How can Jesus’ death and burial be a source of boundless joy and hope? In this passage we see, what, on the surface, seems an utter defeat, and many, including the disciples, saw it this way. But, as we look closer we see that Jesus is dying of His own choice – on three occasions in this passage (19:28, 36, 27) John highlights that Jesus’ death is fulfilling prophecies made in the bible! He is choosing to die so that we can go from being thirsty to being satisfied, from being broken to being ‘finished’, from being fearful to becoming confident, unashamed worshippers.
Monday: “I am
thirsty”
Read John 19:28, 3:14,
7:37. Fulfilling Ps. 69:21 ‘They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my
thirst’ John wants us to see something deeper in Jesus’ thirst. On previous occasions John has pointed to
Jesus as the one who satisfies our spiritual thirst. For Isaiah 55:1-2 to be
fulfilled – our having our deepest thirst quenched – Jesus becomes spiritually
thirsty as He is cursed by God and man for us, on the cross.
Tuesday: “It is
finished”
Read John 19:29-30. ‘Hyssop’ connects Jesus’ death to Passover; Hyssop
was used to paint blood over their doors bringing victory over death and
slavery (Ex.12:22). Jesus dies as our victor. He is in control of all of these
events, fulfilling scripture and doing all that is needed for man’s salvation.
It is finished! We add nothing to Jesus work; we receive it by faith. The devil will come and ask, “Is it really
finished?” At such times re-affirm your faith, declare to your soul and to
demonic powers, “It is finished!”
Wednesday: ‘His testimony is true’
Read John 19:31-35. John stresses that Jesus is fully man (against false
teaching that He was not human). His incarnation means that He was both fully
God and fully man. He died for humans as a human. The flow of blood and water,
is also a significant piece of evidence on the authenticity of John’s testimony.
A. Metherell M.D, P.H.D. Interviewed by
Lee Strobel (The case for Christ) said, “John’s
description is consistent with what modern medicine would expect to have
happened…the hypovolemic shock caused sustained rapid heart rate that would
have contributed to heart failure, resulting in the collection of fluid…around
the heart…as well as around the lungs...”
Thursday: “That
scripture would be fulfilled”
Read John 19:36-37, Num. 9:12. God rules over these events. It’s reassuring
that even when God looks dead to us, even when He looks defeated, He is reigning
in victory! Take a moment to reaffirm your trust in Jesus over the events of
your life.
Friday: Joseph and Nicodemus take Jesus’ body
Read John 19:38-39, 2
Tim. 1:8. Here we see both Joseph and Nicodemus growing in their
boldness and devotion: Joseph had followed Jesus ‘secretly because of fear’ and
Nicodemus who had ‘visited Jesus at night’ are now going public. Pray that God
would give you grace to be ever more open about Jesus.
Saturday:
Jesus laid in the tomb
Read John 19:40-42. Have you
ever wondered why it was not Jesus’ eleven disciples or His mother or brothers,
but these comparative strangers that boldly and generously bury Jesus? Jesus
invites all of us, no matter if we feel like outsiders in some way, to serve
and worship Him as if we were His closest brothers.
You can catch up on all the messages in the
John series at:
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