John

Lesson 18John 19:1–42

Bible

This lesson examine John’s account of the crucifixion and the death of Jesus on the cross. While it is a difficult thing for any of us who are followers of Christ to study, there is much we can learn from this chapter, as John continues to document the evidence that Jesus is the true Messiah. The good news is that in the next lesson, we will be exploring Jesus’ Resurrection and surrounding events!

Read through John Chapter 19 and consider the following:

  1. In the opening verses of John 19, we see something revealed about Pilate that seems unusual at first glance. Specifically, this relates to the description that he became fearful at the claims made by the Chief Priests and their officials. What do you believe is the reason that he was fearful? (John 19:1-12)
  2. Which language, of the four present at that time in Jerusalem (Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Aramaic), was not used when Pilate commissioned a sign and had it nailed over Jesus stating he was "King of the Jews?" How would everyone have been able to read to the sign if a language was missing? Was it Pilate’s intent to make a sign that was strictly for the Gentiles? (John 19:9-22)
  3. Since the sign was written in languages that the Roman guards could understand, did any of them ever believe the sign was true, or was it just Pilate’s way of poking his finger in the eye of the Jewish leadership? (Matthew 27:54)
  4. Considering all of the evidence that John documents in his gospel, what is the prophetic evidence that we find in John 19:23-24 and Psalm 22:18 that indicates that Jesus is the Messiah? (Read John 19:23-24 and Psalm 22:18)
  5. In John 19:25-30, John provides us further insight into the last moments of Jesus’ life, just before he died on the cross. Read this passage, and Psalm 69:21 and Exodus 12:21-22 as well; then list the steps that Jesus went through leading up to his final words, "It is finished." Which prophecies were fulfilled during these moments?
  6. Further in Chapter 19, John walks us through what happened to Jesus’ body immediately following his death, including his burial. Refer to John 19:31-42. Why was it important that the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side, and why also was it significant that these same guards, who were regularly assigned the job of crucifying people, did not break Jesus’ legs as was customary to bring on death during a crucifixion? (See Exodus 12:43-46, Numbers 9:12, and Psalm 34:20.)
  7. In John 19:31-32, why is it significant that this was a special Sabbath, i.e., a "high day," and therefore the bodies could not remain on the cross? The typical crucifixion of criminals would allow their dead and decaying bodies to remain on the cross until the body was almost completely decayed. The stench and the scene itself would have been almost impossible to think of—which is what the Romans wanted, since it added to the horror of crucifixion. What precipitated the rush to get the bodies down? See Deuteronomy 21:22-23 and Galatians 3:13.
  8. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus stepped forward after Pilate gave permission for Joseph to bury Jesus. They quickly prepared the body by wrapping it in linen and taking it to a tomb in a garden nearby. Who were these Jewish men that came forward, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus; and what prophecy do many believe was fulfilled by Joseph’s actions? See Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:43, Luke 23:50-51, Isaiah 53:9, John 7:50-51, and John 3:1-21.

Rushing to bury Jesus, the two men leave themselves much work yet to be done as they hurry home for the Passover Feast. It will be three days—until Sunday—before three of the ladies at the Cross will walk to the tomb to finish the task of burying their beloved Savior. What a great surprise awaits them! We will examine this in the next lesson!

Have a great week, and thanks for studying with us.

In Christ,

Wes

[2018]

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