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John 19.30
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May 17th 2015
We left off last week with Jesus having been crucified, Pilate making a sign (for a number of potential reasons), and the Jewish leaders not liking what he wrote.
In verse 22 Pilate said:
“What I have written I have written.”
Verse 23 – 37
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Alright back to 23
Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout
Mt 27:35; Mr 15:24; Lu 23:34
“from the top throughout” Ex 39:22
Some scholars suggest that the plural of garments here is used to describe the outer garment alone. Could be or it could refer to all of His clothing.
Apparently, by the way the soldiers divided up his clothes there were four of them there to oversee His execution.
John adds that they also took “His coat.”
Now, John says the coat was without seam, sown from the top to the bottom and for a long time it was believed by scholars (who apparently never got out into the world) that a coat with sleeves would be impossible to weave in one piece.
But this isn’t so. In many Eastern countries men wear tunics or coats that are woven and have sleeves. We also know from the Old Testament that the High Priest was to wear an outer garment that was woven completely and not sewn together.
Josephus, Ant. b. iii. c. 7, s. 4 says this:
“Now this coat (citwn) was not composed of two pieces, nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and sides, but it was one long vestment, so woven as to have an opening for the neck; not an oblique one, but parted all along the back and breast; it was also parted where the hands were to come out.”
He adds
“the high priest had a long robe of a blue color, which hung down to the feet, and was put over all the rest.”
It is quite possible, with Jesus as the final High Priest of the people, that he wore a coat that could be described in a similar manner.
So not wanting to destroy the coat and its value the soldiers decided to vie to possess it in another way (verse 24)
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be:
Where the outer garment would have been easy to divide the coat, created from top to bottom through weaving, would have lost its value by cutting it up.
So more reasoned minds took over and suggested they cast lots for it.
Casting lots in ancient Israel was done as a means to make a decision that was void of manipulation, political favoritism, or nepotism.
The primary manner it was done what through two stones kept in a pouch and attached to a breastplate that the High Priest wore.
But later on casting of lots could have included throwing polished sticks, drawing cards, or throwing stones as a means to see what order they landed in.
Casting lots today would be akin to flipping a coin or rolling dice.
The thing about it is that whatever the outcome it could NOT be disputed as showing favoritism or being unfair.
Proverbs 16:33 puts it this way: “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”
Coming back to the Lord’s clothing, we don’t know the outcome of the lot cast or who won the coat but we do know that in choosing to cast lots for his coat prophesy was fulfilled.
The prophecy is found in Psalm 22:18 which says:
“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
This causes John to add:
“that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
(verse 25 – the Mary verse)
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother (whose name was Mary), and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
If you were taking notes that’s three separate Mary’s – and there are more in scripture so like we do when we come to any topic whereby we can learn let’s talk about the Mary’s of the Bible – especially these three present at the cross of Christ.
The name Mary in English is derived from the Greek name Maria which is the translated from the Hebrew Miriam, which you may recall was Moses sisters name.
Now in the New Testament there are six Miriam’s, Maria’s or Mary’s.
From the least to the greatest we have a woman named Mary mentioned in Romans 16:6 who was kind to Paul. That’s the least Mary.
Secondly, John Mark’s mother’s name was Mary.
She was the sister of a character we meet in Acts by the name of Barnabas and Acts 4:37 and 12:12 tells us she helped him with the sale of property and putting the proceeds into the church coffers.
We also know it was in this Mary’s house that the disciples of that area often met.
The third NT Mary was one of the Mary’s mentioned here in chapter 19 – “Mary the wife of Cleopas.”
If we compare Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40 we see that this Mary and “Mary the mother of James the little” are one and the same and that she was the sister of our Lord’s mother.
This Mary is the “other Mary” who was present with Mary of Magdala at the burial of the Lord and she was one of those who went early in the morning of the first day of the week to anoint the body therefore this Mary became one of the first witnesses of the resurrection.
The fourth Mary is
“Mary the sister of Lazarus and Martha.”
She is contrasted with her sister Martha, who was “cumbered about with many things” while Jesus was their guest but she chose “the good part.”
It was this Mary who when Jesus made a visit to Bethany (where she lived) brought “a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus” as he reclined at table in the house of one Simon who was once a leper.
We don’t know much more about this Mary except they seemed to have had means and popularity among the Jews at Jerusalem.
The fifth Mary is known as “Mary of Magdala” or Mary Magdalene.
Magdala was a town on the western shore of the Lake of Tiberias.
The first time we read of her is in Luke 8 where we read:
Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Apparently, grateful for being delivered of the “seven devils” Mary of Magdala bestowed the Lord with part of her substance – along with the others – and at this point Mary of Magdala began to follow the Lord.
We read later in Matthew 27:55 that these same women were still following the Lord on His last journey into Jerusalem.
