The Death of the King

Read John 19:23-27

1. There were two groups of people at the cross as Jesus died.

A. The Soldiers

Customary for soldiers to take the clothes of those being crucified. Perk of the job.

Jesus’ clothes were divided 4 ways except for the inner tunic, which is reported to be one piece, that is no seams.

Fulfilling what was written Psalm 22:18

Psalm 22:18 NIV

They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Both parts fulfilled

There is no way Jesus could have manipulated this event.

The Gospel according to John 7. Jesus Crucified (19:16b–30)

his last earthly possessions are stripped from him, he remains under his Father’s sovereign care, even as his tunic is not torn and destroyed

There is another group besides the Roman soldiers...

B. Some of Jesus followers

This group consists of several women including Jesus’ mother and the disciple described as the one whom Jesus’ loved. Nearly everyone agrees that this is John himself.

By contrast to the soldiers they are here compelled by their love and devotion to Jesus.

Just as he saw Peter’s denial in the courtyard, Jesus sees their devotion.

He sees his mother and from the cross he fulfills his responsibility as the oldest son to see that his mother is cared for.

He charges John to care for her (and he does from that time on)

Why did he not have one of his siblings do it? They hadn’t come around yet. Probably weren’t even there.

John 7:5 NIV

For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Read John 19:28-30

2. John gives some very specific details regarding the final moments of Jesus life.

Jesus know that this is it. John 13:1

John 13:1 (NIV)

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

John point out that Jesus’ thirst was to fulfill what had been written in the Scriptures

Psalm 22:15 NIV

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

Psalm 69:21 NIV

They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

David’s life was a prophetic model. He has served as a type or shadow. One commentator called Jesus “Great David’s greater Son.”

John also record Jesus’ words “it is finished!”

The words of a dying man, John must have been close in order to hear them.

In the Greek this would have been just one word, tetelestai

The Cry—After 6 hours on the cross, Jesus had spoken a few times already, yet when He is about to give up His spirit into the hands of death Jesus makes this cry, “It is finished!” Please note that Jesus did not say, “I am finished!” This was not the cry of a defeated man, no! Rather, this was the cry of a Victor! This is the cry of one who has paid the price and finished the work He came to do! In truth, this word, “Tetelestai”, is a very vivid and expressive word. Understanding how it was used in that day may help us have a better grasp of what Jesus said when He said “It is finished!”

1.It Was A Servant’s Word—Used when a task was finished!

2.It Was A Priest’s Word—Used When a sacrificial animal was examined and found worthy.

3.It Was A Farmer’s Word—Used when an animal was born that was a perfect specimen.

4.It Was An Artist’s Word—Used when an artist had applied the finishing touches to a masterpiece. It meant that nothing more could be done to make it better.

5.It Was A Merchant’s Word—Used when a merchant and a customer had haggled over a price and had reached a price that was acceptable to both. This implied that the haggling was over, the deal was struck and everyone involved had been fully satisfied.

At last Jesus bows his head and gives up his spirit. Pay attention here. He has handing it over on his own accord just as he said.

John 10:17–18 NIV

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

This is not the Holy Spirit but the spirit that animates us as humans. Jesus was fully human.

Jesus had been delivered to the Romans by Judas, Delivered to Annas & Caiaphas, delivered to Pilate and then delivered to the cross. Now he delivers up his spirit to the Father.

Read John 19:31-37

3. With out a doubt Jesus is pronounced dead.

John reminds again that this is the Day of Preparation (Friday)

He calls it a “special Sabbath” because it also coincides with the Passover.

I cold take a crucified person several days to finally die. And usually the bodies were left for the birds to pick at.

Sometimes to speed up the process soldiers would break the legs of the condemned.

The Jews have a problem. Deut. 21:22-23

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 NIV

If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.

This was the Sabbath and they didn’t want this hanging over their heads.

Jesus is found to already be dead

Soldier stabs Jesus in the side water and blood pour out

Blood from the heart water from the pericardial sac.

Proof once more that this was the God-man.

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Verse 35 most scholars agree this again is John.

This too is to fulfill what was written in the Scriptures. Notice the theme?

In regards to the Passover Lamb

Exodus 12:46 NIV

“It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.

Numbers 9:12 NIV

They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.

Psalm 34:20 NIV

he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

In regards to piercing his side

Zechariah 12:10 NIV

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

Read John 19:38-42

Joseph of Arimathea makes an appearance in all for Gospels

Rich (Matthew)

Member of the Sanhedrin (Mark & Luke)

Awaited the Kingdom of God (Mark & Luke)

A disciple of Jesus (Matthew & John)

Nicodemus we have already met in John 3 & 7

The amount of embalming spices that the men brought was a significant amount. Overkill for a common man. But not for a king. Jesus nature is not lost on them

Just as he was wrapped in cloth and laid in a manger Jesus is wrapped in cloth and laid in a tomb. Born of a virgin womb he is laid in what might described as a virgin tomb.

And for the 3rd time in this chapter (3 is an important number in the Bible) John mentions that this was the Jewish day of Preparation.

Last week we had to leave him on the cross…today we leave him in the bomb.

APPLICATION

Inconvenient Duty—It’s not always the the best time.

From the cross Jesus provides for his Mother.

Jesus was on retreat when the Caananite woman intruded on him to heal her daughter

Jesus is intercepted by a crowd of 5000 when he was trying to mourn the death of his cousin John the Baptist

In the middle of teaching in Peter’s home in Capernaum some men tore open the roof and lowered their sick friend so Jesus could heal him.

2. There is absolutely nothing left to be done when it comes to Atonement.

The totality of Jesus death

Hebrews 10:8–10 NIV

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Romans 6:10 NIV

The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

1 Peter 3:18 NIV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

3. No other man on earth has a biography like Jesus. (Aside from the gospels) His birth, life, death and resurrection are attested to by eye witness acounts and historical records and validated by the fulfillment of prophecies from the Old Testament.

Ancient Jewish writing called the Talmud and ancient historians like Josephus, Tacitus, and Pliny the Younger

From these we learn:

Jesus was a Jewish teacher

Many believed he performed miracles and healings

Many believed him to be the Messiah

He was rejected by Jewish leaders

He was crucified under the authority of Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.

In regards to prophecy see handout