Seven dedicated disciples

 

The epilogue  21    The inscrutable Deity of Christ

Preparing for the future; learning to trust Him

1-14       Fishing……Evangelising the world……..global

14-18     Feeding…..Tending the flock……………pastoral           

19-24     Following…Learning to accept His will…personal

These three activities represent three of the practical exercises of Christianity.  In each of them, the maintenance of close intimacy with the Lord is deemed essential.  In the catching of fish, His presence and guidance is indispensable, without Him they would have caught no fish-v1-14.  In feeding and tending to the needs of the flock of God, love to Christ is paramount-v15-18.  In following His will for my life, absolute devotion to Him is required, even if it means martyrdom-v19-24.  On resurrection ground, which is where we are today, these are the functions of the Christian life

1-14)   Catching fish     Behind the narrative there are principles which apply to the work of evangelism, which is illustrated by the catching of fish.    Jesus said that He would make them fishers of men-Matthew 4v19.  We can learn from the principles established here.

1-2)  “After these things, Jesus shewed himself again to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed He Himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of the disciples

Manifest means “to make visible”, to reveal, and it means more than just physical appearance. Three things stand out in these cameos: first His indispensability in the salvation of souls-as figured in catching fish; the necessity of love in the service of His people; and the overriding principle of His will in the pathway of life.  He promised to manifest Himself to them on obedience-John 14v21.  It was in this manner He appeared to these His chosen apostles.  Note he met them at the sea of Tiberias-in fact it was the sea of Galilee, but John was writing at least 60 years after the resurrection, and Rome had imposed itself on the nation in a more public way.  This is the reason John used Roman terminology and added the Hebrew equivalent throughout.  The message was clear to all the disciples, they were to go to Galilee and await Him there; there are three separate records where they were told to meet Him in Galilee after His resurrection-Matthew 26v32; 28v7v10; Mark 14v28; 16v7.  Jesus chose the venue which was the centre of the fishing industry, and the area where He had done most of His miracles.  It was also the home ground of the eleven disciples, situated some 60 miles north of Jerusalem, away from the bustle of the city, a well-chosen meeting place.  There are lessons we can learn from this gathering:

Firstly note the eleven were not all present, there were four of them missing.  The message was the same to all of them to meet in Galilee.  There were only seven out of the eleven there.  There will always be some who do not gather as they should.  Thomas was missing on resurrection day, four of them were missing here.  However we also note the gracious demeanour of the Holy Spirit in recording the incident.  He covered their absence by not naming two of them present, so we are not aware exactly of who was absent.  “Love covers a multitude of sins”, and their absence was not highlighted!  If the Holy Spirit covers the failures of the saints, so should we.  There were none missing in the upper room after the ascension-Acts 1v13.    

Secondly we note they were together; they were all different characters, but they were united on resurrection ground.  Their togetherness overcame any differences they might have had.  This became an outstanding feature of the early church and it is one which should mark us-Acts 1v14; 2v1; 2v44; 2v46; 4v32; 5v12; 9v31.  They were there at the command of the Lord, with one heart and one purpose to hear Him and to serve Him.

In those who are named we see many differing features, people bonded together in the power of the resurrection of Christ.

Simon Peter the impetuous    He is always first in the lists of apostles, he was the leader, the most forward, the most active of all the apostles.  He had many faults, he made many mistakes, one was his boast that he would remain loyal even if others did not.  He was optimistic, saw the best in everything, wanted the best in everything, but he overestimated his own ability.  He had to learn his own weaknesses, and so His old name, the name he had before Chris called him is used here.  Jesus addressed him as “Simon son of Jonas” more than once in this chapter.  He had to learn, as we all have to learn, that the old man will remain with us to humble us, and there was no one more humbled than Peter.  The Lord will graciously restore him to full prominence, but he must humbly accept it is only in His strength it is possible.  Supremely gifted, and greatly dedicated, he had to subject himself to the reality of his own frailty.  

Thomas the cautious        He was the opposite of Peter, cautious, sceptical, pessimistic, always looking for problems, would not believe until he saw with his own eyes!  There are always people like that amongst the gatherings of the Lord’s people, but these found a way of serving together.  Having missed the meeting on resurrection morning, he was broken in worship as he realised his mistake, and he was ever present after that.  Thomas was an honest doubter, who came good; he had personal grief in his life, for he was a twin (the meaning of Thomas in Greek; and of Didymus in Hebrew).  There is no mention of his twin, who had either passed away, or who had rejected the Lord, both of which would be a source of depression.  People are moulded by their circumstances, and perhaps Thomas was how he was because of personal tragedy.  

