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John | Chapter 19

John 19:4-24

“Gotta serve someone”  

I. Intro.

II. Vs. 4-7 Behold the Man 

III. Vs. 8-15 Behold your King

IV. Vs. 16-24 From Gabbatha to Golgotha


Intro.

In Chapter 19 of his gospel, John takes us from Gabbatha (the pavement) to Golgotha, (the hill of Calvary), and finally to the tomb in which Jesus was laid. The first scene in this chapter is that of Pilate bringing Jesus before the multitude. Our Lord is bloodied and torn by the scourging he has suffered. He is still wearing his crown of thorns and the purple robe with which the soldiers had dressed him and repeatedly mocked Jesus but He with all this around Him He stands in regal majesty.

And of His judge and jury? Well they bowed their heads to Caesar in order to murder the King of Kings Jesus. God had done what He had promised He would do and that is raise up a king for the Jews and for all humanity and as the Jews rejected their King placing Him on a cross to be put to death by gentile hands at that very moment without notice from all that were there their King also became their redeemer.      


Vs. 4-7 Behold the Man

Vs. 4 To scourge someone that you already declared not guilty was a huge miscarriage of justice but Pilate no doubt thought in doing this it would gain Jesus sympathy as the Romans mocked Jesus but it didn’t. Roman scourging had three main purposes:

  1. First, it was used to beat the prisoner as a form of punishment.
  2. Second, it was used to extract a confession from the prisoner. As a tool to extract a confession, the Roman solider would beat the victim harder and harder until they confessed their crime. Because Jesus had nothing to confess, the blows never lightened on His back.
  3. Finally, in cases of crucifixion it was used to weaken the victim so he would die more quickly on the cross. Scourging was a preliminary to every Roman execution the only exceptions being women and Roman senators or soldiers. The goal of the scourging was to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse and death.

In Isaiah 50:6 we are given part of the prophecy with regards to the scourging as it says, “I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” Consider this:

  1. In Matt. 27:4 Judas declared that Jesus was innocent
  2. When you put all the gospel accounts together you can see that seven times in the course of Jesus trial before Pilate he pronounced Jesus innocent
  3. Finally in Matt. 27:19 the thief next to Jesus that Jesus was innocent

Now I ask you 64,000 dollar question if Jesus is innocent than who is guilty? Paul wrote the truth in case you aren’t ware in Romans 3:10-12 where he says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.” Ultimately what people are the most prejudice against is not religion or race but rule who is it that is in control of their lives.

Vs. 5-7 I’m afraid that at times because of the gruesome nature of the final moments of Jesus’ life we have a tendency to sanitize His torture. But as Isaiah the prophet foretold in 52:14 that “many were astonished at you, so His visage was marred more than any man,     And His form more than the sons of men”. Friends the unspeakable horrors our Lord endured was done all for you and me. He received upon Himself that which was due us for our sin, with every punch to the face and whip they lay upon His flesh, every nail that slammed into His body each and every one of them is a concert of His love for you! Jesus death serves as a reminder of two powerful truths:

  1. God does not take sin lightly
  2. And God loves us all very deeply

The mob was whipped up into frenzy as they cry out only the words “Crucify, Crucify” and Pilate went on official record that Jesus was an innocent man. Try as fallen man has they still have not been able to reverse Pilate’s official decision with regards to Jesus which is “I find no fault in Him”. There are still some who claim that Jesus never communicated that He was the Son of God but clearly Jesus’ adversaries thought that He did and it is the reason that they insisted upon His death.  

Pilate’s words were meant to illicit pity from the crowd and not to mock Jesus but the religious leaders. Now as I read them in light of what this “Man from Galilee” has done for me I understand them to mean behold the “Perfect Man” the ideal of what all of man kind could have been and one day will be. Paul said in Romans 1:25 that fallen humanity “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.” Why? Because they would rather remain in their sin then embrace what God has for us. Pilate was constantly trying to find away to set Jesus free and when that didn’t work was trying find away to keep Jesus off the cross but in the end when it came down to either Jesus dying on the cross or Pilate losing his way of life he choose to send an innocent man to death. Friend’s people don’t mind taking a stand for Jesus until it costs them something then they look a lot more like Pilate.  

The religious leaders now drop all pretense as to why they want Jesus dead as they plainly declare “He made Himself the Son of God”. Friends listen very carefully, no one can “make themselves the Son of God” they can declare themselves as such but the fact is they either are or they aren’t. Now there have a lot of folks who have claimed to be something like a messiah and they have come and gone but Jesus is the only one who demonstrated it by rising from the dead.


