The Gospel of John Lesson 88 (11-16-14) John 19:28-39

The Gospel of John Lesson 88 (11-16-14)

Lesson 88 – John 19:28-39

It goes on to tell us in v. 38 of John chapter 19 that after Jesus had been definitely proven to be dead that a rich man from the town of Arimathea went to Pilate and besought him wanting to take down the body of Jesus to bury Him. This was a bold move for Joseph, Mk. 15:42-3, for in the past he had remained anonymous concerning his faith even though he believed in Christ. It tells us in Mk. 15:44-5 and in v. 38 of John chapter 19 that Pilate did indeed give him permission to take Jesus’ body down, after verifying that Jesus was indeed dead from the centurion’s report. And, Joseph proceeded to go and do so.

However, we get another surprise in the next verse, v. 39. Following Jesus’ death we find all kinds of people making bold decisions. Not only do we see Joseph of Arimathea coming out of secrecy about his faith, but we also see Nicodemus reappear in the scriptures making a bold move to publically identify with Jesus bringing with him a mixture of herbs and spices for the purpose of the ceremonial preparing Jesus’ body for burial.

This indeed was a bold move for Nicodemus. You remember him from chapter 3 of this gospel. He came to Jesus at night in secret to ask Jesus some questions that were puzzling him. However, he being a religious leader and due to peer pressure was not allowed to acknowledge Jesus for anything good especially when it came to spiritual questions. So he had previously come at night in private to ask Jesus some spiritual questions that were troubling him concerning things that Jesus had said and taught.

However, that was then and this is now! At this point we do not know Nicodemus’ spiritual condition. But, we see him take a bold step publically to identify with the Savior, knowing in doing so that it will in all likelihood cost him at least his standing with the Jewish religious elite.

However, seeing Jesus die on the Cross moved him to a more sure and public stance. If he wasn’t a believer at this time, he was close. At least his identification with the Savior was now public. It must be stated that this decision was not just impulsive or spur of the moment being just an emotional response. In all likelihood it was premeditated for he had brought a large mixture of herbs with him for the purpose of anointing and preparing the body for burial.

In v. 40 they take Jesus’ body down off of the Cross and prepare it for burial according to the Jews tradition. This is significant for Jesus even though treated as a sinner came as a Jew, through the Jewish nation, and had committed no sin. He was entitled to a decent and appropriate burial. His followers knew the truth about Him. He deserved and was worthy to be fully associated with His nation Israel.

However, Isa. 53:9 it tells us that He made His grave with the sinners or wicked. It tells us in Mt. 27:57-60 that Joseph laid Him in a tomb that was actually his own located in the garden nearby where Jesus was crucified. They hastened to prepare His body because the Jews observance of Passover was at hand.

Everything was lining up. It was no coincidence that it was now Passover. The Passover Lamb had now been sacrificed. It was not enough that Jesus had died on the Cross. If Jesus was indeed the Savior of not only Israel, but also of the world, He would not only have to appear, do all of the Father’s will and work and fulfill all and every prophesy, but would also have to be sacrificed at the right and appropriated time. In John chapter 10 Jesus Himself told those present that the One that was to come would have to enter into the Door exactly right. He told them that they should examine His arrival to see if He was not indeed the One. Jesus knew that He was the One, but they had not honestly and objectively examined His claims.

Jesus had fulfilled every detail. He had now been sacrificed and laid in the tomb. For most, no… for every other great man claiming to be something special or the savior of our world, that would be it. That would be the end of the story for all others. But, not for Jesus. His death was not the end. The best was yet to come.

However, everyone else had either accepted the supposed facts of His end in His death or they had begun the process to do so. As far as anyone present was concerned, including His followers and Disciples, Jesus had died. From here, they could think about and apply the great lessons and principles that He had espoused, but from here on no new material. At this point Jesus was no different than any other supposedly great man. To them and everyone else Jesus was dead and although respected and revered by many, He had been placed in a grave, and there, from their perspective, He would remain.