Nathaniel the guileless     He was accorded the greatest compliment by the Lord at his calling “Behold an Israelite indeed in who there is no guile”-or as some have put it “an Israelite in whom is no Jacob”.  He was a pure soul, not marked by deceit, or double standards, sincere, a man of integrity, who lived an honest life.  A man whose word you could depend on, who said what he meant, who meant what he said.  He was most like his Lord of whom Peter wrote “…who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.”  Nathaniel did not deal in lies, even petty ones, not given to exaggeration, possessed that rare gift of transparency, and must have found difficulty with those who were prone to flatter.

The sons of Zebedee  James was a retiring, shy type who kept in the background, who would be martyred for his faith.  John was more forward, and of an intimate, mystic nature, he was “the disciple whom Jesus loved”-possibly because he was the youngest.  In any group there is always something lovable about the youngest.  It is thought John may have been only 18 years old at this time.  They were fiercely patriotic and openly sectarian for they wanted to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans.  They irritated the other apostles for they had their mother ask Jesus to grant them the highest place in the kingdom, and this upset them greatly.  Only in the power of resurrection could such a diverse group be merged together in such an intimate way.  Some are too forward, others too backward; some sincere and honest by nature, others scheming for themselves; some positive, others negative.  We are all different, yet we can work together.

Peace be unto you!

 

19-25)  To the disciples

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when He had so said, He shewed up to them. His hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my father hath sent me even so send I you.  And when he had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosoever's sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever's sins ye retain, they are retained.  But Thomas, one of the twelve. called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord.  But he said unto them, except I shall see in His hands, the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side. I will not believe.”    

Throughout the day, the news filtered through, and the disciples all gathered together in the evening for fear of the Jews.  They had secured the doors where they met, no doubt the same upper room where they had been with Jesus before His death.  Jesus came and stood in their midst, locked doors were no barrier to Him. 

The peace of comfort    His opening greeting to them was one of comfort.  He knew that some were embarrassed, each having let Him down in His darkest moment to one degree or another.  He knew they needed comfort, and assurance and this is what He gave.  With these words of blessing, He immediately removes all doubt, and opens their minds to the wonder of what had happened.  This was no time for recriminations, only for encouragement.  He reminds them of His passion for them, as He shews them His hands and side, symbols of His suffering.  This took them away from feelings of failure to exultation at His victory over death.  It was, perhaps for this reason that every epistle in the New Testament opens with the same blessing of grace and peace-Romans 1v7; 1^st Corinthians 1v3; 2^nd Corinthians 1v2; Galatians 1v3; Ephesians 1v2; Philippians 1v2; Colossians 1v2; 1^st Thessalonians 1v1; 2^nd Thessalonians 1v1; 1^st Timothy 1v2; 2^nd Timothy 1v2; Titus 1v4; 1^st Peter 1v2; 2^nd Peter 2v2; 2^nd John v2; 3^rd John v12; Jude v2.  This is to be the primary consideration in all our gatherings-PEACE, the absence of anxiety and disquiet, the inner calm that only the forgiveness of sins can bring, the feeling of blessing that nothing can disturb.

The peace of conviction     He shewed them the marks of His suffering, His hands and His side.  Once again John returns to the theme of evidence, the visible wounds of Calvary, that no one can refute; He was actually crucified, He actually died, He visibly rose from the dead, the same man who went into death, rose from the dead.  It is all settled, there is no room for doubt.  He is risen and has conquered death, and His people can rest.  These indelible marks proclaim the reality and enhance their faith and conviction in the value of His work. 

The peace of commission    Peace in the heart can nerve them for Highest service, and, having calmed their inward being He now commissions them to do a mighty work for men.  They will receive the power of the Holy Spirit.  They will declare authoritatively the way of salvation to their fellow men.  They will expound the way of salvation.  Remi and retain, in connection with sins, are similar to loosing and binding in Matthew 16.  It is not that men can forgive sins, for only God can do that.  It is that men can declare how sins can be forgiven, for this is the good news of the Gospel.  What a privilege to these apostles, and to all who follow them to be involved in such a mission.  What high calling is this- “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.”