Vs. 8-15 Behold your King

Vs.8-11 The fact that after having learned the true nature of the religious leaders charge against Jesus Pilate had even a greater phobia with regards to Jesus. Now what this tells us is that their words were supported by what Pilate had observed in his brief time with the battered Jesus. Upon not hearing response from Jesus concerning his inquiry as to where He was from Pilate tried to let Jesus know that it was in His best interest to answer as he had the power to release Jesus. But Jesus replies that the only power that Pilate has been granted him and that it was done so to fulfill God’s plan thus the ones who were making a willful choice were more responsible than was Pilate.  

            These are Jesus’ final words to Pilate and they are reminding him who it is that is truly in power. I am so amazed by our Lord’s replies to Pilate and this one here is again glorious to see Him speak with such conviction and power. God is the source of all power all authority is on loan from God and as such all will be accountable before Him in how they exercised it. Oh at times it may seem as though we are a ship without an anchor but ship that is attached to a long mooring is still attached to an anchor.

Vs. 12-13 Someone has well said “Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards, they simply unveil them to the eyes of men.” Such was the case with Pilate. Every word and action of this account strips away the pretense behind which men seek to hide. Pilate sat down that day to judge a man and didn’t realize that it was he who was going to be judged based upon his decision. It appears that Pilate fully knew what was right but choose to do what was wrong for political gain. Folks it seems to me that there are again countless people who are in the same boat who know what is right with regards to Jesus but chose to do what is wrong for temporary gain, a spiritual nearsightedness if you will. Pilate does not posses the courage of his convictions he would rather compromise and go against his own conscience then go without the comforts of this world. 

That scene has been played out countless times by individuals who seek to discredit and deny Jesus only to find out in the end that it will be their judgment of who He is that judges them. There are many people who think that if they just say, “I don’t believe in Jesus” that some how the moment they say this He ceases to exists. Friends Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and as we are told in Philip. 2:10 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth”. We do know that, later, Pilate was dismissed as governor and summoned back to Rome to answer to Tiberius’ charges against him. On his way there, Tiberius suddenly died. Pilate was freed from the charges and went on to southern France, then known as Gaul. There, according to tradition, he put himself to death.

            Underneath the buildings that presently occupy the north side of the temple mount in Jerusalem, archaeologists have uncovered a pavement stone that bears markings of an ancient game, rather like the game tick-tack-toe, which was played by soldiers of the Roman Empire. It has almost certainly been established that that is the actual pavement of the judgment seat of the Roman governors, the spot on which our Lord himself stood as he was condemned to death by Pilate. The pavement is called “Gabbatha” (pavement in Hebrew).

Vs. 14-15 Friends there is a lesson to learn from Israel and their history as they brought upon themselves needless destruction and heartaches throughout their history for the refusal to be ruled by God:

  1. In 1 Samuel 8:6-7 the people cried out, “Give us a king to judge us. So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” So way back in the early stages of the nation the people rejected the Father’s rule choosing rather to be ruled by kings like the other nations around them.
  2. Now here in John 19:15 at Pilate’s question, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” Here we see the people reject the Son desiring again to be ruled by earthly kings instead of the King of Kings.   
  3. Finally in Acts 7:51-53 at the trial of Stephen he charged them with “always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Lastly we see that the people rejected the Holy Spirit who continued to testify of the words and works of Jesus and chose again to be ruled earthly leaders instead of a heavenly Lord!

So whose it going to be folks, who is it that you are going to chose to rule over your hearts this day? Listen to the word’s of Joshua in Joshua 24:15 as he spoke to the nation saying, “if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Or in words of the prophet Bob Dylan:

You may be a construction worker working on a home
You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome
You might own guns and you might even own tanks
You might be somebody’s landlord you might even own banks.

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride
You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side
You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody’s mistress, may be somebody’s heir.

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes
You’re gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.

