The Gospel of John - part 42
The Crucifixion
preached October 6, 2019
The crucifixion
The significance of the three languages used is that they represent the three languages of the Roman Empire. Any who passed would know “Jesus of Nazareth is the King of the Jews.”
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:17-30
We don’t hear about the two criminals crucifixion of Jesus. John is focused on one aspect of the crucifixion:
Jesus is lifted up as King.
Now, it may seem a little bizarre to say Jesus is life as Kings when He is being crucified as a criminal, but that is how John sees it. Consider the story motifs John has used.
He gives 7 signs that Jesus is the Messiah.
He gives 7 ‘I AM’ statements in which Jesus claims Divinity.
Added to this, John provides the detail of the sign on the cross.
Pilate creates a plaque which reads, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” Of course, the Jewish leaders protest this sign, but Pilate, showing more grit than usual, states, “I’ve written what I’ve written.”
And still, Jesus has already said the Son of Man must be lifted up so that all who look to Him can be saved.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15
He has also prayed that He be glorified in order to glorify the Father.
“I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” John 17:4-5
What we see as a painful execution is, in fact, the King taking His place on the throne.
Again, we don’t see it that way, but remember why Jesus came. Last week, we read what He told Pilate, “This is why I have come.” The enemy of God and Man is vanquished on the cross. The King is defeating His enemy before taking His rightful place.
Additionally, I would like to point out John leaves out an important character—Simon. The Synoptics share how Simon of Cyrene was forced to help Jesus with the cross. Commentators believe John leaves this detail out possibly because of the false teachings floating around. There is a false belief, even today in many Islamic and Gnostic circles, that states Jesus switched places with Simon while no one was looking. Simon ended up being the guy on the cross. Now, John is certainly making strong case that Jesus, did in fact go to the cross Himself, by leaving out Simon altogether, however I think John is doing something else here. (It should be noted also that these stories probably come from an even later date than John, so he may have never heard them.)
I believe John is making a literary decision to emphasize his point. Consider the imagery he is using. Jesus, the King, bears the weight of the cross alone. He alone is worthy to take away the sins of Man, so John depicts Him alone. (That’s not to say the Synoptics take away from the worthiness of Christ.) The Early Fathers were quick to connect the scene of Jesus carrying His cross with the scene of Abraham and Isaac going to sacrifice. Do you remember this story?
Abraham and Isaac are heading to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. What Isaac doesn’t know is that he is to be the sacrifice. Abraham is in the midst of a test of faith. Isaac carries the load of wood for the burnt offering on his shoulders—“as one would carry a cross” is how the early Christians commented on the story. But, as Abraham readies his knife to sacrifice his only son, the Lord tells Abraham to stop, because a lamb has been provided as a substitute.
Church, listen to what God has said in His Word! The sins of the father have been passed down since Adam, destroying the sons. God promised that a Lamb would be given to break the cycle of sin’s corruption. The difference between Isaac and Jesus is that Jesus IS that Lamb! The Lord has given His One and Only Son, His perfect Lamb of God, to be the substitution for our death. The punishment for our sin is our death, but Jesus came to take that punishment for us.
The King offers Himself as the sacrifice for our sin.
The last two actions in our passage provide an interesting contrast. First, John includes the same detail as the Synoptics, His garments were divided as spoils for the executioners. The soldiers cast lots to decide who received the more valuable tunic—more valuable because it was seamless. Some critical scholars have attempted to accuse the gospel writers of fabricating events with a random psalm in order to manipulate the story. However, as Morris eloquently puts it, “Their zeal to find an Evangelist manipulating the facts to square with a theory outruns their knowledge of the ways of fighting me. Nothing is more natural than a little gambling in such circumstances” (Morris 716).
Their crass ways stand in contrast to the last action before Jesus gives up His spirit. In verse 25 we see the family of Jesus standing near the cross. Jesus takes a moment to tell John to care for Mary. It is a touching scene in which Jesus, though hanging on the cross with the weight of humanity’s sin on Him, remembers to repay His earthly mother for her time of caring for Him.
At the final moment, Jesus asks for a drink which fulfills one last prophecy. They give him sour wine, which is essentially vinegar. This again fulfills Scripture. Before, the Synoptics let us know that Jesus refused drugged wine in order to have a clear head as He faced death. Now that the time has come, He asks for a drink because He has something to say. John does not give the force of His statement as found in the other gospels. Jesus’ last act was a cry of victorious agony.
That cry is “It is finished!”
From the foundations of the earth, the Lord has prepared for this moment. The History of Man, having been corrupted by sin in the Garden, has been ushered to this moment. From the tribes of Man came the tribe of Abraham and Isaac. From the nations came Israel. And from the kings came the King of Kings. Scripture chronicles God’s work in History, and now, at the final moment of our Savior’s life, all has been fulfilled. This cry is not a cry of defeat.
“It is finished!” is a victory cry from the conquering King.
With His final cry, He bows His head and gives up His spirit.
The burial
Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 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. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
John 19:31-42
The Jews, ever concerned for their ritualism, request the condemned be removed from the crosses for the Passover. Recall the curse on a person who is hanged from a tree. That curse also applies to the land, so that if a hanged man was left during the festival, the land would be considered desecrated. The soldiers come to fulfill the request, only to find Jesus is already dead. The poor criminals next to him have their legs broken, but there is no need to break Christ. But, one of the soldiers, whether out of brutality or making certain, pierce the side of Jesus. John makes special note blood and water come flowing out, and it apparently made a significant impression on him. This significance has brought about several theories.
John is marking the symbolism of the Lord’s Supper in which wine is mixed with water, or possibly both baptism and the Lord’s Supper—water for baptism, blood for the wine.
John is witnessing a medical phenomenon in which fluid has filled the chest and lungs, so that when His side is punctured, the fluid comes out with the blood.
John is noting the physical death of Christ in contrast to the Docetists of his day who claim Jesus came in spirit, only appearing to be physical.
The truth could be some combination of these, however one should be careful not to read too much into the symbolism. The point John is making is clear—Jesus died on that cross, not some spirit, nor did He escape. His testimony is true, and he is giving it so that you may believe.
The witness of Jesus’ death is trustworthy and given so that you may believe.
John cites two more Scriptures in order to reinforce even further the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
After Jesus dies, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus come to request permission to bury the body. John notes these two were secret disciples for fear of the Jews. These are two members of Jewish Councils who could no longer hide their devotion to Christ. They recognized He is the Messiah. They may be coming late to the Messiah’s side, but they are nonetheless taking a bold step. Normally, Jesus would have been placed with the other condemned in a common grave. Instead, Joseph offers his own grave (stated in Luke) which was newly cut. They also bring with them several pounds of spices.
The fresh grave and the large amount of spices are provided as one would provide for a king.
John wants to make known that even in death, Jesus is King.
Our story is certainly not finished. The disciples had to wait three days, but I will tell you now:
Jesus did not remain in that grave!
Come Sunday morning, Jesus would have several visitors who did not find Him in that tomb. Our Victorious King who defeated Satan and Sin by dying on that cross, then defeated Death by rising up from the grave! Now, He sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for all who believe.
The Son of Man has been lifted up, so that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved!