resurrection. First of all, to fulfill prophecy, Jesus had to die by being “lifted up” (Jn. 3:14 cf Nu. 21:9; Jn. 12:32,33). He couldn’t die by stoning and as the “Passover Lamb” (I Cor. 5:7) none of His bones could be broken. From the beating and scourging by the Romans, the dividing of His garments and gambling for his seamless priestly tunic by the soldiers, being crucified between two criminals outside the city, the spear thrust in his side, His death at the very time of day of the Passover sacrifice, to the burial in “the rich man’s” tomb and His resurrection on the third day, everything was orchestrated by the design and purpose of God.  As Jesus hung from the cross, inspite of the agony and physical suffering of having been beaten, scourged and impaled on the cross, He made sure to fulfill every detail of the prophecies concerning His suffering and death.  “Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I am thirsty.’ And a jar of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit” (Jn. 19:28-30).  The Scripture Jesus referred to that had to be fulfilled was Psa. 69:21, which says “...For My thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”  

     How did the soldiers know to divide up Jesus garments and gamble for his tunic?  How did the soldier know to ram the spear into Jesus’ side? How did they know to have a jar of sour wine at the foot of the cross?  How did Joseph of Arimathea know to provide his tomb for Jesus?  Did all these have a script to follow?  No, they were directed by the hand of the Sovereign God and His design.  

     I’m so grateful that this same Sovereign God is in control today. In spite of what the world around us looks like, God is still on the throne and in total command, carrying out His plans and purposes. As Dar Williams praise chorus says, “The World is not falling apart.” It is falling into place as God has ordained.  Aren’t you glad that He is “Our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1).  “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride” (vv. 2,3). 

Forever His,

Pastor Dave