Risen not Stolen (John 19:42-20:10)

“So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.” (John 19:42–20:10, ESV)

In Genesis 1:5 we have the record of the first day of creation. “God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” (Genesis 1:5, ESV) From that we see that the progression of day began with the close of the previous day, at sunset. And when the Jews were instructed in observing feasts we read, “It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.” (Leviticus 23:32, ESV) This had been a practice that they observed since the time of Moses, and it was deeply engrained in their system of rules.

Jesus was crucified on a Friday and the Sabbath was shortly to begin at sunset. The other three gospels record for us that Jesus died at the ninth hour with Luke writing, “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:44–46, ESV) Their day was divided into the twelve hours of daylight with the ninth hour representing mid-afternoon with evening quickly approaching when all work would have to cease. It was imperative that they be finished with the crucifixion by then, and had Jesus not already been dead the soldiers would have broken his legs so that He couldn’t lift Himself up for a breath. But to fulfill the Scriptures Jesus laid down His life before that time.

This brings us to verse 42 of chapter 19, where Joseph recognizing the late hour went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body that He might bury Him. This is what he and Nicodemus did, and after that Joseph had a stone rolled in front of the tomb in order that it might be sealed. Beyond that, we read that there were guards placed to guard against His disciples taking His body and claiming that He had risen. Even His enemies recognized His claim that He would rise from the dead, and they took steps to ensure that no one would steal away His body and claim that this had happened. And with this Friday ended, Saturday came and went, which was followed by Sunday morning—the first day of the week. 

Assuming that Jesus’ body would still be in the tomb hastily prepared and untouched since He was laid there, John recorded for us that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning before the sun had even come up. Arriving and fully expecting to find the stone still in place Mary was surprised to find that it had been rolled away. Seeing the Jesus’ body was no longer there she quickly jumped to the conclusion that His body had been taken away, presumably by the Jews. Disturbed to see that He was not there she ran back to find Peter and John (the disciple Jesus loved). She told them exactly what she had seen and thought, which was not that He had risen just like He said, but rather, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Peter and John didn’t stop Mary and affirm with her that they should have expected this because it was what Jesus had told them. No, they ran back to see for themselves. John got there first and peeked in to see that Jesus was indeed not there, but oddly enough His burial cloths were. When Peter arrived he went past John and entered the cave to see that not only were His burial cloths there, but the linens were laying in one place as if they had fallen right off of Him and the cloth that had been on His face was folded and laying by itself. That surely must have seemed strange to them. Why would someone unwrap His body and then steal it, and on top of that why would they have been so careful with His face cloth? This surely did not make sense if someone were to have taken Him.

After Peter had seen these things John also entered, saw what was there and of course who was not there. Then it all made sense. No one had taken His body. Jesus had told them what would happen, and they did not get it. But at that moment he did. He wrote, ‘Then the other disciple [John, himself], who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” Jesus had said that He was going to rise from the dead and return to the Father. Surely this must have been what happened. We read that John went, saw, and believed.

And what else was there for them to do at that moment knowing that Jesus had risen? There was no need to go search for His body, so John tells us that they went home. But as we will continue to read there were some who needed more convincing.

“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”” (Matthew 20:17–19, ESV)

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV)

Christ died for our sins. He was crucified and buried on a Friday. He rose on a Sunday. God said it would happen. It happened. Those are the facts. This is the gospel truth.

Out of the Shadows (John 19:39-42)

"After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 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. (42) So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38–42, ESV)

Fear is an incredible force and its fingers reach into our lives in seemingly countless ways. It is powerful such that people are inhibited are even immobilized for action, and many times they can’t even put a finger on it. When it came to the burial of Jesus we find that two men, who had previously been silent about following after Him or having contact with Him, were finally moved so that they stepped out and cared for His body. Something happened in them that they did something which no one else was prepared or able to do. 

The first one mentioned is Joseph of Arimathea. The only place in Scripture we find him mentioned is in relation to the burial of Jesus where he is mentioned in all four of the gospels (Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:43-46; Luke 23:50-53). From them we learn that Joseph was from Arimathea, which was possibly the same Jewish town known as Ramathaim-Zophim mentioned in 1 Samuel as the home of Elkanah. By identifying him as where he was from it was easy to distinguish him from others. We also read that he was a rich man and that he was a respected member of the council (according to Mark and Luke), which was the ruling body of Jews known as the Sanhedrin (meaning council or assembly). It was this body that judged Jesus guilty. But Joseph did not join them in this decision. Luke records for us, “He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.” From this we know that he distanced himself from the council by not being in agreement. But we also read that in his not agreeing that he also did not reveal himself as a follower which we read here that he was. John recorded for us that he, “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews…”

Joseph was well-enough respected that he could approach Pilate and request the body of Jesus for burial, and according to Mark he, indeed, “took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” We also read that not only did he request the body of Jesus, but that he also took His “body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.” And that’s all that we know of him. Joseph took courage in the face of his fear of the Jews. He approached the ruler of the region and asked for Jesus’ body, and then he with care buried his Lord in his own tomb. Once he did this he rolled a stone over the entrance of the tomb and went away.

