trying to find His way
“Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.” (John 19:38) Joseph was a secret Jesus-follower until this moment.By going to Pilate to ask for Jesus’s body, he is going public.The same Jewish leaders he feared would hear about this.Something had changed within him, and he pushed past his fear.Nicodemus was…
“The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.” (John 19:35) Jesus commissioned His disciples to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)In other words, tell everyone what you have seen and heard.In…
“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30) (PLEASE NOTE: tetelestai (‘it is finished’) does not mean ‘paid in full’)During His time of ministry, Jesus knew how His work would finish.On several occasions He let His disciples know what was coming.Jesus was determined to finish His…
“Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” (John 19:21) This must have been humiliating for the Jewish leaders.There is mockery in this title written over a crucified man.The irony is clear: ‘you and your king are crushed and defeated’.The Jewish leaders did not want…
“‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’” (John 19:26-27) How do people respond when they see others suffering?It depends on who they are, and who the suffering ones are to them.There are people motivated by compassion, others by cruelty.Compassion is shown through a desire to help, to relieve their suffering.Cruelty…
“‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the chief priests answered.” (John 19:15) The religious leaders were being pragmatic.They knew Caesar was a corrupt leader, but they also knew they needed Caesar.They also hated what Jesus stood for, and did not want to do what He said.Jesus’s agenda was against theirs, but they could use Caesar in…
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (John 19:11) The soldiers have authority over Jesus, and they tortured Him.The Jewish leaders had authority over Jesus, and wanted to crucify Him.Pilate had authority over Jesus and the people, but he wasn’t sure what to do.Each felt they were…
“The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”(John 18:37) Jesus literally speaks about everyone who is “out of the truth”.All people were created to live and move and have their being in God’s truth.But the deceit of sin has…
“My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:26) Pilate is operating like a leader of this world.“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you…” (Matthew 20:25-26)Jesus is not a king like this, lording it over others.The kingdom of God isn’t…
“‘You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?’ He denied it, saying, ‘I am not.’” (John 18:25) Eventually Peter was willing to suffer and die for following Jesus.Yet at this moment, he was not prepared to follow Jesus, not to death.“Whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father. (Matthew 10:33)So why doesn’t Jesus…