"Our Sole/Soul Savior" (2)

John 20:31 – “…these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Previous messages:

“Our Sovereign Savior”

“Our Submissive Savior”

“Our Substitutionary Savior”

“Our Suffering Savior”

Today’s message:

“Our Sole/Soul Savior”

John 19:17–30 (NASB)

17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am 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 outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” 25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Jesus was the only one that could say, “it is finished”. He is our Sole Savior… there is no other...

John 14:6 (NASB)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

He also saves our souls…

Matthew 10:28 (NASB)

28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

James 1:21 (NASB)

21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

His work is done.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Romans 6:10 (NASB)

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

1 Peter 3:18 (NASB)

18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

More detailed explanation of the work of the cross...

Hebrews 10:10–12 (NASB)

10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

It was John the Baptist said Jesus came to do:

John 1:29 (NASB)

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

It is what Jesus said He came to do:

John 10:11 (NASB)

11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

It is what Jesus did.

(v. 30) ...He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

No work for us to do.

(v. 30) ...He said, “It is finished!”...

Romans 4:5 (NASB)

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

The Greek word translated “it is finished” is tetelestai. The word means: “to bring to an end, to complete, to finish”. It was an accounting term that would be written on bills or contracts involving debts that meant “paid in full”. It is also important to understand the in the Greek it is a perfect tense verb, meaning that it something done in the present that applies to the past and is still in effect in the future. So when Jesus said, “It is finished/tetelestai”, He was saying, “The sins of the past, the present and the future have all be paid for.”

Colossians 2:13–14 (NASB)

13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Ephesians 2:8–9 (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Praise Him for all He did.

(v. 17-18) 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.

John 3:16 (NASB)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 10:11 (NASB)

11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 15:13 (NASB)

13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Psalm 117:1–2 (NASB)

1 Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! 2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!

Notice how praise here is also connected to a fear of the Lord and delighting in His commandments…

Psalm 112:1 (NASB)

1 Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments.

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (NASB)

14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NASB)

20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Memory Verse of the Week:

Haggai 1:5 (NASB)

5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Consider your ways!

Discussion Questions: (John 19:17-30)

What does God want us to know about Himself?

What does God want us to know about ourselves?

What does God want us to know about the world?

Do you see any commands to obey?

Do you see any promises to claim?

Do you see any blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any principles to apply?

Do you see any lessons to learn?

Do you see any sins to avoid?

Do you see any truths to meditate on?

Do you see any Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else stick out to you?

How else do you think God wants you to respond to His word?