Vs. 16-24 From Gabbatha to Golgotha

Vs. 16-18 John like all the other gospel writers spares us the gruesome details of Jesus’ actual crucifixion by just mentioning it as a fact. Yet as horrible as it was physically Paul gives us what is by far and away the worst part of Jesus crucifixion in 2 Cor. 5:21 where he reminds us that “He (the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  

In 1968, archeologists discovered the remains of a man crucified in Jesus’ era; in fact the skeletal remains are in the museum in Jerusalem. It is clear by the remains that the person being nailed to the cross was in a sitting position, both legs over sideways, with the nail penetrating the sides of both feet just below the heel. The arms were stretched out, each stabbed by a nail in the forearm. Dr. Hass an anatomy professor at Hebrew University observes that this was “a difficult and unnatural posture”, which would increase the agony of the sufferer. What is interesting about this archeological find is that corrects the traditional view of the crucifixion which has both palms nailed to the cross and the legs stretching straight down with a nail piercing the feet in the front.

There are several interesting facts to consider:

  1. First is to realize that this hilled called Golgotha was the very spot in Genesis 22:8 where Abraham said to Isaac his only begotten son, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” And just as Isaac had to bear the wood up the hill so too did God’s only Son.
    1. Second someone has well said that Jesus being placed between two thieves is a fitting place as He stole my heart and He wants to steal yours as well.

Vs. 19-22 Hebrew is a theological language, Greek is philosophical language and Latin is an intellectual language and as such Pilate placed the first gospel tract ever written above Jesus to declare the truth to the theological, philosophical and intellectual that Jesus is the true King of King’s. And as it was being nailed into place above Jesus head Pilate finally stood up to the religious leaders and said “What I have written, I have written.” But he is like a lot of folks who are very strict on minor things but very lack on major things. The religious leaders objected to Pilate’s gospel tract on the basis that they didn’t believe it even though Jesus proclaimed it. I’m afraid far too many people put way too much stock in what they believe instead of whether or not what they believe is true.

Vs. 23-24 In Exodus 28 we are told that the High Priests robe was to be made seamless and Jesus being the Great High Priest had such a garment and rather than dividing it which would have ruined they cast lots for it. A 1,000 years before this took place the palmist wrote in Psalm 22:18 “They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” So we see that even this was as John says a fulfillment of the scriptures. 

It is here that we get a view of the degree of Jesus’ surrender on our behalf has he gave up His clothes. Is that not interesting as in the garden God sacrificed an innocent lamb to coven the nakedness of man’s sin and here at the cross what began in the garden was fulfilled on a hill called Calvary where the Father sacrificed His only begotten son to clothe us in His righteousness. Friends listen to the words of Paul Ephes. 2:7 as he declares concerning Jesus sacrifice was “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” It may seem as though all of this happen without control but here we are told that “the scriptures might be fulfilled”.

Friends there are far too many folks today who are at the foot of the cross playing games, rolling the dice to see what they can gain from being near Jesus without having to die to self.  


John 19:25-30

“Hopelessly devoted to you”  

I. Intro.

II. Vs. 25-30 Words from the wood   


Intro.

There is something very interesting about today that deals with Mother’s day and that it is also Pentecost and you may recall that on this day Mary was in the upper room when the Holy Spirit came upon her so she received comfort from the comforter. Devotion is a difficult thing to measure but one thing is for certain it can’t be measured by words alone but by action. Consider the following truths:

  1. When Jesus began His ministry with works and words the multitudes flocked around to the degree that he was endanger of being trampled.
  2. When He began to speak of the cost of following Him the numbers declined to hundreds.
  3. When He invited those to share in ministry proclaiming the truth in towns it shrunk to 70 (Luke 10:1)
  4. When He spoke of His death and the cost of following Him there were only 12.
  5. In the Garden of agony only three came forward and one of them (Peter) couldn’t stay awake.
  6. And finally at the foot of the cross there was only one of His disciples left.

Ah but look closely at verse 25 and you will see that along with John there were four women who stood devotedly by Him. Now think of those four women looking up at the One they loved upon that cross watching Him die, hearing the insults being hurled at Him, watching the blood drip from His battered body; they didn’t shrink away they stayed there at His feet no matter how hard it was. Why, what caused them to remain when all but John had left? Because they loved Him!! There hope was not fixed upon His ideals, nor upon His promises (which at this moment seemed as though they weren’t going to come to pass), they weren’t thinking of what benefit might be gained to them with there affiliation with Him. No they simply followed Him even though they didn’t fully understand His words or His works they were there because they loved Him. Oh dear saint’s we have much to learn from John and these ladies about being devoted to our Lord no matter how difficult we find it to be at times.


