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Home , John 19

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (And What It Means For Us) John 19-20

In a few minutes, we are going to take the Lord’s Supper. We’ve been reading through John’s . Last week we were in chapter 6 and read how fed 5,000 men with five loaves and two fish and the crowd wanted to take Him by force and make Him King.

Many of the people still want to make Him king up to a week before His death. When Jesus enters the city of in , He rides in on a donkey and the people lay palm branches on the road and cry out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel.” By the end of the week, the Jewish leaders plot to have him arrested, tried and crucified. Here’s what John records in chapter 19:1-7.

Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; 3 and they began to come up to Him and say, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and to give Him slaps in the face. 4 Pilate came out again and *said to them, “Behold, bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.” 5 Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” 6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”

Whipped. A crown of thorns. A purple robe, but it’s due to mockery. Slaps in the face. His own people yelling out, “Crucify, crucify!” Jesus was beaten, mocked, and rejected. But that was not enough to pay for our sins. There’s a phrase that goes like this. “Hasn’t he suffered enough?” The answer here is no. God doesn’t joke around when it comes to sin. His plan from the get-go was to punish His only begotten Son for our iniquities. Jesus’ crucifixion was God’s plan to redeem us. Pilate and the Jewish leaders may have thought they were calling the shots, pulling the strings, but Jesus simply tells Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above.”

Pilate caves to the demands of the Jewish leaders. Here’s what John writes in 19:17-19.

17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “Jesus The Nazarene, The King of the Jews.”

The gospel writers record seven things Jesus says while He is on the cross, dying for us. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” To His mother, Mary and the apostle John, “Woman, behold your son,” and “Behold your mother.” To the one thief hanging next to Him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.” “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” “Father into your hands I commit My Spirit.”

Jesus’ last words according to John (19:28-30). “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so, they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit”

“It is finished.” How small a statement. How great the declaration! By the way, “It is finished” is not actually three words in Greek but just one. Τετέλεσται; finished, fulfilled, completed. What comes to mind when you think of these last words of Christ. Here is what I think of . . .

“It is finished” is a testimony of obedience. It’s Jesus final testimony of a life of humility, service and obedience. "It is finished" explained that all the sufferings He endured for our sakes, to redeem our souls from the horrors of sin, were over.

“It is finished” is a confirmation of accomplishment. Jesus accomplished the work He came to earth to do. In :34 he said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” "It is finished" verified that the one true sacrifice for sins had been offered. His words gave God the go-ahead to tear the curtain in the temple, put an end to need for the daily sin and guilt offerings, the priests, and the temple itself.

“It is finished” is declaration of completion. John used this same root word twice back in 30:28, τέλος, which means end; the completion of an activity. I’ve read that Τετέλεσται was often used around the time of Christ in an abbreviated form at the top of receipts (what we call invoices), as a way of letting everyone know that financial obligation had been fulfilled. The debt had been paid off. Τετέλεσται – It is finished.

One more thing about the word Τετέλεσται. It is in the perfect tense. The perfect tense in Greek signifies a past action, whose effects continues into the present. Jesus’ death on the cross was for all sins of all people, including us and its benefits extend all the way into the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22).

“It is finished” is a cry of victory. Jesus called for the vinegar because his lips were parched, His throat was dry and He wanted everyone to hear what He had to say: The victory over sin and over death is won. That has great meaning for us. Here’s what the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable and this mortal will have put on immortality then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As we take the bread and cup, let’s remember that our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, and the future resurrection of our bodies, rests in Christ’s finished work, not our own human efforts. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (And What It Means For Us) Part 2

If you were to ask most of us who are over 40, what hymn comes to mind when we think of Easter, we’d probably say, Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, by Charles Wesley. Two of my favorite lines in that hymn are, “Love’s redeeming work is done. Alleluia! Fought the fight the battle won. Alleluia!” Done and won. I love how those words describe Jesus’ death and resurrection. I’ve already talked about how Jesus’ work to make payment for our sins is done, finished, complete. That’s John 19 and His death on the cross. Now we are at . It is about His resurrection; the sign that Jesus’ battle with sin and death has been won.

