John 19:17–42
Jesus courageously faced the greatest form of mob injustice. Pilate could not withstand the pressure from the Jewish authorities and the crowd that wanted Jesus dead. Recognizing the Jewish leaders’ mounting hostility toward Jesus and the threat to his own position, he abandoned his attempt at a just trial and handed Jesus over to them for crucifixion.
The journey to the crucifixion produced both physical and emotional pain. The physical agony included:
- The cross’s weight, which only an African could assist Jesus in bearing (Simon of Cyrene, Mark 15:21),
- The crucifixion itself
- The thirst
The emotional pain included:
- Seeing the crowd choose Barnabas.
- Seeing all his disciples desert him.
- Seeing his grieving mother
- Being crucified between two criminals
- A criminal is scorning them.
- Feeling abandoned by God.
- Facing the wrath of an ungrateful world
It is remarkable that, amid all his suffering, Jesus was still concerned about his mother. He gave her over to the care of the Apostle John, who was still present with Jesus. John was a standout during this difficult time. This was a great lesson for us during this season.
Blood and water flowed out from Jesus’ side when a trigger-happy soldier pierced him. The blood cleanses from sin (John 1:7), while water symbolizes spiritual refreshment (John 7:38).
The outcome of the pain was glorious. After Jesus uttered his sixth word from the cross in John 19:30, he victoriously declared in Greek (TETELESTAI): It is finished! It was a victorious shout. He was declaring that the work of saving mankind was complete. It is worth noting that pain and God’s providence are not contradictory. God can use pain to produce a glorious outcome.
Challenging times push little-known people into the limelight. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus rose to prominence during this time. They were secret disciples of Jesus who never showed up during his trial (John 19:38). Yet they were members of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish authority that ratified his death. These two nonetheless undertook to bury Jesus’ body, risking the wrath of their fellow Jewish leaders. At least they showed up when Jesus deserved a decent burial. In our case, should we wait until someone is dead to show our affection? Should we wait to read their tributes when they are not around? William Barclay believes that “one flower in life is worth all the wreaths in the world in death; one word of love and thanks in life is worth all the praises in the world when life is gone.”
Both men sacrificed a lot for the cause of Jesus. They sacrificed:
- Political positions in burying Jesus
- Material goods: spices and tomb
- Social status and popularity
Are we willing to do the same for Christ, our Lord and Savior? From the womb to the tomb and back to heaven, Jesus’ life was in God’s hands.
God restored Jesus to His former glory after going through great brokenness. God will do it for us too. Keep hope alive. Romans 8:37 says that “in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
OUR VICTORY IS CERTAIN
