The King Upon the Cross. (John 19: 17-40)

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Episode Notes: "The King on a Cross" (John 19:17-42)

Introduction:

The reaction to hearing of Jesus' death would have been one of disbelief and raised questions, similar to our reactions to sudden death today. The New Testament writers emphasized Jesus' death extensively, covering the last week and especially the crucifixion in great detail across the four Gospels, indicating its significance from both human and divine perspectives. This episode will explore John 19:17-42, examining the details of Jesus' death and the meaning behind these events.

Key Aspects of Jesus' Death:

1. The Title on the Cross (John 19:17-22):
   • Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha, "the Place of the Skull," and was crucified with two others.
   • Pilate placed a sign above Jesus stating "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS," written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
   • The Jewish leaders objected, wanting it to read "He said, 'I am the King of the Jews,'" but Pilate refused to change it.
   • This title, while possibly sarcastic, affirmed Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah.
2. Jesus' Garments Divided (John 19:23-24):
   • Soldiers divided Jesus' clothes, casting lots for His seamless tunic, fulfilling Psalm 22:18.
   • This act fulfilled prophecy, indicating that Jesus was the foretold Messiah.
3. Jesus Cares for His Mother (John 19:25-27):
   • Jesus, while on the cross, entrusted His mother Mary to the disciple John, establishing a new familial relationship among His followers.
   • This gesture demonstrated the new family of believers, bonded through Christ's sacrifice.
4. Jesus' Thirst and Declaration (John 19:28-30):
   • Jesus, aware that all things were accomplished, said, "I thirst," fulfilling Psalm 69:21.
   • He was given sour wine, and then declared, "It is finished," signifying the completion of His sacrificial work for humanity’s sins.
   • Jesus voluntarily gave up His spirit, showing His death was a deliberate, redemptive act.
5. Jesus’ Side Pierced (John 19:31-37):
   • To ensure Jesus' body was not left on the cross during the Sabbath, soldiers broke the legs of the other crucified men but found Jesus already dead.
   • A soldier pierced His side, releasing blood and water, confirming His death and fulfilling prophecies (Psalm 34:20, Zechariah 12:10).
   • These actions affirmed Jesus as the Messiah and the truth of John's testimony.
6. Jesus' Burial (John 19:38-42):
   • Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple, and Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, a

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Transcript

The King on a Cross.  (John 19:17-42)

Full Transcript

The likely reaction of those who knew the Lord when they were told that He had died would probably have been the same in you heard that somebody you knew well had suddenly died, been killed in fact.

Many of them would have responded as we do today: first with disbelief, and then with questions. It is no accident that the writers of the New Testament take great pains to describe the death of Jesus Christ.

There are four gospels, aren’t there? Select biographies of Jesus Christ covering in the main just 3 years of the life of Christ, and even in the three years that are covered a disproportionate amount of their content is dedicated to His death. The first twelve years of His life are largely skipped over, with only one incident between His birth and the beginning of His public ministry recorded in one of the three biographies. Yet, each gospel writer specifics the last week of His life, especially the day of His crucifixion in great detail.

The fact that God, through four different books, from four different points of view, emphasizes this event, indicates that He wants us to know about it. From both a human perspective of simple curiosity and a divine perspective of repetition and necessity. Therefore, we need to look closely at the death of Jesus Christ.

And that is what I plan to do today in TBPDP….

John 19, starting from verse 17 to the end of the chapter, records the details of Jesus' death. As we move through these verses, we will notice various isolated details concerning His death. But more importantly, there is a single thread that runs through the whole passage. 

I am going to divide these verses into six parts, highlighting six different aspects of His death that John tells us about. The first aspect involves the title put over the cross. John chapter 19, verse 17 says...

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the centre. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

(John 19: 17-20)

Rather than giving us all the gory details, that the other gospel account does John immediately moves to the name of the place where it happened. It's simply called the Place of a Skull. We don't know why it is called that or how it got its name. Some suggest the hill was Perhaps there was a huge rock shaped like the top of a head that reminded people of a skull, which could be how it got its name. John simply tells us Jesus was taken to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, and there they crucified Him with thieves on either side.

In verse 19, we read that Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. It read: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It was customary to place a title over the cross of someone being crucified, stating their name and crime. In this case, Pilate put above Jesus' head: "Jesus of Nazareth" and His "crime, being": "King of the Jews."

21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore, the soldiers did these things.

