3 Weeks of Easter - The Crucifixion

3 Weeks of Easter Crucifixion - John 19:14-42 April 13, 2025 Last week, we started our short Easter Series with a look at the truth of the resurrection, which we contended was of utmost importance in the Gospel story. We argued from 1 Corinthians 15 that without the resurrection, then the rest of the Gospel is futile, to use the language of the Apostle Paul. But, like any puzzle, it is not complete without all its pieces, so this morning, we will tackle another aspect of the Gospel, which is the crucifixion of Jesus. This morning, we'll be looking at the crucifixion account of John, beginning in chapter 19, verse 14. But let's go ahead and catch up, so we know where we are in this story. Today is what is traditionally called "Palm Sunday." Palm Sunday marks one week prior to Jesus' resurrection. On this triumphant entry, which is recorded in all four of the Gospel accounts, Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, which is a direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9. As He enters in, the people put cloaks and branches on the ground and cried out "HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, EVEN THE 'KING OF ISRAEL!" (John 12:13). Hosanna, as you may know, means "save now" or "save us." This is significant because days later, He will do that very thing through the act of crucifixion. Since we're looking at John's account, you can see that this final week of Jesus' ministry was busy and impactful. Jesus, for example, celebrates the Passover with His disciples, reminds them several times what He was about to do, predicted that Judas would betray Him, and that Peter would deny Him three times. He would also remind His disciples that He was the only way to get to the Father, and that when He leaves, He would not leave them alone, promising the believer the presence of the Holy Spirit. Then, right before His arrest, trial, and flogging, He prays for His disciples. This prayer, recorded in John 17, was a prayer for all His disciples, to include you and me. Finally, we reminded in that very prayer that He was there to do the will of the Father. As we read that, and as we'll see in the passage here momentarily, Jesus had to be put to death, for the Father's will to be fulfilled. Let's read John's account from Chapter 19, beginning at verse 14: 14 NOW IT WAS THE DAY OF PREPARATION OF THE PASSOVER. IT WAS ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR. HE SAID TO THE JEWS, "BEHOLD YOUR KING!" 15 THEY CRIED OUT, "AWAY WITH HIM, AWAY WITH HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!" PILATE SAID TO THEM, "SHALL I CRUCIFY YOUR KING?" THE CHIEF PRIESTS ANSWERED, "WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR." 16 SO HE DELIVERED HIM OVER TO THEM TO BE CRUCIFIED. SO THEY TOOK JESUS, 17 AND HE WENT OUT, BEARING HIS OWN CROSS, TO THE PLACE CALLED THE PLACE OF A SKULL, WHICH IN ARAMAIC IS CALLED GOLGOTHA. 18 THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM, AND WITH HIM TWO OTHERS, ONE ON EITHER SIDE, AND JESUS BETWEEN THEM. 19 PILATE ALSO WROTE AN INSCRIPTION AND PUT IT ON THE CROSS. IT READ, "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." 20 MANY OF THE JEWS READ THIS INSCRIPTION, FOR THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED WAS NEAR THE CITY, AND IT WAS WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC, IN LATIN, AND IN GREEK. 21 SO THE CHIEF PRIESTS OF THE JEWS SAID TO PILATE, "DO NOT WRITE, 'THE KING OF THE JEWS,' BUT RATHER, 'THIS MAN SAID, I AM KING OF THE JEWS.' " 22 PILATE ANSWERED, "WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN I HAVE WRITTEN." 23 WHEN THE SOLDIERS HAD CRUCIFIED JESUS, THEY TOOK HIS GARMENTS AND DIVIDED THEM INTO FOUR PARTS, ONE PART FOR EACH SOLDIER; ALSO HIS TUNIC. BUT THE TUNIC WAS SEAMLESS, WOVEN IN ONE PIECE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, 24 SO THEY SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, "LET US NOT TEAR IT, BUT CAST LOTS FOR IT TO SEE WHOSE IT SHALL BE." THIS WAS TO FULFILL THE SCRIPTURE WHICH SAYS, "THEY DIVIDED MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS." SO THE SOLDIERS DID THESE THINGS, 25 BUT STANDING BY THE CROSS OF JESUS WERE HIS MOTHER AND HIS MOTHER'S SISTER, MARY THE WIFE OF CLOPAS, AND MARY MAGDALENE. 26 WHEN JESUS SAW HIS MOTHER AND THE DISCIPLE WHOM HE LOVED STANDING NEARBY, HE SAID TO HIS MOTHER, "WOMAN, BEHOLD, YOUR SON!" 27 THEN HE SAID TO THE DISCIPLE, "BEHOLD, YOUR MOTHER!" AND FROM THAT HOUR THE DISCIPLE TOOK HER TO HIS OWN HOME. 28 AFTER THIS, JESUS, KNOWING THAT ALL WAS NOW FINISHED, SAID (TO FULFILL THE SCRIPTURE), "I THIRST." 29 A JAR FULL OF SOUR WINE STOOD THERE, SO THEY PUT A SPONGE FULL OF THE SOUR WINE ON A HYSSOP BRANCH AND HELD IT TO HIS MOUTH. 30 WHEN JESUS HAD RECEIVED THE SOUR WINE, HE SAID, "IT IS FINISHED," AND HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND GAVE UP HIS SPIRIT. 