Bible Studies for Life: April 2
Jesus Died for Me • John 19:16-19, 28-30, 38-42
By Laura Lee Leathers
Authority! Jesus reminded Pilate, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Only Jesus has the power and authority to forgive sin.
Because of our sin, we all face eternal separation from God. There is no rehabilitation we can perform on own because we have no authority or power to remove our sin; that comes only through the sinless life of Jesus Christ.
He became a man, willingly gave His life, and sacrificially paid the penalty of our sin on Calvary.
Jesus was free of sin, yet He was crucified (John 19:16-19 NKJV). The nineteenth chapter of John opens with Roman Governor Pontius Pilate having Jesus scourged. The process for scourging required 13 lashes to the individual’s chest and 26 lashes to the back from a leather lash with pieces of sharpened bone and lead, a horrible form of punishment.
Next, Pilate had a twisted crown of thorns pressed upon Jesus’ head and placed a purple robe upon His shoulders. Pilate treated Jesus as a criminal, yet twice he remarks, “I find no fault in Him” (vv. 4, 6b).
Note the conversations between Pilate, the chief priests, officers, and the Jews. Their response to his statements was, “Crucify Him!” Later they respond, “We have no king but Caesar!”
After that, Jesus is delivered to them to be crucified. “Then they took Jesus and led Him away.” The way to Calvary had begun.
We know from the other Gospels that Simon of Cyrene carried the cross part of the way (Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). The Romans did not want their criminal to die before they reached Golgotha, the place of crucifixion.
It was the Roman practice to list a criminal’s crimes on a sign. It would hang around the prisoner’s neck on the way to the crucifixion, but sometimes another person would carry the sign and walk beside the criminal. The sign was affixed to the cross at the time of crucifixion.
No crimes were listed on the sign Pilate created for Jesus, again showing He was not guilty. Instead, the sign stated, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
Of course, this made the Jews furious but Pilate refused to change it. Little did he know that he had described Jesus perfectly with the truth.
Jesus who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). He is the King of Kings, and one day every knee shall bow before Him (Phil 2:10; Rev. 1:7; 19:16)
Christ’s work on the cross was completed when He died (John 19:28-30). Jesus is placed upon the cross, nails piercing His hands and feet, and hung between two criminals – a prophecy fulfilled (Isa. 53:12).
Looking at the soldiers below, He watches as they cast lots for His clothing — another prophecy fulfilled (Psalm 22:18).
Also, we know the women who have followed Him now gather at the foot of the cross. John mentions Jesus’ mother, her sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene (v. 25).
Knowing His time on earth was almost complete, Jesus commends his mother’s future care into the hands of John, the beloved disciple.
Then Jesus states He is thirsty (v. 28). It fulfilled Psalm 69:3, 20, and 21, and shows His humanity. A soldier offers watered-down vinegar or cheap wine on a sponge. Does he offer it with ridicule and contempt?
Then Jesus says, “It is finished!” Bowing His head, He gives up His spirit. He had completed the task. The sacrifice for sin had been paid once and for all. Redemption, God’s gift of grace, is now available to everyone by faith in Jesus.
The late Adrian Rogers, longtime pastor of Bellevue Church in suburban Memphis, puts it this way: “Christianity is not do — but DONE!”
The death and burial of Jesus was attested to by others. (John 19:38-42). A secret disciple and follower of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate granted his request. Scripture tells us that the burial place was in an unused, new tomb located in a garden (Matt. 27:57-60).
Assisting Joseph was Nicodemus. He brought a “mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.” They had to work quickly because Preparation Day was almost upon them. Following the Jewish custom, they wrapped His body with “strips of linen with the spices.”
Then they laid His body in an empty tomb, “in which no one had yet been laid.” They left, planning to finish the burial process once the Sabbath was over, oblivious of what would transpire.
Take a moment and lift your voice in praise: “Jesus died for me. Hallelujah, what a Savior!”
Leathers is a member of First Church, Lexington. She may be contacted at laura.l.leathers@gmail.com.