John - Week 55

It Is Finished 

 READ 

John 19:28-30 

28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

This passage tells of the last three hours Jesus was on the cross. His humanity is shown in that He was thirsty. Then He offered those significant words, “It is finished.” That which follows—His death, burial and resurrection—are as certain as if they had already occurred. Nothing needs to be added to what Jesus did on the cross. To endeavor to add anything, such as good works or religious rituals, indicates what He did on the cross was not enough. All one has to do is believe in Jesus for salvation. His life was not taken from Him; He voluntarily “gave up his spirit.” 

REFLECT 

Is it not amazing to you that there is nothing you can add to what Jesus already did for you when He died on the cross? All that is left for you to do is to believe in Him for salvation. Because of what’s He’s done for you, seek to honor Him in all you do. 

RESPOND 

As you think about the last three hours Jesus spent on the cross, it is helpful to read the other Gospel accounts. With your disciple, read the following passages: Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 23:44-46. 

Unbroken Bones 

READ 

John 19:31-33 

31 It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 

While rejecting the Scriptures that predicted Jesus as the Messiah and Savior, the Jewish leaders wanted to follow the instructions about not leaving someone hanging on a cross, or tree, overnight (see Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Even though murder was in their heart, they were concerned about not desecrating the Sabbath (Saturday).  Breaking the legs would hasten death, but when the soldiers came to Jesus they realized He was already dead so they did not break His legs. 

REFLECT  

As the Jewish leaders, believers are sometimes guilty of being concerned about a smaller problem while ignoring a much larger one? For instance, do you have a set of rules a believer must keep in addition to believing in Jesus for salvation and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, as recorded in Galatians 5:22-23? 

Blood and Water 

READ  

John 19:34-37 

34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35 (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and “They will look on the one they pierced.” 

It is not certain why the soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear. Perhaps it was because he was  filled with hatred for the one who was the King of the Jews. In case you might doubt what the soldier did, John adds that he was an eyewitness. And the reason he was giving this account is so that people might believe. This ties in with what is considered the main purpose of the Gospel as stated in John 20:30. The prophecies cited in this passage are from Numbers 9:12 about no bones being broken in the sacrificial lamb, and Zechariah 12:10 that tells about them looking on the One whom they had pierced. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb. 

REFLECT 

Are you seeing how what happened to Jesus was fulfilling the predictions recorded in the Old Testament? Fulfilled prophecy is one of the greatest ways of showing the Bible has to be the written word of God. 

RESPOND 

Talk to your disciple about the importance of realizing the entire 66 books of the Bible have been “breathed-out” (inspired) by God Himself. That’s why the old is revealed in the new. It also shows why a knowledge of the Old Testament gives even greater understanding to what is revealed in the New Testament. 

Secret Disciples 

READ 

John 19:38-40 

38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 

It is humbling to read this passage. When those who were known for speaking out for Jesus were nowhere to be found, secret believers came forward. The disciples were surely in hiding for if they killed the ringleader, their lives would be in danger. Not only Joseph of Arimathea but also Nicodemus, a religious leader and Pharisee, were the bold ones at this time. They took the body of Jesus away and prepared it for burial. This was a courageous, costly act by these two who had not previously made an open profession of trusting Jesus as Messiah and Savior. They followed the Jewish custom of wrapping the body with the spices and long sheets of linen cloth. 

REFLECT 

Judas of Iscariot was a secret unbeliever; now this passage tells of secret believers. Both instances should make us hesitate in quickly pointing out who are believers and who are unbelievers.  

RESPOND 

You and your disciple need to talk about this passage. Does it humble you to think that secret believers had to come forward at this time? Then you need to pray for those around you that you assume are believers and unbelievers. Ask God to help you to be faithful in witnessing and leaving the decision to Him to know for sure who are believers and unbelievers.  

The Garden Tomb 

READ 

John 19:41-42 

41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. 

Matthew 27:57-60 indicates the tomb nearby belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph and Nicodemus were in a hurry to care for the body of Jesus before sundown – the beginning of Passover. It would have been time-consuming to wrap the body according to Jewish custom. These secret believers, however, were doing all they could to do everything properly. During this time the disciples were nowhere to be found.  

REFLECT 

How special would it have been for you to prepare Jesus’ body for burial? Would you have had the courage to come forward as these secret believers did? 

RESPOND 

You and your disciple need to be praying for courage. You don’t have to come forward to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus, but you need to be telling others about Jesus. That takes courage. Ask God to enable you to do this.