John 19

Sometimes it is tempting to just gloss over a story so familiar, but let's take the time read through it. On a closer reading, verse 11 sounded familiar. Paul wrote something very similar in Romans 13:1. Perhaps Paul was thinking of Jesus before Pilate as his perfect example when writing to the believers in Rome.

In verse 19, we read that Pilate uses his authority to cause a notice to be written on the cross concerning Jesus. The fact that he refuses to change it when asked by the chief priests is probably more to spite them than it is a profession of faith on Pilate's part, but it is interesting nevertheless.

In the next section, John points out several things that happened so that Scripture might be fulfilled: The dividing of Jesus' garment by lots (Psalm 22:18) and none of Jesus' bones being broken (in which John may have been referring to a number of things, Exodus 12 and Numbers 9--the Passover Lamb, or Psalm 34--The righteous man). There is another one between them which John doesn't explain completely. In verse 28, John wrote: Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." Unlike a few verses before, John doesn't tell us exactly which verse he's talking about. Some scholars suggest that Jesus was reciting from the Psalms as He hung on the cross. This would certainly fit with His identity as a rabbi, since rabbis sought to learn, teach, live, pray, and die by the text of God's Word. In that light, perhaps Psalm 22 may be referred to again: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

(v. 30) Jesus said, "It is finished." The Greek word here is "tetelestai" and while "it is finished" is not a bad translation, the word has great depth of meaning. In one sense, it is an accounting term, written at the bottom of paid debts or bills and in that sense means not only "it is finished" but "paid in full." But it also is broader than that. It can be used referring to the completion of a purpose or calling. That is, "I have completed exactly what I set out to do." That is the sense of Jesus on the cross. Accomplishing exactly what He set out to do--providing fully for our great debt.