I am sure that even Mary and Martha who had witnessed their brother Lazerus coming back from the dead saw this as the end. Jesus had brought Lazarus back from the dead, but who would bring Jesus back? The common comment of the day was, “He saved others, Himself He cannot save.” Mt. 27:42

But, we know that there is more to the story than that. This was an exciting ride. A lot had happened while Jesus was alive. But, now it appeared that the excitement was over and over the next few days they would find that it was time for everyone to go on with life and go home. Many did just that. It appears that no serious and sincerely faithful thought was given to Jesus’ words concerning His rising again.

Several days would pass before Jesus would fulfill His promise concerning His resurrection. However, to all present as the hours passed following His death to them the possibility of resurrection was not a viable choice. Again, who would help Jesus to rise from the dead? For one to raise them self from the dead by their own power would be unique…Unheard of. If death had overcome a person then it showed that that person had limitations to their greatness, even if proclaimed a deity. They did not realize that unlike other religions or beliefs where their deity needed help from some other outside sources to be resurrected Jesus being truly God did not.

So they waited, letting the days pass, not expecting anything supernatural to really happen, waiting to be sure that it was indeed really over. They remembered remotely something about His statement about rising from the dead, but if they truly had believed we would have seen them sitting on the doorstep of in the tomb, or at least looking over their shoulder at the door of it. But, we do not see that happening.

 To be sure, the Pharisees had remembered His statement even though they did not believe it, Matt. 27:62-6. They had gone to Pilate to get permission to secure the tomb so that Jesus’ disciples in their mind would not pull a fast one on them making it appear that Jesus had risen when He had not. They, the Pharisees, proceed to take steps to secure the tomb.

The Gospel of John Lesson 87 (11-09-14) John 19:28-37

The Gospel of John Lesson 87 (11-09-14)

Lesson 87 – John 19:28-37

So, Jesus gives His final and most important words of instruction to the newly beginning Church, vs. 26 and 27 in John chapter 19, and it says in v. 28 that after doing so now all things were accomplished or done. At this point He had suffered for man’s sin and payment was complete. He had accomplished or performed every detail of God’s will and the duty assigned to Him was done perfectly being fully obedient in all. All that was left at this point was to take His last drink of the bitterness of this life, vs. 28-9, and to willingly give up His spirit to the final blow that this world had to offer which was death.

The world gave Jesus nothing but abuse, pain and difficulty right up to the end. Vs. 28 and 29 is a prophetic fulfillment of Ps. 69:21 which describe how the world treated the Son of God when He had a legitimate request or need as He walked in this world.

Right to the end, when He had a legitimate request or need this world responded with abuse, injury and/or bitter antagonism. For His suffering and dying willingly, those of this world responded not with thanks, but with a jab, a poke, a slap, spit, a whip, a spear, nails, vinegar and in the end the final blow, the worst this world could offer, death. Yet, Jesus willingly received and even embraced the mal-intent that this world threw at Him, knowing that it was part of His sufferings for us and in reality part of our redemption. He got nothing, but He gave it all!

So, in v. 30 Jesus willingly received the final abusive blow that this world had to offer while He was alive, in the end dying for us completing our redemption. In vs. 31-7 we find this world continuing its abuse Him even after His death even when there was no chance of Him defending Himself. They wanted to be sure that they had indeed dealt their final blow to Him making sure that He indeed was dead.

In v. 31 the Jews go to Pilate wanting to get this thing over with as soon as possible, apparently not wanting to mess up or dishonor their religious observances. Think of it! They had just been the instrument and reason that a man was unjustly put to death and now, even now, having no conscious, they want to get on with their religious services naively believing that they could offer them as an offering to God. How blind!

