We continue passion week and the darkest hours of Jesus and humankind in John 19:16-27.
16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”So this is what the soldiers did.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Questions for discussion:
- Where in Scripture (Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament) does it mention a prophecy of Jesus’s clothes being taken?
- Where in Scripture (Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament) does it prophesize Jesus’s crucifixion, though this method of execution had not yet been created?
- Who is “the disciple whom he loved?”
- Are you fostering your relationship with Jesus?
Rick's thoughts:
1. Where in Scripture (Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament) does it mention a prophecy of Jesus’s clothes being taken?
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” (Psalms 22:18)
2. Where in Scripture (Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament) does it prophesize Jesus’s crucifixion, though this method of execution had not yet been created?
“Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display.” (Psalms 22:16-17)
3. Who is “the disciple whom he loved?”
John (the Apostle) John 21:20 “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”)”
4. Are you fostering your relationship with Jesus?
I try. It seems we must always "fight the good fight" to walk with Jesus and foster a relationship with the Father through him. When I veer off the path, I don't hear God and opportunities to build the Kingdom of God do not materialize. When I do fight to walk in his ways, the Father opens doors where my cup overflows.