Jesus, Crucified for Our Sins

John 19:16b-42

Key vs. 19:30 “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Today’s message is titled “Jesus, crucified for our sins.” Jesus’ death on the cross was the culmination of his suffering and mission. The night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your son, that your son may glorify you.” (17:1b) He also said that “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave him to do.” (17:4) Jesus was keenly aware that his mission would be completed when he died on the cross for our sins.

Today we will study how Jesus completed his mission of crucifixion for our sins.  However, prior to studying John’s description of Jesus’ crucifixion, we should understand how John wrote his gospel. He did not attempt to describe everything. Rather he selectively chose some facts as witnesses that prove Jesus as Christ. His focus was to help us know that Jesus is Christ and that we may believe and have eternal life. I pray that through this message, we may know more clearly and deeply that Jesus is truly Christ for each of us.

First, Jesus was crucified (16b-27)

Let’s read vs 17-18. “Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle.” Finally Pilate handed him over to the Jews. The soldiers took charge of Jesus. Jesus was at the mercy of the brutal soldiers. Chapter 19:1-3 showed that Jesus was abused severely. The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus’ head. They put a purple robe on Jesus and mocked him, saying “Hail, king of the Jews!”  They struck him in the face with the staff and Jesus was totally exhausted.

But Jesus was not reluctant to carry his own cross. He went out voluntarily to the place of common execution site, carrying his own cross. Every step he took, he felt horrible pain and suffering, with thorns picking his head, shedding the blood, and his shoulders agonizing. He was determined to carry his own cross.  When he arrived at the place of Skull, they crucified him. We all know that the cross was the worst way of punishing the criminals. These days death penalty is carried out with electronic shock. Death penalty is carried out as painless as possible. Back then, Romans used the cross as a warning to all people so they made the crucifixion as cruel as possible. When a criminal was on the cross, he could be hung on the cross for a few days, with splitting pain and gasping of the air.  Jesus was crucified so cruelly. His hands and feet nailed on the cross. He was lifted on the cross and the cross was dropped down in the hole. His body weighed down. His blood flowing down slowly and his breath gasping. We wonder why innocent Jesus had to die in this cruel way!

John the Baptist proclaimed early, “Look, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (1:29) Sinners crucified him to end his beautiful life out of their wickedness. By crucifying him with two other criminals on each side of Jesus, they treated Jesus as one of criminals. But God accepted his death as a ransom offering for our sins. We must be sentenced and condemned to death because of our own sins. But Jesus took all the punishment of our sins on himself, and he was crucified for our sins so that we may be forgiven, saved and have eternal life. Praise Jesus who bore all our sins on the cross. Because of Jesus, we do not need to go through terrible sufferings and pain.

Look at vs 19-22. Back then the executioner fixed the title of the criminal to the top of the cross that showed the criminal act that brought him to the cross, such as “Rebellion to Rome,” or “Murderer.”  But Pilate wrote the title for Jesus, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The chief priests protested it, but Pilate insisted, saying “What I have written, I have written.”  Perhaps Pilate felt he had been pushed over by the Jews, but he did not want to be pushed over again this time. Perhaps he wanted to get even with the Jews. Whatever reason he might have for this, God used him to declare that Jesus is the king of the Jews.

The name “Jesus of Nazareth” was often used to call Jesus by the people. Bartimaus shouted to Jesus, “Jesus of Nazareth, Son of David, has mercy on me.” Jesus of Nazareth invoked the beautiful life of Jesus to the people’s memory. The one who cared for them, who healed their sicknesses, and who fed them. People identified Jesus of Nazareth with the messiah. “The king of the Jews” did not mean just the king of the Jews only. Pilate wrote it in then three major languages, Aramaic, Latin and Greek.  God was proclaiming that Jesus was the king of all people, all nations. While Jesus was going through trials and sufferings, all people showed their true colors of their sinful nature. Pilate’s selfish ambition and his fear of men. The Jews’ hypocrisy and wickedness. The crowds’ fickle shouting, and soldiers’ desensitized consciences. Only Jesus showed his kingly attitude. It is irony that a true king was crucified while sinners were watching on him. But after Jesus died for the sin of the world, God would raise him from the dead and exalted him to the highest place so every knee would bow down at the name of Jesus and every tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord. Truly Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who deserves our worship, honor and devotion. When he comes again, those who do not welcome him as King of Kings will be crushed, while those who welcome him will be welcomed into his kingdom.

Look at vs 23-24. How did the soldiers act beneath the cross? They divided the clothes and cast lots for garments. They were selfish, greedy and childish. While people were dying on the crosses with excruciating pain, they were playing underneath. They represented the people who have their consciences seared. They were like the beasts. John sees even their actions were fulfillment of God’s prophecy in Ps 22:18. Jesus even died for such cruel souls.

