Death and Burial of Christ
23 June 2013 PM – John 19:23-42 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Last week we concluded our study at John 19:22. The Roman soldiers had crucified Jesus. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. The bold three-language title above His head read, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.”
John leaves out many of the details included in the synoptic gospels. His main purpose in writing was to convince that Jesus is God the Son. Details that did not support his thesis were unnecessary to include.
Transition: In our section this evening, John identified four scriptures that were fulfilled as well as several other facts that support Christ’s deity.
I. Soldiers Cast Lots for Christ’s Garments (23-24)
A. His garments divided
1. Four soldiers crucified Jesus and they divided his clothing. Bob Utley points out that, “This must refer to His shoes, prayer shawl (tallith), waist band, and outer garment(s).”
2. His coat or tunic was an under garment worn next to the skin. Again, Utley adds, “First-century Jews apparently wore an additional piece of underwear called a loin cloth. Jesus was not completely disrobed. The Jews would have been offended by total nakedness.”
3. His tunic may have been an expensive gift since it had no seams and the soldiers did not want to tear it. It may have been patterned after the garment of the high priest (Ex 28:31-32).
4. They cast lots (drew the name of one soldier) to decide who would get the tunic.
B. The scripture fulfilled
1. John tells us that this fulfilled Old Testament scripture.
Psalm 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
2. John points this out to support that Jesus was the Christ – Messiah who fulfilled prophecies.
II. Jesus Asked John to Care for His Mother (25-27)
A. Family and loyal friends stood by the cross.
1. It must have been a terribly emotional scene to watch a person suffer and slowly die by crucifixion.
2. Four women stood by the cross. Mary must have been a popular name.
a) Mary, Jesus’ mother
b) Mary’s sister Salome (Mr 15:40), John’s mother.
c) Mary the wife of Cleophas
d) Mary Magdalene
B. Jesus, the eldest son, made preparation for Mary.
1. Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son. Evidently, Joseph was dead. Jesus was responsible for His mother’s welfare.
2. In the words of Jesus to John (the beloved disciple) and His mother, Jesus asked John to take His place in caring for Mary.
This is a reminder to us of our duty to care for our aging parents. This is a challenge for those of us whose parents live overseas. We need to seek God’s wisdom to know how to fulfil our duties.
III. Jesus Gave Up His Life (28-30)
A. Note John’s carefully chosen words
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
1. Jesus left nothing undone that had been prophesied.
2. He whispered, “I thirst”. With a dry mouth and swollen tongue, it would not have been loud.
Psalm 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
a) His thirst emphasised his humanity.
b) The fulfilment of scripture stressed His divinity.
Constable informs us that, “A man in Jesus’ physical condition hung up under a Near Eastern sun would have also experienced torture by dehydration.”
B. Jesus received the vinegar and then died
1. A sponge was dipped in sour vinegar and raised by a hyssop branch to His mouth.
2. With His mouth moistened, Jesus said, “It is finished.”
a) All the gospels tell us that he now cried with a loud voice.
b) At that moment, He died for our sins.
3. The Greek word translated “It is finished” is tetelestai. According to Thomas Constable, “Interestingly we know from papyri that tetelestai would be written across invoices to indicate ‘paid in full’.”
4. Mark adds this about the temple veil.
Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Jesus gave His life for us. He paid our sin debt in full. His payment fully completed the propitiation demanded by God. We must not think that the crucifixion was all that Christ suffered. The sinless Lamb of God became sin for us.
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.
Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
IV. Jesus Died With No Broken Bones (31-37)
A. All bodies must be buried before sundown.
1. The next day was the Sabbath.
a) Note that it was a high day. There is good reason to believe that it was not the weekly Saturday Sabbath but rather one of the special Sabbaths related to the Passover.
b) After being so careful to fulfil all scripture, it is difficult to believe that Jesus died on Friday afternoon and rose again on Sunday morning, just 39 hours later. Jesus said he would be dead for three days and three nights (72 hours). Perhaps He died on Wednesday or Thursday.
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
2. To speed up death, the soldiers were ordered to break the legs of those crucified.
3. Jesus was already dead and His legs were not broken. Instead, the soldiers speared His side and blood and water ran out.
B. Scripture was again fulfilled
Psalm 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
Psalm 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
V. Wealthy Friends Buried Jesus (38-42)
A. These friends were secret disciples
1. Joseph of Arimathea
2. Nicodemus
B. They gave Jesus a proper Jewish burial
1. They covered His body with spices and linen and wound (tied) it with linen.
“The corpse was customarily laid on a sheet of linen, wide enough to envelop the body completely and more than twice the length of the corpse. The body was so placed on the sheet that the feet were at one end, and then the sheet was drawn over the head and back down to the feet. The feet were bound at the ankles, and the arms were tied to the body with linen strips. The face was bound with another cloth.” Constable’s Notes
2. They laid Jesus in a cave tomb nearby.
Conclusion: God placed my sins and yours on Jesus that day on the cross. When Jesus said, “It is finished” our debts were paid in full. Being the eternal God, He was able to pay our eternal debts by His propitiation that day.
What are you doing to express your thanks for what He has done for you?
Song: Have I Done My Best – 368