John Chapter 19:14-42

The Gospel Of John Chapter 19:14-42

John 19:14 ‘Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!”’ ‘the day of preparation’-Luke writes, ‘the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin’ (23:54). See also Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42. This isn’t the day of preparation before the actual Passover feast, for that feast had already been eaten (Luke 22:7-8). Rather, this was the preparation day (Friday) before the Sabbath of the Passover week. The word ‘preparation’ refers to all the cooking and other work that needed to be done prior to the Sabbath Day commencing.

Points To Note: 1. From time to time various groups and individuals try to argue that Jesus wasn’t crucified on Friday and raised on Sunday. Rather He was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday and raised on Saturday. Usually this is done in the attempt to establish that the Sabbath Day is still the day of worship in the New Covenant. But the texts are clear, this day was the day before the Sabbath day (Luke 23:54), and Jesus was raised early on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1,7,21 ‘this is the third day since all these things happened.’). Luke makes it clear that Sunday, the first day of the week was the third day. 2. The whole week of the Passover celebration was simply called ‘the Passover’. 3. Lenski notes, ‘The law provided complete rest from work only on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:5)…nothing of the kind for the great festival days, for on these days (save as one might occur on a Sabbath) food could be cooked as on any other day.’ (p. 1272)

‘it was about the sixth hour’-According to Mark , Jesus was actually crucified around the third hour (15:25).

Points To Note: 1.

Many feel that John uses the Roman method of reckoning time, since he was writing to many non-Jewish readers. Hence, according to Roman time, this would be about 6 a.m.. And Mark uses the Jewish method of reckoning time, hence Jesus was crucified at 9 a.m. Both Matthew and Luke agree that Jesus was on the cross by early or midmorning for they both record Jesus as already being on the cross for some time prior to noon (Matthew 27:45; Luke 23:44). 2. Archer gives a little different twist: ‘(It

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should be explained that the ancients did not maintain hours of uniform length throughout the year but simply divided the interval between sunrise and sunset into twelve equal parts, known as horae—regardless of the season of the year.) So what would be 6:00 a.m. according to the Roman civil day (and likewise according to our modern practice) would be the first hour according to Athenian and Hebrew practice.’

1 Therefore, the Roman sixth hour and the Hebrew third hour would naturally overlap. Morris makes basically the same argument, when he says, ‘The “third hour” may denote nothing more firm than a time about the middle of the morning, while “about the sixth hour” can well signify getting on towards noon.’ (p. 801) Hence, we can say that the trial of Jesus probably lasted from about 6-8 a.m. He was taken through the streets of Jerusalem probably around 8:30-9:30 or so. It is clear that John reckons time as we reckon time. John says that Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening of the first day of the week (John 20:19), which was clearly after sundown (see Luke 24:28-29). Therefore, John didn’t view the first day of the week as ending at sundown. We must reject the idea that the Lord’s Supper cannot be served after sundown on the first day of the week, because according to Jewish reckoning such would be the next day. To God, the time after sundown on the first day of the week, is still the first day of the week.

“Behold, your King!”- Pilate might be trying to appeal to some compassion or national pride in these Jewish leaders. Even though they would reject Jesus as their King, do they really want one of their own race, one others viewed as their King to be crucified?

Lenski notes, ‘Pilate seats himself to pronounce judgment against Jesus but inwardly he rages because he has been forced to yield to these despicable, lying Jews. All the scorn and the sarcasm of which he is capable is put into the exclamation. If he must yield he will sting and lash them while he is yielding.’ (pp. 1273-1274)

John 19:15 ‘They therefore cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”’

“Away with Him…”-The Jewish leadership isn’t impressed by Pilate’s remarks.

“Shall I crucify your King?”-Pilate is deliberately rubbing it in. ‘What, do they mean to say that they want their own king, their supreme hope, to be crucified by a Roman like a slave…Pilate acts as though he cannot believe his ears…He is staging a farce in order to get what revenge he can.’ (Lenski p. 1275) ‘It was born of sullen resentment.

Such is your king, O Jews, shackled, weak, defenseless, bloody, sentenced to a horrible death, at your own request!’ (Hendriksen p. 421)

“We have no king but Caesar”-Once again, we see how God remains in control. If the Jewish leaders are going to reject Jesus, then they must reject everything, including 1

Encyclopedia Of Bible Difficulties, Gleason L. Archer p. 364.