Look at vs 25-27. While disciples ran for life, women did not leave Jesus alone in time of agony. Who were they? It’s like all Mary’s standing by under the cross. They were the ones who had served him. They shared joy and sorrow, glory and pain together with Jesus. When Jesus saw his mother, he said, “Dear woman, here is your son.” To John he said, “Here is your mother.”  Jesus suffered his unbearable pain, but when he saw his mother, he knew and understood her own pain. Simeon prophesied early when Mary took baby Jesus to the temple. “The sword will pierce your own soul, too.” (Lk 2:35)  Who could comfort mother’s grief while watching her won son’s death!  His pain was her own. His again was her own. I am sure every mother feels the same way when their sons and daughters go through troubles. Jesus knew it. Though he himself experienced sharp pain and agony, Jesus cared deeply for his mother’s grief. “Dear woman, here is your son.” Sometimes we wonder who would understand our pain and sorrow. But remember Jesus cares deeply for our sorrow.

Second, “It is finished.” (28-42)

Lets read vs 28-30. According to other gospel accounts, it was almost three hours Jesus was hung on the cross before he breathed his last.  Jesus knew that all that was prophesied in the Scriptures was completed. So what did he do? He said, “I am thirsty.” Of course, at this time Jesus’ blood flew down, he could hardly breathe the air because of his weighed down body. His lips thirsty burning. He said, “I am thirsty.”  His word triggered some people to act. They brought a sponge soaked with wine vinegar to Jesus’ lips. We know that vinegar will cause fire rather than quenching his thirst. Knowing all, Jesus said, “I am thirsty,”  only to fulfill the word of prophecy in Ps 69:21. “They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” Jesus lived by God’s words and determined to fulfill God’s will to the end of his life, though he was breathing his last.

What was Jesus’ last word recorded in John? “It is finished.” By saying this, Jesus completed his life of mission. It meant that he had completed his mission of laying the salvation work for all sinners. Jesus completed everything required by God for our salvation so that we can simply put trust in him and have eternal life.

There is a famous story associated with this word of Jesus, “It is finished.”  You know Hudson Taylor who devoted his life to China mission. He was not a believer in his teen. He was skeptical about Christianity. The one day all his family on vacation, he was bored at home, looking for some fun stuff at his father’s study. He stumbled on the little pamphlet, titled “The finished work of Jesus.”  The strange title caught his attention. “What is finished?” he wondered. While reading it, his heart was changed. He realized that Jesus finished the salvation work, so all he had to do was believe it. He was saved that day. Then he realized that he should share this good news to others. This was the way China mission was born in his heart.

Some people live as if Jesus’ salvation work had not been finished or completed. So they think they have to do some more to complete the salvation. You know our work is always falling short of God’s standards. In fact God says that our righteousness is like filthy rags before him. Then how can we make up for the salvation ourselves?  If we think we must be good enough to be accepted by a holy God, we will never be good enough no matter what. We will never have peace with God. In a sense, this is the reason God provides the perfect solution for us through Jesus. Jesus said, “It is finished.” Jesus completed the salvation work on the cross.  All we need to do is to believe the finished work of salvation by Jesus like Hudson Taylor. Then we will be at peace with God today and forever. This is the basis of Christian life, filled with peace and joy. Sometimes we carry the burdens of guilt, saying “I have not fed sheep.” “I have not gone fishing enough.” Do not let this guilt feeling choke the joy of having the finished work of Jesus. Jesus said, “It is finished.”

Look at vs 33-37.  Because the Jews did not want the body left on the crosses, they asked Pilate to have the legs of the criminals broken and their bodies taken down. So the soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals. But they did not break Jesus’ legs because Jesus was already dead. Instead a soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing down a sudden flow of blood and water. Jesus shed his blood for our forgiveness and water for our cleansing.  Jesus gave all for us. Why did all things happen? Lets read vs 36-37. After Jesus died, the prophecies continued to be fulfilled. Why so? Because God was behind all events. God used all these things to show us that Jesus is the promised messiah so we can believe in him and have eternal life. Do you still wonder if Jesus is the Christ? Are you looking for someone else? Remember Jesus is the promised messiah and he is the king of the Jews. May God open our eyes to see him crucified for our sins.

Look at vs 38-42. We see here tow prominent men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Both were members of Sanhedrin, Jewish ruling council who had condemned Jesus to death. I am sure they did not vote for that horrible decision. Yet they were called secret disciples. They could not publicly profess that they believed in Jesus. But Jesus’ death emboldened them to come out of the closets. They went to Pilate, asking for permission to take down Jesus’ body for burial. This act of faith could risk their career and even their lives. Nothing mattered much. They took side with Jesus and buried Jesus’ body that disciples could not do themselves.  When they came out publicly, God used them to d a beautiful thing at this critical time. It is interesting to see Nicodemus again. When he met Jesus at night three years ago, he answered, “How can it be?” But when he saw Jesus lifted on the cross, his spiritual eyes opened and he finally understood the truth Jesus had taught and believed. This shows our Bible study may not bear fruit right away, but it is not in vain. When the time comes, God will bear fruits and use them preciously.

Are you still wondering in the closets like secret disciples? Look up to Jesus who was crucified for our sins, who cares deeply for us, and who was raised with power. He is the king of kings and lord of lords. May God help us put trust in the finished work of Jesus and share the good news of Jesus faithfully this semester.

One word: Jesus said, “It is finished.”