Read John 19:38-42

John 19:39-40 Nicodemus, who at first had gone to see Jesus at night, went with Joseph, taking with him about one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes.

THIS is the third time John brings Nicodemus into the gospel story. Nicodemus is the Pharisee who began the discussion that leads to two of Jesus’ most quoted truths: John 3:3 “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  and John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
    Nicodemus also confessed in
John 3:2 “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Nicodemus sought Jesus to learn more. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus with new and powerful images of eternal life. Nicodemus wondered about being born again with, “How can this be?” (John 3:9). Then Jesus affirmed, “I am telling you the truth.” (John 3:11)
    Nicodemus must have struggled with the truth for a while. He likely examined what he had been taught. As a Pharisee, he would have studied the Law further. Perhaps he saw the law, the prophets, and then he saw Jesus. He found the Son of God. Perhaps Nicodemus came to believe in his heart that Jesus is, indeed, of God, and Nicodemus was born again.
    So, I wonder what this Pharisee thought as he prepared Jesus’ body for burial. Did he anticipate resurrection? Was he disappointed and doubting the truth now? Had he lost hope? Or, was there, somewhere in his mind, in his heart and in his soul, an understanding that this was not the end? Did a light flicker? Did the power of his personal encounter with Jesus help him keep his faith in the teacher’s words?
    Jesus is more than we can see. The light of his life goes beyond the broken circumstances of life, even beyond death. Nicodemus – and the world - is about to find out. 
 
Resurrection Truth: Seek Jesus. Trust his words. Be born again.  

Read John 19:31-37
 
John 19:36-37 “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And there is another scripture that says, “People will look at him whom they pierced.”

THE Jewish authorities’ cruelty can scarcely be understood. These murderous leaders convicted Jesus in a sham trial, forced the Roman governor to crucify Jesus, watched him scourged, and delighted in his crucifixion. Now they want to be sure he’s dead. The “quick death” method was to break the crucified’ s legs. That way he would be unable to support his body, and he would quickly suffocate. The thought of this extraordinary pain to add to the enormous strife of the cross is unthinkable. Yet, the Jewish authorities demanded it. In a great irony, this final insult was to preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath. Then they could “religiously” celebrate the Passover within the Laws of Moses. Did they ever think they were killing the Living Word, the One who spoke the law and fulfilled the law as the true Passover Lamb of God?  
    We know, though, this was done under God’s purpose to fulfill the law and prove the prophets. Let’s recall Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Not only is the prophecy complete, this is evidence, my friends, clear and concise, that Jesus died. Turn away the swoon theories and other lies doubters use to weaken and ridicule the resurrection. Look to the dead body of our Savior. He passes through death to become the Living Lord.
    God wants you to surely know that his Son died on a cross. We must mourn the reason for this is our sin. Living a resurrected life is to grieve that our sin caused Jesus, the Son of God, to die for us. Living in Jesus’ resurrection, we can be sure he died, rose again and ascended to heaven.
 
Resurrection Truth: your sin is now dead because Jesus rose from the grave and rules with the Father.
 

Read John 19:28-30
 
John 19:30 Jesus drank the wine and said, “It is finished!”

THERE it is! The plan is done. The work completed. Now he can go home. Now Jesus’ throne awaits him in eternity’s glory, befitting the Son of God, obedient in all things to the Father. It is finished.  
    Jesus’ life was all about the Father’s will. Jesus came to this earth because the Father, in his love to save our souls, sent him. This is why the church can confess in the Apostles Creed, “He was born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried.”
    Oh, the implications of those five truths! God’s Son became human flesh. That alone is too difficult to fully comprehend. But his body’s suffering, dying and burial is even more difficult to understand. Jesus suffered a life of labor, physical discomfort, poverty, and of grief. He suffered Teachers of the Law negating his teaching. Our Lord suffered the Jews’ denial as he demonstrated physical and spiritual salvation before their eyes! Jesus suffered the doubts, pride and betrayal of his closest disciples. He suffered the lash. Worse of all, he suffered the cross and the grave.
    But in the suffering Savior, God’s redemptive plan was finished. The blood had been shed. His body is broken. The Passover Lamb of God was sacrificed to save the children of Abraham - all the church of Christ to come. Jesus’ great thirst points to his spiritual thirst for our righteousness, to make us holy before God. Our Savior thirsted to quench the fires of spiritual despair, blindness and imprisoned souls. He thirsted to fill us with God’s glory, power and resurrected life. The Living Water longed to give us the drink of eternal life.
    Oh, it is finished. The curse of sin is finished. Death’s sentence is done. In turn, the promise of living the resurrected life has begun for all who come to repent at the cross. Death becomes life. That’s what Jesus’ finished work offers you.
 
Resurrection Truth: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Read John 19:16-27
 
John 19:25-26 Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son.”
 
