Truth Exposed 69 Examples of Authority and Provision, John 19: 16-27. (508). (499)

The Crucifixion

after a questionable trial by the Jews, and one that went against their own legal system, they had handed Jesus over to the Roman government. Pilate, arrogant and indecisive. Didn’t see a charge worthy of the death penalty, but didn’t want to have the Jews start something. He allowed his cohort of troops to have their way with Jesus by beating him. He was now handing him over to be crucified. This means being handed over to the death squad that normally had 4 soldiers led by a centurion.

In facing his crucifixion, Jesus set several examples. Elsewhere, and other Gospels he taught, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” Its more than a catchy slogan. While Christians are not normally called to follow to that degree, we should be prepared for it.

Public executions were not a new thing. God commanded Moses to gather the people to witness and participate in stoning, The usual way with the Jews. Executions were normally done outside the camp, or outside the city. The sin sacrifice was normally burned outside the temple.

Hebrews 13:11-13 NASB
11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place
by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood,
suffered outside the gate.
13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

Jesus bore our sins, and had to be sacrificed outside the town.

T. S. K.: Golgotha. Golgotha, of which [kranion] and Calvaria are merely translations, is supposed to have been a hill, or a rising on a greater hill, on the north-west of Jerusalem.

all the Gospels agree that Jesus was crucified with 2 criminals. One on either side, and Jesus in between.

Psalm 22:16

16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.

Isaiah 53:12

12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the plunder with the strong,
Because He poured out His life unto death,
And was counted with wrongdoers;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the wrongdoers.

Matthew 27:44

44 And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way.

Galatians 3:13

13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—
for it is written:
“CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”—

verse 19 contains a Bible challenge. What exactly did the inscription above Christ say?

Matthew: “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Mark: “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Luke: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
T. S. K.: The apparent discrepancy between the accounts of this title given by the Evangelists, which has been urged as an objection against their inspiration and veracity, has been most satisfactorily accounted for by Dr. Townson; who supposes that, as it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, it might have slightly varied in each language; and that, as Luke and John wrote for the Gentiles, they would prefer the Greek inscription, that Matthew, addressing the Jews, would use the Hebrew, and that Mark, writing to the Romans, would naturally give the Latin.

When you want to reach as many people as possible, you posted in as many languages that are, in the area. When you want to reach a specific people group, you make sure you have the message in their own language. Printing in Hebrew would have held personal meaning to the Jews. Printing it in Greek would have held personal meaning for those visiting town who spoke only Greek. Of course, Latin would have been the legal language of the day.

Seeing the words, King of the Jews, and print seems to have struck a harsh chord with the Jewish leaders. What kind of country kills its own king? They resorted to playing word games to emphasize their intended blasphemy charge. “He said he was the king. Right quote is not a legal charge. Pilate wasn’t having any of it.
The king, or in this case the governor, is the one who gets to decide the boundaries of things. What he says, he says, and no one has authority to change it.

How much greater is God’s sovereignty? He alone set such boundaries as those set forth in creation. He has ordained things that ought to be, and what ought not to be. Nothing we can say or do can change his mind on what he is already predetermined.
The soldiers gambled for his clothing. All the Gospel writers record this account in their own way.

EBC describes the outer clothing that Jesus may have worn while carrying his cross to Golgotha. There would’ve been enough to easily parted out to the 4 members of the death squad. His tunic, or undergarment, would have been useless if it were cut to pieces. So they gambled for it.

Psalm 22:18

18 They divide my garments among them,
And they cast lots for my clothing.

Isaiah 10:7

7 Yet it does not so intend,
Nor does it plan so in its heart,
But rather it is its purpose to destroy
And to eliminate many nations.

Acts 13:27

27 For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers,
recognizing neither Him nor the declarations of the prophets which are read every Sabbath,
fulfilled these by condemning Him.

attention now turns to the women at the cross. Was Mary remembering the prophecy that was told her it Jesus birth?

Luke 2:35
and a sword will pierce even your own soul–to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

using some powers of deduction, Keith make some observations using the following parallel passages.

Matthew 27:55, 56

55 And many women were there watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while caring for Him.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mark 15:40, 41

40 Now there were also some women watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.
41 When He was in Galilee, they used to follow Him and serve Him; and there were many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

Luke 23:49

49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

there were likely more women, but there are 3 who are identified as Mary, and one who was named Salome. Mary the mother of Jesus is not difficult to figure out. Neither is Mary Magdalene. The 3rd Mary is someone who is the mother of James a lesser, and Joses. She also seems to be the wife of someone named Cleophas.
Although not named by John, Salome seems to be the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She is also the mother of the sons of Zebedee. These would also be known as the sons of thunder, or the disciples James and John. So, James and John were cousins of Jesus.

A note on Cleophas. or, Cleopas, depending on spelling variants. On the road to Amoz, he had this conversation before Jesus revealed himself to the travelers.

Luke 24:18
18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?”

Mary Magdalene had not only been here at the cross, but she would be present at the tomb, among other women.

In one of his final acts on the cross, Jesus spoke to the “disciple that he loved.” This was the same disciple who reclined with Jesus at supper. He was one of the disciples that Mary announced the resurrection to first. Later, he identified Jesus as the risen Lord, while the disciples were fishing, inspiring Simon to jump in the water and swim to shore. He is the one who testified and wrote these things in this book.

Jesus provided for his mother by telling her that this beloved disciple would now be her caretaker. He used the word “woman” when he referred to her. It harkens back to John 2:4. At the wedding of Cana, Jesus told his mother it wasn’t his time yet. He lets her know now, that it’ s his time now.

The beloved disciple responded, and took Mary into his own household.

In earlier times, God placed Joseph in a position to provide for the needs of his father, and other family members.

At one time, Jesus proclaimed, “who are my brothers and who was my mother?” The implication is that His disciples and his obedient followers are his mother and brothers.

Still, Jesus set an example in caring for the least of his children.

Matthew 25:40

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’

1 John 3:18,19
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but indeed and truth.
19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him

his time had come, and his people had rejected him. It was time for them to scatter and abandon him. Although he would not be forsaken, because God is with him.

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