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God as their King. Through God’s providential workings, these Jews actually state their true loyalty. ‘In a way, they were right! Having rejected their Messianic hope…The only one whom they now recognize as king is Tiberius…They forget, however, that God, as king of the universe, is not..with them.’ (Hendriksen p. 422) ‘But they expressed the real truth. They showed in their lives that they gave no homage to God.’ (Morris p. 802) What hypocrisy! They hated Caesar, they were the ones who had asked Jesus about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar, they were the ones with the reservations (Matthew 22:15ff). ‘In the past they have followed false deliverers and saviors. Even now if one would come and raise up an earthly army and claim a temporal throne they would recant their allegiance to Rome and side with the revolt.’ (Butler p. 389) From a purely human perspective, these Jewish rulers were shrewd and in the short-term achieved what they wanted to achieve. From a Divine perspective, they were fools, men who had sacrificed eternal life for political power. Be impressed, in order to deny Jesus, as some point a person must become dishonest and hypocritical.

John 19:16 ‘So he then delivered Him to them to be crucified.’ ‘crucified’-‘There was no more terrible death than death by crucifixion. Even the Romans themselves regarded it with a shudder of horror. Cicero declared that it was “the most cruel and horrifying death.” Tacitus said that it was a “despicable death”.

Crucifixion was originally a Persian method of execution. It may have been used because, to the Persians, the earth was sacred, and they wished to avoid defiling it with the body of a criminal and an evil-doer…Crucifixion was never used as a method of execution in Italy; it was only used in the provinces, and there only in the case of slaves.’ (Barclay p. 291)

Jesus Is Crucified John 19:17 ‘They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.’

‘He went out’-‘Executions took place outside of the city, and this was true in the case of Jews (Numbers 15:35; Acts 7:58; Hebrews 13:12) as well as in the case of the Romans.

Generally, the prisoners were led through the most populous streets, and the place of execution was near a highway where many people would congregate.’ (Lenski p. 1278)

‘bearing His own cross’-The cross consisted of two pieces, the upright post and the cross-beam. Many seem to think that Jesus only carried the cross-beam and yet at times the condemned person was required to carry the whole cross. ‘though his back was torn by many a gaping wound as a result of the scourging to which he had been subjected, they made him carry his own cross.’ (Hendriksen p. 425) ‘in keeping with Roman practice four soldiers were assigned to each cross; and the execution was under the direction of a centurion of the Roman army…Jesus went forth carrying his cross, being followed by the two robbers who were to die with him, each of whom bore his cross and each being 3

attended by four soldiers. Behind these was a great multitude of people; many followed from idle curiosity; others were the priests…glorying over the fall of their enemy; the Lord’s mother, along with other women, all weeping bitterly in the impending loss of one so near and dear to them. On the way to the place of crucifixion Jesus stumbled under the weight of his cross…the soldiers seized a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, compelling him to take up the cross in Jesus’ stead’ (Woods p. 401) See Matthew 27:31-32; Luke 23:24-32.

There has been some discussion concerning what type of cross was used. Whether the shape was an X or T or something like a small t. The fact that a superscription was placed on the cross above the head of Jesus (Luke 23:38), reveals that a portion of the cross extended above His head. Which means that the shape was either like a capital T or a small case t.

‘the Place of the Skull…Golgotha’-Our word ‘calvary’ is from the Latin and means the same thing, i.e. skull. Why this place was named, ‘the place of the Skull’ is not known.

The usual explanation is that Jesus was crucified on a hill which was in the shape of a skull. But nothing in the Gospels tells us that Jesus was crucified on a hill. Another explanation is that the skulls from the executed victims lay there. Even though a place of burial was nearby (19:41). According to Jewish law the bodies were buried. In Roman law the criminal’s body was not buried, but was simply thrown away for the vultures and the crows and the pariah dogs to dispose of.’ (Butler pp. 390-391)

John 19:18 ‘There they crucified Him, and with Him, two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.’

‘There they crucified Him’-‘Among the astounding things in the Scriptures are these records of the supreme events in all history---one word for the scourging, one word for the crucifixion, one word for the resurrection. Events so tremendous, words so brief and so restrained!’ (Lenski p. 1279) Notice that John makes no attempt to play on the emotions of his readers.

