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Weekly Message | May 31st, 2009
Passage: 19:16b-42
Key Verse(s): 30
Last week we saw how Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the palace of Pilate, the Roman governor. There Jesus proclaimed his eternal kingdom, spoke the truth, and taught that there is freedom in God’s sovereignty. When Pilate realized that he could do nothing to spare Jesus, even though he knew Jesus was an innocent man, he handed Jesus over to the soldiers, who would crucify him. Today's passage is about Jesus' crucifixion, death and burial. Humanly speaking, this story sounds too sad to talk about or to remember. But that is not the case. The crucifixion of Jesus is the climax of fulfilling God's will for world salvation. And it opens the way for the resurrection. Today let’s think about the cross of Jesus and how Jesus died according to the scriptures. May we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior who died according to the scriptures!
First, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing” (17-24). In verses 16-17 we see the soldiers took Jesus to Golgotha. Along the way they made Jesus carry his own cross. It was a humiliating journey as the heavy cross crushed against his body and people lined the streets to view the spectacle. Golgotha was called the place of the Skull, it was the place of public execution. This was a horrible place. It was the place where the Roman soldiers executed people. Legend says that it was called the place of the skull because it was a skull shaped hill. Others say it was because the skulls of those who were crucified there were often left as a reminder not to break Roman law. Surely it reeked of sorrow and death.
At Golgotha, also known as Calvary, the cross was laid upon the ground; Jesus was placed over it with his arms outstretched and huge nails were driven through his hands and feet. Then the cross was lifted and dropped into a hole so that Jesus was suspended high in the air so all might see his suffering and shame.
According to verse 18 Jesus wasn’t crucified alone. There were two criminals who were also crucified, one on each side and Jesus in the middle. This was probably done for expedience. It would be much easier to execute three men at once than to execute them separately. Also by placing Jesus between the two criminals it made him appear to be guilty by association. It is a horrible scene that makes us cry when we try to envision innocent Jesus pierced and hanging between two obvious criminals. (Luke 23:41) And yet we know that it was according to God’s plan that he die with these criminals. It fulfilled Isaiah 53:12 - Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Here Pilate proclaimed that Jesus is the King of the Jews. It was written in the 3 main languages of the time - Aramaic, Latin and Greek – in that way everyone who passed by could read the charge. Pilate wanted to make it seem as though he recognized Jesus as the King of the Jews and that he was crucifying their king. This angered and frustrated the Jewish leaders because they refused to recognize Jesus as their king. They wanted the sign to read “He claimed to be king of the Jews” but Pilate was not impressed nor persuaded to change the sign. He wanted his jab to stick. What Pilate wrote was meant as a cruel joke; but in reality it spoke the truth. Jesus of Nazareth truly is the king of the Jews. He is king of all men! Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In verses 23-24a we see that the soldiers who crucified Jesus were poor enlisted soldiers. They were bored. To overcome their boredom and poverty they would divide the clothes, which belonging to those they crucified, among themselves. Jesus must have had 5 pieces of clothing, because they were able to divide them into 4 shares with one left over. The left over garment was Jesus’ underwear. It was a solid piece of woven cloth and to cut or tear it would render it useless. So they cast lots to see who should get it. They were horrible and heartless men, who used their job as executioners as an opportunity to get some extra money. As Jesus hung suffering and dying on the cross the soldiers gambled for his underwear.
This is another scene which breaks our hearts as we envision our Savior hanging on the cross while wicked men gambled for his clothing. But when John recalled that moment he saw it from God’s perspective. Look at verse 24b. This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did. This is a fulfillment of Psa. 22:18 - They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. God was using evil men like Pilate and the soldiers to prepare the way for Jesus to die as the Savior of the world.
Second, “Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty’” (25-30). Near the cross, stood some faithful women. These women – Mary the mother of Jesus, her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene – were those who followed Jesus from Galilee and who served and supported him along the way. They were faithful to care for Jesus and his disciples while Jesus traveled from town to town. It is even said that they supported them out of their own means. They were loving and caring women. But they had not always been like that. John reminds us that Mary Magdalene was the one from whom Jesus drove out seven demons. She was a dark and fearful woman. But Jesus had mercy on her and set her free from her darkness. After that she diligently followed Jesus. Many of our women coworkers had elements of darkness in them when Jesus called them. Jesus had mercy on them through 1:1 Bible study and they now serve this ministry as mothers of prayer, Bible teachers and food servants (and in many other ways as well). And our brothers thank God for their diligence, faith and devotion. Amen!
