It is finished, and always will be

Leading up to this point there have been years of training education practice in what it means to be the head of England. On that day, the day of his coronation, the king of England will make a sacred vow before God, the Church of England, and all of those watching to carefully and faithfully represent the nation.

this has been anticipated for some time and has taken on new urgency since the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth.

in the British system there is a natural passing of the monarchical baton from one generation, one monarch, to the next.

If God grants me a full number of years, I suspect that this will not be the last monarchical transfer that I will observe in my lifetime.

But when it comes to the coronation of the King of Kings, his coronation is different. Sure, he had years of preparation. As we saw Last week, he was given a crown and royal garments. Today, we will witness his parade and his enthronement.

Turn in your bibles to John 19:16.

After Jesus’ trial before Pilate, he was handed over to Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Let’s read a portion of the passage we are considering today

John 19:16–21 ESV

So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ”

While many of us have seen movies and images depicting crucifixions, I do think it’s helpful to understand a bit of what would have happened in a crucifixion.

Unfortunately, John doesn’t help us out very much.

Merrill Tenney notes that

“John, who alone of all the disciples witnessed it, said the least about it.”

And yet we have to recognize that...

“in a day when crucifixion was still a current method of execution, it would have been too familiar to need description and too horrible a thought to deserve elaboration.” (265).

Understanding Crucifixion

Once Pilate had made the pronouncement that Jesus would be crucified, he was handed over to a team of Roman soldiers for them to carry out the order. (LBD)

Typically, the one being crucified was beaten or flogged. Romans had three variations on flogging. The most brutal was often the one that preceded crucifixion. It’s possible that since Jesus was already flogged that he did not receive that again. It’s also possible that his first flogging would have been a lesser one and that a second flogging would have been the most severe.

The victim would have to carry the cross beam of the cross through town. It was often assumed that this would have been a circuitous route in order to expose the individual to the most public shame. It was also typical for a placard to precede the victim or to hang around his neck while walking. In our passage, this is the placard on which Pilate had written “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (John 19:19).

Once the victim made it to the crucifixion site, often by a busy road, he was stripped and nailed to the cross-beam that he had been carrying. The clothing of the prisoner became the property of the soldiers.

He would then be hoisted to a vertical beam that was fixed in the ground. At that point his feet would be nailed to the beam as well. Histories suggest that this hoisting was not very high. We often think of crosses as being quite tall, but in reality, the crucified person may only be elevated a little higher than his normal standing height.

Whatever the case, crucifixion was a horrible means of death. It was often reserved for slaves or criminals. According to the...

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Ancient Views of Crucifixion)

Cicero described crucifixion as “the cruelest and most terrible punishment” (Verr. 2.5.165).

Josephus called it “the most pitiable of deaths” (Jewish War 7.203).

Sometimes the crucified person would remain on the cross for days before dying. Often Jews who were crucified were taken down before dusk and buried - as was the case with Jesus.

Each person would take varying amounts of time before succumbing to death. As we see in this and all of the gospel accounts, Jesus death was rather quick - a few hours.

Before Jesus died, John records a few of Jesus words.

Jesus presents his mom to John for his care - which would have been common for crucified people to take care of final matters.

John 19:26-27 “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”

expresses thirst - John 19:28-29 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth.”

Says “It is finished.” - John 19:30

John then records:

John 19:30 (ESV)

...He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

(Consider cutting this next section )

Burge notes:

“The Greek paradidomi [which is translated “gave up” in the ESV ] means to “hand over” and nowhere in Greek literature is paradidomi to pneuma used as a reference to death. … this verb means to hand on something to a successor.”

While Jesus did truly give up his life in that moment, this phrasing may suggest that John sees this moment as when the gift of the Spirit was given. In reality, this didn’t happy until Pentecost, a few weeks later. But just as Jesus dealt with his final earthly responsibilities in providing for his mother, so to He provides for us in his eternal responsibilities by handing over his spirit.

————

But I want us to focus the remainder of our time on the implications of a few of Jesus’ final words:

“It is finished.”

Which begs the question:

What is finished?

There are several things that we could think through in light of what we’ve studied throughout the book of John.

First of all...

