17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 Here they crucified him, and with him two others —one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said,
“They divided my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.”
and cast lots for my clothing.”
So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his motherthere, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
In this passage we see Jesus fulfilling several OT prophecies.
v16 the soldiers lead Him away to be crucified, fulfilling Isaiah 53:7 which says He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.
Normally there was a 2 day waiting period between judgment and execution - but here he was taken directly from His judgment to the crucifixion, fulfilling Isaiah 53:8 which says He was taken from prison and from judgment.
In v17 when He carries His own cross He fulfills the prophetic OT type of Isaac, who carried the wood for his own sacrifice on his back.
v18 says they crucified Him, fulfilling Psalm 22 which describes the crucifixion including the piercing of His hands and feet.
The end of v18 says He was crucified along with two criminals, fulfilling Isaiah 53:9 And He made His grave with the wicked.
Psalm 22:18 They divide My garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots. is fulfilled in v23-24. It was significant that, as our High Priest, it was a seamless garment, just like the garments the high priests had to wear.
John provides lots of details in this passage about Jesus fulfilling prophesy because it points to the deity of Christ which is John's purpose throughout his entire gospel.
I've always found it interesting that Pilate, in cynicism and probably to get back at the Jews, posts on the cross "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" in Aramaic (Hebrew - the language of religion), Latin (the language of power) and Greek (the language of culture) so that everyone could read it - and of course, the irony is, that is was true. They had, in fact, killed their King. God takes the wrath of sinners and can use even that, to praise Him. As MacArthur says..... Sinners and unbelievers and evil people do not violate God's plans; He merely moves them in connection with His plans to accomplish His purpose.
Just like John 11
49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
Caiaphas thought he was being clever, but he was actually speaking words of prophesy.
And then there's the beautiful story right at the end of our passage. There are 3 Mary's here - Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Clopas (possibly Mary's sister-in-law) and Mary Magdalene (Christ had cast seven demons from her) as well as Mary's sister (possibly named Salome). They were there, unafraid to be associated with Jesus, because perfect love casts out fear and they loved Jesus. And the only man there, the only disciple there, was John.
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry we already saw that the relationship between Jesus and Mary had ceased to be mother-son and had become redeemer-disciple (Mary needed a Saviour just like the rest of the human race), but here, when Jesus is about to die and cease to be Mary's earthly son, He replaces Himself in Mary's life with John (because His own brothers do not yet believe). It's just beautiful.
There are some beautiful thoughts in this. As He dies, Jesus, the King of love, selflessly cares for those who stand at His feet. It is almost incomprehensible because here is Jesus occupied with the most stupendous task in the history of the universe, here is Jesus Christ under a burden which no creature could possibly have sustained or endured, here is Jesus Christ enduring in a matter of several hours what it will take all individuals through all eternity in all of Hell to endure; and in the midst of it all, He thinks not one thought of Himself but cares only for His Mother and His beloved disciple.
That is a little insight into the caring love of Jesus Christ. That's a wonderful thing to know because when you and I get into problems, sometimes we think that Jesus is too busy running the universe and spinning the planets and doing the things He has to do, to care about us, Don't you believe it for a moment. He gives us a classic and exciting indication in this passage that when He is the busiest, doing the most, He is the most sensitized to the care that we need at every point, Be assured of the loving, tender care of Jesus on an individual basis in your life. He shows that at the cross.
Supernatural love, displayed on the cross like never before.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 19:28-37
1 comment:
Wow, I didn't realize this little passage had so many prophecies attached to it! And I love love love the excerpt at the end about Jesus caring about us individually, wherever we are, whatever we're doing.
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