‘Jesus in between’-this may have been intended to be the final indignity inflicted by the Jewish leaders. ‘The Jews had asked that Jesus die a base criminal’s death; Pilate grants them their wish, sending two actual criminals to die with Jesus.’ (Lenski p. 1281) But once again, God is in control, this is the fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 53:12 ‘And was numbered with the transgressors’). ‘in the central position, and thus, by implication, the greatest criminal of the three.’ (Woods p. 401)

Death By Crucifixion ‘It has been well said that the person who was crucified “died a thousand deaths”. Large nails were driven through hands and feet (20:5; Luke 24:40). Among the horrors which one suffered while thus suspended (with the feet resting upon a little tablet, not very far from the ground) were the following: severe inflammation, the swelling of wounds in the

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region of the nails, unbearable pain from torn tendons, fearful discomfort from the strained position of the body, throbbing headache, and burning thirst (19:28).’ (Hendriksen p. 427) ‘Then, the cross, with its human burden, was raised to a perpendicular position, and dropped into a hole dug for the purpose. It was not unusual when this was done for bones to become disjointed as the body lurched downward against its supports…The wrenched position made every movement one of agony; the pierced hands and feet soon became inflamed and then infected, arteries were distended and blocked, fever shot upward, intolerable headaches often drove those thus being put into death into insanity.’ (Woods p.

402) ‘By Roman law a criminal must hang upon his cross until he died, from hunger and thirst and exposure, a torture which sometimes lasted for days.’ (Butler p. 390) For more information on this topic see the material which is attached at the end of this commentary.

John 19:19 ‘And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross.

And it was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”’ ‘put it on the cross’-and it was located above Jesus’ head (Luke 23:38) John 19:20 ‘Therefore this inscription many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek.’

Hebrew was the language of the Jews, especially the language of the orthodox, Latin was the official language of the occupational government, and Greek was the international language of the day.

John 19:21 ‘And so the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’”’

John 19:22 ‘Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”’

Points To Note: 1. Pilate has conceded all that he will concede. He is not going to give another inch, he is determined to have the final say. 2. Once again, I believe we see the Providence of

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God. The sign over the head of Jesus did not read ‘revolutionary, trouble-maker, heretic’ etc….But what it said was true. Jesus was the true King of Israel, and the Jewish rulers have put to death the prince of life (Acts 3:15). 3. Remember, Jesus was crucified during the Passover feast when millions of people are in and around the city of Jerusalem. Already God is planting the seeds for the spread of the gospel message, for many of the people who saw this event will head back home, and tell others. The fact that a Jesus of Nazareth, was crucified for being the King of the Jews, will already be known, even before the apostles start preaching His resurrection.

Truly, these events had not happened in a corner (Acts 26:26). ‘Crowds of Jews read it, for the place was not only near the city, but the city itself overflowed with Passover pilgrims.’ (Lenski p. 1282) 4. Once again, the Jewish rulers demonstrate their hypocrisy by complaining about the wording of the sign—when they had violated countless human and divine laws in putting Jesus to death. Truly, straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. Be impressed that the sign does proclaim the innocence of Jesus. Pilate simply gives Jesus the title without saying anything about the falsity or truthfulness of the claim. In the coming future all three languages, Hebrew, Latin and Greek will be used to proclaim that Jesus is indeed not only King of the Jews, but King over all mankind, that He is Lord (Acts 2:36).

John 19:23 ‘The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.’ ‘took His outer garments’-It was the custom to assign four soldiers to each victim.

By Roman law, these four soldier assigned to Jesus claimed His clothes. The statement ‘made four parts’, doesn’t mean that they ripped one piece of clothing into four equal pieces. For the other writes reveal that the soldiers cast lots for each one of these four parts. Why cast lots if each piece was of equal value? (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24).

Rather, in addition to the outer robe that Jesus wore, there were also sandals, probably a sash, and possibly other articles of clothing, including some form of head gear. Since all these articles were of unequal value, lots were cast to see who got what. Remember, clothing in the first century wasn’t as easy or cheap to come by as is clothing in our own time.

‘the tunic’-a seamless tunic, a garment worn next to the skin, much like our underwear, was woven in one piece, without any seam and thus was of some value. The soldiers decide to let one of them have the whole garment, seeing that to divide up the garment would make it worthless.

John 19:24 ‘They said therefore to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”’

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“that the Scripture might be fulfilled”-Psalm 22:18. One writer has pointed out that there are 332 distinct prophecies in the Old Testament which have been literally fulfilled in Christ, and that the mathematical probability of all these prophecies being fulfilled in one man by chance, manipulation or accident is 1 in 840000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000. The text also infers that Jesus hung upon the cross covered only with a loin cloth, if that much. Roman soldiers often cast lots or played dice. ‘A common way was to place lots in a helmet and shake them until one flew out; another way was to reach in and to draw a lot.’ (Lenski p. 1288) Point To Note: Remember these men who by their actions are fulfilling a prophecy written 1000 years previous are men who are completely ignorant of the Old Testament Scriptures. ‘There is no picture which so shows the indifference of the world to Christ. There, on the Cross, Jesus was dying in agony; and there at the foot of the Cross the soldiers threw their dice as if it did not matter.’ (Barclay p. 296)

John 19:25 ‘Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.’