John wants us to know that just as He was an eyewitness to Jesus’ death, burial; he was also at His and interacted with Jesus alive from the dead. And just like John wanted us to know Jesus’ last words, “It is finished,” he wants us to know Jesus first words to His disciples after He arose. Do you know what they were? I’m going to read John 20, make some comments along the way, and then talk about these words.

Now on the first day of the week came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

A Presbyterian preacher by the name of Peter Marshall served as chaplain in of the US senate from 1947-1949. He said this about the stone covering the entrance to the tomb. “The stone was rolled away from the door, not to permit Christ to come out, but to enable the disciples to go in.” The empty tomb is the teaser, a preview to what’s coming

2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.

A week from tomorrow is CVCS’s track and field day. Some teachers will be running in a relay race. Hard to believe, but I too was asked to compete. After reading this, I want John on my relay team. But as we read ahead, I’d want Peter on my dodge ball team. He doesn’t hesitate for anything. He will enter the tomb first; full steam ahead.

5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

Wednesday night in our small group we were reading through the passage and Barb Zscherny made an amusing comment about the linen wrapping and the head covering. She said that Jesus’ mom probably taught him how to fold His clothes. Sue said, “Well, He was perfect.” And Barb’s husband Mike said, “Well I’m sure not.” I think the point John is making is that he and Peter saw an empty tomb that was orderly, and not a chaotic mess. This was not the scene of a burglary; a grave robbing. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

What exactly did John believe when he saw the empty tomb? Maybe, that Jesus, in one way shape or form was with God the Father. He says that they still didn’t get that Jesus must rise from the dead. in Christ does not mean that we understand everything about Him, or about salvation. For example, we don’t understand everything about Jesus’ return; but we definitely believe He is coming back as He promised.

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her

Just a few comments here: First, we can sense the ache of Mary’s heart. She loved Jesus. Luke tells us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2).

Second; good things come to those who wait. Peter and John split. They went home. Mary didn’t. She has the honor to be the first one to see and talk with our risen Savior. So, there’s also a lot to be said for the good things that come to those who love Christ.

Third, Mary doesn’t recognize who Jesus is until He speaks her name. This reminds me so much of what Jesus says in :27, “My sheep hear My voice. I know them, they follow Me.” Jesus knows what to do and what we need to hear for our tears to cease.

Fourth, Mary does what Jesus asks of her. We know from Mark’s gospel; the disciples don’t believe her. They don’t get what’s going on. They will before the day is over.

*19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained” Jesus’ words here seem a little strange to us based on what happens in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples. Maybe this is a temporary filling, as in the , while they wait for the permanent indwelling of the Spirit, which will come on the Day of Pentecost. One thing’s for sure; Jesus gives the disciples the authority to offer forgiveness of sins in His name. We have that commission as well. Very few things in life are emotionally worse than seeking forgiveness and finding none. That will never happen to anyone seeking Christ’s forgiveness.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe”

Let’s not be too hard on Thomas. Some of us truly need more convincing than others. Jesus knows that. He knows what each of need in order to trust in Him. Let’s not give up on the skeptics. CS Lewis was one. Josh McDowell another; the list goes on. What does the slowpoke runner Peter write? Always be ready to answer people’s questions when they ask you why your hope is in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).

Here are the final verses of chapter 20. After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” 30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

That’s John’s summary of why He wrote His gospel. It was so we will trust in Christ. Again, we don’t have to know every detail about Jesus to trust our souls to Him.

Here is my summary of what Jesus’ death and resurrection mean for us. Jesus’ death and resurrection mean that His sacrificial work on behalf of our sins is complete and all who trust in Him are guaranteed forgiveness and eternal life. But Jesus’ death and resurrection have present tense guarantees as well. He has promised us His peace while we live in this world filled with troubles and tears.

