Scripture
By Raufu Spagnoletta
Scripture Lesson Text: John 19:16-30
Related Scriptures: Psalm 22:12-18; Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-32; Luke 23:26-43
In the Scripture Lesson Text, Jesus is led away and crucified. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30). In the related Scriptures are Messianic Prophecies revealed in the Old Testament and fullfilled at Jesus’ crucifixion. “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” revealed in Psalm 22:18, fulfilled in John 19:23-24.
“Darkness over the land” revealed in Amos 8:9, fulfilled in Matt. 27:45-46. “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
“And He was numbered with the transgressors” revealed in Isaiah 53:12, fulfilled in Mark 15:27-28, “And with Him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” “He would forgive His enemies” revealed in Psalm 109:4, fulfilled in Luke 23:34a, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Synopsis
By Deborah Hillman
The story this week tells of Jesus’ crucifixion and death as He is led to the place called “Golgotha or the place of Skull”, by the Jewish authorities. Pilate desperately tried to release Jesus because he knew of his innocence, but fear of treason against Caesar overwhelmed him and he turned Jesus over to the authorities. Matthew 27: 27 states, “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers”. Like many other seemingly ordinary actions surrounding Jesus’ life and death, what the soldiers did unintentionally fulfilled the original prophecy. Psalm 22:18 reads, “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture”.
Before his death Jesus made sure his mother would be cared for. At the cross was his mother, his aunt,Mary Magdalene , while John was nearby. When Jesus said to his mother “Behold thy son”(vs. 26), , he was telling her she should now think of John as her son, he would be taking his place. He then said to John “Behold thy mother”(vs. 27), he was likewise telling John he should now consider Mary his mother.
Jesus was now on the cross after several hours in agony. As Jesus hung there he became thirsty saying “I Thirst”, and was then given vinegar laced with “Hyssop” a bitter herb. John 19:30 reads, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” Jesus had fulfilled His purpose: taking the sins of the world on Himself and became the final sin sacrifice. We can rejoice because of Jesus death and resurrection, we have the hope of eternal life !!
Practical Application
By Charlene Armstrong
When we read about or talk about the crucifixion and the death of Jesus, I am immediately drawn to, “The Passion of Christ.” The book of John gives us an awesome snapshot of Jesus’ intense and triumphant journey to Calvary. Jesus bore His cross to the point of declaring “It is finished,” so we being born again believers would have redemption and salvation for the forgiveness of our sins. If Jesus, He who knew no sin, bore His cross then we those of whom have been called by God ought to daily carry ours.
Jesus is the perfect model for teaching us that the path to living the abundant life which God offers requires us to daily take up our cross, die to self, make sacrifices, live a life full of forgiveness and follow Him. If we try to go around this path or to even avoid it we will miss out on the benefits of intimate fellowship with Jesus in His suffering and being a true disciple.
We are to daily thank Jesus for His death and crucifixion in the work of the cross, because through it our old nature and sins were crucified and died with Him, so that our new bodies would no longer be slaves to it. That’s good news to me! I am no longer a slave to sin, but too often we forget or neglect to live in this freedom and too often get caught up in the snares and traps set by the enemy. That is why it is important to pray daily, trust God for strength. and depend on Him to resist the devil that he may flee.