26-29)   To Thomas

Thomas maintained the cynicism he had shewn, and absolutely needed to be persuaded of the facts.  Disillusioned by the events, and having honest doubt of the outcome, he expressed adamantly his feelings on the matter.  We must bear in mind, in mitigation of Thomas that these were spectacular events way beyond the normal, and it is right that an individual satisfies himself as to the truth.  He proclaimed “Except I see I will not believe.”  He had demonstrated similar scepticism in the upper room when he questioned the Lord in His words-Chapter 14v5.   However, we note that Jesus did not chide him when he appeared in the group one week later, having explicitly expressed his doubts.  Jesus simply took up his own words, and invited him to conduct his investigation.  At this, Thomas realised just who Jesus was and he bowed, reverently, and meekly, pronouncing “My Lord and my God!”.  He would never forget this when the reality of who Jesus is dawned upon him.  We should never forget it either, as this incident cements forever the truth of Jesus that overcomes the greatest scepticism.  Yet again the focus is on belief, faith in incontrovertible and unassailable facts.  Thomas was an intelligent man who knew Jesus was to die in Jerusalem, when others could not accept it-John 11v16.  He was an open man, always ready to express his opinion-John 14v5 and 20v25.  Yet, like all of us, he had to learn to learn about faith in the word of Christ, and not rest on human logic, or human sight.  Accepting his homage, Jesus did not flatter him, and said that those who believed without the need for physical sight are more blessed. 

30-31)  John uses this event to bring his gospel to a close on the primary theme of belief, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book.  But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His name.”   At the end of the epilogue he notes that if everything were written, the world could not contain the books that should be written, thus presenting all of us with the inscrutable Christ in whom is life indeed, and who is worthy of our faith and life devotion.

 

The remarkable devotion of Mary Magdalene

 

10-13)  “Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre; and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the foot where the body of Jesus had lain. They say unto her, woman, why weepest thou? She said unto them, because they have taken away, my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.”

Here we see the contrast between the disciples and the devoted Mary Magdalene. The disciples went home, which they were entitled to do, for they needed rest from the trauma they had been through. However, Mary would not rest until she knew where they had laid Him. The Holy Spirit records, she stood by the sepulchre weeping. This continues the flow of thought which began in18v5, where Judas stood with the ungodly rulers; in v18 Peter stood with the supporting mob, warming himself at the fire; in chapter 19v25, Mary Magdalene was one of the four women who stood by the Cross of Jesus in public devotion to Christ.  Now in chapter 20v11 she stood by the sepulchre weeping.  When everyone else had gone home, she remained at the sepulchre because all she wanted was to know was where they had laid Him. This remarkable devotion to Christ is highlighted by the Holy Spirit. The woman out of whom He cast 7 demons-Mark 16v9, loved Him more than they all, and stood her ground to the end.  Mary Magdalene, along with many others of the women are highlighted in this gospel as those who understood more, and those who loved more than the disciples. These were no crocodile tears, they were tears of genuine sorrow.  Unto those who are such, heaven responds.  As she stooped to look into the tomb, she saw two angels in white, sitting where His body had lain.  At that moment she knew all was well, yet she was allowed to express her sorrow.

20v14-21v25  Jesus appears to many

First to Mary Magdalene  We know that Jesus died because He was buried; we know that Jesus rose from the dead, because he was seen and He appeared to many witnesses. John, in his narrative, is following the logic of Paul in 1^st Corinthians 15, where he lays out the basis of the gospel that Christ died and was buried; that He rose again and was seen.  Here we have the narrative underpinning the doctrine.  There is a kind of poetic justice that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene.  She was first to see Him in resurrection and she was first to report to the faithful. 

14-18)  “And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus.  Jesus saith unto her, woman why weepest thou, whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him and I will take Him away.  Jesus saith unto her, Mary; she turned herself, and said unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master.  Jesus saith unto her, touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your father, and to my God and your God.  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her.” 

An amazing moment of revelation, first to see Him in resurrection, first to share the good news.  She did not expect this, and did not recognise Him in her grief.  However she did recognise His voice, which she had heard many times before.  Her heart leapt, and no doubt she clung to Him for joy.  She said “Rabboni”, which is the intimate form of Rabbi, meaning my very own teacher.  Jesus discouraged her natural elation and said that the intimacy must only be spiritual, for He was not yet ascended.  He sends her to tell the brethren-note the change of relationship on resurrection ground.  He had before called God their Father, but had never referred to them as brethren, although this was prophesied-Psalm 22v22  and others.  However He makes the distinction, as He says, “My Father and your Father; my God and your God”.  His relationship to God will always be special and so it must be.  This new status, where believers are in relationship to God, because in relationship to Him, is entirely new, and exalting, and exciting, a new dawn has come-human beings as brethren of Christ.  This truth is developed in the epistles-Romans 8v29 and Hebrews 2v11.  The disciples called Him Lord, He called them brethren.  Heaven responded to Mary’s outstanding devotion, the angels comforted her and the Lord appeared to her first in newness of life.

