JOHN 19
THE CRUCIFIXION + DEATH OF CHRIST
Before being crucified, Jesus is brutally beaten and whipped. Pilate’s soldiers take Him and clothe Him in purple robes and a crown of thorns, mocking His alleged identity as King of the Jews. When Jesus goes before the chief priest and officers, they cry out, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Despite Pilate finding Him innocent, the crowd wants Jesus killed over His claims to be the Son of God.
Pilate continues to question Jesus, fearful of what will happen. At first, Jesus does not respond. Confused and frustrated by this, Pilate reminds Him of the great authority he holds. Jesus refutes Pilate’s statement, telling him he has no authority over Him unless it has been given to him from God. In the moments before His death, Jesus remains confident in God’s sovereignty and power.
Pilate, realizing Jesus’s innocence, wants to release Him, but is influenced by the crowds who want Him killed. When asked if they wanted to save their king, the crowd replies that the only king they acknowledge is Caesar. Reluctant, Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified.
Bearing His own cross, Jesus is taken to “the place of the skull,” called Golgotha. Two other men are crucified next to Him, one on either side of Him. Above His head, a wooden sign reads “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in Greek, Latin, and Aramaic for all to read. The soldiers throw dice to divide His clothing between them (Psalm 22:18).
Standing by the cross, remaining with Jesus until His death, are Mary Magdalene and Mary, Jesus’s mother. When He sees His mother with His disciples, He calls out to her, saying, “Behold, your son!” He calls out to the disciples, “Behold, your mother!” indicating that His disciples are to care for Mary after His death. In His last moments, He expresses His care for His mother and His disciples.
After saying “I thirst,” Jesus is given sour wine or vinegar, held up to His mouth on a sponge (Psalm 69:21). Before taking His final breath, bowing His head, and giving over His spirit, Jesus says “It is finished,” showing His completion of the fulfillment of Scripture and atonement for sin.
Wanting to conclude the crucifixions before the Sabbath day, the soldiers break the legs of the men on the crosses next to Jesus, speeding up their deaths. Realizing that Jesus has already died, they do not break any of his bones (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12). Instead, one of the soldiers pierces His side with a spear, causing blood and water to leave His body (Zechariah 12:10).
Joseph, one of Jesus’s followers, asks Pilate for Jesus’s body, wanting to properly bury Him before the Sabbath. Joseph takes the body and wraps it in linen clothing. Nicodemus, who had earlier met with Jesus, brings myrrh and ointments to embalm His body before He is placed in a tomb protected by a large stone.