ALL I can think of right now is, “Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
    Oh, he’s dying, enduring pain we can’t imagine, a thirst beyond understanding. How is he even alive? Yet his love comes down from his suffering into the one who bore his human body.
    Do you recall the angel Gabriel’ words to Mary when he announced that she would bear the Savior of the world? Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” “Favor” is God’s love, mercy, blessing and salvation. “Favor” is God offering himself to his creation. Jesus offered one last earthly favor to Mary. With his words to Mary, “He is your son.” Jesus gives Mary the assurance that John will look after her needs.
    Jesus is the oldest son. Hebrew law said it was his responsibility to care for his widowed mother. Now he is dying. Where are Jesus’ brothers? They are not there. Only his cousin John stands close to the cross and watches his Lord die. Jesus gives to John one last charge as a Hebrew man. “Take care of my mother.”
    Are you comforted to see Jesus’ loving cares for his own? His love comes through all obstacles. Through pain, suffering, and even unto death, Jesus’ words Mary that day and to us through Scripture today still speak God’s favor into our needs. In Jesus’ loving mercy for his mother, be comforted in Jesus’ eternal favor. John 14:3, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Resurrection Truth: Yes, Jesus loves you.

 

Read John 19:16-27
 
John 19:24 The soldiers said to one another, “Let's not tear it; let's throw dice to see who will get it.”
 
THE soldiers who hung Jesus on the cross now await his death. Our Lord hangs naked. It’s not enough to be beaten to the bone, a mass of blood, torn flesh and pain. The nakedness adds to the shame, as he dies an excruciatingly painful death. It is the ultimate insult. Then his crucifiers have a new task now. “What’s in it for me?” is their attitude as they focus their attention on his robe.
    The soldiers are so much like our culture. The Lord of Creation hangs on a cross while the soldiers gamble over a garment. They pursue pleasure and ignore the shame of their Savior. They have time to seek worldly desires, but they have no time to pay attention to Jesus.
    There are too many days that I pursue worldly things more than I do him. There are days I’d rather focus on the immediate than see the eternal. Even when Jesus is hanging on the cross, even when he has submitted himself to ultimate shame, even when he is naked because of my sin, I’d rather pay attention to worldly desires.
    What then, must I do? I must look upon my crucified Savior. My crucified Savior has been patient and merciful with me. When I was wayward for years, he welcomed me back. When I take time for worldly things instead of his things, he gently reminds me where I need to be. When I doubt his love, he shows me the height, width, depth and length of his extravagant love. When my mind is restless, he whispers, “I am here. It’s okay.” and he gives me peace as I join with him once again. The soldiers gambled for his robe. His robe was specially made. There are no seams, no place to tear it apart. His spiritual robe is the same way, only it covers so much more.
 
Resurrection Truth: Turn to Jesus and be robed in his love.

Read John 19:16-27
 
John 19:19-20 Pilate wrote a notice and had it put on the cross. “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” is what he wrote. 20 Many people read it, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city. The notice was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.


GOD certainly uses people in surprising ways, doesn’t he? Whether he’s dealing with a pagan or devout follower, atheist or true believer, God will use the traits of a person to spread the Good News.
    Here, Pilate had a sign written proclaiming Jesus as “King of the Jews”. His intent was to mock the Jewish authorities and the Jewish religion. But let’s look at God’s plan here. Who were the “many people (who) read it”? They were Jews and Gentiles traveling to and from Jerusalem from nearby and other countries. For most, no doubt, it was the first time they took any notice of Jesus. And likely they wondered, “Why would Rome call this criminal on a cross ‘King of the Jews’”? Why, indeed.
    I wonder what some of these same people thought months and years later when the gospel was preached in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and throughout the world. Do you think that as “Christ crucified” was preached they remembered the sign? Do you think that perhaps the memory of the unusual sign over the crucified one awakened them to see God’s love and to believe in Jesus?
    God reveals himself in very surprising ways. He uses shepherds, farmers, fishermen, criminals – even you and me – to declare Christ crucified. Pilate was a weak, ineffective ruler. Even so, God gave to Pilate particular words to write. Our Lord then used those words to plant the seeds of his salvation into the hearts and minds of those who passed by the cross. In his time and in his ways, the Holy God reveals the King of Kings to the world.  
 
Resurrection Truth: The King shall reign forever.

John 19:16-27
 
John 19:17 He went out, carrying his cross.
 