(John 19: 20-24)

Immediately, the Jewish leaders objected. Evidently, Jesus was crucified just outside the city of Jerusalem at a place where many passed by and saw the title. The Bible tells us it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin—the three common, and official languages of the day—so that anyone passing by could read it. 

This irritated the Jewish leaders, who said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, I am the King of the Jews.'" They wanted a clarification: He was not the King of the Jews, but He claimed to be.

Pilate refused. Verse 22 says he answered, "What I have written, I have written." 

Pilate was obstinate anyway, but on this particular occasion, he was being a bit sarcastic. He might have been sadistic as far as the Jewish leaders were concerned, but it seems to me that Pilate was saying more than he intended. By giving that title to Jesus Christ, he was recognizing exactly who Jesus Christ was: the King of the Jews, the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. 

So, while the title may have been sarcastic, it was deeply significant, recognizing who Jesus Christ was.

The second detail John gives us about Jesus' death concerns His garments.

The garments of a criminal crucified automatically belonged to the soldiers. There is nothing unusual about the soldiers getting the clothes. They divided the clothes into four parts because there were four soldiers, but when they came to the inner garment, it was such a beautiful piece, made in one piece, that it would have been tragic to rip it up. So, they decided to cast lots to see who would get it.

John says that is precisely what they did, quoting Psalm 22:18: This verse had predicted and prophesied that the Messiah's garments would be parted, and they would cast lots for.

John says that the soldiers, unaware and inadvertently, did precisely what the prophecy foretold. John highlights this fulfilment of this prophecy to indicate that Jesus was the Messiah. The soldiers' actions, literally casting lots for His garments, are evidence of this.

Jesus Cares for His Mother.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

(John 19: 25-27)

This might seem strange at first. Jesus addresses His mother as "woman." Today, that term might sound disrespectful, but in the first century, it was a term of respect. By calling her "woman," Jesus wasn't being disrespectful, the opposite in fact. He then turned to John and established a new relationship, saying, "John, this is your mother," and to Mary, "Mother, this is your son."

Jesus was not just asking John to care for His mother. He was establishing a new familial relationship. Through the cross, Jesus created a new relationship between His followers. We, were all once alienated from God, but are brought into a new relationship with Him and with each other, becoming members of one family: mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, no longer strangers.

Tradition tells us that after Jesus' crucifixion, John took Mary into his home. Some traditions say Mary lived in Jerusalem with John for 11 years until she died at age 59. Other traditions say they moved to Ephesus, where John lived until he died, and Mary was with him. It's possible both are true—they may have stayed in Jerusalem for a while before moving to Ephesus.

But the important point is that Jesus established a new relationship, and John faithfully fulfilled his responsibility to Mary, which is a templet as to how as Christians we should care for one another..

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” (John 19: 28-30)

There are two ways to understand the phrase " Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled,”." 

The first interpretation suggests that Jesus saw everything was done to fulfil scripture. 

The second, which I believe is correct, connects "that the scriptures might be fulfilled" with His statement, "I thirst."

Jesus, was aware of the prophecy in Psalm 69:21, which says, "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," Therefore, I believe He expressed His thirst to fulfil this scripture. 

It was customary for soldiers to have sour wine nearby for their own use during these long crucifixions. When Christ said, "I thirst," they used their own drink to quench His thirst, lifting it to Him on a sponge at the end of a long stick.

Verse 30 tells us, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” " 

The phrase "It is finished" carries profound significance. Jesus Christ had obeyed all the Father's commands, fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies, and completed His suffering for sin.

The Old Testament prophesied, "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him and lay upon Him the iniquity of us all." On the cross, Jesus declared, "It is finished," meaning His substitutionary sacrifice for sin was complete. 

Crucifixion did not take His life; He voluntarily gave up His spirit, as He had said He would lay down His life for the sheep. His death was not just an act of martyrdom but a redemptive sacrifice for the whole world.

John details what happened to Jesus' body starting in verse 31. 

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced and His legs are Broken.

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should 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. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 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. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

(John 19: 31-37)

Breaking the legs of the crucified hastened death, as it prevented them from lifting themselves to breathe.

The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves crucified with Jesus. However, when they came to Jesus and saw He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, bringing forth a flow of blood and water. The piercing of the side proved He was indeed dead, as only blood would have come out if He were still alive. The flow of blood and water indicated the rupture of the heart, confirming His death.

John, bearing witness to this is a detail that emphasizes the truth of his account so that we might believe.

