As we are being challenged to read and study the book of John, I wanted to share some of my personal sermon notes with you to help you understand the book. I preached through the entire book over the course of 1 year when I pastored First Baptist Church Del Rio. Enjoy!
Read John 19:17-27
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
- 3 Nails—The Nail of Courage-verses 17-22
- Jesus example of carrying a cross, so that we would know how to handle difficult situations and sometimes what seemed to be unbearable circumstances.
- The cross we are asked to carry is not about us carrying around all this guilt and shame, it is about us walking underneath what the cross represents. To carry your cross means a willingness to “die to yourself.” That is what true discipleship is. It is living out what you proclaim to believe.
- Luke 9:23-25—Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
- 3 Nails—The Nail of Humility–verses 23-24
- John never mentions the process of crucifixion. It is assumed that the hearers would know what actually takes place in the death process of the crucifixion. A person could last 36 hours suffering hanging on a cross by 3 nails.
- The fulfilled Scripture of verse 24 is Psalm 22:18—They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
- a. The shame and humiliation of complete exposure, mocking, the elements of the weather. Jesus experienced them all.
- Philippians 2:8—And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
- 3 Nails—The Nail of Love, verses 25-27
- He looks at John, and says, “Here is your mother.” Jesus love was so great that he would even share His earthly mom with his best friend.
- John 15:13—Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Conclusion—Today I want to ask you an important question about your personal relationship to Christ, not your relationship to your church, or relationship to your family, but about your connection to Jesus. Do you have a real, vibrant, and relevant love relationship with Him? If you do is it still valid today? Can you be honest with yourself today and with God?
3 Nails + 1 Cross = 4 given.
Jesus took the nails with courage, humility, and love.
Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 11:23-28
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
Stay in the Light, 1 John 1:7,
Pastor Larry
In The Light, 1 John 1:7 