They were also near the cross with Mary of Magdala standing with Mary the wife of Cleopas and Mary the Mother of the Lord.
Mary of Magdala remained with the Lord throughout His crucifixion. She was there when His body was taken down and laid in Joseph’s tomb. And again, she was at His sepulchre when it was still dark on the first day of the week, with Salome and Mary the mother of James, bringing sweet spices so they could anoint His body.
Instead of finding Him they found the sepulchre empty, but saw the “vision of angels” (according to Matthew 28:5).
This Mary of Magdala then ran to tell Peter and John, who were probably living together at this time and then immediately returns to the sepulcher where she lingers weeping at the door of the tomb.
What was it that caused this Mary to have such devotion, such dedication, such persistence?
Of all people in scripture she was at the top when it came to appreciating the Lord – He delivered her if seven devils – and set her free.
When someone knows what Jesus has done for them they follow Him. When they realize that He has set them free let nothing come between Him and them.
I mean Peter and John were asleep on the first day of the week – but Mary Magdalene was there till the end – and even after.
While weeping at the tomb the risen Lord appears to her but she does not recognized Him – until He calls her by name, causing her to say, “Rabboni.”
That is the last we hear of Mary of Magdalena. And we’ll talk more about her in the weeks to come.
But before moving on to the final Mary in the New Testament, let me say this:
Mary of Magdalena may have been a woman of ill repute – but it’s doubtful on account of the fact that she bore a name of the place from where she originated – a rarity for women unless they HAD some sort of reputation.
She has been maligned as a whore for centuries but this accusation is as provable as saying she was a mass murderer – we just don’t know.
Probably due to the way men think and the way evil women attack other women Mary of Magdala has been assigned the crime of great sin especially unchastity but the claims are groundless – she could have had great emotional, psychological, and or even physical ailments that plagued her but again WE DO NOT KNOW.
The last Mary for the day – the Mother of Jesus.
She was of course the wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, and is called the “Virgin Mary,” though she is never referred to as the Virgin Mary in scripture but rather as the Mother of the Lord.
We do know from scripture that when she was betrothed to joseph that she had never known a man and was overcome with the Holy Spirit and then found with child so the title is appropriate.
We are given very little of her in terms of personal history.
Her genealogy is given in Luke 3:1-38 and from it we know that she was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David (Ps 132:11; Lu 1:32).
She was connected to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist by marriage.
While she was living in Nazareth with her parents, prior to becoming the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah (Luke 1:35).
After this she went to visit her cousin Elisabeth, who was living with her husband Zacharias. Immediately on entering the house she was saluted by Elisabeth as “the mother of her Lord,” and then forthwith gave utterance to a hymn of thanksgiving (which can be read in Luke 1:46-56).
After three months Mary returned to Nazareth. Joseph was made aware of her condition by God and being a good man took her to his own home.
Not long after Luke 2:1 tells us that Augustus decreed that “all the area should be taxed.”
So Joseph proceed to Bethlehem some 80 or 90 miles away with pregnant Mary and they found no room at the Inn but only in an animal manger.
Here Mary brought forth her first son and God’s only son – amidst the cattle.
He was named Yeshua because He would save His people from their sins.
Following His presentation in the temple, a flight into Egypt, and their return in the following year they resided at Nazareth where they lived for some thirty years with Joseph the carpenter and observing things around her that caused her to keep them quietly in her heart.
Mary the Mother of Jesus is around while He fulfills His three year ministry.
She boldly approaches Him at a wedding party in Cana to take care of matters of urgency – there was no wine.
A year and a half after this we find her at Capernaum where showing up and people telling Jesus that His mother and brethren were there to see Him said those immortal words:
“Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!”
The next time we read about Mary the Mother of Jesus is here in chapter 19 verse 26.
Can you imagine the pain and terror and suffering in this mothers heart looking up at her first born Son hanging there and fighting for breath?
Hearing Him cry:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
We have to wonder if Mary echoed this question in her heart, “Yes God, why have you forsaken my Son,” or if she knew the plan and in faith merely prayed for her Son to complete what He was sent to do?
(beat)
We know that Mary the Mother of Jesus was present in the upper room at the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell and three thousand souls were saved.
Acts 1:14 tells us this.
After this, and left in the care of John the beloved, she disappears from public notice or writings.
(Verse 26)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
In our language to refer to a female as woman sounds really disrespectful – especially to their own mother but this is not the case. We know this because honoring father and mother is the fifth commandment in the Law and Jesus would never break the law.
What we do find, however, in this situation is that Jesus is making sure, from the cross – in the throes of pain and suffering – that His mother is going to be taken care of.
By who? John – who interestingly enough was the only apostle not martyred and the only one who “lived long life!”
So Jesus looking or referring to his mother says,
“Woman (Mother) behold thy Son!”
