037 - Finished

You pick up your Bible and one is there more here than meets the is there something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper right it may look like just print on the page but it's more than a join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our own. As we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than you know when Jesus was baby came to Mary and said sword will pierce your own soul. Many hearts today talk about that Jesus on the cross on 19 more than Jim and we're sitting here in our dining room table and usually so left off last week in the title of the events at the cross, but now today were actually a week after we celebrated the resurrection, and we're here, you know Easter we been there we done that. But we flipped to the back of her get past the cross as we said last week, the significance of the cross stands at the center of all history with God touched down and saved us by the death of his son, so also we are still in John 19 and we're just going to pick up the text on the cross that even though were outside the Christian calendar per se.

You need to come the cross often to see what goes on here because this is where his world place. Yes, I remember last week we left off with pilot saying hey what I've written, I've written put a sign up said this is the king of the Jews unrebutted and every common language, so no matter where you are coming from or going to use new guys and the guy was that pilot is used by God to basically serve notice to the world about who in three different languages that this is the king who dies and that's that's going to be the discussion in Jerusalem that week about Passover. It's gonna be. They said he was the king of the Jews. What's that all about.

So working there next to us a fascinating thing. 23's were pickup today in chapter 19 of John, so I wanted. I start okay just jump in there. Verse 23 so when the soldiers had crucified Jesus. He took his garments divided them into four parts. One part for each soldier and also his tunic with the tunic was seamless is woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said to one another while it's not here it but cast lots for to see whose it shall be, and this was to fulfill the Scripture which says they divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother, sister, Mary the wife of corpus and Mary Magdalene.

And when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby.

He said to his mother, woman, behold, your son and then he said to the disciple, behold your mother and from that hour the disciple took her to his own cannot stop there. Got stuck there. So there's the soldiers at the foot of Jesus at the cross and their pierce. The dividing is close. Can you believe it well and this is something over which he would've had no control. Nope right, but it is a fulfillment of prophecy is very specifically stated actually in Psalm 22 only encouraged you last week to go back and read Psalm 22 and watch for the things that were fulfilled at the cross and I have that verse right here in front of her. As Psalm 2218.

They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots right so there throwing the dice to see who's going to get this this government by the way, were told it was woven in one piece so that it could not easily be torn and that actually is a description of the tunic of the high priest. Yes that's right that who's were told that that garment was woven in one piece and binding around the neck to prevent it from being torn in Exodus 28. If you take time to read the garments of the high priests described in Exodus you'll see some wonderful things there that point to Jesus we will take time to do it now.

But is our high priest. It's just one of those little flags waving, that tells us this book.

Exodus that's written by Moses thousand years before or earlier than that it here at the time of Jesus were seeing those words fulfilled. I think it's one of the greatest aspects of biblical exploration. If you can get your hands around reading both the Old Testament is a great habit. All of a sudden these little discoveries to start jumping out to wait a second that that description sounds like what they said about Jesus when he was on the cross could be that there's a connection being made about our high priest well and if you are new to Bible reading.

Maybe you don't realize that very often in your New Testament, there will be some sort of indication that the Old Testament is being quoted in most of the additions that you listen is in all capital letters but that might not be that way in every war every year. John just as explicit life, but you have to go hunting for web address and there should be a cross reference yeah so you know if you if you're new to Bible reading in your Bible lay on the page layout is usually a center column reference or side references will strip that has tiny letters in the skeletal footnote connections of the verses reading in the center of those will take you to these places and the people have already made those connections and so do well if use.

If you look at one of those. He was a little letter on this verse. I wonder what they're talking about. You look in the side column reference the center references will go to Psalm 22 and you sweep over to Psalm 22 in your regal cell important in understanding a book like the Bible and learn understating its unity that one of the key things we need to to apply to allow the Bible to interpret itself. And so always track down those cross-references. If this especially if it a question in your mind will.

Where is that weird that Charlotte before so God God has laid this.

It's almost like a giant jigsaw puzzle away delight in discovering these things.

A lot of people don't spend whole lives. Discovering these things. It also brings us back to the point we made last time that the crucifixion is not just an accidental train wreck was just this way.