John highlights that these actions and states that they fulfilled scripture: "A bone of Him shall not be broken" (Psalm 34:20) and "They shall look on Him whom they pierced" (Zechariah 12:10). Like I said it was customary to break the legs of those crucified if they were not yet dead. This was done to hasten death and comply with Deuteronomy 21, which forbade leaving a body hanging overnight.

The Jewish leaders wanted the bodies removed before sundown to avoid desecrating the Sabbath. Their insistence on this tradition, while they were willing to crucify the Son of God, highlights their hypocrisy. To meet this pressing need, the soldiers hastened the deaths of the crucified men, but found Jesus already dead, fulfilling yet another prophecy.

The Jews could not have the spectacle of crucifixions outside Jerusalem on such a significant day, so they wanted Jesus' body removed quickly. For that to happen, Jesus had to die first, which is why they wanted to break His legs.

John adds an important editorial note in verse 35: " 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.." Of all the apostles, John is the only one who likely saw all the details of the crucifixion. He emphasizes that he witnessed these events firsthand so that we might believe, and through believing, have life.

John continues by saying that, “These things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled." He wants us to believe not just his testimony but the scripture itself. The Bible prophesied that the Messiah's bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46 states that the Passover lamb, which Jesus symbolically represented, should not have any of its bones broken. Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God, fulfilled this prophecy perfectly.

Moreover, John points out that the piercing of Jesus' side also fulfilled another prophecy from Zechariah 12:10, which says, "They shall look upon Him whom they have pierced." These fulfilments of scripture further demonstrate that Jesus is the Messiah, the one who fulfils the prophecies of the Old Testament.

The sixth and final detail John provides is about Jesus' burial, starting in verse 38. 

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being 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 the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 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. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

(John 19: 38-40)

The disciples, fearing for their own lives, had scattered. It was left to Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to bury Jesus. This passage tells us that Joseph, despite his fear, took this bold step. Nicodemus, who had previously come to Jesus by night, also assisted in the burial. Both men were secret disciples of Jesus, not publicly declaring their allegiance out of fear.

The burial of Jesus, attended by these two secret disciples, underscores the fear and danger faced by Jesus' followers at that time. But despite their fear, Joseph and Nicodemus ensured Jesus received a proper burial, fulfilling further prophecies and demonstrating their faith, however secretive it might have been.

The closing section of this passage for me brings to mind the idea of transformative change that should accompany a believer’s life. Too often, traits that defined us before conversion persist even after we have come to Christ, despite the ideal of complete transformation.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus illustrate this struggle. Both were secret disciples, fearing the Jews and keeping their faith hidden. Yet now they came to anoint Jesus’ body with about with a large amount of  ointment and wrapped it in linen with spices, following the normal Jewish burial customs. 

The tomb was located in a garden near the crucifixion site. John does not mention it, but this detail fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9, which states, “He made His grave with the wicked and with the rich in His death.” Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man who provided his tomb for Jesus, thus again fulfilling this prophecy.

A recurring theme in John’s account of Jesus’ death and burial is the fulfillment of prophecy, which repeatedly confirms Jesus’ identity. The soldiers dividing His garments, His declaration of “I thirst” and “It is finished,” and the piercing of His side—all fulfil Old Testament prophecies, reinforcing that Jesus is indeed the Messiah. 

Even His burial, orchestrated by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, aligns with prophetic scripture.

However the central message of these events is not only who Jesus was but also what He accomplished. His declaration, “It is finished,” signifies the completion of His work—paying the price for our sins. 

This act of atonement is complete and sufficient. There is nothing we can add to it. Jesus’ death fully paid the penalty for our sins, granting us forgiveness and eternal life.

Reflecting on the death of Christ, I believe one must also recognize that His sacrifice was for us individually. 

The good news is that Jesus died so that we wouldn’t have to endure this separation. By trusting in His finished work on the cross, we receive forgiveness and the promise of eternal life with Him.

Jesus’ cry, “It is finished,” holds deep significance. It signifies the completion of His redemptive work, ensuring eternal satisfaction and quenching our spiritual thirst forever. His death was a deliberate act of love, thinking of each one of us personally. The message is clear: His sacrifice was sufficient, and by accepting it, we gain eternal life.

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were for each of us. His sacrifice on the cross was an act of unparalleled love, ensuring our salvation. If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have died for you. 

His death was personal and redemptive, thinking of each of us, ensuring our place in eternity with Him.

As we close today, let us remember that Jesus’ death was not just a historical event but a personal act of love and redemption.

He thought of you, paid for your sins, and now offers you eternal life. Embrace this truth and let it transform your life.