‘Jesus His mother’-long ago, Mary had been told by Simon, when Jesus was just a newborn, ‘this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed---and a sword will pierce even your own soul.’ (Luke 2:34-35).

‘His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas’-(KLOE puhs). It seems that actually we have four women here. That ‘His mother’s sister’ is a different woman then ‘Mary the wife of Clopas’. For it doesn’t make sense that two sisters were both named Mary. The wife of Clopas is probably the same woman as the other writers mention being the mother of James the less and Joses (Mark 15:40). Once again, John shows that Divine restraint is upon his writing hand. What were the emotions of these women, especially when Mary, His own mother saw the Roman soldiers gambling for her Son’s garments?

Here there was no compassion, the soldiers didn’t bring these garments to His mother.

They didn’t show any respect for His family.

‘His mother’s sister’-the woman that Mark calls Salome (15:40). In comparing Matthew with Mark and John, it seems clear that Salome, the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the mother of James and John (Matthew 27:56). Therefore, Jesus, James and John were cousins.

‘Mary Magdalene’ -This is the first time that she is mentioned in this Gospel. Luke records that various women had financially helped Jesus and the disciples (Luke 8:1-3).

Mary Magdalene, was a woman that Jesus had healed of demon possession, in fact she had been possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2).

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Point To Note: Once again, the Bible shows tremendous respect for women. God specifically wanted it noted that various women braved ridicule and arrest in standing near the cross, and letting all know that they believed in this Man. The only male disciple present, was John.

John 19:26 ‘When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”’

John 19:27 ‘Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.’

Points To Note: 1. Wow! Stop and pause, reflect upon this scene. Even to the end, Jesus is thinking about others. 2. In light of Joseph’s absence and what Jesus said to John, it seems clear that Joseph is dead. ‘There is something infinitely moving in the fact that Jesus in the agony of the Cross, in the moment when the salvation of the world hung in the balance, thought of the loneliness of His mother in the days when He was taken away.

Jesus never forgot the duties that lay to His hand.’ (Barclay p. 299) 3. There was one precious possession that the enemies of Jesus had not taken, His mother, whom He charges John to care for. Remember, at this time the brothers of Jesus may still have been unbelievers (John 7:5), though they will change (Acts 1:14).

John 19:28 ‘After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”’

‘Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished’-Be impressed, Jesus is in intense agony, and yet upon His mind remains Scripture. Jesus knew every prophecy in the Old Testament that was to be fulfilled by His life and death. Be impressed with the mental concentration of Jesus, the focus on seeing that every bit of the will of God is accomplished. Jesus didn’t have the attitude that Scriptures could be ignored, downplayed or set aside if life becomes tough. Let the person who believes in situation ethics choke on this passage. It appears that the passage in Psalm 69:21 had a two part fulfillment. The first part was fulfilled when the soldiers had offered Jesus drugged wine (Matthew 27:34). The second part was fulfilled at this moment.

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John 19:29 ‘A jar full 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.’

Points To Note: 1. ‘Sour wine’ is a term for cheap wine. The fact that everything was readily available, the sponge, hyssop and wine itself, appears that such was provided for those being crucified. 2. The reader should note that Jesus refused a mixture of drugged wine which had been offered to Him (Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23). It appears to have been a custom for such drugged wine to be offered to those being crucified. The drugged wine was not intended to quench the thirst, but to dull the pain. ‘Men who were to be crucified were generally doped in this way in order to quiet their struggles during the ordeal.’ (Lenski p. 1304). Be impressed that Jesus went through the whole ordeal without any pain medication. The Hyssop plant has a woody stalk which can be used as a sort of pole to which a sponge can be attached. Jesus, obviously has thirsted long before this, but such physical needs have been put on hold that the Scriptures might be fulfilled and the will of God accomplished.

John 19:30 ‘When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”’

“It is finished!”-Luke records that Jesus also said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!’ (23:46). Once again, the death of Jesus wasn’t an accident, rather it was according to an eternal plan (1 Peter 1:20). Jesus knew exactly what the time table was and everything that needed to happen. He knew that nothing had been left undone, there were no loose ends, He was now ready to die. The eternal Spirit, the Word Who had entered the womb of Mary, Who had become flesh (1:14), now leaves the body in which He had lived for some 30 years.

‘bowed His head’-Notice the eyewitness detail. ‘gave up His spirit’-Even in His death, Jesus remained in control. ‘even in death he controlled his life and yielded it in a voluntary exercise of his will and not by force.’

(Woods p. 409) The seven sayings uttered by Jesus while on the cross: ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34) ‘Verily, I say unto thee, Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43) ‘Woman, behold thy son.” “Behold, thy mother” (John 19:26-27) ‘My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34) ‘I Thirst’ (John 19:28) ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30) ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit’ (Luke 25:46)

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The Aftermath John 19:31 ‘The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.’

The Sabbath during Passover week was viewed as especially sacred. It was late afternoon on Friday heading towards sundown and the Sabbath Day. The Jewish rulers concerned about ceremonial defilement, wanted the bodies of these men removed prior to the Sabbath. According to Jewish Law the dead body of an executed criminal was not to remain all night “upon the tree” (Deut, 21:23). Of course, the bodies of the two criminals weren’t dead as yet. The Roman custom was to leave the bodies of crucified criminals as a warning to others. Thus the Jewish rulers need to get permission to remove the bodies.

‘legs might be broken’-The person who had been crucified could live for days. In moving their bodies up and down, they could prolong their lives and continue to breathe.

When the legs were broken this movement was no longer possible. ‘There was then a greater constriction of the chest, and death came on more quickly. This was aided also, of course, by the shock attendant on the brutal blows as the legs were broken with a heavy mallet….The Jews did not want their land defiled by their dead, but they were not concerned that they were themselves defiled by their deed.’ (Morris pp. 817-818)

John 19:32 ‘The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him;’ John 19:33 ‘but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs;’ John 19:34 ‘but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.’ ‘pierced His side with a spear’-In light of this we must reject the notion that Jesus merely passed-out or swooned on the cross. Clearly, the body of Jesus was dead. In addition, this wasn’t just a nudge to see if He was alive or not. Rather it was a violent thrust which was intended to produce instant death if He wasn’t already dead.

‘there came out blood and water’Points To Note: 1. Remember when John is writing this Gospel, the Church was threatened by Gnosticism. Some were claiming that God could have nothing to do with physical 10

things, that Spirit is wholly good and matter is evil. Therefore, Jesus could of never become flesh (1 John 4:1-3). Rather, that the body of Jesus was simply an illusion, a body that left no footprints, etc…But the verse clearly teaches that the body of Jesus was real and that Jesus actually did die on the cross. 2. Much as been written concerning what came out when the spear was thrust into Jesus’ side. One common explanation is that Jesus died of a ruptured heart: ‘It is suggested that what happened was that Jesus’ experiences, physical and emotional, were so terrible that His heart was ruptured. When that happened the blood of the heart mingled with the fluid of the pericardium which surrounds the heart. The spear of the soldier pierced the pericardium and the mingled fluid and blood came forth.’ (Barclay p. 304) But we don’t know which side was pierced and neither we do know if the spear ever entered the heart. In addition, it doesn’t appear to me that Jesus died broken-hearted. Rather, it looks like that He died in triumph (19:30). 3. What happened here may be miraculous, that is, another sign from God that it is only through the death of Jesus that mankind can be cleansed of their sins (1 John 5:6-8). 4. Whatever the meaning here, John doesn’t dwell on this event.

John 19:35 ‘And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.’

John had been present during the whole ordeal, he had personally witnessed all these events. He was there when blood and water flowed from the side of Jesus. Woods notes, ‘It is apparent that the writer’s real purpose was to show, beyond any possible doubt, that Jesus was in a physical human body and that he actually died on the cross. On this the truth of Christianity depends. These facts are incontrovertible (1) the authorities believed he was dead (Mark 15:44-45); (2) the soldiers believe he was dead; (3) the soldier who stabbed him assured that he was dead; (4) those who loved him most knew he was dead and buried his body. Thus the fact of death was established both by friends and by enemies.’ (Barclay p. 411)

John 19:36 ‘For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.”’

“Not a bone of Him shall be broken”-Psalm 34:10. Like the Passover lamb, not a bone in the body of Jesus, the ultimate Passover lamb was broken (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12). Once again, God remains in control. Here is one of those prophecies that Jesus, if had been a mere man, would have had absolutely no control over. A mere man can’t determine when he will die or what will happen after his death. Jesus escaped His legs being broken, even though it happened to those on either side of him.