It is really a romantic notion to believe He was speaking of Himself here but I don’t think so because of what he adds in the next verse, which says:
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
So Jesus was referring to John:
“Mother, behold, my beloved disciple who shall be to you a son, and provide for you, and discharge toward you the duties of an affectionate child.”
Mary was poor. The death of Jesus may have made her feel she was without a home or care.
Honoring His mother to the utmost the Lord took this opportunity to make sure she was taken care of.
I mean look at what was going on here – and let the application seep into the heart.
I get busy – so busy that I can’t take the time to go and visit my aging parents whenever I visit California and yet Jesus, takes the time amidst atoning for the sins of the WORLD to make plans for the care of His mother.
A radical lesson for all.
(verse 27)
Then saith he to the disciple (John who is writing this account) “Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
At this point John writes His conclusion to the Passion of the Christ, saying in verse 28:
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, “I thirst.”
In verse 28 John begins his wrap up of the Lord’s suffering. In so doing He points out two amazing facts.
First, the fulfillment of Old Testament scripture – specifically Psalm 69:21 where David writes Messianically:
Psalm 69:21 “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”
It’s just another of dozens of prophesies that foretold of Jesus as the Messiah and which were fulfilled in His life and death.
Perhaps more poignantly, however, is the request itself.
To get the full brunt of it we have to go back in John’s narrative – to the place where Jesus chose to sit on a well where a forbidden Samaritan WOMAN came to draw water.
You remember the conversation – its in John four and says:
John 4:6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
The irony of this teaching compared to one of Jesus final words spoken as a man is amazing.
To begin, the promised Messiah was from back in the New Testament a being who was going to quench those who thirst.
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Echoing this sentiment we read in Revelation 22:17
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Jesus Himself said in John 6:35
John 6:35 I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John added in John 7:37
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
In all of these passages we are presented with four consistent factors attached to Jesus’ offer to WHOMEVER would come to Him.
A guarantee of refreshment to the thirsty.
A guarantee that the refreshment was free – without cost, and
A guarantee that those who drank would never thirst again, and finally –
A guarantee that those who did, in fact, drink the living water He offered them, would have living water flow out of them like a river.
I want to reaffirm to any and all listening to me today these guarantees –
He will refresh you with LIVING water.
If you are “thirsty” in life come to Him. The water He will give you is absolutely free – no cost, no obligation, no commitments demanded, no memberships, no annual contracts, no payment plans, no tithes, nothing demanded from Man – FREE.
That once you drink of Him and His living water you will never thirst again for what you thirsted for before. You will know Him and He will know you and you will stop searching but will start building, and finally . . .
You will have living water pour out from you like a river once you have truly ingested His free gift.
How was Jesus able to make such a promise?
By thirsting first . . . for us and on our behalf.
It is said that thirst was one of the most distressing circumstances of crucifixion.
It would not take long for the inflicted wounds from the scourging and driven nails to become inflamed, which would result in high fever, the backing sun, the exertion to breathe, all causing sweat to pour and hydration to wane.
Only by becoming sin could He offer solution to sin. Only by suffering incomprehensible thirst could He promise living water. Only by giving His own life could He promise life eternal to all who sought it.
And so in one of the greatest ironies of Christian life the one who guarantees to satisfy all who come to Him thirsting, our Lord had to thirst Himself.
In order for us to live He had to die.
John adds
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Jesus was offered vinegar twice while on the cross. The first time it was mixed with what they called gall – a substance that served to numb the senses – this Jesus refused.
But this second time, after saying that He thirsted, he was offered a drink the Roman soldiers would consume which was a light wine turned sour and mixed with water.
This second offering, He accepted.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, ”It is finished:”
and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
All the way back in the Book of Genesis we are presented with the one-two combination of things that worked interchangeably – off and around each other.
The Very first verse of the Bible says:
“In the beginning God created Heaven and earth – two places – one above one below.”
Darkness and light.
Night and Day.
Land and Sea
Sea creatures and Land animals
Man in god’s image from the dust.
Woman from His side.
It was all good and functioning – “and God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day – heaven on earth and man on earth engaging with heaven – until sin was introduced
And everything divided up, came in conflict, separated then divorced.
But God so loved the world He sent His only begotten Son from Heaven to reclaim the earth, and reestablish that which was from the beginning – heaven on earth, and earth in heaven.
Suspended above the ground, and hanging as it were from the heavens, the Lord died for
Sin.
Out of love.
To reconcile.
To redeem.
To reunite.
To restore heaven on earth, opening the way for God to walk with believers while in this place.
Accomplished by Him, right here, in this place where He gave up the ghost.
Let’s conclude by taking the chronological Gospel accounts of all of Jesus last words once on the cross – hanging suspended in the air – and reflect on them and their meaning in our lives.
SEVEN STATEMENTS OF THE CROSS – here.
Q and A
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