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.