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John

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They Took All That Jesus Had

John 19:23-24

Crucified criminals had no rights.  Even their clothes did not belong to them.  So, the soldiers took them; it seems to have been accepted as a ‘perk’ of their job.  They divided Jesus’ clothes between them, but the woven wool undergarment was useful and it would have been senseless to cut it into pieces of cloth – so they cast lots to see who would get it, and that man took the garment home.
 

When Love Divides And Unites

John 19:25-27 

The trial, flogging and crucifixion of Jesus became the most painful episode in the life of His mother, Mary.  The prophetic words of Simeon to Mary at Jesus’ dedication would have come alive again, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:34-35).  Watching Jesus on the cross, she felt excruciating maternal agony.
 

Fully Paid

John 19:28-30

The Bible often talks about sin as a debt to be paid; and forgiveness as a debt that is discharged (Luke 7:36-50).  Jesus paid for our sin on the cross, experiencing the torments of hell as He was separated from God the Father.  His suffering of body and soul was accepted by Father God as the ultimate and final Passover sacrifice.  As 1 Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”  Although the process of dying was started by wicked people, the final act of giving up His spirit was voluntary.

Fully Dead

John 19:31-35

The death of Jesus is a puzzle to many, because there is so much evidence for Him being alive after the crucifixion.  In order to disprove the resurrection, some people say that Jesus did not really die.  John would have heard those ideas but he witnessed the events at the end of crucifixion day.  He saw that Jesus was dead and so did the soldiers.  The evidence of Jesus’ death was so clear to His executioners that they did not bother to break His legs (the practice which accelerated death by traumatic stress and blood loss).

Fully Under God's Hand

John 19:36-37

Although the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ was the most wicked act of rebellion against the God of Love, it was also fully under His control.  It did not take Him by surprise; it was all known by God and even described in detail in the Old Testament – many hundreds of years before it happened.  In saying, “These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled …”, John was not implying that the soldiers knew the scripture or that they had any intention of falling into line with what God had said.  Rather, God had already recorded what they were going to do, so that w

Secretive, Fearful But Brave

John 19:38-42

Jesus was dead.  As far as the Romans and religious leaders were concerned, it was the end of the story.  The case was closed.  But two men knew there was unfinished business.  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin (the supreme Jewish legislative and judicial court in Jerusalem) who sentenced Jesus to death: although Joseph had not agreed (Luke 23:50-51).  

Confused and Searching

John 20:1-4

It was still dark.  Before the dawn of the first Easter day, Mary Magdalene (with other women (Luke 24:1-4)) went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid.  She had a shock!  The heavy circular stone (probably an old millstone) which had covered the entrance had gone!  Instead, the cave-tomb was open!  Scared and confused, Mary ran back to Peter and John.  She had assumed that the body of Jesus had been taken by the authorities, even though Pilate had ordered that the tomb should be sealed and guarded (Matthew 27:62-66).
 

Seeing And Only Partly Believing

John 20:5-9

John and Peter had run to the tomb at dawn.  Having heard the women report that the stone had been rolled away, they came to investigate (John 20:1-2).  Peter was braver than John.  Going inside the cave he found the linen burial cloths, wound as though they were around the body and head of Jesus, lying on the rock shelf.  But there was no body inside them.  It was as though the body of Jesus had evaporated from inside the funeral shrouds.
 

Blind Grief

John 20:10-14

The tomb was empty!  Peter and John had gone to investigate the women’s report of the grave stone being moved.

Faith That Sees

John 20:15-17

Mary was crying.  The tomb was empty, Jesus had gone, and Mary could not contain her grief. When a man came up behind her asking why she was sad, she assumed that He was the man who cared for the graves … perhaps He knew where the body was (John 20:14).  All Mary wanted was the dead body of her Lord so that she could pour out her devotion along with the embalming spices (Luke 24:1-3) she had brought to the tomb.  

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