NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 70
J ohn 1 9
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page 1844
Jesus Dies on the Cross (236/Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49)
28Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am
thirsty.”* 29A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on
a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is
finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging
there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was
Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs
be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32So the soldiers came and broke the
legs of the two men crucified with J esus. 33But when they came to J esus, they saw that he
was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. 34One of the soldiers, however, pierced
his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. 35(This report is
from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may
continue to believe.*) 36These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say,
“Not one of his bones will be broken,”* 37and “They will look on the one they pierced.”*
Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb (237/Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56)
38Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he
feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down J esus’ body. When
Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39With him came Nicode
mus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds*
of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40Following Jewish burial custom,
they wrapped J esus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41The place of
crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42And
so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover* and since the tomb
was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
19:28
†Pss 22:15; 69:21
19:30
Job 19:26-27
19:31
Deut 21:22-23
19:35
John 20:30-31;
21:24
1 Jn 1:1
19:36
†Exod 12:46
Num 9:12
†Ps 34:20
19:37
†Zech 12:10
Rev 1:7
19:39
John 3:1-2; 7:50
19:40
Luke 24:12
John 20:5-7
19:28 See Pss 22:15; 69:21. 19:35 Some manuscripts read that you also may believe.
19:36 Exod 12:46; Num
9:12; Ps 34:20. 19:37 Zech 12:10. 19:39 Greek 100 litras [32.7 kilograms]. 19:42 Greek because of the Jewish
day of preparation.
19:29 This sour wine was a cheap form of wine normally mixed with
water that the Roman soldiers drank to quench their thirst while waiting
for those crucified to die.
19:30 Until this time, a complicated system of sacrifices had atoned
for sins. Sin separates people from God, and only through the sacrifice
and shed blood of an animal, a substitute, could people be forgiven
and become clean before God. But people sin continually, so frequent
sacrifices were required. Jesus, however, became the final and ultimate
sacrifice for sin. The word translated “finished” also means “paid in full.”
Jesus came to finish God’s work of salvation (4:34; 17:4), to pay the
full penalty for our sins. With his death, the complex sacrificial system
ended because Jesus took all sin upon himself. Now we can freely
approach God because of what Jesus did for us. Those who believe in
Jesus’ death and resurrection can live eternally with God and escape
the penalty that comes from sin.
19:31-35 These Romans were experienced soldiers. They knew from
many previous crucifixions how to tell whether a man was dead or alive.
There was no question that Jesus was dead when they checked him, so
they decided not to break his legs as they had done to the other victims.
Piercing his side and seeing the sudden flow of blood and water (indicating
that the sac surrounding the heart and the heart itself had been pierced)
was further proof of his death. Some people say that Jesus didn’t really
die, that he only passed o ut—and that’s how he appeared to come back
to life. But we have the witness of an impartial party, the Roman soldiers,
that Jesus died on that cross (see Mark 15:44-45).
19:31 It was against God’s law to leave the body of a dead person
exposed overnight (Deuteronomy 21:23), and it was also against the law
to work after sundown on Friday, when the Sabbath began. This is why
the religious leaders urgently wanted to get Jesus’ body off the cross
and buried by sundown.
19:32 The Roman soldiers would break victims’ legs to hasten the
death process. When a person hung on a cross, death would come by
suffocation, but the victim could push against the cross with their legs
to hold up their body and keep breathing. With broken legs, they would
suffocate almost immediately.
19:34-35 The graphic details of Jesus’ death are especially important
in John’s record because he was an eyewitness. They certified his accounts as authentic.
19:36-37 Jesus died as the lambs for the Passover meal were being
slain. Not a bone was to be broken in these sacrificial lambs (Exodus
12:46; Numbers 9:12). Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the perfect sacrifice
for the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 5:7).
19:38-42 Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret followers
of Jesus. They were afraid to make this allegiance known because of their
positions in the Jewish community. Joseph was a leader and honored
member of the Jewish high council (the Sanhedrin). Nicodemus, also a
member of the council, had come to Jesus by night (3:1) and later had
tried to defend him before the other religious leaders (7:50-52). Yet they
risked their reputations to provide for Jesus’ burial. Are you a secret
believer? Do you hide your faith from your friends and fellow workers?
This is an appropriate time to step out of hiding and let others know
whom you follow.
19:38-39 Four people were changed in the process of Jesus’ death. The
criminal dying on the cross beside Jesus asked Jesus to include him in
his Kingdom (Luke 23:39-43). The Roman officer proclaimed that Jesus
was surely the Son of God (Mark 15:39). Joseph and Nicodemus (John
7:50-52), members of the Jewish high council and secret followers of
Jesus, came out of hiding. These men were changed more by Jesus’ death
than by his life. They realized who Jesus was, and that realization brought
out their belief, proclamation, and action. When confronted with Jesus
and his death, we should be changed—to believe, proclaim, and act.
19:42 As they buried Jesus, Nicodemus and Joseph had to hurry to
avoid working on the Sabbath, which began Friday evening at sundown.
This tomb was probably a cave carved out of the stone hillside. It was
large enough for a person to walk into, so Joseph and Nicodemus carried Jesus’ body into it. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance.