He is risen!

 

He rose from the dead     chapter 20v1-10

No human eyes witnessed the resurrection of Christ from the dead.  Only the angels who moved the stone and guarded the tomb.  One notable thing when we come to resurrection ground in chapters 20-21 is the changing of His title from Jesus to Lord-20v2, v13, vv18, v20, v25, v28,; 21v7, v12, v15, v16, v17, v20, v21-kurios, sovereign Lord; no longer the servant for His service is done.  Now the Lord who will bring everything to pass that was planned.  On resurrection ground He is Lord, and all shall know it.

John does not focus on the details but the credibility of these events which are the paramount thought in this gospel.

1-2)  “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene, early, while it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.   Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and saith unto them, they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid Him.

 

“First day of the week” is really the first of the weeks for the word day is in italics being supplied by the translators.  Also “weeks” is plural, indicating this DAY OF DAYS was to be observed every week.  This is further enhanced by the fact that it was early in the morning, before it was yet dark, when Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre.  This expression is used to underline the practice of the early Church, on a number of occasions and the principle is established that the first of the week is sacred in Christianity.  In honour of this most notable event the church met to commemorate the Lord, and give the firstfruits of their substance, precisely on the first of every week-John 20v19; Acts 20v7; 1^st Corinthians 16v2.  This is also the practise of most churches down to the present day.  This honours the biblical principle of bringing the first of everything to the Lord, He is to be first and foremost in our lives, for He is the first great cause of all.

Mary Magdalene was first at the sepulchre, according to John; not content with having stood at the cross, she came at the earliest opportunity to wait by the tomb.  Consider the devotion of this woman who came in the darkness to stand by Her Lord.  She is a great example of the saying of her Lord “To whom much is forgiven the same loveth much”-refer Mark 16v9.  Her loyalty to Jesus was of the highest order.  She sees the door of the tomb open and she ran to where the disciples were gathered.  Her mindset was one of confusion, rather than excitement, for she thought they had removed His body.

3-9)  “Peter therefore went forth and that other disciple and came to the sepulchre.  So they ran both together and the other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulchre. And  he stooping down and looking in saw the linen clothes lying yet went he not in.  Then cometh Simon Peter following him and went into the sepulchre and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went and also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed.  For as yet they knew not the scripture that He must rise from the dead.”

There are a number of interesting observations here.

Peter and John took the lead and ran together to the sepulchre.  There was evident rivalry between Peter and John, as is evident at the end of chapter 21.  When the situation demanded, as this one did, they were together.  This also highlighted in Acts 3v1 “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer.  This was an outstanding feature in the early church.

John was the younger of the two as he outran Peter to the sepulchre.

The two men had differing characters, John being the more cautious of the two, Peter, arriving later, went straight in.

They witnessed overwhelming evidence that He was risen, by the way the graveclothes were tidily left.

It was clear they had not understood the scripture that He would rise from the dead.  They resisted long enough that He would die, let alone that He would rise again.  This in the face of many prophecies, and declarations from Jesus Himself.  At this point all that Jesus told them came flooding back.

The result was that John believed, in keeping with the trend of his gospel, “that you might believe”.  John was now persuaded of His actual death and His resurrection.  They saw and believed and they are eyewitnesses for us.

Jesus died and was buried

 

19v31-21v25)   The Deity of Christ demonstrated in resurrection

Chapter 19v31-37       Jesus is dead

Chapter 19v38-42       Jesus is buried

Chapter 20v1-13         Jesus rises from the dead

Chapter 20v14-21v25 Jesus appears to many    

 

Flowing from the finished work of Christ, what follows in the remainder of the gospel are the four cardinal aspects of the gospel as described by Paul in 1^st Corinthians 15v1-10:

Ø Christ died     Chapter 19v31-37

Ø Christ was buried   Chapter 19v38-42

Ø Christ was raised from the dead   Chapter 20v1-13

Ø Christ appeared to many   Chapter 20v13-21v25

 

He died   31-37)  “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain up on the cross on the Sabbath day, ( for that Sabbath was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.  Then came the soldiers, and break the legs of the first and of the other, which was crucified with Him.  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was dead already, they break not his legs, but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side and forthwith came thereout blood and water.  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true; and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.  For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken (Exodus 12v46; Numbers 9v12; Psalm 34v20.)  And again another scripture that says they shall look upon Him whom they pierced” (Zechariah 12v10 ).

