Last time we saw Jesus was crucified on the cross. The soldiers divided his clothes, which was another fulfillment of Scripture. He paid the price for the sins of all people of the world, past, present, and future.
John 19:31-37 – Scripture Fulfilled
It was the day of Preparation and the next day was a special Sabbath and the Jews didn’t want the bodies hanging on the crosses. Also the Jewish law didn’t allow bodies to hang on the cross more than a day or they would be under a curse. Again this shows the Jews chose which laws they would obey. The Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. This way if they were not dead, the breaking of the legs would make it difficult to breathe and would make them die quickly. The soldiers broke the legs of the two men on crosses on each side of Jesus, but saw Jesus was already dead so they pierced His side instead. All these things happened and the Scriptures were again fulfilled.
Do you pick and choose what laws you follow?
When they pierced His side, blood and water gushed out. Blood symbolizes is the cleansing and of God’s forgiveness of sin. Water symbolizes the new life given to believers.
Long ago God declared that “The life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life” – Leviticus 17:11. And in Hebrews 9:22 – “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” This flowing of the life blood of Jesus, poured for us, symbolizes cleansing from sin (Romans 3:25).
The water that flowed from His side points to new spiritual life we receive when we receive Jesus into our hearts. “Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from with him. By this he meant the Spirit…” – John 7:38-39. Water symbolizes eternal life. (Revelation 21:6; 22:17).
The piercing of His side shows that Jesus was actually physically dead proving He really did rise from the dead as the Christian faith proclaims.
“The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken… they will look on the one they have pierced.’” – John 19:35-37.
The circumstances surrounding Jesus’ death fulfilled the symbolism of the Passover Lamb. The original Passover sacrifice was made to save people from the punishment that passed over Egypt. The lamb’s blood marked the doors saving the Jewish people. Like the lamb Jesus was gentle, innocent and pure. He was sacrificed to save people from punishment after death.
Matthew 27:51 tells us that at the moment Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn. “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.”
What is this curtain? The temple was divided into 3 sections. The 1st was the inner court that contained the altar of burnt offering and basin used for ceremonial washing of the priests. The 2nd was the Holy Place that contained the golden candlestick, the table of consecrated bread, and the altar of incense. The curtain formed a wall between this Holy Place and the Most Holy Place where only the priest could enter. Only once a year called the Day of Atonement, a day of sacrificing of a goat, could the high priest enter. This place represented God’s presence. This curtain was a barrier between God and humanity. The torn curtain now was the end of sacrifices and ceremonies. It signified Christ’s torn flesh on the cross. Now this barrier between God and man is removed. We can now enter into the very presence of God because of Jesus’ death on the cross. (Heb. 10:19-22).
Do you believe?
John 19:38-42 – Jesus’ Burial
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret followers of Jesus. They wanted to honor Jesus and give Him a proper burial. They asked Pilate for Jesus’ body and Pilate agreed. They wrapped His body in expensive spices and strips of linen. They took Jesus’ body and put it into a new grave that belonged to Joseph. (The Jewish people would cut out caves in rocks and use them for graves. I am sure this was hard work and took a lot of time so it was probably very expensive.)
Jesus’ agony was over. Now His enemies could not touch Him. He was forever among friends.
It took courage to Joseph and Nicodemus to ask for Jesus’ body. They were secret followers, however after His death they didn’t follow in secret anymore. This may have cost them their reputation and they may have been rejected by the other Jewish leaders. It costs them here on earth, but they gained eternal acceptance in heaven. Commitment to Christ will cost you. You will be rejected by those who do not believe that He is the only way to the Father. So be prepared to be rejected.
When and how have you been rejected because of your belief in Jesus?
Jesus was born rich and He died rich. Remember He was given gold, frankincense and myrrh at His birth by the Magi. Joseph and Nicodemus gave Him these gifts of costly spices again at His burial and He was buried in a rich man’s tomb. His anointing and burial fulfilled biblical prophecy. (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 2:9-11; 27:57-60)
When we become believers of Christ we bury our old ways of thinking. We bury our former wrong emotions and attitudes toward God and others. Our old habits and actions are gone. We live in freedom from our past to live a new resurrected life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” – 2 Cor. 5:17.
Do you let Satan make you feel guilty of the past or do you live in freedom?
Fulfilled Prophesies Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial:
Principles:
King Jesus died triumphantly on the cross.
The only way to respond to God’s gift of salvation through Christ’s finished work is to receive it by faith alone.
We live in freedom from our past to live a new resurrected life.
THANK YOU, JESUS!
Join me next time for John 20. I hope you had a blessed Easter. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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