In v. 31 of John chapter 19 they, the Jews, get permission to have the legs broken of all that were still hanging on a cross, which included Jesus. They wanted to be sure that everyone that hung on a cross would be dead so that they could take them down in preparation for their Passover.

Ironically the Jews knew the Law which said that it was a wrong to let a man, person, to be allowed to hang on a tree after death all night, Deut. 22:23-4. Unlike the Romans that used crucifixion as a tool of compliance, giving onlookers a visual example of what would happen to them if they did not comply, the Jews were given a Law and procedure for this sort of thing so as not to use it for their own purposes to manipulate the masses. Death by hanging on a tree, or crucifixion, was God’s department delivered and carried out by man per the instructions of God for the purpose of God’s justice and not man’s purposes. The Jews were right in wanting to bring Him and the others down. They were just wrong in putting Him up there in the first place. So the soldiers were sent forth to do so.

In v. 32 it tells us that there were some that had been crucified that when they went to carry out Pilate’s order that they had not as yet died. As a matter of fact it could appear that not enough time had passed to cause most that had been crucified at the time of Christ’s crucifixion to actually die needing assistance to do so if they were to die and be taken off of the cross before the Sabbath’s observances. This was the case of the two thieves that had been crucified with Jesus. When the soldiers came to them they were both still alive. To hasten the process of death the soldiers would break their legs.

One with an inquisitive mind might ask ‘How would this act of breaking the legs of someone being crucified actually hasten their death?’, ‘What is the mechanism that would actually cause the quickening of their death in doing so?’

At first one might think that the facilitation of the hastening of death in breaking their legs might be from the additional trauma inflicted or additional loss of blood in doing so. However, in most cases this does not appear to be true. If looked at objectively, the cause of death in crucifixion would possibly, and actually probably, be the same as the cause of death in crucifixion after the breaking of one’s legs, the only difference being the time it would take to die.

It is estimated that the time of death during crucifixion would vary considerably from person to person. It is estimated that death from crucifixion would occur anywhere from several hours to several days. In studying the so called art of crucifixion several methods may have been employed obviously yielding different outcomes as far as time and causes of death. Some accounts appear to employ the use of ropes to secure the victim to the upright posts and cross, whereas, other accounts appear to use large and long spike like nails driven through the wrists and feet.

We know from the Biblical account that the type of crucifixion that Jesus suffered was one that used nails to affix or attach Him to the Cross using John chapter 20 verse 25 and Colossians 2:14 as references. In doing so, those preforming the crucifixion would not drive the nails through the fleshy portion of the hands or feet which would easily tear from the weight of the one being crucified, but would instead drive the nails through the bones of the wrist, there being 8 of them bound together by tough fibrous ligaments, and through the feet in like fashion. Attaching the body to the cross in this way would not only allow for the support of weight, but would also keep the individual being crucified from removing himself from the cross due to the larger nail head that wound not fit through the fastening point.

Also, the ability to support the body weight of the person on the cross was most likely facilitated by the use of a block of wood at the feet by which the victim could temporarily relieve the pain on their wrists by painfully pushing up using the block of wood as a brace taking tension off of the nails in their wrists. No matter how you look at it everything about it, and every move, was full of pain. 

Eventually, time would win out and the victim would lose the ability to bear the weight of their body putting most of the weight on the wrists, making this pressure on the nailed wrists constant, causing a neurological reflex to the upper back, causing the victim to be unable to breathe thus initiating suffocation.

It is true that this process could initiate other physiological failures due to the intense pain or unrelenting muscle spasming. These things could in turn affect the heart or possibly other organs.  However, the most common cause of death in crucifixion when being nailed to the cross was asphyxiation or suffocation.

At any rate the two that were crucified with Jesus evidently were still alive when they came to break their legs, but not Jesus. Jesus was already dead. Jesus dying first had nothing to do with the other two being more resilient or stronger. We remember that in v. 30 of this chapter that it said that Jesus Himself gave up His spirit meaning that no man took His life. If they had had to break His legs that would have in turn forced Jesus to die and that He in doing this would not have given up His own spirit. But, it was His choice. He chose to die for us. It was His time, His place and for His purpose. This was a fulfillment of prophesy. It was prophesied that they would not break a bone in His body, Ps. 34:20.