31 SINCE IT WAS THE DAY OF PREPARATION, AND SO THAT THE BODIES WOULD NOT REMAIN ON THE CROSS ON THE SABBATH (FOR THAT SABBATH WAS A HIGH DAY), THE JEWS ASKED PILATE THAT THEIR LEGS MIGHT BE BROKEN AND THAT THEY MIGHT BE TAKEN AWAY. 32 SO THE SOLDIERS CAME AND BROKE THE LEGS OF THE FIRST, AND OF THE OTHER WHO HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH HIM. 33 BUT WHEN THEY CAME TO JESUS AND SAW THAT HE WAS ALREADY DEAD, THEY DID NOT BREAK HIS LEGS. 34 BUT ONE OF THE SOLDIERS PIERCED HIS SIDE WITH A SPEAR, AND AT ONCE THERE CAME OUT BLOOD AND WATER. 35 HE WHO SAW IT HAS BORNE WITNESS-HIS TESTIMONY IS TRUE, AND HE KNOWS THAT HE IS TELLING THE TRUTH-THAT YOU ALSO MAY BELIEVE. 36 FOR THESE THINGS TOOK PLACE THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED: "NOT ONE OF HIS BONES WILL BE BROKEN." 37 AND AGAIN ANOTHER SCRIPTURE SAYS, "THEY WILL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED." 38 AFTER THESE THINGS JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, WHO WAS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS, BUT SECRETLY FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS, ASKED PILATE THAT HE MIGHT TAKE AWAY THE BODY OF JESUS, AND PILATE GAVE HIM PERMISSION. SO HE CAME AND TOOK AWAY HIS BODY. 39 NICODEMUS ALSO, WHO EARLIER HAD COME TO JESUS BY NIGHT, CAME BRINGING A MIXTURE OF MYRRH AND ALOES, ABOUT SEVENTY-FIVE POUNDS IN WEIGHT. 40 SO THEY TOOK THE BODY OF JESUS AND BOUND IT IN LINEN CLOTHS WITH THE SPICES, AS IS THE BURIAL CUSTOM OF THE JEWS. 41 NOW IN THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS CRUCIFIED THERE WAS A GARDEN, AND IN THE GARDEN A NEW TOMB IN WHICH NO ONE HAD YET BEEN LAID. 42 SO BECAUSE OF THE JEWISH DAY OF PREPARATION, SINCE THE TOMB WAS CLOSE AT HAND, THEY LAID JESUS THERE. I attempted to read that slowly, as I wanted it to resonate and sink in with you. This is a heart-wrenching account of the death of the Savior. And for those of us in this room who are saved, then I ask that you let it sink in that that death was suffered on our behalf. First Peter 3:18 describes His death as the righteous for the unrighteous, meaning that He substituted Himself for us. Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 5:21 as becoming sin for us, even though He was without sin. The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 9 says that it was His blood, and His blood alone, that secured eternal redemption. Later proclaiming that Jesus gave up Himself as a sacrifice to the Father, proving that all prior sacrifices were never enough. Later again proclaiming that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (verses 12,14, and 22). Finally, Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that it was God's grace that gives us all an opportunity to be saved from eternal judgement. So, as we've just illustrated, there is so much significance in the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. That leads to our main idea, which is a simple statement on the crucifixion: The crucifixion of Jesus was necessary for the forgiveness of my sin. People often ask, why the crucifixion? Couldn't Jesus have died a less gruesome death? I think the text gives us some hints about this. So, to answer that question, let's observe: FOUR TRUTHS ABOUT JESUS' CRUCIFIXION: * It was a real event. o Jonathan Edwards - great Puritan preacher - said it this way: "Although the Romans did not invent crucifixion, they perfected it as a form of torture and capital punishment that was designed to produce a slow death with maximum pain and suffering." o In other words, it was historically known that the worst prisoners under the Roman rule died via crucifixion. o The cross was a symbol of death and cruelty. o As such, it would be a very public and well-known way for someone to be executed. o In part, I think this is why in verse 20 we see that Jesus' charge was written in the three major languages of the day: Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. o There is also extra-biblical literature that confirms Jesus' death on the cross, these include: * A letter written by Mara bar Serapion to his son (ca. AD 73). * Josephus, the Jewish historian (ca. AD 90). * Tacitus, the Roman historian (ca. AD 110-120). * The Babylonian Talmud (ca. AD 200). o We talked last week on the importance of an eyewitness account, so a public execution was key. o So, as I urged last week, I will urge again. o You must believe. o Many believed and knew that Jesus was crucified, but they failed to believe that He died for our sins, and the He rose on the third day, and that He ascended and is sitting at the right hand of God and will return for His bride. o It is not enough to believe that Jesus died, do you believe that He did that for you? For your sins? o Next truth we know from His crucifixion is that ... * It was cruel. o I mentioned earlier how the description of this event was so cruel and heart-wrenching. o And, while a part of me wants to share some of these details, I decided I'd simply use the text as