Gold for the heart - John 19-21

John 19

The Eternal King was scourged in our place

1 Then Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers braided a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they slapped him. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, Look, I bring him out to you so that you may know that I find not one crime in him. 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests and officers saw him they cried out saying, Crucify! Crucify! Pilate said to them, You take him and crucify him: for I find no crime in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

Remember this was the Creator of the universe, their Maker, they were whipping (John 1:1-3).
He created Pilate and sustained his life and breath.
Jesus was the only truly innocent One…ever!
He was taking that scourging in our place.
The whip had bits of metal and bone in it. It ripped the skin off the body.
We earned it. He did not!
The crown of thorns identified Him with the curse man brought to mankind at the fall (Genesis 3:18).
The robe of purple is the robe of royalty.
There has been no royalty on earth like Jesus Christ. He is the eternal King of kings.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Revelation 19:16 And he had on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

8 When Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 9 And went again into the judgment hall and said to Jesus, Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate said to him, Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to crucify you, and have power to release you? 11 Jesus answered, You have no power against me at all unless it is given to you from above: therefore he that delivered me to you has the greater sin.

Job chapters 1, 2 show that even Satan has to get permission from God to do anything to God’s people.

12 From then on Pilate tried to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend: whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. 13 When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he said to the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate said to them, Am I to crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16 Then he delivered him to them to be crucified. They took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he, bearing his cross went out into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two others with him, one on either side and Jesus in the center.

The place of the skull is a grim reminder that death came by man’s choice…it cost God everything to fix the mess man made.

Hebrews 13:13 Let us go out to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.

19 And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 Many of the Jews read this title because the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Do not write, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his clothing and made four parts, a part to every soldier; and also his coat: now the coat was without seams, woven from the top throughout. 24 So they said among themselves, Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it will be: that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, They divided my clothing among them, and for my garment they cast lots. Therefore the soldiers did these things.

The mathematical odds against these simple prophecies having been foretold and then fulfilled in detail is beyond calculation.
Imagine the State of Texas being covered in a layer of silver dollars four feet thick. Then place a red x on one of those silver dollars and stir it in with the rest.
You have one chance to reach down into the layer of silver dollars and chose the one with the red x on it.
The odds are the same that one person in history could fulfill just a few of the Old Testament prophecies by chance.

25 Now beside the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son! 27 Then said he to the disciple, Behold your mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Brutally beaten and hanging on a Roman cross with long spikes driven through his wrists and feet, dying for the sins of the world, Jesus made provision for the care of His earthly mother.
He was still thinking of others, never Himself.
That is the heart of God—that is holiness.

He knew that He had accomplished it all

He gave up His own Spirit

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said I thirst. 29 Now there was set a jar full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, put it on hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the vinegar he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

“It is finished… the aftermath of war. The sight of home after a long journey. The pause between the last note of a symphony and the applause. The sun piercing the clouds after a storm. The Messiah in a hoarse voice uttered a sigh of joy…the voice that called the universe into being and called forth the dead. The abandoned is now found, the chasm between God and man bridged. Satan’s vultures have been scattered, hells demons jailed. Death has been damned. Take me home. Take this prince to His King. Take this Son to His Father. Come 12,000 angels. Take this wounded warrior to the cradle of His Father’s arms. Farewell manger’s infant. Bless you Holy Ambassador. Go home death slayer. Rest well sweet Prince, the battle is over. “ Max Lucado

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand.

31 The Jews, because it was the preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was the great day,) asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other one crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they did not break his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and instantly there came out blood and water.

It takes about 20-30 minutes after the heart stops pumping the blood throughout the body for the blood serum and platelets to separate.
The platelets (red) settled to the bottom of the chambers of the heart while the serum (clear) rose to the top.
This is proof that Jesus Christ did not just faint or swoon at the crucifixion.
He had been dead long enough for the platelets and serum to separate and dead long enough for irreparable brain damage.
When the soldier pierced his side it was from below. The platelets came out first and then the serum—blood and water

1Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures

35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knows what he says is true, that you might believe. 36 For these things were done so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Not a bone of him will be broken. 37 And again another scripture said, They will look on him whom they pierced.

One dependable eyewitness is enough to win a case in the courts of our nation.
God gave us four credible eyewitnesses—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Their testimony has been constantly challenged but never refuted. It is legally sound. It stands.

Matthew 5:18 Truly I say to you, Until heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle will in no way pass from the law until all is fulfilled.

38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate allowed it. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus came also, who at first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

When this mixture dried it was hard like an orthopedic cast.
At resurrection Jesus came out of it without disturbing the grave-clothes, just like He passed through the wall into the upper room while the door was closed.

40 Then they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen clothes 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 was put. 42 They put Jesus there because of the Jews’ preparation day, for the grave was near.

Jesus planted the first garden—Eden, paradise.
He prayed and was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane.
He was buried in this garden.
He will allow entrance into His future garden to those who overcome by faith.

