THE DAY ON WHICH CHRIST DIED
JOHN 19:16-30
Introduction:
Pilate said, Here is your King, v. 14; “This is another example of irony. (John is the only Gospel writer who mentioned this incident). Pilate did not believe Jesus was their King, but to spite the Jews he called Jesus the King of the Jews. John saw this as significant, for Jesus would die for His people as the King of His people, as the Messiah. Pilate could not resist goading the Jews: ‘Shall I crucify your King?’” The Bible Knowledge Commentary.
“We have no king but Caesar,” v. 15. The rebellious Jews claimed loyalty to Rome while disclaiming their Messiah, Psalm 2:1-3, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
I. THE DAY BEFORE JESUS DIED
A. The day the Lord had prayed before he was betrayed, Luke 22:1, 7, Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.”
B. The Lord had eaten the passover with his disciples the day before He was crucified, Luke 22:7-8, “Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.”
II. THE NEXT JESUS, BEARING HIS CROSS, WENT TO GOLGOTHA
A. Pilate delivered Jesus NOT to his officers, but to His prosecutors, the Jews, attempting to transfer his guilt, v. 16; Matthew 27:24, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”
B. How Jesus suffered for our sins.
1. By the Law of Moses the prosecutors were to be the executioners, Deuteronomy 17:7, “The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.”
2. His being led away NOT having made any opposition, shows the scripture being fulfilled, Acts 8:32, “The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:”
a. They OBLIGED Him TO CARRY His cross according to the custom among the Romans, v. 17, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:”
b. Pilate had “the last word,” for he wrote the title for the cross: “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” vs. 19-20, “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.”
III. THERE JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS
A. Jesus was taken immediately to be crucified, v. 17.
1. John does not speak of the case of the thief, Barabbas, Matthew 27:26, “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.”
2. Although Pilate hated the Jews he wanted to “CONTENT” the people, Mark 15:15, “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.”
B. Jesus was NUMBERED with the transgressors, Isaiah 53:12, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
1. He was crucified between two thieves thus fulfilling the Scriptures, v. 18, “Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”
2. They hung Him on a tree according to the Scriptures, John 12:32-33, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.”
C. Jesus died having fulfilled the Word of God, v. 30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
1. To finish the work God had given Him to do was always first in His mind, John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
2. That work was the redemption of man, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
D. Jesus bowed His head and delivered His spirit into the Father’s hands, Luke 23:46, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”
CONCLUSION:
The Lord fulfilled the Word of God thus He glorified His Father by suffering for our sins on the cross of Calvary. He did what He said He would do in John 10:11, 14, 17-18, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep, 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”