Some because of the resurrection have conjectured that Jesus had actually not died and was not really dead at the time that the soldiers had come to Him to break His legs. However, these soldiers were on assignment and they had a job to do that must be done. Not only was their reputation at stake, but their lives were at stake if they did not carry out their orders.

We can forget all the conjecture about whether or not Jesus was actually dead because the soldier thinking the same thing took care of that detail for us. It says in vs. 33-4 that when the soldiers came to Jesus that first by visual examination He was pronounced dead. But, after the visual exam, the soldier wanting to be sure that He was indeed dead performed the litmus test. He took his spear and it says in v. 34 that he pierced Jesus’ side. In doing so there came out of the pierced area blood and water, or, a clear water like substance. Seeing the blood and water proved that Jesus had died because the blood had separated from the plasma and this does not happen in someone that is still alive. Convinced that Jesus was dead the soldiers went their way. Their job was to be sure that those on the cross were indeed dead. They had accomplished their task, and, in doing so they went their way.

It is interesting that, in all likelihood, the soldiers still most likely would have, or should have, for good measure, broken Jesus’ legs. Just to be sure. But, they did not do so. It tells us in vs. 36 and 37 that the exact details of what ended up happening was before ordained by God to happen exactly as it did. In v. 36 it tells us that His legs were not broken because God had already predicted it in Old Testament scripture to be this way and in v. 37 another scripture predicted that we would look on Him that was pierced. Amazing! In looking at the crucifixion of Christ, what the world saw was Jesus dying subject to the world’s will and demands. But, in reality, Jesus willing suffered and died for our sins knowing what was necessary, dying in His way, His time and for His purpose… for our benefit.

The Gospel of John Lesson 86 (11-02-14) John 19:25-7

The Gospel of John Lesson 86 (11-02-14)

Lesson 86 – John 19:25-7

In John 19:25-27 we find some of the most powerful words spoken by Jesus in the Bible. They were spoken to Mary saying, ‘Woman behold thy son’ and to John saying ‘Behold thy mother’! It is interesting that I find very few Bible teachers and commentators pause to highlight the truth and the fullness of this passage and its meaning. That may be because in reality they/we do not know what to do with it. Maybe it’s because it asks too much of us or it may seem unrealistic to apply in a fallen world.

What do these passages refer to? What is the significance of what Jesus spoke here to Mary His mother and John the apostle? What did Jesus mean, and, really what was Jesus saying when He told Mary that John was her son and telling John that Mary was His mother?

I find that this passage has a lot in practice and principle to do with the practical application of the Good Samaritan. It has a lot to do with ‘going the extra mile’, taking risks, being accountable…putting into practice the reality of one’s faith…where the rubber meets the road. Of such, was the early Church, Acts 2:42-6.

In reading a number of commentaries by reputable scholars I find that they seem to get hung up on who was there at the time that Jesus spoke these words, v. 25. Or… they pass this lesson and final message of instruction from Jesus completely by, highlighting Jesus’ actual final words on the Cross instead.

As important as Jesus’ final words on the Cross are, if you stop and think about it Jesus’ final instruction to us and those who follow Him was just before the very last words that He spoke. Usually someone’s last words are the most important. They are the thing or thought that they want to leave you with. The last words that someone would utter are the thing that that person would like those that they love or that are important to them to remember or to do.

So what did Jesus mean or want to convey to us in these final words. Obviously being His last words to those present, and probably meaning this for us in the Church also, what He would say would be significant. So why is this passage not highlighted as one of the most significant, or, the most significant passage in the Bible, or, at least in the Gospels? I believe it is because its message and practical application of what Jesus said is hard to actually believe, and/or fully receive. To receive what is said here, putting it into practical application and making it a part of our life, is a huge step for us. It asks a lot of us in practical application. However, as we will see the early Church got His meaning!