Vs. 25-30 Words from the wood

Crucifixion originated from the Persians today known as the Iranians around 1000 years before Jesus and later taken over from the Greeks when they conquered Persia and when the Greeks were defeated by the Romans they adopted it as the form of capital punishment. The reason why the person was lifted of the ground was because the person  being crucified usual began to curse their very lives and the Persians considered the ground sacred and didn’t want the curse to be applied to the ground so they lifted up the victim from the earth around 3 to 4 feet. 

And remarkably Jesus made seven statements while He was on the cross; they are known as “the seven words from the cross.”  

  1. In the first three, He thought of others: those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34), the believing thief (Luke 23:39-43), and finally His mother (John 19:25-27).
  2. The central word had to do with His relationship to the Father (Matt. 27:45-49).
  3. The last three statements focused on Himself: His body (John 19:28-29), His soul (John 19:30; and see Isa. 53:10), and His spirit (Luke 23:46).

Vs. 25 It is an amazing thing to realize that Mary was standing by her Son witnessing the brutality being placed upon Him and then hearing the tender words of her Son for her care. All Mary had to do was say that all of Jesus’ claims were false but she didn’t. There probably is not a more appropriate Mother’s day passage in all the Bible then this one as clearly Jesus understands the emotional need of all mother’s something that we would do well to appreciate more than just one day a year.   

The gospel accounts differ a bit with regards to these gals around the cross. For instance only John reveals for us that Jesus mother Mary was there, including her makes four women plus John. Most folks believe that Mary’s sister’s name is Salome and if that is true that means that James and John were cousins of Jesus. Then there was Mary the wife of Clopas also spelled Cleopas and according Luke 24:18 one of the fellows who met Jesus while on the road to Emmaus was named Cleopas so perhaps it was this fellow’s wife. Then there was Mary Magdalene and she was the one we are told in Luke 8:2 that Jesus had cast out seven demons from. 

John’s mother being there brings to mind something very interesting. You may recall the story found in Matthew 20:20 where John’s and James’ mother came to Jesus with her sons, “kneeling down and asking something from Him”. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She then said to Jesus, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” And now three years later John’s mom looked up towards Jesus and saw who was placed on is right side and left side and remembered perhaps Jesus words, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”    

Vs. 26 In the midst of His agony Jesus eyes met the eyes He first saw when He came into this world and He felt her agony as a sword was piercing her heart and He was at that very moment providing for the rest of every person who has ever been provided the rest for His mother. With regards to Jesus’ mom there is an interesting choice of a word that He uses in verse 26 as He calls her “Woman” it is a term of respect but not one of intimacy. Why did He use this word at the very moment that His mother was watching Him die? Well I suggest to you that the answer may lie with the 2nd chapter of John three ½ years earlier. It was the time right after the beginning of His earthly ministry when Jesus and His followers were invited to a wedding feast at Cana only three miles from the town Jesus grew up in. And Mary made her statement to her Son “They have no wine”; for 30 years she had treasured thing in her heart, 30 years she had waited for vindication as she had put up with all the disrespect and harsh words regarding her pregnancy, (no doubt it had gotten worse after her husband Joseph had died). She had waited for the time that Luke recorded in 1:48 when, “He will regard the lowly state of His maidservant” at time when “all generations will call me blessed.” That is what I believe she meant as she made her request that day in Cana. “Do something that will show these people who You are, something that will show these folks that You were born by way of the Holy Spirit”. And although He fulfilled her request for the wine He did so with out anyone realizing what He had done. Now Jesus upon the cross uses the same word “woman” instead of mother and I believe He did so to bring her back to those 3 ½ years earlier a way of saying “Mom now is the time. During My shame and then My glory that you will finally be called blessed”. As she stood there gazing up at her Son next to her we are told in Matthew 27:54 was a centurion who had witnessed “the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”  

Thirty three years earlier as Mary and Joseph brought their first born Son into the temple Simeon a devote man had waited year after year for the Consolation of Israel and it had been revealed to him that he would not die until after he would see the Messiah. So on that day as these young parents came into the temple Simeon took Jesus up in his arms and blessed God saying, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” Then Simeon turned to Mary and said, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” And at this moment Mary fully understood what Simeon had prophesied to here 33 years earlier. 

I wonder as she heard that word “woman” and understood what He meant by it that she would have gladly taken a life time of shame for one more day with her Son? Oh what a good word that is for all of us who have at times been broken hearted by our children. Too all you mothers ought there today who have suffered shame and ridicule perhaps because of your children this is a great word for you today. This mother’s day you will be blessed as you seek your fulfillment not in motherhood but rather in the sacrifice and glory of your savior.

