Sermon Notes - John 19:17-42 - Littleby Baptist Church - December 3, 2023

1.     Jesus has been betrayed.

a.      Abandoned.

b.     Falsely accused.

c.      Beaten.

d.     And Sentenced to death.

e.      All of these events as hard as they are, were needed.

f.      When God created the world, He knew humankind would need a Savior.

g.     He knew we would need the perfect lamb to come to earth.

h.     The Father loves us so much that He sent His Son to us.

i.       To wipe away our sin once and for all.  

2.     John 19:16-18

a.      Jesus and the others were taken outside of the city to be crucified.

b.     The OT Law required that the sin offering was to be taken outside the city to be burned.

c.      Jesus being crucified outside the city symbolically showed that He is the ultimate sin offering.

d.     A sin offering for each of us. 

3.     John 19:19-20

a.      A sign listing a person’s crime was normal.

b.     Making a statement such as this was not.

c.      We could speculate that Pilate believed there was something special about Jesus.

d.     He may have wondered if he was a god like one of the many the Romans worshipped.

e.      Or he simply was poking the Jewish leaders on a bit.

f.      Either way, Pilate was making a very public statement.

g.     Written in multiple languages so that all could read it.

h.     When we claim to be a Christian, a Christ follower… we are making a public statement that all should be able to see.

i.       As we live our faith people should notice it.

4.     John 19:21-22

a.      Those who could not see who Jesus really is, did not like what the sign stated.

b.     It read factually, but they wanted to discredit Jesus.

c.      But in this case the truth won.

d.     God used Pilate to publicly proclaim that Jesus is the King of the Jews.

e.      A lost person correctly stated who Jesus is.

f.      It is great when someone recognizes our faith in Jesus and acknowledges it or tells people about it.

g.     Think about that person coming up to you asking for prayer, because they know you are a Christ follower even though they are not.

h.     That person at work who asks about your faith.  

i.       Those are great opportunities to share God’s love with others.  

5.     John 19:23-24

a.      Psalms 22:16-18

b.     His hands and feet were pierced as they hung Jesus on the cross.

c.      I can count all my bones, meaning none are broken… which we will get to in just a bit.

d.     People would look and stare, Jesus’ crucifixion was public.

e.      They cast lots for His clothing.

f.      Prophetic words were being fulfilled as Jesus is being crucified.

6.     John 19:25-27

a.      At this point it is believed that Joseph, Mary’s husband has already died.

b.     Jesus as the eldest son was to care for His mother.

c.      Since He could not provide for her Himself, He gave her into John’s care.

d.     In doing so, Jesus reminded us to care for others.

e.      To meet needs, to serve others even in dark times.

f.      A calling that is on all who follow Jesus.

7.     John 19:28-29

a.      A bit of symbolism in these verses.

b.     Jesus gives us the Water of Life, yet He is thirsty.

c.      Additionally, we read here that a hyssop branch was used.

d.     Hyssop is what was used to spread the Passover lambs’ blood on the lintel and door posts before the final plague that God sent to Egypt.

e.      A simple event points to Jesus being the perfect sacrificial lamb for us.

8.     John 19:30

a.      Archeologist have found tax documents from this time frame with the same Greek word that is translated here as ‘it is finished’ written across them.

b.     Meaning the debt had been paid in full.

c.      Jesus was declaring that the sin debt has been paid in full.

d.     His work to bring Salvation to all had been completed.

e.      Your sin debt and mine have been paid in full.

f.      Jesus gave up His spirit.

g.     He chose the moment.

h.     Even in that last moment before He died.

i.       Jesus shows us that He was in complete control.

j.       He willingly gave Himself for us.

k.     To pay the debt we owed.

9.     John 19:31-32

a.      The belief was that having someone hanging on a cross on the Sabbath would defile the land, defile all the people of Israel.

b.     This brutal act sped up death from what could be days to a very short period of time as they could no longer use their legs to hold up their body to breath.

10.  John 19:33

a.      Remember Psalm 22, all of His bones would be counted.

b.     None of Jesus’ bones had been broken.

c.      Prophecy was fulfilled.  

11.  John 19:34

a.      Jesus was pierced and blood and water came out.

b.     Jesus being pierced is fulfillment of prophecy.

c.      Zechariah 12:10

d.     Israel rejected Jesus, the pierced one.

e.      One day they will recognize that He is the Messiah.

f.      Why would John include that blood and water came out of Jesus’ side?

g.     To show that Jesus was fully human.

h.     Gnosticism was big during that time.

i.       Gnostics would say that Jesus was merely a human who was filled by God or who had become enlightened.

j.       John has been preaching that Jesus is God.

k.     He wanted to make sure people understood that Jesus was also fully human.

l.       His side was pierced, and blood and water flowed out of His side.  

m.   Jesus is fully God and fully human.

12.  John 19:35

a.      John, the witness and writer of this Gospel, saw these events firsthand.

b.     His testimony is true.

c.      It can be counted on.

13.  John 19:36

a.      Even in death, Jesus fulfilled prophecy.

b.     When we think of Him being the perfect Passover lamb, we tend to look at how He was sinless.

c.      Beyond that Jesus had no imperfections.

d.     No broken bones.

e.      No physical defects.

f.      Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.

14.  John 19:37

a.      Revelation 1:7

b.     We will all see Jesus for who He is.

c.      The Sacrificial Lamb.

d.     The Messiah.

e.      The Son of God.

f.      Hopefully our eyes are opened to that fact, before we stand before Him in judgement.

15.  John 19:38-39

a.      Normal practice was to take the crucified body and toss it aside.

b.     Adding insult to injury.

c.      Joseph and Nicodemus where wealthy Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus but did not openly live their faith.

d.     They came forward to give Jesus a proper burial.

e.      In this one act of kindness, they were publicly stating they believed in Jesus.

f.      They were risking their wealth, influence, and even being a member of the temple.

g.     They were risking a lot for their faith.

h.     They brought an amazing amount of spices, myrrh, and aloes to prepare Jesus body in.

i.       This was roughly 2X what was normal and is estimated at $150-200K today.

j.       A kind sacrificial act for one who they likely believed could no longer do anything for them.

k.     As we care for and serve others, Joseph and Nicodemus are great examples.

l.       It is not about what we get out of it or how we may be repaid.

m.   We are to give freely as we serve others.

n.     Give sacrificially without thought of what we may receive in return.

16.  John 19:40-42

a.      Isaiah 53:9

b.     Jesus was to be left with the wicked, tossed aside.

c.      Instead, He was buried in a private tomb in a garden.

d.     Jesus was buried in a rich man’s tomb.

17.  Jesus the perfect sinless Lamb of God was laid to rest in a tomb.

a.      He paid an awful price.

b.     In doing so, He paid our debts in full.

c.      His death was needed.

d.     It was needed to restore us to who we were created to be, God’s children.

18.  As Christ followers.

a.      We need to live our faith.

b.     1 Corinthians 15:58

c.      Stand firm in the teachings found in Scripture.

d.     Don’t be swayed by false teachers.

e.      Remembering that as we live our faith.

f.      As we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

g.     As we love others.

h.     It is all in service to the Lord.

i.       His death paid the price.

j.       But His resurrection gives all who believe Victory.

k.     Answer the call and live your faith for all to see.

l.       Let God use you.

19.  If you don’t know Jesus.

a.      The verses we covered today, show that Jesus paid a horrific price.

b.     He endured it all out of Love for you.

c.      If you would like to learn more about that Love, I would love to talk to you.