Bible Study - Essentials (4) - The Death of JESUS - John 19:7-30 - March 28, 2021

 

Bible Study – Essentials (4) – The Death of JESUS – March 28, 2021

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “Essentials of Christianity.”

Our focus scripture is John 19:7-11, 16b-18, 28-30.

Forgiveness is possible because JESUS died for our sins.

In the past week’s lesson, we saw in scripture that the shed blood of animals was not sufficient to take away sin. It was a place holder until JESUS came in the flesh, lived a sinless life and gave HIS life to atone for all sin past, present and future. Just know that each person must ask JESUS to forgive him (her) for his (her) sins, believing that HIS shed blood is all that is needed for the remission of sin. The forgiveness of a person’s sin opens the path between GOD and the person to receive the Holy Spirit and experience the miracle of Spiritual birth. The Spirit is eternal, thus eternal life.

Let’s explore!

*Let’s read John 19:7-11:

⁷ “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

The Law is rigid and crushes but grace is endless and comforts.

⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. 

Why was Pilate “more afraid then ever”? Could it be because Pilate’s wife had a dream – Matthew 27: ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” Had the wife of Pilate experienced salvation? What did Pilate think about JESUS? Let’s keep on ---

⁹ He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?”

^*11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”*

Who handed JESUS over to them for 30 pieces of silver? Judas!

Who else is handing JESUS over? The scribes and pharisees, who knew the scriptures and were looking for the coming Messiah.

¹² From that moment Pilate kept trying^[b] to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

Pilate being a Roman likely believed in various gods and that is why he asked JESUS where did he come from. Also, Pilate’s wife had a dream regarding JESUS that caused her much distress but the final decision maker was “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!” Pilate feared a riot in Jerusalem and that would not bode well for him because he was commissioned to keep the peace. Decision made. GOD’S redemptive plan was being executed literally and figuratively.

But what the Jews or Pilate or the rulers did not know was as written in 1 Corinthians 2:7 -  ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^[c]ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Aramaic,^[c] Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon.^[d] Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

¹⁵ They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶ Then he handed him over to be crucified.

**Let’s read John 19:16b-18:

The Crucifixion

Then they took Jesus away.^[e] 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called Place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. **

Let’s read verses 19-27:

¹⁹ Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’”

²² Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

Do you think that Pilate saw JESUS as the true Messiah? As JESUS told Pilate in verse 11, ¹¹ “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Pilate was unknowingly carrying out GOD’S redemptive plan. Pilate tried to release JESUS but as we read in verse 12, ¹² From that moment Pilate kept trying^[b] to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

JESUS was 100% human and 100% GOD; HIS physical body was subject to physical death. JESUS had to trust the FATHER with the redemptive process. JESUS gave up and trusted HIS Spirit into HIS FATHER’S Hands. This is exactly what all humans have to do. The Bible makes it clear all humans have a body, souls and spirit. It is the spirit that is eternal.

Oh, all humans already have eternal spirit life. Yes, the question is where will your spirit spent eternity? JESUS gave HIS sinless life so that all who place their faith in HIM and HIS passion will experience the miracle of Spiritual rebirth and be Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, never to be unborn. But some of us might make it into Heaven with singes on our Heavenly robes. Meaning we may lose our rewards but not our salvation. My basis for this statement is First Corinthians 3:15 - ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire. This applies to the person who has accepted JESUS as his or her Savior but has not lived according to HIS directions through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The life and death of JESUS is replete in the Old Testament. The Apostle John shares prophesy as recorded in the Old Testament in our next scripture ---

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.^[f] This is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’s Provision for His Mother

²⁵ Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple, he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Dying upon the cross, JESUS thought of the future of HIS mother. This brings up another issue we need to consider. We conclude from this that JESUS’ earthly father, Joseph had died. JESUS could have raised Joseph from the physically dead but HE didn’t. Why? We do not know except we know that JESUS was tempted in all ways as we are tempted, yet without sin.

*Let’s read John 19:28-30:

The Finished Work of Jesus

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so, they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth.

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.***

Was the sour wine the trigger that alerted JESUS that all scripture had been fulfilled? In Psalm 69, written by David, we read:

Instead, they gave me gall for my food,
and for my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink.

“It is finished!” JESUS completed the will, plan and purpose of GOD, according to the scriptures. HE willingly gave HIS sinless life for everyone who will accept HIM. All humans are without hope unless they accept JESUS, by faith, as their Savior.

What is the alternative? Hell, which GOD made for the devil and his angels. The choice is up to each of us, choose wisely my friends. Where do you want to spend eternity?

Do you believe there is The One True GOD Who loves you and sent HIS only SON to live in the flesh upon earth and gave HIS sinless life in atonement for your sin? If so, then ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins, believing and accepting that HE gave HIS sinless life to atone for your sins and ask HIM to come into your heart, now. If you did this then welcome into the family of GOD. Ask GOD to lead you to a Bible believing and teaching body of believers so you can grow Spiritually and serve HIM. Read John 3:16-17:

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

Blessings!!!