All this goes to the credibility of the gospel.  It was necessary to emphasise that Jesus actually died, because later many have challenged this in order to deny the resurrection.  This is what John is establishing here, Christ actually died, he was witness, and this was written that the readers might believe.  In typical style the Jews approached Pilate to remove the bodies from the crosses.  Crucifixion, being a slow death, often left the victims alive for some time.  Pilate, in order to appease the Jews on their holy day, ordered the bodies to be taken down.  The narrative that they broke the legs of the two malefactors, but Jesus was dead already, was to establish the fact Christ was dead.  Then they pierced His side, just to make sure and there flowed from the wound blood and water.  The significance of the blood and water, is simply the testimony that He was actually dead.  John attests this that this is what he saw.   Medically, blood does not separate from water in the human system until circulation stops.  This is further evidence that Jesus actually died-a fact disputed by infidels.  John emphasises he was witness to all these things, and this is for our faith, the main point of the writing being “that ye might believe”.  Without doubt, Jesus died and this is the first stage in the certainty of the gospel.  All this was a fulfilment of scripture, as predicted He actually died.

 

He was buried    38-42)  “And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore and took the body of Jesus.  And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 100 pound weight.  Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.  Now, in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre wherein never man was laid.   There laid they Jesus therefore, because of the Jews preparation day, for the sepulchre, was nigh at hand.”

The whole point of this narrative is absolute credibility, to underpin the faith of believers.  What happens to a dead body? It is buried; Christ was buried for He was dead.  He was buried with loving hands by men of high standing in Israel.  Joseph was a rich man, fulfilling the prophecy “He was with the rich in His death”-Isaiah 53v9, only the rich owned a private sepulchre; then came Nicodemus, a high ranking member of the ruling class of Israel.  Note that he is identified as the same man who came to Jesus by night-no stone is unturned to give credence to the whole story.  He brought expensive spices for the burial, and the extent of this was measured-100 pound weight.  This was a very lavish provision by Nicodemus, and a gift of love to one he had grown to trust.  As much as God allowed men to brutally maltreat His Son in crucifixion, He ensured that only loving, tender hands tended His dead body.

The Old Testament reveals the care that was to be taken with the remains of the sacrifices, which details were fulfilled in the burial of Christ.  The ashes of sacrifice were to be placed “in a clean place”, according to Leviticus 4v12, 6v11; Numbers 19v9-10.  Additionally in Numbers 4v13, they were to be covered with a purple cloth, referring to dignity.  Jesus was laid in a new sepulchre with dignity, and so the type was fulfilled.  The ashes were ceremonially mixed with clean water to cleanse the unclean in association with the holy temple service.  Hebrews 9v13 speaks of “…the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh.”  A clean place, unsullied by corruption; a place apart, separate from the traffic of life; covered in purple, dignity in death.  All these are symbolic of the importance of His burial.  Never again did unclean hands touch Him; never again did unclean eyes see Him.  Never again would unclean lips mock Him visibly.  His death saves me, His burial separates me from an unclean world.  The hymnwriter got it right-“Living He loved me, dying He saved me; buried He carried my sins far away…”.  The three days of burial is symbolic of separation from the world, as a study of the three days in scripture will reveal.  Shortly He will rise again, beyond anything of this world in a new life that He shares with the faithful.  There in that new tomb, His body lay, awaiting the day of resurrection.  Clean men, with clean hands and loving hearts, laid Him to rest in a new tomb, from whence He will rise in newness of life.

 

The triumph of Calvary

 Adoration by faithful women

23-24)  “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also His coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.  They said therefore among themselves, let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture did they cast lots.  These things therefore the soldiers did.”