These women followed Jesus all the way to the cross. They stood nearby and saw Jesus’ agony and pain. They heard him cry out. They saw the blood flow from his wounds. Yet they did not turn away though their hearts were breaking. The disciples stood at a safe distance and watched; later they hid in the upper room; while these faithful women stayed with him to the end. God blessed their faithful devotion and later madethem the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. May God raise up many faithful women from among the young sisters who are studying the Bible and who pray to follow Jesus! May God make them faithful witnesses of Jesus’ love and mercy!
Look at verse 26. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” Jesus saw Mary standing at the foot of the cross weeping. He saw her pain and agony. It was as though a sword had pierced her heart seeing her oldest son dying in such a horrible way. Jesus demonstrated his shepherd’s heart even while hanging on the cross. He looked for a way to comfort her. Jesus also saw John standing nearby. John was one of his top disciples. He was the only disciple who stayed with Jesus as He hung on the cross. He knew Jesus’ love very deeply. Jesus said, “Dear woman, here is your son.” He gave John to be Mary’s son in his place. Jesus made sure that she would not be alone. He took care of her so she would be cared for properly after his death. Jesus then turned to John and said, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, John took her into his home.
Look at verse 28. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” As Jesus hung on the cross He felt thirsty. He was bleeding from many wound on his back, his head, his hands and his feet. Bleeding depletes the fluid that is in our bodies. Jesus was on the cross for six hours. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He became weaker and weaker. Dehydrated in the blazing Middle Eastern sun it is natural that Jesus should be thirsty. But John makes it clear that Jesus wasn’t being driven by his physical needs.
Jesus was always God-centered. When he said, “I am thirsty” it was to fulfill the Scriptures. Psalm 22 is one of the most graphic prophesies about Jesus and his death. In verses 14-15 David wrote:
"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death."
And in Psalm 69:21 he wrote:
"They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst."
David knew well the meaning of a suffering servant. He was a man after God’s own heart. He tried to serve God with his best. But he had enemies who wanted to destroy him. He suffered much at the hands of wicked men. When he wrote his Psalms, he could look ahead to Jesus, who would inherit his throne forever, and see the suffering Jesus on the cross, thirsty and his life withering. Those who heard Jesus say, “I am thirsty” first offered him wine mixed with gall but when he tasted this mild anesthetic he would not drink it. He wanted to drink fully from the cup if suffering. Then they gave him a sponge on a stick soaked with wine vinegar. His thirst was quenched with vinegar. In this way Jesus fulfilled all that God had spoken of him. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
Look at verse 30. “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” At the end of his life Jesus’ final words were, “It is finished.” There were no cries of anguish or anger. No remorse. “It is finished” states that Jesus had completed what he had set out to do. No one in history could ever say “It is finished.” I remember after graduating from nursing someone asked, “How is it?” I said, “It is finished”, meaning that nursing school was finished. But it is never really finished. I still struggle to learn how to be a better nurse. Life is endless work and toil. When we think we have finished one project there is always another thing we need to do. Students struggle through out the semester to complete their projects and take their exams. For a few days they can rest but then the next semester starts. Jesus life was also busy. He came down from the glory of heaven to live for while among us. For three years he served sinful men with the word of God and healed the sick and demon possessed. He raised 12 disciples who would succeed him in his ministry. This was the wonderful work of God in Jesus. But the ultimate reason Jesus came as a baby in a manger and lived the life of an itinerate preacher was that he might suffer and die on the cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (Jn. 1:29) The blood Jesus shed on the cross was the price that our sins demand.
