
April 18, 2025 - John 19:28-42
• Series: April 2025
Others may have unconsciously played their parts in God’s redemptive plan, but not Jesus. His mind is so steeped in Scripture that He understands the relevance of every Messianic prophecy to His own experience. The psalmist predicted He would be given sour wine to drink, so as He hangs on the cross, Jesus says, “I thirst.” The cheap vinegar wine is not a pain reliever, and it probably does little to quench His thirst. But it does enable Him to loudly cry out, “It is finished.” This is not a groan of despair, but a victorious declaration. The mission for which God’s Son was sent from heaven is fully accomplished! The significance of His entire life came down to this moment: our sin debt paid in full! With nothing left to do, Jesus makes the decision to die (v 28-30). Crucified men often hung on their crosses for two or three days before dying. But since tomorrow is a religious holiday (the Sabbath of Passover week), religious leaders want this execution to proceed quickly (cf Deut 21:23). So with heavy iron mallets, Roman soldiers smash the legs of the other two victims, making them unable to elevate their chests to breathe. But as the perfect Passover Lamb, none of the Messiah’s legs were to be broken. Just in time, Jesus had given up His spirit. To make sure He’s dead, a soldier pierces Jesus’ side with a spear, thus fulfilling more prophecy. Blood and water pour out, symbolizing the cleansing of sin and purification from uncleanness. John shares these details as an eyewitness, pleading with us to take him at his word, so that we might come to saving faith in Jesus the Messiah (v 31-37). Under Roman law, the bodies of executed criminals were normally handed over to family members. Unclaimed bodies were thrown on the garbage dump outside Jerusalem to burn with the city trash. But when someone was executed for treason, as Jesus was, the body could be left on a cross for days until vultures finished it off. Jesus was spared this indignity because of the actions of Joseph of Arimathea. As a respected member of the Sanhedrin, he had been a secret disciple of Jesus. But Joseph’s faith is obviously growing when he boldly asks Pilate for the body of a man convicted of being a rival king to the emperor! Nicodemus also re-appears, ready to do his part to provide an honorable burial (cf 3:1-2; 7:50-51). 75 pounds of precious spices are poured on expensive linen cloths, and Jesus’ body is laid to rest in a rich man’s tomb. As honoring as this was to Jesus, in one sense it is unnecessary, in light of what’s coming. This was “a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid”—a detail which will soon become relevant. On day three, when the tomb is found empty, there will be no doubt whose body is missing! (v 38-42). For further meditation: