Transcript

Proof of The Messiah?

John 19:31-42
Good Friday, April 9, 2004
Pastor Randy Smith

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As we have worked our way through the Gospel of John over the past two years, we have witnessed many peaks and valleys in the ministry of Jesus. We saw the reception from the Samaritans (4:39) and the rejection from His own people (1:11). We saw the confession of Peter (6:68) and the denial of Peter (13:38). We saw the conversion of many "outcasts" (8:11; 9:38) and the desertion of many disciples (6:66). We saw the promise of salvation in Christ (3:14) and the unjust trial and bloody crucifixion (18-19).

John has taken us through an emotional roller coaster. He has objectively placed before us all the facts pertaining to the teaching and ministry of Jesus Christ. The reader is left to decide if he or she will forsake all to follow Him or forsake Him altogether.

Contained in verses 31-42 of John 19 is probably the lowest valley of this gospel account. The One who proclaimed to be a victorious King is pierced in the side with a Roman spear. The One who proclaimed to be the Life has experienced death. The One who proclaimed to be the Light of the World is buried in a dark tomb.

What will the reader do now with this crucified Messiah? John reports that even His most immediate disciples fled from the scene in disbelief. Is He Immanuel, Messiah, Lord and Savior? Or is He deceived, victim, lunatic or liar?

This evening (as we celebrate Good Friday) I'd like to briefly walk you through these final 12 verses of chapter 19. But as we witness what appears to be the darkest, most hopeless valley of this Gospel, we'll see some glimmers of light that begin to illuminate a promising outcome.

1. FULFILLMENT OF THE SCRIPTURE (vs. 31-37)

The first valley of this account comes in verses 31-37. "Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, 'NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.' And again another Scripture says, 'THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.'"

It was the typical Roman practice to leave the crucified victims on the cross long after they died. It was hoped that the prolonged public display of these criminals would deter further offenses against the Empire. The rotting of these corpses, the deterioration of their flesh by hungry animals, no doubt served as warning to the people.

However, Jesus and the two crucified with Him were spared this horrific exposure thanks to the Jewish authorities. It's not that these men were merciful; rather they knew the Sabbath was approaching at sundown (the Sabbath was Saturday, but Saturday began Friday evening) and they feared defiling the land (Dt. 21:22-23). Again, we see these men concerned about the form of religion while still ignoring the One who fulfilled their religion.

Time was ticking. It was already after 3:00 and sunset was approaching. In haste they ran to Pilate asking for the crucified victims' legs to be broken.

Crucifixion was a slow and painful death by suffocation. Affixed to the bottom of the vertical beam was a wooded ledge enabling the victim to press his body upward on the cross to receive another breath of air. Thus in breaking the legs, the individual would be left dangling and suffocation, due to the closed chest cavity would come quickly. Breaking the legs of these men with a iron mallet (crurifragium) or literally "shattering them to pieces," would guarantee a speedy death and satisfy the Jewish request.

Pilate agreed. The soldiers complied. Beginning on both sides, they broke each criminal's legs, but when they came to Jesus in the middle, they found Him already dead. No doubt the severe physical treatment He received was enough to terminate His life relatively quickly for a crucified man (see Mk. 15:44). Let's also not forget the emotional and spiritual horror He received as He experienced all the guilt, stress, pain, anxiety and anguish of every sin for everyone in His church. Therefore, according to verse 33, "When they saw that (Jesus) was already dead, they did not break His legs."

What a valley in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Viewing Him as a common criminal by the Jewish and Roman leaders. Treating His body as an object of inconvenience. Prepared without remorse to shatter His legs. But let me ask you, in this valley do we see the emergence of a peak?

There was a reason that Christ had to be dead at this point in order to be spared the smashing of His bones. Even in His death, He is fulfilling Scripture. Scripture in the Old Testament gave specific regulations for the Passover sacrifice that none of its bones may be broken (Ex. 12:46, Num. 9:12). Hence we read in verse 36, "For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, 'NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.'"

Was there more to this Man's death than many thought? Was His death according to the will of God? Was He the true Passover Lamb? The reader is left to decide.

Moving on. Since Jesus was already dead, verse 34 says, "one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." Many throughout the ages have made a lot of this verse. Some have found symbolism in the blood and water. Their arguments are unconvincing. Others have done medical analysis to determine the type of death Christ died. Their arguments are superfluous.

I believe John is making two completely different arguments. First of all, there was no doubt that Jesus was dead. These Roman soldiers were trained experts in death. Furthermore, the spear in the side and the resultant blood and water proved His death beyond a shadow of doubt. This truth is extremely significant and discounts many resurrection heresies (i.e. Swoon Theory). Second, the piercing of His side, once again, fulfills prophecy. In verse 37 we read, "And again another Scripture says, 'THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.'"

Do we see another peak in the midst of this valley? Though we see Jesus humiliated by the people, will He have the final say? Will those who crucified Christ at one time realize it was their sins that sent Him to the cross? When Jesus returns in glory, will all the nations mourn (as it says in Zechariah 12:10) as they look at the One they despised, ridiculed, rejected and pierced (cf. Mt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7)?

2. FEARLESSNESS OF THE DISCIPLES (vs. 38-42)

In addition to the scenes on the cross, we enter another apparent valley in verses 38-42.

When the death of Jesus was finalized, verse 38 says, Joseph of Arimathea (as the Jews believed in proper burial of their dead) asked for the body of Christ. From other accounts we know that Joseph was: rich (Mt. 27:57), a good and righteous man (Lk. 23:51) and looking for the Kingdom of God (Mk. 15:43). But most significantly Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin (Mk. 15:43) while at the same time a disciple of Jesus Christ (Jn. 19: 38; Mt. 27:57). Pilate granted Joseph permission. Verse 38 says Joseph "came and took away His body."

In addition to Joseph, there was also Nicodemus, who also was most likely a high-ranking member also of the Sanhedrin. His responsibility (verse 39) was to bring the spices. Together these two men properly wrapped the body for burial and rapidly (the ladies probably came on Sunday to finish the job-Mk. 16:1) due to the Passover placed Jesus in a garden tomb near Golgotha. Matthew 27:60 states, "(Joseph) laid (the body) in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.

In this somber account we see what appears to be the tragic and unexpected death of a dream. Nobody anticipated a final chapter to be written. Nobody expected possibility out of the impossible, light out of darkness. Nobody saw any hope in the depth of this valley. But would this be another opportunity for the God of all hope to once again, maybe in His most miraculous way, bring victory out of despair? Could He make a way when humanly speaking there appeared to be no way.

The reader is once again left to decide. But in the midst of that decision he must consider some more peaks emerging from the valley. Why would two esteemed men from the Sanhedrin care so much for the body of Jesus, when identifying with Jesus could bring societal, political and spiritual ruin to their lives? Why did these two men who normally approached Christ in secret (Jn. 3:2; 19:38) take a public stand, when His 11 disciples were hiding in fear and hopelessness. And regarding Jesus, isn't there something strange about burying a crucified criminal with extravagant spices in a rich man's tomb? Did the One who controlled His death (as we witnessed) also control His burial? For the Old Testament declares, "His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth" (Isa. 53:9).

In verse 35 John said, "And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe." The facts are carefully and truthfully placed before you the reader. Do you like countless others reject Jesus Christ or do you believe? Do you believe that all hope is lost and there appears to be no way out of the valley, or do you believe God is able to deliver? We'll find out Sunday morning.