Some might look at and highlight this passage saying that it was a call to duty, and, they would not technically be wrong. Jesus in saying what He said was telling them to do something specific. He was asking them to see each other as family and treat each other accordingly, as being a blood relative of our own family. However, even though that is a part of what Jesus meant and said here in this passage, I believe that the meaning of His request goes even deeper than this. Understanding and applying His meaning is essential to honoring His request. I believe that this passage refers to belonging…belonging to a family, but, not just any family. I believe that Jesus’ request was to be accountable and care for God’s Family, the Family of God…His Church.

We all want to belong. We want to belong to something. Sometimes it is amazing what we will join just to belong. It is a basic part of who we are. God made us that way. Psychologists say that the thing that we fear the most is abandonment… being alone, not belonging to someone or something. Being alone or isolated for too long can have devastating effects. We all have a strong sense of wanting to be socially connected. And, not just being loosely attached ,hanging out on the periphery, but being an intimate part of those that we identify with. The strongest of these bonds is belonging to a family.

However, even though we have a strong drive to belong to those we love or want to identify with, we are reluctant to so. We give the excuse that we like our privacy. But, in reality we know that having intimate relationships and belonging costs us, And we are not often willing to pay the price that it costs to belong. The cost of belonging is being vulnerable, being honest, being trustworthy and being transparent, honestly, it is being willing to trust others.

Jesus in telling Mary to see John as her son and John to see Mary as his mother reminds us that in the ‘real world’ of the Church that we are supposed to have intimate relationships with those in the Church and not just occasional social encounters. Quite often we treat the Church and Church work or commitment more as a social responsibility than being a part of God’s Family, really caring while meeting one’s need.

The early Church got the message. It is interesting that some would say that the Early Church had its beginnings here in these passages. They functioned as a family. They most often met in homes or were found gathering where they lived and worked. Their faith and perspective was demonstrated in their actions and activities being evident by their meeting together frequently. They were more than just acquaintances. They lived life together. Any reason was a good reason to meet together. It mattered what was going on in another person’s life. Needs were not just needs that needed a quick fix or patch. It was a person with a need.

This is a concept that is all too often passed over in our present Church culture. We tend to live isolated lives only allowing controlled and managed encounters with other members of God’s family. We are willing to come together for a task or service, but that’s all. To meet together to be with each other… well that is a different story. It is easier for us to join God in what we perceive is His work, apparently thinking that we can earn a status or place with God while shunning fellowship with Him and His family in the process.

This was the approach and attitude of Cain. He offered his works to God which was not only rejected by God, but condemned by Him. In Cain’s offering, he denied the fellowship with God that God was offering to him. For Cain, like most of us, as hard as it is to admit it, it was easier to give an offering of works than it is to accept God’s offer of fellowship and forgiveness thru His sacrifice. To receive this gift of Family and fellowship one has to admit their need for God and His work found in His sacrifice on the Cross and in the process give up our self or self-righteousness. Jesus in the Gospels says that there is no other way.

There was a term used for the type of fellowship that we find Jesus referring to here in this passage (John 19:25-7) and that we find the early Church soon demonstrate and experience. It is called Koinonia. Koinonia is a transliterated form of the Greek word, κοινωνία. The dictionary definition defines it as a communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc. However, I define it as ‘belonging’. In God’s Kingdom there are no orphans. Everyone belongs and is not just a part of a family, but is a part of His Family, all owned and belonging to Him.

The early Church got it. In practice they got what Jesus had said to Mary and John. Quite likely the early Church got its start in true Biblical community, koinonia, from Jesus’ words here in this passage. The Apostle Paul put it this way in Ephesians 1:5, ‘Having predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will’. And He goes on to say in v. 13 of chapter one that ‘we are sealed’ into this family, and not loosely attached, but sealed into His own family by the most powerful bond possible, being sealed by Himself, or His Holy Spirit.