Notice that John again does not mention himself by name only referring to himself as the “disciple whom He loved”. Hey friends perhaps we ought to try this with regards to ourselves constantly calling into remembrance that no matter what the circumstance, no matter how vulnerable or insecure we may be we are the “follower of Jesus whom He adores”.

Vs. 27 There is one other curious thing that happened as our Lord looked down to Mary and John who stood next to her as He said to John, “Behold your mother”. You see based upon Matt. 13:55-56 we know that Jesus had at least four half brothers and several half sisters yet Jesus bypassed the earthly bloodline and turned instead to John to care for His mother. There is an interesting prophetic word with regards to this in Psalm 69:8 where the psalmist writes with regards to the Messiah, “I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children”. It is interesting to me that John adds this commentary that “from that hour that disciple took her to his home”. Which suggests to me that Mary remained with John until she was ushered into Jesus’ presence, even though we know that according to Acts 1:14 that Mary along with Jesus’ half brothers were gathered in the upper room at Pentecost. This is further supported by Paul’s testimony in 1 Cor. 15:7 where we are told that prior to Jesus ascension “That He was seen by James”.  The 27th verse and the 28th verse are separated by 3 hours and I believe that John took Mary home sparing her the witness of the aftermath of Jesus death.       

Folks this just goes to prove that there is something thicker then blood and it is the blood of Christ that courses through our veins because of His love for us. How fitting it is that Jesus in the final moments of His earthly life would unite the woman in whom He had rested upon her chest with the disciple had done so upon His. Families that are brought together at the foot of the cross are those that will always be a place of comfort and rest. Think of this a moment won’t you? It was on the cross where man was doing its worse to Jesus thrusting its spear of hatred and separation that Jesus looked down upon His mother and united her to one of His followers. Friend’s relationships can always come together at the cross no matter how much damage and misunderstanding at the cross Jesus can heal and bind together all in Him. Instead of focusing in on all the wrongs done it is at the cross where we see forgiveness and love.

Vs. 28-30 Here we are given the final earthly words of the very one that John had said in the first chapter was the Word of God. Just prior to this Jesus had quoted Psalm 22:1

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me,     And from the words of My groaning?” He then glanced over to one of the thief’s who was crucified next to Him and assured him that “today you will be with Me in Paradise”. And through all of this we need to remember that said I thirst, all His words and care were brought in the midst of the greatest of personal needs. His final words came as a lamb that had passed every inspection, “It is finished”! Every other religion adds something else after these words of our Lord. “Oh it’s not finished, you must go out on a mission and give 10%”. No, others say, “You have to go door to door and hand out tracts then you will be able to inherit the world”. Friends, nothing else remains to be done for our salvation it is finished all we do now is enjoy our relationship and bask in His abiding love.  

In Luke 23:45-46 we are told that, “the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.” Matthew in 27:51-53 tells us that when “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” So we have the first rock concert and pardon the pun but it was live worship!! But what did all this mean? Well, in Rom. 8:22 we read that “..the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”  As the crowds worshipped Jesus as He entered Jerusalem the religious leaders rebuked Jesus commanding Him to tell them to stop to which He replied in Luke 19:40 “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Folks this was the true Rolling Stones rocking out declaring that the curse had been lifted! The earthquake had another effect as the stones that covered over the tombs were opened. So what happened was that the bodies of the some of the believers were made visible! Why this sign? Well if you go to 1 Cor. 15:55-58  you read, “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I believe that God was showing that death could not hold the saints in the grave. It says that these same believers came out of the graves after Jesus resurrection and that they went into Jerusalem and appeared too many. The word “appear” means to “to exhibit (in person) or disclose (by words), declare (plainly), to inform.” Now Paul tells us in Eph 4:8-9 that when Jesus “..ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men. (Now this, “He ascended”; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?” And Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:19 that Jesus “preached to the spirits in prison,” So it is my opinion that it is these O.T. saints that Jesus went to share the liberty that they had looked forward too. So they were out there sharing that only through Jesus could you be made perfect! Now I must admit that there is not much given on this whole seen, but it is interesting to think that King David would come up to you and start talking to you proclaiming the victory won you in Jesus alone! And remember all of this took place on the first Resurrection Sunday! 

