The Gospel of John: The Resurrection

John 20:1-18

The Empty Tomb (v. 1-10)

•      All 4 Gospels point out that Jesus’ resurrection was on the 1^st day of the week

–     An allusion to the new beginning

•      Mary Magdalene comes to mourn at Jesus’ tomb

–     And finish burial preparation

–     And finds the stone has been moved away

•      She leaves to tell Peter & John (the other disciple)

–     Thinking that Jesus’ body had been stolen

•      Peter & John come to the tomb

–     John, the younger, outrunning Peter

•      When Peter enters the tomb, he finds only the linens that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in

–     The implication is that Jesus has passed through them

•      John begins to understand what has happened

–     And the two men return home

 

The First Appearance (v. 11-18)

•      Mary is left alone to weep over the missing Jesus

•      But when she looks into the tomb she sees two angels

–     Who ask why she is crying

•      Jesus appears to Mary

–     Who thinks He is a gardener

•      When He calls her by name, she realizes who He is

–     Calling Him teacher

–     And embracing Him

•      He sends her to the other disciples to share what has happened

 

So What?

•      John portrays Jesus’ death as a willful act of love

•      His resurrection is a willful act of life

–     A new life for all who trust Him

•      Do you believe that HE LIVES?!

–     If we do, we can have this new life too!

–     And, like Mary, share it with the world!

 

Meditation Verse: John 20:18

The Gospel of John: The Crucifixion

John 19:16b-42

The Crucifixion (v. 16b-27)

•      The soldiers prepare Jesus for execution

–     This included a severe beating (verberatio)

–     And make Him, on the edge of death, carry His own cross beam over 1/3 of a mile

•      Jesus is crucified with two others

–     Lēstai: Insurrectionists (Matt. 27:38; Mark 15:27)

•      Like Barabbas (John 18:40)

•      Pilate orders a sign to be placed over His head, telling of His crime

–     Common practice to act as a warning against such behavior

–     Against which the Jewish leadership takes umbrage

•      The soldiers divide Jesus’ clothes amongst them

–     There were 4 soldiers (Acts 12:4) and 5 garments (robe, tunic, belt, sandals, head covering)

–     Because the tunic was of high quality, rather than tear it, they gamble for it

•      Fulfilling Ps. 22:18

•      The only associates of Jesus’ reported as present are His mother, aunt, Mary Magdalene, and the beloved disciple

–     Probably John himself

•      Who is charged with taking care of Jesus’ mother

 

Jesus’ Death (v. 28-30)

•      Jesus’ death was necessary to accomplish His Father’s will

–     Redeeming God’s people from their sins

•      Once that was accomplished Jesus fulfills one last Scripture by asking for a drink

–     Which is met with vinegar rather than water (Ps. 69:21)

•      Jesus then declares His work finished

–     And dies of His own choosing

 

The Final Blow (v. 31-37)

•      The 2 brigands have their legs broken

–     To ensure that corpses would not be on public display for the Passover

•      But when Jesus is found dead

–     The soldier pierces His side into His heart & lungs to ensure He is really dead

•      Blood & water: May be a ‘sign’ of the life and cleansing that flow from Jesus’ death

•      John states that he is a trustworthy witness to these events

–     As is Scriptures itself

•      Ex. 12:46: Referring to Jesus as the Passover lamb

•      Zech. 12:10: Where God is pierced because of His people’s rebellion

 

 

 

Jesus’ Burial (v. 38-42)

•      Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus get permission to take Jesus’ body

–     Normally a seditionist would not be allowed to be buried, but left to be eaten by birds

•      And they buried Him in a nearby new tomb

 

So What?

•      Jesus died a horrific, painful death, as the King who was still in control to the very end

•      And He did it for us!

•      Do you trust in His death on your behalf?

