John - Week 54

Place of the Skull 

READ 

John 19:17-18 

17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 

Once Pilate turned Jesus over to be crucified, the religious leaders took Him away. Apparently Jesus was too physically weak to carry the cross all the way because of the beating He had endured. Other gospels tell of them forcing Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ cross (see Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). Arriving at Golgotha, they nailed Him to a cross to be crucified between two criminals. 

REFLECT 

Think of this sad event: those for whom Jesus came to die nailed Him to a cross. Imagine if you had been there witnessing this cruel treatment. 

RESPOND 

Be sure to check out the passages mentioned above that tell of Simon being forced to carry Jesus’ cross. This reveals that a fuller picture is seen by reading all four gospels about a specific account. Yet, each one is reliable as the Holy Spirit guided the human authors in what to record for the theme they presented.  

The King of the Jews 

READ 

John 19:19-20 

19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. 

Pilate was still trying to get his point across to the Jewish leaders by declaring Jesus was “the King of the Jews.” By writing it in three languages, the message could be read by anyone observing or passing by. Some translations use the word “Aramaic” instead of “Hebrew” (see the English Standard Version). Aramaic was almost a universal language in that day, so that with Greek could be understood and spoken by most. In that multi-lingual culture, Jesus probably spoke Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.  

REFLECT 

What if you have been standing there or walking by that day and saw a sign that indicated they were in the process of killing “the King of the Jews”? What would you have thought? 

RESPOND 

The precise spot of the crucifixion of Jesus is debated, but the important point is not the spot. What is important is that He died as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. In talking with others, do not be sidetracked by secondary issues. Stick to what is most important. Are you helping your disciple to think about these matters? 

Edit Requested 

READ 

John 19:21-22  

21 Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’” 

22 Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” 

The leading priests were doing what is common in some circles today. They wanted to change what has been written. Some have wanted to add to the Ten Commandments the word “ordinarily.” This is known as “situation ethics.” Accept the Scriptures as they were written and understood at the time of writing.  This is what is meant by “literal interpretation.” It is explaining the Bible in its normal use of language at the time it was written.  

REFLECT 

Think of how to answer those who want to change what the Bible says. For others, it is better to reject the Bible as God’s Word than to try to change what God inspired to be written.  

RESPOND 

Help your disciple to understand that the most difficult group to minister to is those who call themselves believers in Jesus, but who don’t really agree with what the Bible says. They fall in the same group as Judas who spent three years with Jesus but did not believe in Him as Savior. 

Casting Lots 

READ 

John 19:23-24 

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 24 So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did. 

The soldiers did not realize they were fulfilling prophecy when they divided Jesus’ clothes among them (see Psalm 22:18) Casting lots in Bible times was similar to throwing dice today. This shows the careless disrespect the soldiers had for Jesus on the cross, but apparently it was the custom that they got the clothes of the one they were murdering. The Son of God who had taken on human form to die for mankind was abused to the very end of His human life.  

REFLECT 

Think how precious Jesus is to you for going through all He did in the process of being your sacrifice for sin. Thank Him now for what He went through for you. 

RESPOND 

The soldiers were dividing up Jesus’ clothing. Read Isaiah 64:6-7 to see that the “righteousness” some have are like filthy rags. Then read Romans 5:1-2 to see how one attains true peace with God.  

At the Foot of the Cross 

READ 

John 19:25-27 

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. 

At first glance, the reader may think that Jesus’ mother had a sister whose name was also “Mary.” Better to understand that the sister of Jesus’ mother is unnamed, and that another person is referred to as “Mary (the wife of Clopas).” “Mary” was a common name then as it is now. This would mean there are actually four women mentioned in verse 25. It is considered that the expression “the disciple he loved” in verse 26 refers to the apostle John who is recording these events.  Others might be bold in saying, “I love Jesus.” John could only refer to himself as the disciple who was loved by Jesus. The mother of Jesus was then cared for by the apostle John. 

REFLECT 

Notice the tender care Jesus had for His earthly mother, even while He was in agony on the cross. Although Jesus was fully God and as well as fully Man, He did not fail to provide for the human vessel God used to bring Him into the world and to rear Him as a child.