Revelation 2:7 To him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

John 20

God raised Jesus from the dead

1 The first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have put him. 3 So Peter and that other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They both ran together: and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And stooping down, he looked in, saw the linen clothes lying; but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter followed him and went into the tomb, and saw the linen clothes lie, 7 and the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then that other disciple went in also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. 9 For they still did not know the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away to their own home.

This is the best news that the world has ever received!
"No one in the city was prepared for the electrifying events of the third day after Jesus’ death. As some of the women went to the tomb, an angel of the Lord appeared and told them that Jesus was not there. He had risen just as He said. The angel instructed them to return to Jesus’ disciples and tell them the news. By that time, the Roman soldiers had already discovered that the tomb was empty and had run into the city and reported it to the chief priests. The news began to spread throughout the crowded throngs like wildfire. The religious leaders were desperately trying to explain the situation by blaming the disciples for stealing the body. The Roman soldiers were terrified at the possibility that they might be executed for failing their duty. Even the disciples of Jesus were bewildered and uncertain about what it all meant…strange conditions of the burial wrappings that had been on Jesus’ body. They had been found intact in the exact shape of His body, yet He wasn’t in it. It was like a cocoon. The aloes had hardened and it was impossible to remove Jesus’ body and leave the grave clothes in the condition they were found. John, one of the disciples of Jesus, as he looked into the tomb, had actually come to the conclusion that Jesus had miraculously been raised from the dead just on the basis of this evidence alone.” Hal Lindsay, The Promise

11 But Mary stood outside at the tomb weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the tomb, 12 and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. 14 And when she had said this, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Whom do you seek? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have taken him from here, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned herself, and said to him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me

17 Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me yet; for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things to her. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, Peace be to you.

The doors were shut. Jesus suddenly was there without coming through the door.
This is symbolic of all the barriers between God and man being removed.
This is the supernatural ability of the resurrection body. It is not limited by the physical world.
Revelation 4 describes the place to where Jesus would ascend.

Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.

Jesus showed them His wounds for us

He breathed the Holy Spirit on them

20 And when he had said this he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace to you: as my Father sent me, even so I send you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit: 23 Whose sins you forgive they are forgiven them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.

In Genesis 2:7 He breathed into man the breath of life. Here He breathed the Holy Spirit into them--God with us.
He gave the power of forgiveness.

24 But Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 Therefore the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days his disciples were inside, and Thomas with them: then Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, Peace to you. 27 Then he said to Thomas, reach your finger here and see my hands; and reach your hand here and thrust it into my side: and do not be faithless but believing.

Romans10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

28 And Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me you have believed: blessed are those that have not seen and yet have believed. 30 And Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.

Christ means anointed one. Jesus is the Savior God promised to send when man fell. He is ours—personally.

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28 And I give to them eternal life; and they will never perish, neither will any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 21

God reveals Himself to His own

1 After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; He revealed Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, I am going out to fish. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out immediately and got into a boat; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning came, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any food? They answered him, No. 6 And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you will find. So they cast, and they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his fisher’s coat around him, (for he was naked,) and cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little boat; (for they were not far from land, about 100 yards) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they came to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, Bring of the fish that you have caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, 153: and though there were so many yet the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, Come, break fast. And none of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? Knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took bread and gave it to them, and fish likewise.

The net did not break because Jesus holds all things in the universe together. That is the meaning of the word ‘consist’ in Colossians 1:17.

Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Jesus commissioned those who love Him to feed His lambs and sheep

14 This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after he was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. 16 He said to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, Do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my sheep. 17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, Do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.

What do His sheep eat? What is the green pasture of Psalm 23?
In John 6 Jesus is called the bread of life 8 times.
The Pharisees knew the words of God but missed the person of God revealed in His word.

John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; and he that believes on me will never thirst.

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

18 Truth, I tell you the truth, When you were younger you clothed yourself, and walked where you wished: but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want. 19 He spoke this, indicating by what death he would glorify God. And when he had spoken this he said to him, Follow me.

It is traditionally believed that Peter was martyred by being crucified upside-down, considering himself unworthy to be crucified as Jesus was.

20 Then Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned on his breast at supper and said, Lord, who is he that betrays you. 21 Then Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, and what will this man do? 22 Jesus said to him, If I desire that he tarry until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.

Each of us is to follow the Lord’s plan for our lives and not nose into the lives of others.

1Thessalonians 4:11 And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands…

23 So this saying went out among the brothers, that that disciple would not die: but Jesus did not say to him, He would not die; but, If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? 24 This is the disciple that testifies of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one could be written, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Job 5:9 Who does great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number

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SUMMARY: John 19-21

The Eternal King was scourged in our place
He knew that He had accomplished it all
He gave up His own Spirit
God raised Jesus from the dead
Jesus showed them His wounds for us
He breathed the Holy Spirit on them
God reveals Himself to His own
Jesus commissioned those who love Him to feed His sheep the bread of life, Him