 

Meditation Verse: John 19:30

The Gospel of John: The Sentence

John 19:1-16a

The Coronation (v. 1-8)

•      Pilate has Jesus flogged

–     He is trying to appease the crowds so that he can release Jesus

•      The soldiers provide a mock coronation of Jesus to make fun of Him

–     With a crown make of date thorns

–     And a royal robe of purple

–     As they bow down to Him

•      They strike Him

•      And hail Him “King of the Jews”

•      Acting better than they know

•      After He has been beaten, Pilate tries to release Jesus

–     Again declaring Him innocent

•      But the crowd wants Him dead

–     And demands that He be crucified

–     Because Jesus has claimed to be the Son of God

•      Which makes Pilate afraid

 

True Authority (v. 9-11)

•      Pilate brings Jesus back inside and questions Him again

–     He is afraid that the claim about Jesus being "a son of the gods" might be true

•      He asks Jesus where He came from

–     Which is met with silence

•      He then asserts that he alone has the authority to save Jesus

–     But Jesus doesn’t need to be saved

•      He has come to do the saving

•      Jesus corrects Pilate, claiming that He is only there because God has orchestrated it

–     Therefore Jesus is still in control of the situation

 

The Road is Set (v. 12-16a)

•      Pilate is set on releasing Jesus

•      But he is met with threats from the crowd

–     Questioning his loyalty to the Emperor

•      Because as Messiah, Jesus is making a kingly claim

•      He capitulates to the crowd

–     And passing judgment from the bema, the judgment seat (see John 5:22)

•      John reminds us that all this takes place in the setting of the Passover

–     An allusion to Jesus being the true Passover Lamb

–     The 6^th hour by Jewish reckoning = noon

•      Roman legal time = 6 am

•      Pilate presents Jesus back to the crowd as He is being sentenced: The King of the Jews

•      But they speak a greater truth than they know: “We have no king but Caesar”

–     They deny Jesus’ kingship

•      And therefore are denying God as their king

 

So What?

•      Jesus was sentenced to die as the King!

–     A true claim

•      The King died His subjects could live

–     Is He your King?

 

Meditation Verse: Philippians 2:8

The Gospel of John: The Trial

John 18:28-40

Questioning the Prosecution (v. 28–32)

•      Annas & Caiaphas send Jesus to the Roman ruler, Pilate

–     Roman prefect under Emperor Tiberius from AD 26 to 37

–     Known for his moral weakness, vacillation, stubbornness, and brutality (cf. Luke 13:1)

•      They refuse to enter his home so that they can stay ceremonial clean

–     And partake in the impending Passover

•      Pilate comes out to the crowd and questions them

–     They need Pilate’s permission to execute Jesus

–     Because they are not allowed to put anyone to death under Roman law

•      Which also fulfilled Jesus’ words about being crucified, the Roman form of execution (12:32-33)

•      Rather than being stoned, the Jewish one

 

The Defense Questioned (v. 33–38a)

•      Pilate brings Jesus inside for a private questioning

•      He asks if Jesus is claiming to be the Jewish King: the Messiah

–     This claim would make Jesus a threat to Caesar, the Roman Emperor

•      Jesus asks Pilate a clarifying question (v. 34)

–     Which is met with indignation

•      Jesus clarifies that He is no threat to Rome

–     By defining His kingdom as ‘not of this world’

•      Jesus’ Kingdom

–     Spiritual in nature

•      And therefore greater than any human kingdom

•      And yet, not a threat to them either

–     Is not built or established by human means

•      When Pilate asks Jesus to verify His kingly claim

–     He does so; but clarifies that He is the king of those who live in the truth

•      Pilates’ rhetorical question is telling:

–     He does not known truth, though the Truth is standing before him

 

The First Trial (v. 19-24)

•      When the high priest questions Jesus, it is at night

–     Thus considered illegal

•      Unlike Jesus who does His work in the open (v. 20)

•      Perhaps one reason why Jesus does not testify about Himself is to shed light on the injustice

–     He calls on the high priest to produce witnesses

•      Which was required by the Law (Num 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15)

•      Jesus also points out the soldier’s response is illegal

–     Not based on wrongs committed or witnesses

•      Thus, those who claim to obey the Law:

–     Fail to keep it

–     Fail to understand that the Law points to Jesus the Messiah

 

The Verdict (v. 38b-40)

•      Pilate announces to the crowds that he finds ‘no guilt in [Jesus]’

–     Speaking greater than he knows

•      He invokes a Roman custom to release a prisoner at the Passover

–     Asking if they want their King back

•      The crowd calls for the insurrectionist, Barabbas (cf. Mark 15:7)

–     Irony: Barabbas may have actually posed a threat to Roman rule and is released

•      While Jesus poses no real threat is executed

 

So What?

•      Jesus is building a kingdom that is greater than any this world has ever known

•      Are you a part of that kingdom?

•      Have you listened to the Truth and believed Him?

 

Meditation Verse: John 18:37