Christianity An Open Faith (John 19:17-42, Psalm 22:14-23)
Rev. William L. Barron, March 17, 2024Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Crucifixion was common in ancient times, and the Romans perfected the practice. Crucifixion was largely reserved for slaves and insurrectionists. God, however, used crucifixion as a way to procure our salvation. Paul preached "...Jesus crucified...the power of God unto salvation." Jesus' crucifixion was an atoning sacrifice in which the work of our salvation was finished and then applied to us by the Holy Spirit. In the plan of God, the crucifixion was witnessed by the centurions, the thieves and four women. Jesus shed blood and water. He was truly crucified according to overwhelming evidence. He literally died as the result of two floggings, the second far more cruel and serious. His real torture was separation from the Father. Jesus had debilitating thirst; He the source of living water. For us, He was thirsty. When Jesus said, "It is finished," this was a statement of victory over a battle that was waged ever since the fall. With the spear thrust in His side, blood and water flowed. These bore witness to His sacrificial power: blood for atonement; water for spiritual cleansing. Believers receive forgiveness and cleansing, or justification and sanctification. Jesus truly descended into Hades, or the state of being really dead. Jesus did not go preaching into Hell. John Calvin said that the descent occurred while Jesus was on the cross. Concerning the burial of Jesus, we see two men: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Joseph was a secret believer, a rich man with a new tomb. Nicodemus joined with Joseph, bringing lots of spices. They came out of the shadows demonstrating some measure of faith. The Jewish leaders wanted Pilate to seal the tomb to prevent a stealing of the body. These details testify to who Jesus really is. We believe in a very specific Jesus.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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| « 'I Believe In Jesus Christ Who Suffered' | None | What The Cross Achieves » |
John 19:17–42 (Listen)
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.
(ESV)
Psalm 22:14–23 (Listen)
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O LORD, do not be far off!
O you my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dog!
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
(ESV)