There was a man once who came up to an evangelist after a crusade when all the people had left and wanted to know what he could do to get saved even though he hadn’t responded to the invitation. The Evangelist just simply replied, “It’s too late!” The panicked fellow hadn’t anticipated the reply and said, “What do you mean it’s too late, surely there must be something you can do?” “Nope nothing I can do either!” Now beginning to weep the man again utter his request, “Is there nothing I can do to be saved?” At this the evangelist said, “No there is nothing you can do to be saved because it has already been done all you can do is believe!!!” 


John 19:31-42

“Preparation day”  

I. Intro.

II. Vs. 31-37 In the hands of the world

III. Vs. 38-42 In the hands of His worshippers


Intro.

The darkest days in human history were the days that Jesus lay in the tomb, the temple of which Jesus spoke of in John 2:19 where He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” was ruined yet not raised. Now we know that Jesus was not idle during this time as we are told in1 Peter 3:19 “He went and preached to the spirits in prison”, that is to say the Old Testament saints but as far as we mortals were concerned light had been extinguished, love eliminated. And we witness is those gathering around a dead body nothing more than preparation for storage. Again from an earthly perspective life had ended with the seeming defeat of Jesus the world was cast into hopelessness the long winter if you will. Humanity was broke with God and we were cast out into darkness. What the unbelieving heart has wanted for those days it received a world apart from the love and revelation of Jesus. The passage fall naturally into two parts:

  1. Verses 31-37 We see Jesus body in the hands of the world: Where it is poked and pierced as they want only to remove His body from view.
  2. Verses 38-42 We see His body in the hands of His worshippers, where great care and cost is expended even in the midst of hopelessness and regret. 

I’m reminded of the words of  George Muller “The natural mind is prone to reason when we ought to believe, to be at work when we ought to be quiet, or to go our own way when we ought to steadily walk in God’s ways”.


Vs. 31-37 In the hands of the world

Vs. 31-37 The first part of this is quite interesting as the world wants not too touch Jesus except to jab Him in the side with a pole. There were three requests for His body, the religious leaders, Joseph and Nicodemus and Mary Magdalene:

The religious rulers did so on the ground of their ritual. Tradition must be observed even if the law had been violated, as Deut. 21:22-23 said that an executed person must be buried before sundown. There request was only to satisfy their religion not for care of the dead, they had already proven with regards that they cared less. So when they went to Pilate they asked him for Jesus to fulfill their religion. The Romans would have kept Jesus on the cross until He began to rot and they would have flung him into the garbage dump. And according to Mark 15:44 Pilate was surprised at Jesus death so he sent out the guards to make sure and when they came to Jesus they didn’t break His legs and instead pierced His side.  Something remarkable happened when they came to Jesus finding Him already dead and we know this by way of John’s commentary in verse 35 where he adds, “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.” What was it John is swearing to the accuracy of? Namely verse 34 that upon seeing the spear jab into the heart of Jesus that “Immediately blood and water came out”. One would expect blood it is the water that has many a medical examiner attention as they will all tell you that Jesus died with a raptured heart, a broken heart friends. Now pay attention here as we have already been told that in verse 30 that Jesus “gave up His spirit” which I insist means that He didn’t die OF a broken heart rather that He died WITH a broken heart that is John’s testimony. It wasn’t the spear that killed Him, neither was it the torture and crucifixion, no those things contributed to the physical state but He gave up His spirit no one or nothing took His life He laid it down but in laying it down we discover that His heart was broken it had ruptured. What caused that? Well no doubt physically we can attribute it to what had happened to him for over a day but I also think we can say that what caused it was His love for the Father and His love for you and me which were at conflict. How do we know they were in conflict? Well because in Luke 22:44 we are told that He, “being in agony, prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Simply put His heart was being ripped in two, just as the temple veil was being ripped from top to bottom so also was His heart and the evidence tells us as much. Hey have you ever stop to realize that just as a bride was brought forth from the heart of Adam so to was a bride brought forth from the broken heart of our Lord. 

