Jesus is crucified

John Chapter 19

Pilate flogged Jesus with a lead-tipped whip and the soldiers made him a crown of sharp thorns. They put a royal purple robe on Jesus and mocked him, calling him King of the Jews and they hit him with their fists. And Pilate went out again to the people and said he wanted them to understand that he did not find Jesus guilty.

When the crowd saw Jesus, the priests and temple guards began to shout, "Crucify, Crucify!" To which Pilate said, "You crucify him." The Jewish leaders replied, "By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God." This statement made Pilate afraid and he took Jesus back to headquarters and asked him, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate demanded that Jesus answer him or he would be crucified. Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who brought me to you has the greater sin." Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders would not allow it and implied that Pilate was not a friend to Caesar. So politically threatened, Pilate brought Jesus out again to be crucified.

Jesus carried his own cross to Skull Hill (Matthew 27: 32 shows a man named Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus' cross).There they crucified him with two others, one on each side of him. Pilate posted a sign over Jesus that read "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" and the sign was in Hebrew,Latin and Greek, so many people could read it. Then the soldiers took his clothing and divided it and threw dice for his robe.

Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, his mother's sister, Mary and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing beside the disciple he loved, he said,"Woman, he is your son." And to the disciple, he said, "She is your mother." And the disciple took her into his home.

Jesus knew everything was finished and to fulfill scripture, he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was there, so they soaked a sponge in it and put it on a branch and held it to his lips. When he tasted it, he said, "It is finished!". Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The next day was Passover, and the leaders did not want bodies hanging there so they asked Pilate to have his soldiers break the legs of those on the cross. They broke the legs of the two others, but Jesus was dead, so they did not break his legs. Instead, one soldier pierced his side with a spear and blood and water flowed out.

Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body down and Pilate agreed. Nocodemus brought embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes. They wrapped Jesus' body in linen cloth with the spices and placed him in a new tomb.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: When Pilate first refused to crucify Jesus, the Jewish leaders told the actual truth: that he was not brought there for causing rebellion against Rome, but because they thought he had broken their religious laws. Though they obviously didn't care which accusation Pilate listened to, so long as he cooperated in killing Jesus. And Jesus did not blame Pilate, but in verse 11 he points the finger at the Jewish leaders. How ironic that the Jewish leaders feigned allegiance to Rome and rejected their own Messiah.

Crucifixion was a slow way to die. Death came from suffocation because of the weight of the body. Even while dying, Jesus sought to instruct John to care for his mother. Secret disciples Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret because of their positions in the Jewish community. Nicodemus was a member of the high council and tried to defend him. So they risked their reputations to provide a burial for Jesus.

If you get a chance to compare the other gospels with this one, you will see things that John omitted. Like the thieves beside Jesus and how he told them they would be in heaven like him. And in Luke, the detail of the crowd's comments is realistic. And the other words of Jesus detailed in Mark when he says "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." And John does not tell of the temple curtain being torn from top to bottom. Read each chapter and believe the eye witness accounts of Jesus' death.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Imagine yourself in the middle of a lynch mob. Could you overcome these people and speak up for the person to be killed? We like to think we could. But in reality, we probably would be silenced by the thought of ourselves being killed along with them. Bravery does not come easily, but look at the chance taken by the secret disciples. They risked their reputations to have the privilege of burying Jesus' body.

Our wonderful savior was thinking of his family even while he died. He made sure his mother was taken care of by John. And don't forget the point of this whole chapter - that our savior died for us. FOR US! His death was orchestrated so that our sins would aways be forgiven and thus giving us a place in heaven. What a wonderful gift he gave. He continues to give this gift to you each day. His gift if timeless. This Easter season, pray and give thanks for the life and death of Jesus Christ!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.