It was laxity addicted and it was determined by God and there it is, and it's been talked about hundred yeah so John says specifically so soldiers do things because it had been prophesied to have a just and crucifixion was unknown in the time when Psalm 22 was written so that description which is so clearly a crucifixion and Isaiah 53 also was it is again demonstrated to be prophetic. Yeah, it's interesting to that. If someone dies, you need to buy their close monks you divide whatever they own, and so what's odd is that you you would simultaneously both divide over clothing and then cast lots for them wanted to divide up the clothing be done with it. Well, because this was a think this is a recognized government evaluate exactly so. No one could have predicted that they would be doing both because essentially Jesus of nothing. So this is full, so let's go to the women standing at the cross and the personal nature of this note is the other Gospels tell us this level of detail.

John standing nearby.

He's with Jesus's mother Mary and Mary's sister. We don't have her name, Mary the wife of corpus and Mary Magdalene. So these are the women who were had drawn near to Mary the mother of Jesus in her credible grief and shock and Jesus at this point is still conscious enough to give thought to his mother. He's the firstborn son, it's his responsibility to make sure that his mother is cared for, and so he does that is nationally he's dying in trusts her care to his closest friend. You know if I was and if I was in the throes.

My last breath of dying. Be that coherent, but is fulfilling his duty as a son and he's everything Jesus does as he always lived but here in these hours on the cross. Everything he does and says is deliberate consciously mindfully chosen because just in the next breath. We haven't read it yet but John says no, everything was now finished. John is always emphasizing for his gospel that Jesus knew you again, not an accidental train wreck right, not a surprise to Jesus. He knew it was coming and I always have fantasized and this is kind of a strange thing, but with the advent of Mary coming to live with John for the rest of her life probably enter speculation about how long it lasted. Some people think that when John went off to Ephesus and is actually good tradition to get some but I mean be interesting to be in their living room with John asking Mary questions about Jesus wouldn't make a call about his childhood.

Great yeah great, short story or something, you make us is all speculation, but it is but I've always wondered about how much of the early parts of John's Gospel was gleaned through his living room conversation with his mother.

I mean that.

That's just a fascinating kind of prospect. I just think about that.

Anyway was move on.

So I wrapped yeah okay so was 20. So after this after entrusting his mother to John. This is 28 Jesus knowing that all was now finished, said to fulfill the Scripture. I thirst a jar full of sour wine stood there so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on the hyssop branch and held it to his mouth when Jesus had received the sour wine he said it is finished and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Okay, so he said some other things from the cross. But John has just zeroed in on these couple of things that that the living water himself being thirsty, which again Psalm 22 describes my tongue is cleaving to the roof of my mouth right right right and this and this is a really explicit prophecy in Psalm 69 and I brought it up so I could read that says Melissa closest this assumption. This is a song they sang, and for my first and they gave me sour 10 us pretty straightforward yeah while so again if your you know if you reading around the Bible and you have to come across this in Psalms and everything away. The second that's what happened with Jesus was this of prefiguring of what was going to happen just to give in a little dropping a little penny drops in mission. You wait a second. Everyone knew this going to happen in heaven. It was a surprised us. But isn't it interesting that John says that Jesus now waiting that everything was now finished so that tells us that the other things that he said from the cross.

The direct quote from Psalm 22, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, which the other Gospels tell us about that.

He knew all he had spoken all of those things.

So he's aware now it's done. Everything has been finished and remember back in chapter 13. John had said Jesus, knowing that he'd come forth from God was going back to God knowing that everything was going to enfold me know what he knew he did what he did and Excel again. John's giving assessable insight.

Jesus, knowing it was accomplished. Says it's finished. He died voluntarily willingly did not take his life. He laid it down if you analyze the interactions with pilot.

There's just so many places Jesus could stop the forward progress of this thing. Yeah but he doesn't but he doesn't and he says it's finished very famous were to list is finished and a lot of speculation will what's finished well everything specs because when you get to the cross and the crucifixion and the payment for the price of our sins.