John 19:37 ‘And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”’

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‘another Scripture’-Zechariah 12:10. ‘Even when every ordinary expectation would have been that Jesus would suffer on the cross for at least a couple of days, or that he would have been killed like the malefactors by the shattering of his legs and his thighs.

Instead of that he dies after only six hours, no bone is broken, and a spear pierces his side!’

(Lenski p. 1322) Once again, this is a prophecy that a mere man could never manipulate or plan.

Remember the soldier who pierced the side of Jesus wasn’t a believer or a student of the Old Testament.

The Burial John 19:38 ‘And after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore, and took away His body.’

‘Joseph of Arimathea’-(air ih mah THEE ah). From the other Gospels we learn that Joseph was a rich man (Matthew 27:57), a respected member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43), and was a devout man who was looking for the kingdom of God. Luke 23:50-51 ‘a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their plan and action)..’.

‘but a secret one, for fear of the Jews’-He believed in Jesus, but not enough to confess Him openly and take the consequences (John 12:42-43). We aren’t told why Joseph manifested such boldness at this time. Possibly, Joseph thought it was now safe to come forward, seeing that the anger of the Jewish rulers had been satisfied. Or, maybe he had seen so much hypocrisy, cruelty and ungodliness in his fellow council members that finally he decided to do something. ‘Either they (Joseph and Nicodemus) had absented themselves from the meeting of the Sanhedrin which examined Jesus and which formulated the charge against Him, or they had sat silent through it all…We so often leave our tributes until people are dead. How much greater would loyalty in life have been than a new tomb and a shroud fit for a king in death! One flower in life is worth all the wreaths in the world in death.’ (Barclay p. 306)

‘asked Pilate’-Pilate first would make sure that Jesus was indeed dead (Mark 15:4345). ‘Roman law provided that the bodies of executed persons might properly be claimed by their relatives.’ (Woods p. 416) ‘It may be that he felt that in Jesus’ lifetime he had paid him little honor, and that he was now presented with his last opportunity. The Jews of that day regarded proper burial of their dead as most important. Many went out of their way to see that fellow-countrymen received proper burial.’ (Morris p. 825)

John 19:39 ‘And Nicodemus came also, who had first come to Him by night; bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.’

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‘Nicodemus’-Who had come to Jesus by night (John 3:1ff) and who had some what stood up for Jesus (John 7:50ff).

‘mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight’-It was the custom to place such spices in with the sheet or sheets which were wrapped around the body. The amount of spices that Nicodemus brought was quite large. The amount reveals that Nicodemus was a man of some means. ‘The lavish provision may also be meant to show that Nicodemus, like Joseph, was trying in the hour of Jesus’ death to make some reparation for his failure to do more in Jesus’ life.’ (Morris p. 826) This was enough spices for the burial of a King. Myrrh was a aromatic gum resin, and aloe was a powered wood, which was prized for the wonderful smell which it releases when the wood decays.

‘The astounding thing is the quantity of this mixture brought by Nicodemus, about a hundred pounds. Judas should have been there to estimate the price. It has been well said that Jesus received a royal burial.’ (Lenski p. 1328)

John 19:40 ‘And so they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.’

John 19:41 ‘Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid.’ ‘a new tomb’-This tomb belonged to Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:59-60). It was new in the sense that it had never been used before. Tombs often housed many bodies.

This tomb wasn’t out in the middle of nowhere, rather it was easy to find. It was located in a garden very near the place of crucifixion. Obviously, we must reject the theory which claims that the women and the disciples went to the wrong tomb. This tomb had been cut into solid rock, it only had one entrance. And the stone rolled before the door was very heavy (Mark 16:4). Once again, we see the fulfillment of prophecy, ‘His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death’ (Isaiah 53:9). God is still in control. This was a prophecy that a mere man couldn’t duplicate or control. No mortal could have known what Joseph would have done after the death of Jesus.

John 19:42 ‘Therefore on account of the Jewish day of preparation, because the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.’

The Sabbath was fast approaching. So everything had to be done quickly. There was no funeral procession, no time for relatives and friends to pay their respects, and no hired mourners. The body of Jesus is quickly wrapped, and then taken to a nearby tomb. In fact, they didn’t have enough time to completely prepare the body and they were coming back after the Sabbath Day (Mark 16:1) to finish.

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