The signs are finished

The cross and soon coming resurrection are the culmination of the signs about which John has been communicating. John chose to tell about these miraculous activities - hand picking a few to act as markers to a future sign. Jesus fulfills all of them on the cross.

Gary Burge notes that “In his death, Jesus provides the gift that every other sign promised.”

Let’s think back through his signs

In chapter 2 he changed water into wine - here He is the true wine of fellowship with God (ch. 2) - sanctifying us - paying for the price of our sin

In Chapter 4, Jesus healed the son of an official from a great distance away - at the cross, Jesus is the eternal healer for the curse of our sin.

In Chapter 5, Jesus healed an invalid man on the sabbath - and demonstrating what true, life-giving rest would look like. Here on the cross, Jesus provides eternal rest from the toil of our sin.

In chapter 6 - Jesus fed 5000 with a few small loves of bread and fish - at the cross, Jesus shows that he is the eternal bread of life providing eternal sustenance for billions

In chapter 6 - Jesus walked on water demonstrating his power over creation - at the cross - Jesus gave up his life as a substitute for ours - and then returned from death demonstrating power over death!

In chapter 9 - Jesus healed a man who was born blind - overcoming a medical condition that could not be addressed - at the cross - Jesus healed our spiritual infirmities - a feat that we could not overcome - no amount of good deeds or religious actions could atone for our sin.

In chapter 11, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. We presume that Lazarus eventually died again. On the cross, Jesus died but was raised again to life and is now seated at the right hand of God - granting us hope for eternal life!

The signs are finished.

Just as the signs on a highway might give us direction, so too John has been revealing some of Jesus’ works as signs pointing us to the nature and identity of Jesus. All of these signs point to his most glorious and shameful work. They have been culminated in Jesus on the cross.

Secondly,...

The coronation is finished

Some commentators have referred to John 12-20 as the coronation of Jesus.

When kings of old would come to power, they would often work hard to solidify power around themselves. Some went to war. Some went on missions of mercy. Some had enemies and dissenters killed.

Jesus’ coronation is completely different. He obediently lived the life that God had called him to. He was faithful to the end.

He taught the ways of God.

He perfectly lived the life God calls all of us to live - a life that we will fall short in living.

And then, just as He promised (John 3; 12), He was lifted up, elevated on a cross in order to draw all people to Him.

In this process, Pilate gave Jesus the title of King of the Jews - in three languages.

In Latin, which was the language of the military and the government.

In Greek which was the common language

In Hebrew or Aramaic - which was the religious language spoken by the Jews.

Carson notes three levels of function for Pilate’s writing of “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” on the placard:

Clearly delineates the charge of sedition.

Vengeful act toward the Jews - taunting them with that title in response for their manipulation

Confirms God’s plan - “The Lord Jesus is indeed the King of the Jews; the cross is the means of his exaltation and the very manner of his glorification. Even the trilingual notice may serve as a symbol for the proclamation of the kingship of Jesus to the whole world”

Burge notes: (Burge, 541)

“This king is not a provincial ruler, but a supreme monarch, whose authority now sweeps up those people speaking “foreign” tongues.”

If you remember last week, when Pilate had Jesus flogged the first time, he was mocked and ridiculed and worshiped as a king - crown of thorns, purple garments.

Now his throne is a cross.

Once he died, he received a Kingly burial.

John 19:38–42 ESV

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was 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 away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 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. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

One commentator stated: (Burge)

“At great expense a wealthy man provided a tomb, no doubt among other wealthy family tombs on the fringes of Jerusalem. At great expense, a religious leader brought a tremendous amount of burial spice to Jesus grave. Such cost was customary for Israel's kings.”

Not only are the signs and His coronation finished, but...

The Passover is eternally finished

Several times in these last few chapters, John mentions the passover

Passover instituted in Egypt

People were to kill a lamb and put the blood of the lamb around the door of the house as a sign

They were to roast and eat the lamb

The angel of death passed over the houses that were marked with blood.

This became an annual celebration and reminder.

John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) . Here John the evangelist seems to be equating Jesus is the Passover lamb.

Just as a passover lamb needed to be unblemished - so was Jesus - he was perfect.

The passover lamb’s bones would not be broken. John records in fulfillment of prophecy that Jesus’ legs were not broken either.

