December 27, 2010
Central Truth
Jesus had to die so that we could be restored in our relationship with God.
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
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. 1 19:23 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin 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 2 19:39 Greek him by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds 3 19:39 Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams 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.
Four years ago, I had one of the worst 12-month spans I could possibly imagine. Three family members died, including my mom; I lost my job; and I got a divorce. I remember how hopeless that period felt. Everything I held as sacred withered away. I felt alone, depressed, and utterly abandoned.
I cannot help but imagine that the disciples felt this way when they saw our Savior on a cross: "[S]tanding by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene . . . and the disciple whom He loved." (John 19:25-26)
Those who had followed Christ and believed in Him had to think that their hopes, beliefs, and faith were all for naught. Frightened, the disciples would not even come to bury Jesus. That task was left to Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who followed Jesus in secrecy.
If this were the end of the story, I doubt it would be more than a footnote in history. Praise God, however, this story didn’t end on Friday! Sunday came, and with it, proof of our resurrected Lord and Savior. Despair was transformed to joy, hopelessness to faith, and fear was overcome by the knowledge that Jesus was the Christ.
Christ knew what was to come, yet He still submitted to His Father’s will for one reason: He loves us. God desires an intentional, personal, purposeful, and meaningful walk with us. He wants us to experience everything He has, and the only way for us to have fellowship with Him required a sacrifice that erased all of our sins and allows us to have an intimate walk with Him (Isaiah 53:6).
As I walked with God, my hopelessness changed to an ever-growing dependence on Him. This holiday season, as we throw away the wrapping paper and argue over who is taking down the tree or how long to keep those leftovers, remember that you have been given a gift that does not fade, lose its shine, or put on extra weight. Praise God that Sunday’s coming!
1. What do you hold as sacred in your life?
2. Do you turn and run when things get tough, or do you cling hard to your hope in Christ?
3. Do you treasure the gift of salvation Christ has given you, or has it gotten lost in the glitter of this time of year?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. There are four different places in this passage in which John recorded that events fulfilled Scripture. Find the Scripture references for what is being fulfilled. Look up all of these verses to see where these things were prophesied.