[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOHN 19
Bible Verses:
“Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (John 19:11)
“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (John 19:26-27)
“ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
JESUS SENTENCED TO BE CRUCIFIED (vs. 1-16)
Pilate had Jesus flogged and the soldiers put a crown with thorns on his head. They clothed him on a purple robe and struck him in the face. The chief priests and their officials shouted” “Crucify him”. Pilate found no basis for a charge against him but the Jews condemned him for claiming to be the Son of God. Pilate tried to set him free but the Jews intimidated him by saying: “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (v. 12). Finally Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
THE CRUCIFIXION (vs. 17-27)
Jesus was crucified together with two others at Golgotha (the place of the skull). A sign “King of the Jews” was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The soldiers divided his garment and cast lots for his clothing. Near the cross were his mother, his mother’s sister Mary, the wife of clopas and mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his beloved disciple John, he said to his mother: “Dear woman, here is your son” and to John, “Here is your mother” (vs. 26-27). From that time on, John took Mary into his home.
THE DEATH OF JESUS (vs. 28-37)
The last two statements of jesus were: “I am thirty” (v. 28) and “It is finished” (v. 30). Since the Jews did not let the bodies left on the cross on the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers broke the legs of the two men that had been crucified with Jesus but since Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear and to bring out blood and water.
“I thirst”spoke of physical and spiritual agony that Christ had suffered the torment of hell for our sin. “It is finished” symbolized that Christ gave up his life to finish the work His father gave him to do.
THE BURIAL OF JESUS (vs. 38-42)
Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus who went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. with Pilate’s permission, he took the body away accompanied by Nicodemus. Nicodemus put myrrh and aloes in Jesus’ body and the two of them wrapped it with linen. They laid Jesus’ body in a new tomb at a garden.
THOUGHTS:
- The Jews claimed allegiance to Rome and rejected their own Messiah. have we committed the same mistake by conforming tot he world and rejecting Christ?
- Even while dying on the cross, Jesus was concerned about his mother. Do you value and care for your family under all circumstances?
- Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were leaders and members of the Jewish high council. They were secret followers of Jesus. But when Jesus died, they risked their reputation to provide Jesus’ burial. Do you have the courage to step out and let others know your faith in Jesus?
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