The one suffice for all time is once for all for everyone. It made me think as well to. If you go back again. If you every Daniel.during the time the Babylonian captivity.

In Daniel's technique. There's a lot of interesting prophetic things Daniel talks about but but when he talks about the Messiah prints the Mysia Magid and talks with the Messiah Prince and the timing of the coming I miss you right there uses effective uses this word finish and that it just dawned on me where he says all of the 70 weeks until until the finish of transgression.

Yes hello I am looking for that reason because it's is amazing.

Just so, so it is finished. In many ways it's a finish is the end to the problem of the transgressions as well.

99 24. Listen to this because actually I was using this in Bible study. The other day and talking to some women about what the significance of the mountain. The holy city in place where God placed his name. So this is Daniel nine 2470 weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city now are not getting that 70 listen to what God says is going to happen there this is me saying 70 weeks for your people and your holy city to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place all of that was taking place on those hours on the cross and sin, the anointing of the holy place of the eternal when you look at the crucifixion is more going on than meets the eye read in the context of Daniel nine. It's the end of transgression is the end of sin and yeah just astonished it's a start is not to say my life is finished, he saying that the problem of sin that separates man from God is been taking care of and the work that needs to be done is finished. And Jesus did that work, not us. Yeah.

And Paul says in Colossians 214, you were dead in your transgressions and 13 and the circumcision of your flesh came alive together with Christ, having forgiven us all our transgressions. Now listen to this.

Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us. He's taking it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross bears the picture. Our sin are transgression was nailed to the cross.

When Jesus died.

Yeah, in fact, the what's nailed to the cross. In this particular example is the charges again rises, but what were we in his place on the cross, which is where we should have been what would be mailed over our heads would be ours in the bin nailed the cross on top of Jesus name there and they would take care of them at the pictures. Just as capable we need to move on. Only now on we move into the session. Only John talks about the verse 30 since it was the day of preparation again. He tells us, time is of the essence of longest ticket they got to get this done before the sun goes down, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath for that Sabbath was a high day the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken that they might be taken away so the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and the other who had been crucified with him, but when so those guys were still alive way. But when he came to Jesus. They saw that he was already dead and they did not break his legs but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and once there came out blood and water, he saw it has borne witness's testimony is true and he knows that he's telling the truth that you also may believe for these things took place, that the scripture might be fulfilled, not one of his bones will be broken and again another scripture says they will look on him. They've pierced all thank you John for alerting us to the fact that there's prophecies being the Lamb of God, bones of that sacrifice Lamb were to be broken right and that was a prerequisite of the Passover lamb and saying that's alluding to, yeah, that was a big big deal if you read through Exodus you read the first Passover you prepare a lamb to be sacrifice tonight. It's going to be broken. That's Exodus is Exodus 1246. Exodus 12 none of his bones. Yeah so you put those connections together and thank God for side references in your Bible that would've been a question in their minds like why not what it will point out was laying down the picture. But in order to fulfill the prophecy you also have to remove any doubt that the actual.like he was really and truly dead so we need to make sure that so that's what the pierces so that's really important because there's a lot of people out there that say well he didn't really die was swooned and rank up again in the cool of the tomb, but you know that Romans knew how to kill people upward thrust from the spear that then that clear separation of the blood plasma and the red blood cells coming out that indicated his heart had stopped beating the black long enough that the blood and separated a lot of medical speculation about this.

This is pretty cool actually. It's not speculation to say on this medical stuff really patient what yeah but II I've always found it fascinating. 35 or John's basically saying hey you know it's me. I saw it I witness here.

This testimony is true. He knows that he's telling the truth that you also may believe he's on sale and I saw this man dad's office.

Yeah, I saw this for myself on writing it down for you right well I think it's Mark's gospel that tells us that when they went to Pilate and asked for the body ask for the legs to be broken. He said what I are after. The body will dead already and he asked for the centurion. He said I guess they knew it was dead.

Everyone everyone at the time knew he was dead there, that was not the question you raise it now. 2000 years later when no one, no one is people on the spot right okay what we need to move on 3334's.

So after these things.

Joseph of Arimathea who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body and Nicodemus also remember him get back in chapter 3.