Incorporated in this is the principal that Jesus shared with His disciples is Mt. 10:39 where He told them that in order to find our life we have to lose it for Christ’s sake adopting His will and ways instead of our own. It is also found in the meaning of what Jesus shared with His disciples in John chapter 15 where He told them that real life and the ability to bear real fruit that pleases God and is beneficial to the Kingdom was found in abandoning our self-centered and selfish ways and adopting and abiding in His ways. This was what Cain was unwilling to do. By his actions and response to God Cain was telling God that God needed him instead of him needing God.

There is a great passage in the beginning chapters of the book of acts. In the beginning of the book of Acts what we refer to as the early Church was fresh and focused.  The practical application of their faith was simple, but in no time in the Church’s history was it more powerful. It took the resurrection of Christ to move or motivate them to action however. Prior to Christ’s resurrection they had put many of Christ’s principles and teachings on the shelf for at least the moment. But, His resurrection changed all of that. Knowledge and validating His resurrection supercharged the Church. In their mind and heart only Christ mattered.

In the second chapter of acts we see a demonstration of the power of God. Peter preaches a powerful message empowered by the Holy Spirit coupled with boldness which produces much fruit for the Kingdom. It tells us in v. 41 of Acts chapter 2 that because of this Spirit filled message about 3000 souls were added to the Church that day. But, look what follows as a result of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In v. 42 it tells us that this outpouring of the Spirit was not just a surface emotional response, but that it produced instant fruit. It says in v. 41 of Acts 2 that they not only made a profession of faith, but they followed it up by being baptized and in v. 42 by exhibiting Christian actions and virtues of the faith.

Look at what it says in v. 42 that they did, seemingly, immediately after their conversion and baptism. It highlights 4 practices that they did consistently or on a daily basis. In looking at these it may surprise us as to what some of them are. Dr. Luke tells us that they were steadfast in studying and applying the apostle’s doctrine and teachings, this would be equivalent to studying and applying the Scriptures for us, had a very high priority as part of and practicing their faith in meeting together or koinonia fellowship which included meeting each other’s needs, followed by communion or referred to here as the breaking of bread and last but not unexpected as one of their important priorities and focus was frequent, consistent prayer. In this list I see two of the practices as what one might expect as essentials practices of the faith, but, in our current culture, I see the other two listed essentials of the faith that were listed as would be surprises to us in our day.

It is interesting that listed in the number two position was fellowship. I do not think that this was an accident by Dr. Luke. I believe that he placed fellowship in one of the highest positions for a reason, and I believe that this is what Jesus was referring to in our passage here in John chapter 20 verses 25-7.

However, if we were to read on from our Acts 2:42 passage that the type of fellowship that Dr. Luke was referring to was exactly the type of fellowship and responsibility that Jesus had instructed Mary and the Apostle John in. It tells us in John 19:27, because of what Jesus had told them, John took Mary to his own house and his family cared for her, and she, Mary, cared for them.

 It is interesting when we read the passage in Acts 2, verse 42 and beyond that what they referred to as fellowship included acts such as John’s response to Jesus’ words. By Jesus saying what He did to Mary and John he placed caring fellowship as one of the highest priorities of the Christian Church.  It is unfortunate that by our practice we put fellowship in the fashion of the early Church as an option and not an essential, can’t do without element. Consider this. It is my conviction that Biblical fellowship is not only one of the essentials of the Church, but that there is no more powerful witness to the world of Jesus’ existence and their need for the Savior than this.

 Jesus told His disciples in John 13:35 the following, ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’ Jesus knew that Christian fellowship would be one of the essential not only as a witness to a lost world, but also be one of the most powerful tools to draw a lost world to the faith. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.