it is written to share the cruelty of this execution o In verse 17, we read that He carried His own cross * Two notes on this. * First, Mark 15:21 reveals that a man named Simon carried His cross to its destination, and * Second, the carrying of the cross comes after He was arrested, tried, charged and flogged, so He was likely exhausted and very injured from the flogging. o Then, in verses 18-24, we see that Jesus was hanging on the cross, slowly dying. o Verses 25-27 shows Jesus' compassion and loyalty to His mother, and shows the loyalty of some of His disciples, namely the three Marys and Salome. * This account reveals that He was about to leave His mother alone. Evidently, at some point between 12-year-old Jesus at the Temple and His crucifixion, Joseph had died, leaving Jesus as the man of the home. (There's a strong indication that Joseph wasn't alive during Jesus' first miracle in John 4). * Nevertheless, as the Man of His home, He gave His mother to the Apostle John to look after. o Again, John didn't provide a lot of information for us, so we won't dig too deep into the details. The important thing for us is that we have the record of Jesus' death on the Cross. Which is verified by many, inside and outside the Scriptures. o It is the example of Jesus' selflessness that we can learn from and apply to others, even today. o Remember, we are called to love like Jesus loved. He asked the Father to forgive those who did this to Him, so we have a duty to love and forgive like Him. o Next, as you likely predicted ... * Jesus died. o Verses 28-29 reveal to us that Jesus had fulfilled the Scriptures relating to this part of His ministry, and He declared, "IT IS FINISHED" * That term means that the work of the Father was complete. * The term literally means that the "debt was paid in full" * It was a cry of victory, as all that was set out was accomplished. o What is also key in this passage is that John records that Jesus gave up His spirit. In other words, Jesus was in complete control, even to the point of His earthly death. o Back in John 10:17-18, Jesus said this to His disciples: 17 FOR THIS REASON THE FATHER LOVES ME, BECAUSE I LAY DOWN MY LIFE THAT I MAY TAKE IT UP AGAIN. 18 NO ONE TAKES IT FROM ME, BUT I LAY IT DOWN OF MY OWN ACCORD. I HAVE AUTHORITY TO LAY IT DOWN, AND I HAVE AUTHORITY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN. THIS CHARGE I HAVE RECEIVED FROM MY FATHER." o If nothing else, this should lead us to our knees. Not only in awe and reverence, but also in heartbreak. o If you ever saw the 2004 Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ, you know what I'm talking about. o Our response must be one of praise and thanksgiving, leading to repentance o Next, and lastly ... * It was a fulfillment of prophecy. o There are too many to cover here, but I think reviewing some will add some confidence in the reality of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. * Psalm 34:20 prophesies that no bone would be broken. * Zecheriah 12 speaks to Him being pierced. * Isaiah 53:3-5 tells us that the "Suffering Servant" will be despised and reject by His own (they gave Him over to the Romans), and that He would bear the abuse that we deserve (they beat Him and mocked Him). * Isaiah 53:6,8, and 12 reveals that Jesus will bear our sins. * Back again to Isaiah 53, the Suffering Servant in verse 9 will die with the wicked - we read that Jesus died with two criminals who were guilty. * Even the betrayal for 30 pieces of silver was prophesied in Zechariah 11. * My last example is an interesting one. In John 19:38-42, we read that Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in his tomb. Isaiah 53:9 said that this Servant will be buried among the rich. Joseph was considered rich, as he owned this tomb. Nicodemus brought 75lbs of expensive oils to the burial, again, considered to be worth a lot of money. o Prophecy is a constant reminder of God's unmatched faithfulness. o We can stand confident - under every and all circumstances - because God is faithful to His promises. o So, what do we do? o We patiently wait for His fulfillment of those still to come. o We serve His people, we worship Him in Spirit and truth, and we make more disciples. Earlier I made a simple statement: The crucifixion of Jesus was necessary for the forgiveness of my sin. Next week, we celebrate the resurrection, because as we noted last week, without the resurrection, we're still in our sins. Jesus went through this pain and suffering so you and I can receive the free gift of faith. Don't leave today if you have not accepted this gift. In many ways, this was a Good Friday message. So, as we close, I think it would be most appropriate if we take a couple of moments to silently thank God for the work that Jesus did on the Cross. After a few minutes pass, music will begin playing in the background, and as you finish your personal time of prayer and solitude, you may rise and leave the auditorium. 2