To fully understand the meaning of Jesus’ words, “It is finished” we must first accept that we are all sinners. When we accept our fallen state then we can understand that we need a Savior to save us from our sin. Jesus is our Savior. He purposely came to earth to die in accordance with God’s will and God’s word. He did not resist those who arrested him. He did not defend himself before the high priest or Pilate. He boldly proclaimed the truth. He told Pilate, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” Almighty God worked out his plan of salvation. He sent his one and only son to the earth to bring freedom from sins grip to us. At last night’s messenger meeting one brother confessed that without the cross of Jesus he was guilty of a multitude of sins which made him waste his life and potential. He was a terrible influence on others. But Jesus’ cross brought him redemption and justification. He was transformed by the cross. Now he can be a good influence in this ministry as he serves the gospel to teenagers and college students. Another brother said he became handsome and bright because Jesus’ cross gave him eternal hope and salvation. The work of salvation was completed with Jesus’ death on the cross. We pray for 24 world class leaders. This is being worked out as we preach Jesus who finished the work of salvation on the cross. God called me through Genesis 12:2-3 to be a shepherd, an ancestor of faith, and a messenger. I am praying for two brothers who e-mailed me this semester to start 1:1 Bible study. But after I responded they both stopped e-mailing me. What can I do? I can keep doing the work God has called me do. I can pray for them to respond and in the mean time keep praying for my family and fellowship. I can continue to write testimonies and messages, and I can have fellowship with God’s people. But most of all I can believe Jesus who finished God’s salvation work.
“It is finished” were Jesus’ final words. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Evil men did not take Jesus’ life. He gave up of his own free will. He chose to take up the cross as the Savior of the world. He did what he set out to do and he completed his job. The way of salvation is complete. “It is finished” is Jesus’ cry of triumph and victory.
Third, "Not one of his bones will be broken” (31-42). Look at verse 31. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. The Jewish leaders asked to have the legs of Jesus and the two criminals broken, so they would die quickly, so they could be taken down and buried before the preparation for Passover began. They didn’t want their Passover dinners overshadowed with dying men on crosses. They were cruel and selfish. Their concern was for their ceremonial cleanliness. They were ruled by their stomachs. The soldiers obeyed and broke the legs of the two criminals. But when they came to Jesus they found that he was already dead so they did not break his legs. Instead one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear. When he did there was a sudden flow of blood and water. The flow of blood and water showed clearly that Jesus was already dead.
Look at verse 35. “The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.” Jesus’ beloved disciple, John, is the one who saw this and recorded it for us so we might see and believe. John wrote the truth from his own personal experience with Jesus. He was a living testimony of Jesus’ saving grace. He saw Jesus crucified. And he saw his death. Look at verses 36-37. “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’” (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psa. 34:20; and Zech. 12:10) Jesus' death on the cross was prophesied and fulfilled and there were many witnesses. Among them, John is one. Therefore we must believe that Jesus died for our sins. We must believe that Jesus died to obey God's will for world salvation. We must believe that Jesus' death on the cross is an event that took place, once and for all in history, to save men from their sins.
Verses 38-42 are John’s account of Jesus’ burial. Verse 38 says: “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.” Joseph was a man of great position. As a Sanhedrin member he knew of the injustice of Jesus’ trial. But he could do nothing about. He hid his faith in Jesus until the last moment. When he saw Jesus’ death on the cross his heart was moved. He came out of his hiding and took care of Jesus’ dead body. Nicodemus was also a secret believe and a member of the ruling council. Earlier he came to Jesus by night to find the way of eternal life. These two men found new faith and courage in Jesus who gave his life to God in full surrender. They wrapped Jesus’ body in linen and spices and placed it a new grave belonging to Joseph.
Isaiah 53:9 reads: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” Even in his death Jesus could fulfill God’s word regarding him because Joseph and Nicodemus had faith to provide a proper burial for Jesus.
Through this passage we see that Jesus died according to the scriptures. Every step of Jesus’ crucifixion, death and burial points to the fact Jesus died as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. God used heartless and sinful men like the soldiers and Pilate to fulfill his plan of redemption. Jesus obeyed God and finished the work of world salvation. And God used the secret disciples Joseph and Nicodemus to fulfill his plan for Jesus’ burial. We struggle day in and day out to live by faith and serve God in this generation. We want to be obedient in our faith. Let’s thank God for Jesus who finished the work of salvation on the cross and who won the victory for us. May we be living testimonies to the power and the victory of Jesus’ cross!
Let’s read verse 30.
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
