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The Gospel of John, The Period of Consummation, Part XIV, John 19:17-27 - Lesson 191
Read verses: John 19:17,18, And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
Golgotha is the Hebrew word for the place of a skull.
Golgotha is used in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John.
It is called Calvary in Luke coming from the Greek word kranion "kran‑ee'‑on" a skull.
The King James translators used Calvary from the Latin word calvaria which is from calva meaning a skull or scalp.
We said last week that Isaac carrying the wood of the burnt offering to the mountain in obedience to God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his son was a type of Christ carrying the cross the Calvary.
The bullock and the goat for the sin offering in the Old Testament was taken outside the camp.
This too was a type of what we witness taking place in this passage.
John does not tell us that Simon a Cyrenian bore the cross for a part of the way to Calvary.
No one offered to carry the cross so the Romans compelled Simon to bare the cross for Christ to Golgotha or Calvary.
We do not know why the Romans compelled Simon to carry the cross. It could have simply been that they were in a hurry to get this done or it could have been the urgency of the Jews because it was the Passover.
Or it could have been the weak condition of the Lord Jesus Christ that prevented him from speedily carrying the load.
Crucifixion was not started by the Romans but it was perfected by the Romans.
The Egyptians used it but only tied the hands to the cross.
It was the Romans who hastened death and increased pain by driving spikes through the palm of each hand.
The prisoner's hands were attached by spike to the cross piece while the piece was on the ground and the cross piece was lifted and attached to the upright.
The legs were bent so that the soles of the feet were flat against the upright.
The feet were then fastened to the upright by either one spike for each foot or one spike driven through both feet.
The bending of the legs caused pressure on the arms and body since the legs were not completely holding up the body.
During most crucifixions it took two to three days for the victim to die.
According to Matthew and Mark Christ was on the cross for six hours.
Christ was joined in crucifixion by two others.
John is careful to tell us that Christ was in the middle of the two.
Isaiah had written in Isa. 53:12 that he was numbered with the transgressors.
No doubt the Jews promoted having Christ crucified with common criminals.
But God showed his grace even in this terrible event by extending his grace to one of those who was crucified with Christ.
How this shows perfectly that salvation is all of God and none of man.
The thief on the cross could not lift a finger or a foot to help in his salvation.
He was totally helpless and yet the Lord promised him that he would be with him in paradise.
John 19:19-22, And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
It was not unusual to attach to the cross the name and offense of the sufferer.
Its purpose was to give the nature of the crime for which the punishment was awarded.
Matthew calls it the accusation.
So, as far as Pilate was concerned the crime of Jesus Christ was that he was the King of the Jews.
The placard was carried before him as he carried the horizontal piece of the cross or it was hung from his neck as he walked.
Once on the cross the inscription was nailed to the vertical projecting top of the cross.
John is the only one of the gospel writers that mentions Pilate as the writer of the inscription.
Most likely Pilate wrote the inscription with the aim of insulting and annoying the Jews.
John tells us that the title was written in the three official languages of the country.
Hebrew, the national language and the language of religion, Latin, the official language of the empire and the language of law and government, and Greek, a common language in that area and the language of culture.
What it proclaimed was plain, unvarnished truth.
No doubt Pilate enjoyed the predicament he brought to the Jews by the inscription that he wrote especially when it so irritated the Jews and he would not allow any alteration.
But in all of this God was having his way that this statement of our Lord's character and authority might be made known.
John reports that this title or placard was read by many of the Jews.
Pilate insured that, by printing it in three languages.
Jesus was crucified near to the city where many witnesses could read the sign.
It was a festival week and Jerusalem was filled with visitors.
God was having his way.
Paul in years to come would preach to King Agrippa in:
Acts 26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
This was a prominent event in the city of Jerusalem because God planned it that way.
And God planned that the words that Pilate placed upon the placard would stay as he placed them.
This time no entreaty of the Jews would change his mind.
The Jews wanted Christ to appear as nothing more than an imposter.
They said: Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
Emphasize him simply as a boaster, an imposter.
But Pilate's backbone was propped up by God!
What I have written I have written.
So Pilate proclaims Jesus Christ to be the sovereign in spite of himself.
Remember Caiaphas in John 11 proclaimed him to be the Savior when he said that one man should die for the nation?
Neither man knew what he was doing but God makes the wrath of men to praise him.
Is there any doubt as to whose in charge?
John 19:23,24 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
There seems to have been four soldiers, a Roman quaternion, who took part in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the two malefactors beside him.
They had most likely stripped our Lord naked before nailing his hands and feet to the cross and had laid his clothes aside till they had finished their work.
While the three hung on the cross the solders divided up the spoils of their deed.
They now had time to devote to their own interests.
Likely the dividing of the clothes of those crucified was an allowed or traditional dividing and one of the benefits for taking part in executions.
There are two garments mentioned.
An outer garment, most likely a cloak that was easily divisible so the solders tore it in four pieces.
The inner garment was a tunic or seamless robe worn under a cloak.
It was next to the skin like a shirt, mostly without sleeves, fastened around the neck with a clasp, and usually reaching to the knees.
It was woven of linen or wool and without seam and woven from top throughout, John records.
This is typical of what a high priest would wear.
In the eyes of the soldiers it must have had some value so instead of destroying it they chose to gamble for it and so they cast lots.
With the Savior's blood upon their hands they cast lots for his coat.
And John reminds us that this is that the scripture might be fulfilled.
He refers to Psalm 22:18 , written 1000 years before this event: They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
John 19:25-27, Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
John has presented a picture of greed, a picture of the enemies of Christ.
He now turns our attention to a scene of grief, a scene of sadness and suffering.
From the four soldiers gambling for his coat he turns to four women standing by the cross witnessing the suffering of Jesus Christ.
He saw Mary, the mother of Jesus, he saw his mother's sister, most likely Salome the mother of James and John his cousins, another Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene and of course John, the the writer of this Gospel.
Many stood afar off but these five, four women and one man stood by the cross..
Jesus Christ looked upon his mother yet did not call her mother, but called her woman.
At the wedding in Cana he had also called her woman.
There is no recorded occurrence in scripture where Jesus called Mary, mother.
Jesus had said that those who do the will of My Father are my mother and my brothers.
Perhaps he did not call her mother to keep her from receiving scorn at the hands of his enemies
But he loves her and insures she is taken care of.
Most likely Joseph her husband was dead and she a widow with unbelieving children at this time had no where to go to receive comfort and help.
He would not send her back to her natural home where she might have to listen to words from her unbelieving family which would only add to her grief.
So he turns to Mary and commands her to fasten her eyes upon the one to whom she will go for help.
Go to your son John, the son of your sister.
He is now your son and will look after you.
In him shall be your support.
He commands John to behold Mary whom he will now be responsible for.
To thee I trust my mother, let her be thy mother for my sake.
You shall become a sharer in her maternal blessings.
John was alone at the cross of all the disciples and he was given the honor of caring for Mary.
It was if Jesus Christ had said, With him at your side, you have your son given back to you.
As Jesus suffered on the cross he was true to his Father in heaven and true to his mother on earth.
And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. |