IS it not enough that his back is a mass of blood and broken skin, that blood streams off his forehead from the excruciating crown of thorns, that his wrists and arms are numb from the ropes that tied him to the lashing pole? Is he not broken and weakened enough? Now he must carry his own cross.
    Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah, bears his cross to the place where he will be crucified. He bears his cross to demonstrate the truth of his own words, Mark 8:34 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
    Yes, these words are figurative, symbolic of perseverance through trials that come against us as we follow Christ. But our Lord sets for us a real cross-carrying example. He shows us in the reality of his walk to the cross, that bearing a cross is impossible without help. Luke 23:26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 
    Yes, a bystander, Simon of Cyrene is forced to help Jesus when Jesus can bear the wooden beam no further. Simon, too, becomes our model. As Jesus’ disciples, we are not permitted to be bystanders. We must face our cross and bear it forward. Then we can be assured that as we do, our Lord will step in to say, “Here, I know this is too heavy for you alone. Let me help you.”
    When discipleship becomes too heavy to bear, we know our resurrected Lord has sent his Helper to sustain, empower and strengthen us. He has borne his cross. He knows its weight. He knows you cannot bear it alone.
    Living a resurrected life is faithfully stepping into the battle, then turning to Jesus to pray, “I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.” (Psalms 70:5)
     
Resurrection Truth: You don’t have to go to Golgotha. Jesus already did.    

John 18:28-19:16
 
John 18:37 So Pilate asked him, “Are you a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”

READ the entire account of Jesus’ trial. What is at the center of the charges, Jesus’ few responses, and the crowd’s reaction?
    It is truth. Pilate wants to know, “What is truth?” He’s not the only one. The whole world wants to know it. Or do we?
    People do seem to seek after truth. So many religions in the world claim to be the place where truth is found. Many people also try to find truth in themselves. “Know yourself.” is a common mantra in our culture. Pilate, it seems, had to “stand back” and think about what Jesus told him. Jesus was claiming that when people wanted to know the truth he was the One to seek.
    But Pilate only thought about it for a short time. Then he washed his hands of Jesus, and Jesus was gone.
    What kept Pilate from taking Jesus inside his house, inviting him to lunch and asking him, “What do you mean, ‘Whoever listens to the truth belongs to you?’” It seems Pilate was on the edge of a real conversation with Jesus, but he backed down.
    Perhaps he knew if he took time with Jesus to learn the truth, his life would dramatically change. He might be confronted with his past sins – some very evil sins – among the Jews. He might lose his power as a Roman governor.
    Have you been close to getting to know Jesus better but then stepped back? Were you afraid of what would change in your life and what you might have to do? I see people like that all the time. I hope and pray I’m not one of them.
 
Resurrection Truth: You are willing to pursue Jesus’ truth.

John 18:12-18 & 25-27
 
John 18:17 The girl at the gate said to Peter, “Aren't you also one of the disciples of that man?” “No, I am not,” answered Peter.
 
FOR centuries, Peter has been judged, condemned and mocked for this. One time when I was preaching on Peter’s restoration as recorded in John 22, I first asked the congregation what came to mind when Peter’s name was mentioned.
     “Denied Christ,” was the first response. Eventually words such as “passionate”, “reactionary”, “impulsive”, and “rock” were mentioned. I don’t think anyone said “apostle”. I don’t think anyone mentioned he authored two epistles of the New Testament and had much to do with giving Mark the information to write his gospel. I’m sure no one said Peter was the first recorded missionary to the Gentiles, even though he and Paul later argued regarding this. In Acts 10, God showed Peter that the Gentiles needed Jesus, too, and he obeyed.
    My point here is this: let’s not dwell on a person’s mistake, even grievous sins. Let’s focus on their salvation. Jesus did that with Peter. Jesus would make Peter whole again, and Peter would live determined to proclaim Jesus and to literally bear his cross as his Master did.
    Living a resurrected life is turning our doubt and denial into determination to follow our Lord at all costs. In the power of the risen Lord, that is the way we can summarize Peter’s life. That’s who Jesus wants you to be in him.
 
Resurrection Truth: pray your doubt becomes determination.

Read John 18:1-11
 
John 18:11 Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back in its place! Do you think that I will not drink the cup of suffering which my Father has given me?”
 
OH, I don’t like this lesson. Jesus’ words tell me that my sin put the cup of suffering on him. My sin is the reason for the Son of God to suffer and die.
      Yes, that is a hard thing to understand. My sins affect my Creator, even to the point he would die for me.
      When we live in light of Jesus’ resurrection, we become aware of how precious we are to God. Understand that the Father’s sacrificial offering. Mourn the cost of your salvation. Weep in joy Jesus’ blood cancels the sin of all who confess the Son as Savior! Can we truly comprehend God’s great love? In his own purpose and desire, the Holy Trinity has made you one with God. How stunning is the love of God that “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
      Living a resurrection life, you will come to increasingly understand God’s great love for you. You will know that you are precious in his sight. Yes, you are here, made holy and righteous before God, because of God. Jesus took the cup of sin, and he gave to his own the cup of righteousness forevermore.
 
Resurrection Truth: lovingly receive the cup of salvation Jesus offers.