John 19:31–34 ESV

Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would 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. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

John 19:36–37 ESV

For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

One of the other correlations that we see with Passover is that...

Passover was to be eaten quickly. (Exodus 12:11 “In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.”) In the process of these event surrounding Jesus’ death - he was betrayed, arrested, tried, condemned, crucified, died, and buried in haste. It seems that it all happened in less than 24 hours!

Interesting, it was on the very same hill that Isaac carried his own wood while he and his father Abraham went to offer a sacrifice. As Abraham raised his knife in obedience to sacrifice his own son, an angel stopped Abraham and offered a ram in replacement.

Burge:

“In the first century Judaism, Isaac was held up as a model who accepted voluntary death, and most interestingly, his sacrifice was dated on Nisan 15, the date of Passover. Moreover, the phrase "God himself will provide the lamb" became the basis of lamb sacrifice, generally leading Jewish interpreters in the first century, to compare Isaacs near sacrifice with the Lamb of the Passover story.”

Like Isaac, Jesus carried his own cross.

Burge:

Thus, as we view Christ dying on the cross, we too at once should reflect on the benefits of his death for our lives. As Judaism viewed the lamb whose blood in the Exodus story saved them from certain death and led to freedom from captivity, so too Jesus death brings protection and freedom and life.

He continues...

We cannot simply be enlightened by Jesus; we must see ourselves as saved, rescued from a crisis as terrible as slavery to the Egyptians. The pathos of the Passover story – it's grim tale of slavery, and the thrill of its redemption – must be recreated in our hearts if we are to appreciate the depth of what John saw when he witnessed Jesus dying on the cross that Passover season.

It’s tempting for us to be so familiar with the cross that we fail to realize the ramifications. We partake in the Lord’s Supper each month - as we will in a few moments - and get reminded of what Jesus did and why - but does it really sink in?

Just as the blood of the lamb provided a sign for the angel to pass over, so too the blood of Jesus secures our eternal freedom. The judgment that we deserve is passed over us and placed on Jesus. Jesus fully paid for the just consequence of our sin- death. He then provided the Spirit as a means to help us walk in the power of his death and resurrection so that we might move toward holiness and sanctification.

That is a sacrifice worth celebrating. That is a replacement worth considering. It is a life worth giving everything for - even though the cost for us is relatively minor.

There is one final thing that John seems to point to as being finished.

Finally,...

The verification of faith is finished

John communicates throughout the book as an eye-witness. It is believed that his first audience was people in Ephesus (modern day Turkey). Some were Jewish background believers. Others were Greek gentiles who likely wrestled with the philosophies of gnosticism and stoicism and docetism. (explain). All of these philosophies held differing views on the nature of flesh and divinity.

Throughout the book, he has worked to prove the divinity of Jesus - that He is fully God.

He also worked to prove that Jesus was fully human.

In John 19:35

John 19:35 ESV

He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

It’s almost as though he’s been saying throughout the gospel...

“Who but God can do these signs.”

and now in witnessing his death on the cross, he is saying,

“Jesus breathed and bled and died like a man.”

Today, we lit the candle of Faith - a candle that symbolizes belief and trust in who Jesus is and what He came to do. As John bears witness to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, he is calling us again to faith. He’s calling us to believe. He’s calling us to trust.

Closing thoughts

Beloved, brothers and sisters in Christ, do you grasp all that Jesus accomplished for you and me on the cross? Will you celebrate and joyfully proclaim the life he secured for you?

If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, will you believe? Do you see all that Jesus endured - the punishment that you and I deserve? Have you trusted in his finished work?

It is finished - and always will be!

Before Carl leads us in the Lord’s Supper, I want us to sing a song, acapella. Phrases of this song have been flowing through my mind all week.

Open hymnal to number 56 - “‘Man of Sorrows,’ What a Name.” Let’s stand and sing all five verses - just our voices. As we sing, reflect on how this song beautifully summarizes what Jesus did!

Sing

pray

Carl lead Lord’s Supper

Benediction

Psalm 72:18–19 ESV

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

Sources:

Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Fiensy, David A. “Crucifixion.” Edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.

Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993

Tenney, Merrill C. John: The Gospel of Belief. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1976.

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