All of this fulfilled the words of scripture that not a bone would be broken and that they would look upon Him whom they pierced. These two verse come from the Law Exodus 12:46 and also the prophets Zechariah 12:10. In Exodus the reference is to the Passover Lamb so we see that Jesus fulfilled that He alone is the Passover Lamb. The piecing with its mixed flow of blood and water remind us symbolically two things blood = redemption and water = regeneration. Friends that is what Jesus does with what the world does with Him, it is His answer to man kind’s sin to redeem and regenerate and it came at the price of a broken   

Vs. 38-42 In the hands of His worshippers

Vs.38-40 Here we see Jesus’ body in the hands of His friends albeit secret ones, Joseph and Nicodemus. John tells us that two “undercover brothers” came forward and did in His death what they weren’t willing to do in His life and that was to be identified with Jesus. So what made these two fellows who had been content to be secret saint’s come out of the shadows and into the day light? Well friends it was when they personally recognized what Jesus had done for them on the cross! 

We learn from the other accounts that Joseph was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrim yet he had not voted for Jesus death, which means that the vote of the ruling council of Caiaphas was not unanimous as Joseph and we assume Nicodemus both voted against putting Jesus to death. I must say I’m impressed by these two secret disciples who did not vote with the popular vote but voted with their conscience. Then there is Nicodemus who first came to Jesus at night heard His powerful truths believed but remained at a distance but in the end is brought out into the open. And in this hour of darkness these two who had remained in the shadows stepped boldly, courageously into the light, Joseph coming into the presence of Rome in Pilate and asking for Jesus’ body and Nicodemus bring with Him a 100 pounds of spices to prepare Jesus’ body for decay but those spices wouldn’t be needed.  

There was another man named Joseph who 33 years earlier only a few miles from here wrapped a little lamb on strips of linen and laid Him in a stone manger. Every year on Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) the High Priest would take of his priestly garments and put on linen robes and go behind the veil into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat which was atop the Ark of the Covenant which held the stone tablets in which the 10 commandments were written. They would tie a rope around him just incase he was defiled and died. Folks would wait in the courtyard waiting anxiously to see if the blood of the innocent lamb’s sacrifice had been accepted and their sins covered for another year and when the High priest stepped out into the courtyard people would cheer and praise God. As they lay Jesus in the tomb wrapped in lined would His sacrifice work, would He emerge from the tomb? In Hebrews 9:12 we read that Jesus, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”  

Vs. 41-42 John gives us three remarkably symbols surrounding the burial of Jesus:

  1. Buried in a garden: The Bible records that sin began in a garden and John records that sin met its conqueror in a garden. Jesus entered into death so that he would conquer sin and loosed its hold upon our race.
  2. Placed in a tomb where no one had ever been placed before: In the Garden of Eden man entered into an experience he had never been in before death. But here in this garden in Jerusalem was a new tomb where no one had ever been laid, no person had ever conquered death and in that new tomb death was conquered for the first time.
  3. The tomb was near the cross: That beautiful garden, just a few yards from the cross, was this tomb where no one had ever lain, and there they put the body of Jesus. Friends when we have been to that cross, laid aside our pride, been broken of our self-sufficiency we will find ourselves broken crying out for help then now this the place of resurrection is just around the corner. You see when you are standing at a cross, the resurrection is just ahead if you walk with God.

Joseph gave up his garden tomb the place where he would one day lay to Jesus, it was the greatest deal ever made my friends as Joseph traded his tomb for Jesus’ room in His Father’s house. How about it friend are you willing to give up that which is death that you may step into that which is life? Then John adds this poetic commentary, In verse 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.” You may wish to underline that verse as it is not only picturesque it is a promise. Promise what promise? Well read with me Jesus words in Matthew 6:25-34 where He says “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” In the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden where the birds of the air neither sowed or reaped yet their heavenly Father feeds them. In the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden where the lilies of the field neither toiled nor spun yet where more beautifully provided for then the earthly splendor of Solomon. Ah friend won’t you draw near the cross of Jesus for there is a garden!

            No matter how we wish to look at these two friends of Jesus they treated Him as dead. Further more they treated Him two things in view:

  1. Love: They came and took Him because they loved Him, again it was His death that forced that in the open but they truly loved Him and His death didn’t separate that love.
  2. Faith: They still believed in Him, oh not fully but enough to risk being disbarred from the Sanhedrim, they believed in Him more than they believed in the religious institution that they had dedicated their lives two.     

But there was something missing, something they lacked that day that the words of John that we just read that in the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden should have spoken to this lack. What did they lack? HOPE! They were looking for answers and love and faith drove them to do what they had done that day but hope wasn’t present with them but it was all over that garden! The world believed that Jesus was dead and they were glad, the worshippers of Jesus thought He was dead and they were sad. Oh friend no matter what your circumstance to day read with me again “the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden”.