We could easily say that he did too little too late. When he finally stepped up it was all finished. If only he had objected stronger maybe he could have swayed some of the others. If only he had been more public and not so fearful, maybe he could have prevented what happened to Jesus. This would be a natural way of thinking and reasonable remorse. But this was not how it was to be, and God knew this long before Joseph was called to be a follower of Christ. God knew that Joseph would step up at the right time to accomplish what He intended, and Joseph is remembered in all four of the gospel records for what he did according to Scriptures. “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9, ESV) 

Joseph was not alone. John wrote, “Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.” John chapter 3 is all about Nicodemus’ earlier visit to Jesus at night when he would not be seen. It was to Nicodemus that Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7), and “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NASB95) But nowhere in John chapter 3 do we read that Nicodemus believed. But later, when the officers of the temple were sent out to apprehend Jesus only to return without Him it was Nicodemus who spoke up and questioned the procedures that the Pharisees and chief priests were following. “Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”” (John 7:50–51, ESV) And for speaking up, verse 51 records that they ridiculed him. Then this record of John telling us that Nicodemus joined Joseph in the burial of Jesus is the only other record we have of him. It was Nicodemus who the expensive burial spices, and it is in John’s record of Jesus’ burial that he reminds us that it was by night that Nicodemus had gone to Jesus, seemingly implying that he as well was secretly aligned with Joseph in following Christ. 

From this point forward neither man is mentioned again in Scripture. But at the right time they set their both set their fears aside. I can only imagine that after Jesus rose again on the third day that these two men heard about it. And I can hope that they got over their fears and became open followers who were not intimidated by the opposition, which I also imagine would have been pretty intense even costing them their position. Scripture simply does not give us this information. But what we do have are words from men like Peter who wrote to all of us, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:14–16, ESV) 

And we also have the example of Paul who spent so many years in prison for the gospel where he boldly proclaimed the message that he was given and for which he asked others to pray. “…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:18–20, ESV)

As I reflected on these two men I was greatly encouraged. There are so many times that I have remained silent when I should have spoken up. But this is not an excuse to continue this way into the future. God knew this from the beginning of time and He is not done with me. I have a great hope. We have a great hope, and it is this hope that we are to share with others boldly with gentleness and respect.

“Just as the Scriptures Had Said” (John 19:16-22, select verses through 19:37)

"(16) So he [Pilate] delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, (17) and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. (18) There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. (19) Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (20) Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. (21) So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” (22) Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” (John 19:16-22, ESV)

The Jews could not tolerate Jesus being crucified under the words which read, “The King of the Jews.” This is the inscription that Pilate wrote and placed on the cross, but the Jews pleaded with asking that the words be changed to reflect that this was not something they felt but something that Jesus had said. Pilate responded to them saying, “What I have written I have written.” It was his words that were placed on the cross and they would not be changed. This is what he had said and this was how it was going to be no matter what anyone else might say or think.

What an interesting contrast is developed in these verses. Jesus was sent to the cross by the Jews because they would not accept the word of the Father given to them, and there before them hung Jesus with the very charge for which He was being crucified posted for all to see. In fact, we read that these words were not only written in one language, but they were written in three languages so that everyone who passed on this busy road would see Him and read those words.

In John’s record of the death and burial of Jesus he stated four times that these things happened to fulfill what had been said in the Scriptures. In verses 23 and 24 we read, “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be for my clothing they cast lots. So the soldiers did these things.” About 1,000 years earlier King David said, “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:16–18, ESV) As difficult as it might have been to picture His garments being divided and them casting lots for His clothing, this is exactly what we read happened just as the Scriptures had said.

Next in verses 28 through 30 John recorded, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Returning to King David in Psalm 69 we read, “You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” (Psalm 69:19–21, ESV) Jesus said “I thirst” and the soldiers (not His disciples to twist prophecy) gave Him sour wine. Having received the sour wine Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit having said, “It is finished.”

What the Scriptures had declared about the coming Messiah who would take away the sins of the world was fulfilled in Christ. His reason for coming was completed. He had taken the weight of man’s sins onto Himself and He paid the price that no one else could pay. He was faithful to do exactly what the Father sent Him to do and He did is exactly as God had said. No one could change this. It was God’s plan was written in advance, and no objection of man would change it in any detail.

Later in verses 36 and 37 John made two more statements affirming that these things were done so that Scripture might be fulfilled. “For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”” Of the Passover Lamb, the Lord told Moses and Aaron, “It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.” (Exodus 12:46, ESV) This was also restated in Numbers 9:12 when the Passover was celebrated in the wilderness about 1300 years earlier. David wrote in Psalm 23:20, “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:20, ESV) And about 500 years before Zechariah wrote, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10, ESV)

One of the first resource books I purchased as a new believer was Josh McDowell’s “Evidence that Demands a Verdict.” It was not a sit down and read it book, but one packed with different “historical evidences for the Christian faith.” One of my favorite parts of the book were the ones given to the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Among those covered was a list of 29 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in one day—the twenty-four hour period from his betrayal to Him being buried in a rich man’s tomb.

Pilate probably in spite and out of bitterness for having his hand forced to crucify an innocent man had words written on a cross—words which were true whether he or anyone else accepted them or not. But God out of love and wanting us to know that what happened was truly His will spoke through His prophets hundreds of years before, and as sure as His words were written they surely came to pass. Our God who cannot lie proved Himself true, and knowing Him to be true we trust.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–8, ESV) 

(I got back to this post late and will have to return to it tomorrow for typos.)

Jesus is Crucified (Luke 23:26–56)

And today we read the fourth of the gospel records of the crucifixion of the only begotten Son of God who came to lay down His life on a cross so that we might receive the forgiveness of sins. He paid the price of redemption that we couldn’t, and in doing this we now belong to Him. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV) Telling us how to respond Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24–25, ESV)

Luke 23:26–56. "And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. (27) And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. (28) But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. (29) For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ (30) Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ (31) For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (32) Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.

(33) And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (34) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. (35) And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” (36) The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine (37) and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” (38) There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

(39) One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (40) But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? (41) And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” (42) And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (43) And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

(44) It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, (45) while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. (46) Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (47) Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (48) And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. (49) And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.”

(50) Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, (51) who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. (52) This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (53) Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. (54) It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. (55) The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. (56) Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.

On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:26–56, ESV)

Jesus is Crucified (Mark 15:21–47)

Today is day three of reading the gospel records of the crucifixion of the Son of God who came to take away the sins of the world. "For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Romans 5:17–18, ESV)

Mark 15:21–47. "And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. (22) And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). (23) And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. (24) And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. (25) And it was the third hour when they crucified him. (26) And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” (27) And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. (29) And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, (30) save yourself, and come down from the cross!” (31) So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. (32) Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

(33) And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (34) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (35) And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” (36) And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” (37) And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. (38) And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (39) And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

(40) There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. (41) When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.”

(42) And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, (43) Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (44) Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. (45) And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. (46) And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. (47) Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:21–47, ESV)

Jesus is Crucified (Matthew 27:32-61)

Today is day two of reading the gospel records of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by reading from Matthew. Paul wrote in 1Corinthians, "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,” (1 Corinthians 1:21–23, ESV)

Matthew 27:32-61. "As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. (33) And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), (34) they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. (35) And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. (36) Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. (37) And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (38) Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. (39) And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads (40) and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” (41) So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, (42) “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. (43) He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” (44) And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

(45) Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (47) And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” (48) And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. (49) But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” (50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

(51) And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (52) The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, (53) and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (54) When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

(55) There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, (56) among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”

(57) When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. (58) He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. (59) And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud (60) and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. (61) Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.” (Matthew 27:32–61, ESV)

Jesus is Crucified (John 19:16-42)

This is the part of working through John’s gospel record that I have been wondering just how I would walk through it. I know that every time I see a pictorial (movie or play) or dramatic portrayal I cringe when the nails are pounded into my Lord. I tear up when I see the agony and I imagine the intensity of the pain and the weight of my sin which He willing took upon Himself to lay down His life for my sins. Even today I still am wondering how to walk through it with you. After waiting on this I decided to do what I’m doing for myself which is to read each of the gospel records and spend time letting them sink in without commentary. So, for the next four days these records will be the entirety of my post, starting today with John recognizing that each is accurate but that each man was moved by the Spirit to bring what happened to us in different ways and even including varying details.

"(16) So he [Pilate] delivered him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus, (17) and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. (18) There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. (19) Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (20) Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

(21) So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” (22) Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

(23) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, (24) so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, (25) but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” (27) Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

(28) After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” (29) A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. (30) When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

(31) Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. (32) So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. (33) But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. (34) But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (35) He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. (36) For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” (37) And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”” (John 19:16–37, ESV)

"(38) After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. (39) Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. (40) So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (41) 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. (42) So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:16–42, ESV)