Here we learn that four soldiers were allocated to each crucifixion, ensuring the desired outcome.  We also learn it was the practice that they dispose of the clothing as they wished.  This was the ultimate dishonour, and it is stated as a fulfilment of scripture-Psalm 22v18.  The detail of the crucifixion was written around 1000B.C. long before crucifixion was invented!  This is awesome foreknowledge.  Interesting these soldiers who effected this brutal death, were concerned for a piece of material not to spoil it.  The irony of this is breathtaking-they could destroy human life, but preserve a garment!  The whole thing was a fulfilment, and the united atrocity by men of different ranks, was unwittingly fulfilling scripture.  This is a major theme in this gospel-13v18, 17v12, 19v24, 19v28, 19v36.  The vicious and heartless acts of men were predicted with absolute accuracy.  No one but God could have orchestrated this, that down to the last small detail the scriptures were exonerated.  Scholars have estimated there are about 2500 specific prophecies in the bible, about 2000 0f which have already been fulfilled.  In the last week of His life no less than 25 predictions were enacted precisely as they had been given.  In this book which I have entitled “That you might believe”, this underlines the credibility and credit-worthiness of Jesus and the word of God.  We can be sure that the 500 or so prophecies yet to happen will also be fulfilled.  This book is credible, Jesus is credible, it is worthy of our acceptance.

25-27)  “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son; then said He to the disciple, behold thy mother.  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

In the midst of treachery and atrocity, we have unwavering loyalty from the women, who, in the face of public condemnation, took their stand with Jesus-they stood by the cross of Jesus.  They identified themselves with Him in His shame and suffering, they publicly declared their loyalty, not fearing the ire of their countrymen or the brutal might of Rome.  This is in contrast to Judas, who stood with those who arrested Jesus-Chapter 18v5; contrasted also with Peter who stood apart warming himself with the protagonists-chapter 18v16 and 25.  In the narrative of the crucifixion, and all around it, the women are depicted to be the most spiritual and the most loyal.  Four women are mentioned; His mother, His mother’s sister, who was Salome the mother of James and John, Mary the wife of Cleopas (Luke 24v18), and Mary Magdalene.  There were four soldiers assigned to His punishment, and there were four women who stood with Jesus.  In an act of defiance and disgust, in contrast to the four soldiers, these were the four soldiers of Christ who stood resolute in the face of indecent treachery.  Silent in their stand, they are highlighted forever in scripture, as those who stood with Him in His hours of deepest woe.  During the depths of suffering at the hands of cruel men, these women stood firm.  For His part, Jesus, as He bore the agony of crucifixion, had the presence of mind to cater for His widowed mother, whose soul was pierced by her son’s agony, by arranging for her keep while He was gone, and He asked John to take His mother home.  He probably did this to spare the women the sorrow of the hours of darkness, during which God made Him a sacrifice for sin.  John omits the darkness, possibly because he had left with the women to prepare a lodging for Jesus’ mother.  He omits it also for he is focused on the accomplishments of the cross rather than the agony, which we see perfectly illustrated in the next verses.

28-30)  “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put it to His mouth.  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, it is finished.  And He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost”

We have just witnessed the remarkable devotion of the women; now we see the unparalleled devotion of Christ to the Father.  The narrative begins, “Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished”-that is the work of redemption was complete; the demands of Deity were satisfied; mankind can now be reconciled to God.  Every stroke that was necessary to enable God to save men and women had now fallen.  Divine righteousness had been established; full payment for human sin had been made.  Was this enough? No, not for Jesus, there was another matter that needed to be done.  There was one solitary scripture as yet unfulfilled, and He would not rest until it was done.  It was the prediction of Psalm 22v15 and 69v21.  Previously, He had rejected the pain-numbing liquid that was used to reduce the pain threshold and prolong the punishment-Matthew 27v34 and Mark 15v23.  Now, some hours later, He calls for drink for two reasons-a) His mouth was so parched, He could not have cried the victorious cry; and b) the last scripture concerning His death must be fulfilled.  Having satisfied on the cross the demands of Deity, He must fulfil every scripture for this was the will of God.  In deep suffering and agony, having survived the trauma of Calvary, He was so dedicated to the Father, He would not proclaim “finished” until the scriptures were fulfilled. 

When this was done, He uttered with a loud voice, the triumphant cry “FINISHED!”-teleo, whose expanded Greek translation was in common use in everyday life; so that all would understand the powerful proclamation, e’er He dismissed His spirit.  He did not die, He laid down His life by commanding His human spirit to depart.  The word comes from the sport of archery, and refers to the arrow hitting the bullseye.  In John 13v1, it is used to describe Jesus’ love for His own, “He loved them to the end”-to the uttermost.  Tetalestai was in common use as follows:

·      In business and commerce, for the completion of a transaction-PAID IN FULL

·      In the ARTS, to denote the finishing touches to a masterpiece, whether of a painting or a statue.

