The Crucifixion

the word john series
Hope for Today (English)
The Crucifixion
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John 19:16-22

Hello friend, and thank you for joining us for another week here on Hope for Today. This program is produced by Heralds of Hope, and we are honored to be teaching from God’s word and broadcasting the teaching around the world each week via radio. This program will be translated and broadcast in 23 different languages, and our goal is that your relationship with Christ will be strengthened through our time together. 

Today, our study in John comes to the crucifixion of Christ. The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are the most important events to ever take place on this planet. We will never completely grasp the impact of this event on this side of heaven, but let’s take some time to think about it and worship our Savior for this incredible story.

Before we turn to John 19 and read about the crucifixion there, let’s look at the verses in Isaiah 53. Remember Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus, yet these verses are precise, and they have been fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ. Let’s read verses 3 -9. Think about how incredible it is for a prophecy to be fulfilled so accurately 700 years after it was first written. I will point out a few phrases as I read that have been encouraging to me. 

“He is despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely, He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” Here is a perspective of the crucifixion we must keep in mind. Jesus carried our griefs and sorrows. As humans, we have felt the brokenness of earth living. No matter what it is, you can take it to Jesus; He understands.

“…yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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.” These last phrases are huge for us; because of what Jesus went through, we can have peace, and we can be healed. Think about that: healing and peace—two things this world so desperately needs more of. It is found at the cross of Jesus. And there is enough healing there for all the sin in the universe, and the peace offered at the cross is big enough to calm all the chaos in the world. We must take his peace and healing everywhere we go! 

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” This explains why the crucifixion is the focal point of all time. It solves the biggest disaster humanity has ever seen, the disaster of sin, and it’s even more personal; it deals with the problem of my sin. My iniquity has been put on Christ, and He has made it disappear!

Notice in the next three verses, that the smallest detail came true in the crucifixion. Isaiah wrote this long before Jesus, yet each phrase has happened. This is amazing and helps us trust God and believe His word.

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not his mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare His generation? For He was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of My people was He stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.”

There was no sin in Jesus; this is why His sacrifice is so powerful; He was perfect. This account in Isaiah lines up exactly with the story as we hear it in the gospels. I am so thankful God has validated His Word with prophecy that is fulfilled perfectly.

We hope you will continue to be encouraged with the story of the crucifixion as we look at John 19 and give our attention to Bible teacher, J Mark Horst, for more teaching. Thank you again for being here and joining us for this lesson. 

The most solemn event of human history recorded is the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. His life has challenged many men to live right all down through the centuries. Many have suffered death because of their faith in Him. The Bible records leave no room to doubt that He was actually crucified. It is to that solemn event we give attention in this meditation.

There are records outside of the Bible which also testify to THE CRUCIFIXION as a historical event. This is no idle tale or story. This is history, well-validated by the record in John 19:16-22.

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be cru­cified. And they took Jesus and led him away.

17 And he bearing his cross went forth 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, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

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 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, 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.

When we study what happened when Jesus was crucified, we must examine the vital FACTS. Let us picture them in our minds so the Holy Spirit can give us understanding.

The first Fact is: The Character Of The Companions.

You read, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they led him away.” Undoubtedly, reference is made here by “they” to the soldiers and the people. Roman soldiers were framed in such heartless actions. They led Him to the common place of execution, Golgotha. That hill of the skull, my friend, is still visible today. Oh yes, I’ve stood at the foot of Calvary, and in my mind have pictured Him there on the cross.

What is the character of His companions that were crucified with Him? There were two others, we are told. Mark’s Gospel reports that they were thieves. Luke’s Gospel calls them malefactors. The Prophet Isaiah, 700 years before Christ, predicted, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” Yes, one, two, three. These two others, crucified with Him, were sinners, serious sinners, men upon whom the law had a claim, for they had broken it. His companions in crucifixion were sinners.

The second Fact is: The Intention Of The Title.

Pilate, we are told, wrote a title and put it on the cross of Jesus. This is what it read: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” I imagine that Pilate did that to humiliate Jesus. It would be a sorry end for a political aspirant, someone who wanted to rise on the political scale. To end up on the cross would be a humiliating experience. It would be a way for Pilate to dispose of a political enemy. It most likely was intended to give a blow to Jesus.

I suspect that the intention of the title was to humiliate the Jews. It was to remind them that they were securely under Rome. Here the King of the Jews was suspended between heaven and earth on thecross. He supposed all their hopes were dashed. Pilate hoped that he could humiliate the Jews this way.

He did not know, of course, that Jesus had told Peter in the garden that He could pray to the Father, and the Father would send Him twelve legions of angels that He might be delivered. But the Lord had added, “But how then shall the scripture be fulfilled?” “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” was written in three languages and put above Him on the cross. The languages were Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Everybody passing by could read it. The intention of the title must have been to put a stop to any idea that Jesus was a King.

The third Fact is: The Inflexibility Of The Verdict.

The leaders of the Jewish people came to Pilate and objected to the title. They said, “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.” Jesus never said that. Really Pilate had tried to extract it from Him. They did not know that Gabriel, when he told Mary she would give birth to Jesus, promised her that God would give to Him the throne of His father David, and He would rule over the house of Jacob forever. This is what the angel said to Mary. But they did not know that.

Pilate, with a show of power, refused to change it. He said, “What I have written, I have written.” Could he have remembered that Jesus had told him shortly before that he had no power except that which was given to him? Beyond this title that Pilate gave to Jesus, the Bible refers to Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Yes, my friend, Pilate’s inflexibility regarding the verdict may have shown more power than he himself possessed.

It cannot be doubted that Jesus was crucified. All records agree. The facts support the truth: He was crucified. But before any benefit can come to you, you must acknowledge those facts associated with His crucifixion and receive Him as your sacrifice for sin.

My friend, was this teaching helpful? If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title. Or log onto our website heraldsofhope.org

The quickest way for you to connect with us is to send an email to [email protected]. That email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or a digital audio file of this teaching. We’d be happy to send one to you.

And when you contact us, you can request our Bible Study Guide, Hope Herald. It follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we’re studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.

Here’s the contact information again. Our email address is [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a free copy of this teaching. It’s available in print or on a digital audio file. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.

And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and anytime at the website, heraldsofhope.org.

Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Pastor J. Mark continues our study from John’s Gospel. You won’t want to miss it. And until then, keep looking to Jesus; He’ll give you hope for today!

This episode is an exposition of John 19:16-22 by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with a new opening and closing by Arlin Horst.

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