Nicodemus, also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night can bring a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus, bound in linen clothes with the spices, as was the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had been laid so because of the Jewish day preparation cannot tick tick tick tick since the tomb was close at hand.

Tick tick tick tick lay Jesus. There while who would ever guess interesting that these two guys come back into the story.

Joseph Arimathea and Nicodemus yes and just yeah had been a believer, but secretly for the secret about the fact that he went to Pilate and asked for the body right, right. Something about the death of Jesus propelled him from secrecy into public worship. When Nicodemus came at night and didn't like the Mrs. well-placed and that usually check in here he is Nicodemus lugging this jar full of spices right right so they they became public in their in their love for Jesus.

What what incredible courage you see very few people here that this kind of boldness and courage except for maybe Jesus mom and her friends and yeah and these two well-placed guys who had a lot to lose you well and this was actually a member of the Sanhedrin listening. He was so he was a highly placed religious leader them who would have been part of the decision-making process but I think one of the gospel tells us that he wasn't there. Yeah, probably because they knew because they knew and it was it was all of his. He would never have agrees all of his coworkers in the leadership were out there crying crucified. So this this problem. We don't know what this probably cost them greatly said this had to be done fast lighting the day to finish it before the sun went down on this high holy day and you know you you gotta wonder where Mary would've been because this would've been the job of the family to take care of the file that's right. That's why this is so unusual and it's so just grabs my heart know if you have lost someone. Someone you love has died, especially in a violent unexpected manner.

You know how important it is to reckon the body is dead. Big United to come to terms with that. And one of the things we kind of lost in our culture is this this closeness to the dying process and the death and the actual caring for the body of our dead so I'm thinking that that must've been part of that sword that pierced Mary's soul right Simeon had said to her that evening. She was she couldn't even get close until until later. Yeah, I've always wondered whether Mary herself had come to Joseph Nicodemus and said can you do can you do this were away from home. It's we don't know, but that the family would be the natural people on this and also nothing that would been naturals they would've would've taken Jesus body and buried him in the family to Jesus was either in Bethlehem or Nazareth when they are away from home, but there away from home in time was wasted and so right. This is right near where the crucifixion took place. They sought to had not been used in the garden so to be expeditiously put them there and we know it was owned by Joseph Arimathea. So this also satisfies a bunch of prophecies who would've ever known who would ever predict strangers in his death just doesn't make any sense. Well, what were out of time. I would recommend to a little bit of homework read Zechariah 1210 that's one of those will side comments in your references. You'll see about being peers. It's a marvelous it's a marvelous batch. I'm not even ready for your luck and read. Zechariah 1210 talks about being peers and actually is really good news about the fact that even though Jesus died at the hands of the Jewish leaders day is coming when the look upon him whom they have pierced elbow while you no more normal nor plus boiler just go take a look Zechariah 1210. It makes a lot of connection right here and go back and read the other gospel accounts so you have of the crucifixion. What took place during those hours on the cross because it will fill in the whole story, you know, Luke gives us some other details but Luke is the careful historian at a little bit of emotional distance. John was close enough to touch and sell and he says I saw this and I'm telling you this so that you may believe the Lamb of God was truly something yeah born witness to you my testimony is true.

I saw with my own eyes.

So before you going to John 20. Imagine the devastation emotional devastation of the people's hearts who welcomed him on Palm Sunday with great adulation about here's the king of the Jews, bless his holy name. Less than a week later left yet less than a week later, and all of a sudden all of those hopes all those aspirations are dashed, because without question and no one's questioning this man Jesus is dead and they are heading into the Sabbath. This high holy day when all of this great celebration was taking place, but they are in profound grief and shock and they cannot by Jewish law do anything but hold still for the morning or day what hard we and the Lord Jesus, like he did with Lazarus lets them go through it very very hard if you can get yourself into that skin. If you walk in their shoes for second before you get to chapter 20 than what transpires in the resurrection is just extraordinarily but this is a tough week after a day and a day and half in the dark not knowing anything so anyway Jim Leger with this story.

Chapter 20 next week more than