“A Journey with John” Day 29: It is finished (John 19:1-42)

Last time, our guide took us to see Jesus being betrayed in the garden and then to His sham trial with the Jewish leaders. Then He was taken to Pilate, who seems to be trying to find a way to release Jesus, in Whom he has found no fault.

Before catching up with our guide to pursue today’s destination, let’s consider the new people to whom we were introduced last time:

>Soldiers and officials from the Jewish leaders - accompanied Judas to arrest Jesus

>Malchus - servant of the high priest who got his ear cut off by Peter

>Annas - father-in-law of Caiaphas

>Pilate - Roman governor of Judea

Now, let’s go with our guide to witness the unthinkable. Jesus is to be crucified!

Today, with our guide, we again find Jesus before Pilate. Pilate has Jesus beaten and the soldiers make a crown of thorns for Him to wear, as well as a purple robe. He is being greatly abused. All the while, Pilate is still seeking a way to release Jesus, as he has found Him to be innocent. The Jewish leaders, still insisting on Jesus being crucified, inform Pilate that He must die because He made Himself the Son of God. At this, Pilate becomes more fearful and tries to get Jesus to say where He is from. When He won’t answer, Pilate warns Him that he has the power to crucify Him or let Him go. Jesus answers that Pilate would have no power over Him if it had not been granted to him from above. Filled with even more trepidation, Pilate again tells the Jews that he finds no fault in Jesus. The Jews then threaten him that if he lets Jesus go, he is no friend of Caesar. At this point, Pilate relents and turns Jesus over to be crucified.

So, Jesus bears His cross to Golgotha, where He is crucified with two others, one on each side. Pilate has a sign made and hung above Jesus’ head, stating: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Even though the Jews complain about the wording of the sign, Pilate does not change it. Fulfilling scripture, Jesus says He is thirsty and is offered sour wine. Having received the sour wine, Jesus then proclaims, “It is finished,” and gives up His Spirit. As well, the soldiers divide His clothes and gamble for Jesus’ tunic. Jesus turns His mother over to our guide who will now take care of her going forward. The Jews, knowing the Passover is at hand, ask that the legs of the three being crucified be broken, so that they could be taken down from the crosses before the Passover came. They break the legs of each of the men on either side of Jesus, but coming to Him, find that He is already dead. So, one of the soldiers takes a spear and pierces His side, causing water and blood to flow out. These things are also fulfilling prophecy concerning the Messiah. Joseph of Arimathea, accompanied by Nicodemus, prepare Jesus’ body for burial and put Him in a garden tomb, as it is nearby.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭2‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬, ‭15‬, ‭17‬-‭19‬, ‭24‬, ‭26‬-‭28‬, ‭30‬, ‭32‬-‭34‬, ‭36‬-‭37‬, ‭40‬-‭42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” what was He referencing?

Next time, our guide will take us to see how the disciples’ sorrow will be turned into joy!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!