Jesus Delivered to be Crucified - John 19:16

The apostle John wrote after appealing to the Jewish leaders and people to behold Jesus, “Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you are not Caesar's friend: whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar”, and in chapter nineteen and verse sixteen of his book John shared, “then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified” where we read:

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

The verse reads, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified.” John began with the words, “then delivered he him” which means “at that time Pilate gave over and committed Jesus” “therefore unto them” or “then, wherefore, consequently and on this account to the Roman officers” “to be crucified” which means “to be palisade, driven down with a stake and impaled upon a cross”. John shared how “Pilate” committed Jesus to the Roman officers to “crucify” Him.

The verse continues, “And they took Jesus, and led him away.” John added the words, “and they took Jesus” or “and the Roman officers carried and brought the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”, “and led him away” which means “and brought and carried Jesus away”. John shared how the Roman officers lay hold of Jesus and took Him away.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how “Pilate” finally consented to the demands of the Jewish leaders and people. He committed Jesus to the Roman officers who were to carry out His crucifixion, and the plan and purpose of God to provide “salvation” to mankind was nearly complete. Jesus was committed to the “cross” because He was to die for the sins of the whole world, and every person who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God in Heaven. Though these “Roman officers” thought themselves to be carrying out their duty, and the Jewish leaders and people who wanted Jesus to be crucified appeared to be getting their way, God was the One who sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross so every person would have an opportunity to know Him as their personal “Savior and Lord. Let all who consider these things surrender their lives to the One who died in their place - Jesus.

Next time John shares how Jesus, “bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".