I want to go back to the first words that Jesus says to His disciples when He showed up unannounced. He says, “Peace be to you.” Luke tells us the disciples were startled and frightened. We would be too. But Jesus says, “Peace be to you.” I think His words have meaning/application that go way beyond this moment of his disciples being startled and unnerved as they see Him alive from the dead. I say this because the epistles are littered with blessings, prayers and wishes for God’s peace to be a part of our lives and daily experience. Paul begins each of his letters to the churches with a blessing that God’s will grant them grace and peace. Peace in so many ways is a victory word. Peace comes when hostilities cease; when enemies become friends, when the ravages of wars come to an end; when all is well again. The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, which Jesus may have spoken to them, means all is well, that nothing that you need is missing. Here are six applications.

“Peace be with you” means we can have peace with God. That’s Romans 5:1. “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God.’ Jesus gives us peace with God, and because of this, we can experience His peace in all areas of our lives.

“Peace be with you” means we don’t need to fear death. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4). We don’t need to fear death. Death is something we don’t like to talk about. Depending on the person and the circumstances it’s not just sad, but overwhelmingly sorrowful. These past few weeks I’ve told my friends that grief feels a lot like fatigue. By the way, since we don’t need to fear death, we don’t need to fear sickness either.

“Peace be with you” means we don’t need to fear what others might do to us; I don’t know how many times in life I have thought about the truth expressed in Psalm 118:6. “If God is for us, who can stand against us?”

“Peace be with you” means we don’t need to fear what tomorrow may bring; “Don’t be anxious about anything. But in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God” And the peace of God which goes beyond all we can understand, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7. Why is the peace of God in Christ missing at times? It may be because we are not praying.

“Peace be with you” means we should strive for peace in our relationships; “If possible so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people” Romans 12:18.

“Peace be with you” means His peace can rule our hearts and lives; “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” Colossians 3:15. Our enemy, the devil, is a liar and thief. He wants to steal the peace of God from us. We don’t have to let Him. We may be trapped in this body of flesh that is dying, but we don’t have to fall into his traps.

Speaking of traps, have you ever been stuck in an elevator? Two weeks ago, I was at the hospital to visit Dick. I entered the elevator, pushed the button for the 9th floor, the door closed and I began to type a text on my cell phone. I noticed after a bit that the elevator was not moving. I wasn’t sure if it had begun to move and stopped, or never started moving in the first place. So, I pressed the button for the 9th floor again. Nothing happened. So, I pressed the button for the 1st floor where I entered. Nothing happened. There was no phone in the elevator, but there was an emergency button. I worked up the nerve to press the button and held it down for a few seconds. I sounded pretty loud. Still nothing. Then I thought I smelled smoke and pressed the emergency button again. Nothing. Then I was sure I smelled electrical smoke and held the emergency button down for quite a while. Nothing. This is the point where I decided to try pushing the elevator doors open (like they do in the movies) and sure enough, I was able to slide the door open and it opened to the 1st floor. As I left the elevator, I asked the desk attendant who was just a few feet away, if she had heard the elevator alarm and she said something like, “Yes, but I wasn’t sure what to do.” I thought, “Me either.” Just so you know, there was an elevator motor malfunction with electrical smoke and the fire department did show up.

We tend to be pretty good escape artists when the need arises. But there’s one thing for sure from which we can’t free ourselves. We can’t free ourselves from the wages of sin which is death. The apostle Paul asks this question in Romans 7: “Who will set ‘us’ free from this body of death?” His answer: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Talk about taking a load of worry off of our shoulders and replacing that load with peace in our hearts and souls.

Wesley was right. Because of Jesus death and resurrection, the work is done, and the battle won. It doesn’t need to be Easter Sunday to think about Jesus’ death and resurrection and the peace it can bring to our lives. It is good to think about it every day.