·      In the military, following a war effort, the proclamation- MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

·      In the judiciary, the declaration by the presiding judge that a prison tariff had been completed.

·      In Religion, on the Day of Atonement the declaration by the High Priest that the nation was free from Divine judgment for another year.

·      In religious protocol, when a worshipper was debarred from the temple through illness or transgression, the priest on inspection pronounced they were clean, and able to participate once again.

The significance of this, therefore, is profound and far reaching, and is expounded in the New Testament, particularly in the letter to Hebrews.  The concepts of ransom, remission, regeneration, redemption, reconciliation, sanctification, glorification-all of which are a direct result of the completed work of Christ, are endemic in scripture, and must be fully understood to be a possibility for everyone, only by faith in His word.  This glorious declaration from His own lips on the cross, proclaims to all who believe, a perfect work done which needs no embellishment, and which is decisive for our salvation.  When a bill is paid in full, there is no more to be paid; when a masterpiece is complete it needs nothing to be added; when a mission is fully accomplished there is no more conflict, etc. etc.  The cross of Christ was not a tragedy, it was a Divine triumph, that has secured for mankind a perfect salvation. 

He, bearing His cross went forth

 

Abdication by vascillating Pilate  

 

16-18)  “Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified.  And they took Jesus and led Him away.  And He, bearing His cross, went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha; where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”

 

Scripture repeats this word “delivered” to underline the guilt of humanity: This is a strong word which is variously described as follows from the Blue Letter bible:

to give into the hands (of another)

to give over into (one's) power or use

to deliver to one something to keep, use, take care of, manage

to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death

to deliver up treacherously

by betrayal to cause one to be taken

Strong’s Definitions παραδίδωμι paradídōmi, par-ad-id'-o-mee; from G3844 and G1325; to surrender, i.e. yield up, entrust, transmit:—betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver up , give (over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.

 

Judas delivered Him to the arresting officers-Matthew 26v45; Mark 14v10.  The word used-betrayed is the same word.  This was treachery.

The rulers of Israel delivered Him to Pilate, the Roman governor-Matthew 27v2; Mark 15v1; John 18v35.

Pilate delivered Him to the soldiers to be crucified-Matthew 27v26; Luke 23v25; John 19v16.

The people delivered Him, when Pilate was determined to let Him go-Acts 3v13.

 

However the reality is revealed by both Peter and Paul-Acts 2v23, where a different word (surrendered) is used; and Romans 8v32.  This proclaims the passion of it, the heart-wrenching decision of God to surrender His Son to a cruel death.  It is made clear that it was God who delivered Him.  Without that determining power, they could have had nothing against Him.  The truth is “Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”  There is to be no mitigation of the guilt of humanity, save that which the grace of Almighty God determines.  He was crucified only because God decreed that was the way to save the world.  There was no resistance from Jesus, He “went forth, bearing His cross…”.  On His bruised back, He bore Himself the heavy burden, that would be the instrument of His cruel death.  In His crucifixion, He was placed between two criminals, who were suffering for their own sins.

19-22)  “And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross.  And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews.  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. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not the king of the Jews, but that he said, I am the king of the Jews.  Pilate answered, what I have written, I have written.”

Pilate was convinced that Jesus was innocent, and that he convicted Jesus to placate the Jewish mob.  Three times over he declared “I find no fault in Him”-John 18v38; 19v4; 19v6.  In Matthew 27v18, it was said “Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered Him”.  He knew that Jesus was no ordinary person, which is why he persisted to call Him king, and was why he posted the message on the cross of Jesus proclaiming Him as king.  Not only did he decree the writing but it was translated in three major languages of the time, in Hebrew, and in Greek, and in Latin.  This was to ensure the maximum publicity for the vast crowds milling Jerusalem at the Passover.  The cross on which Jesus was crucified was near the entrance to the city, and many read the superscription.  It was common to put a plaque on crosses to declare the sins of the one crucified.  Against Jesus no sin was declared, just His proper identification-Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.  This annoyed the religious rulers, who demanded they alter it.  Pilate refused, saying the writing would remain.  God ensured that His Son, who was treated so shamefully, was honoured, even as He hung on the cross.