Resurrection of the Son of God (John 20:19-31) Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Resurrection of the Son of God (John 20:19-31)

Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce  

Christian Arts Ministries:Biblical precepts &Gospel music

 

Jesus Appears to His Disciples (John20:19-23)

            19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

 

Jesus Appears to Thomas (John 20:24-29)

24Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel (John20:30-31)

30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

      Verse 19 The gathering of the disciples here may be considered the first meeting of the church before Pentecost. This meeting took place to fulfill Ps.22:22, according to Heb.2:10-12, so that the Son could declare the Father’s name to His brothers and praise the Father in the church, which is composed of His brothers. Though the doors were shut, the Lord came with His resurrected body (Luke24:37-40;1Cor.15:44) into the room where the disciples were. How could He have entered, having bones and flesh? Our limited mind cannot comprehend it, but it is a fact! We must receive it according to the divine revelation. This was a fulfillment of His promise in 16:16; 19:22.

Verse 20 this was a fulfillment of the Lord’s promise in 16:22 Now they rejoiced because they saw the newborn child (16:21), who was the resurrected Lord, born in His resurrection as the Son of God (Acts13:33). The Lord fulfilled His promise and came back five blessings 1) His presence, 2) His peace, 3) His sending, His commission (v.21), 4) the Holy Spirit (v.22) and 5) His authority with which they could represent Him (v.23). Verse 21 The Lord sent His disciples with Himself as life and everything to them. This is why, immediately after He said, “I also send you” He breathed the Holy Spirit into them. By His breathing into them He entered as the Spirit into the disciples to abide in them forever (14:16-17). Hence, wherever His disciples were sent, H was always with them. He was one with them.

Verse 22 This was the Spirit expected in7:39 and promised in 14:16-17, 26; 15:26 and 16:7-8,13 Hence, the Lord’s breathing of the Holy Spirit into the disciples was the fulfillment of His promise of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. This fulfillment differs from the one in Acts 2:1-4, which was the fulfillment of the Father’s promise in Luke 24:49. In Acts 2 the Spirit as a rushing, violent wind came as power upon the disciples for their work (Acts.1:8). Here the Spirit as breath was breathed as life into the disciples for their life. By breathing the Spirit into the disciples, the Lord imparted Himself into them as life and everything. Thus, all that He had spoken in chs.14-16 could be fulfilled. As falling into the ground to die and growing out of the ground transform the grain of wheat into another form, one that is new and living, so the death and resurrection of the Lord transfigured Him from the flesh into the Spirit. As the last Adam in the flesh, through the process of death and resurrection He became a life –giving Spirit (1Cor.15:45). As He is the embodiment of the Father, so the Spirit is the realization, the reality, of Him. It is as the Spirit that He was breathed into the disciples. It is as the Spirit that He is received into His believers and flows out of them as rivers of living water (7:38-39). It is as the Spirit that through His death and resurrection He came back to the disciples, entered into them as their Comforter, and began to abide in them (14:16-17). It is as the Spirit that He can send His disciples for His commission, with Himself s life and everything to them, in the same way that the Father sent Him (v.21) They are thus qualified to represent Him with His authority in the fellowship of His body (v.23) for the carrying out of His commission.

The Lord was the Word, and the Word is the eternal God (1:1). For the accomplishing of God’s eternal purpose, He took two steps. First, He took the step of incarnation to become a man in the flesh (1:14), to be the Lamb of God to accomplish redemption for man (1:29), to declare God to man (1:18), and to manifest the Father to His believers (14:9-11). Second, He took the step of death and resurrection to be transfigured into the Spirit that He might impart Himself into His believers as their life and their everything., and that He might bring for the many sons of God, His many brothers, for the building of His body, the church, the habitation of God, to express the Triune God for eternity. Hence, originally, He was the eternal Word; then, through His incarnation He became flesh to accomplish God’s redemption and through His death and resurrection He became the Sprit to be everything and do everything for the completion of God’s building.  

Verse 24 After His resurrection the Lord came to meet with His disciples, beginning from the evening of this first day. Thus, in the Lord’s resurrection the matter of meeting with the saints is crucial. Mary the Magdalene met the Lord personally in the morning and obtained the blessing (vv.16-18), but she still needed to be in the meeting with the saints in the evening to meet the Lord in a corporate way to obtain more and greater blessings (vv.19-23). Thomas missed the first meeting that the Lord held with His disciples after His resurrection, and he missed all the blessings as well. However, he compensated for it by attending the second meeting (vv.25-28). 

Verse 26 This was on the second first day of the week, the second Lord’s Day after the Lord’s resurrection. The gathering of the disciples here may be considered the second meeting of the church held with the Lord’s presence before Pentecost. After the Lord came in v.19, eight days before, there is no plain word or hint in John’s record that the Lord left the disciples. Actually, He stayed with them, though they were not conscious of His presence. Hence, His coming in v.26 was actually His manifestation, His appearing. Before His death the Lord was in the flesh, and His presence was visible. After His resurrection the Lord became the Spirit and His presence was invisible. His manifestations, or appearing, after His resurrection were to train the disciples to realize, to enjoy, and to practice His invisible presence, which is more available, prevailing, precious rich, and real than His visible presence. In His resurrection this dear presence of His was just the Spirit whom He had breathed into them and who would be with them all the time. Verse 28 This Gospel proves strongly and purposely that the man Jesus is the very God (1:1-2; 5:17-18; 10:30-33; 14:9-11).

 Verse 31 The Christ is the title of the Lord according to His office, His mission. The Son of God is His title according to His person. His person is a matter of God’s life, and His mission is a matter of God’s work. He is the Son of God to be the Christ of God. He works for God by the life of God that man, by believing in Him, may have God’s life to become God’s many sons and work by God’s life to build the corporate Christ (1Cor.12:12), thus fulfilling God’s purpose concerning His eternal building.  

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

 

 

Resurrection of the Son of God (John 20:1-18) Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Resurrection of the Son of God (John 20:1-18)

Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce  

 Christian Arts Ministries :Biblical precepts &Gospel music

 

The Empty Tomb (John 20:1-10)

 

 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb, first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

 

 

The order of Christ’s appearances after His resurrection seems to be as follows: (1) to Mary Magdalene and the other women (Matt.28:8-10;John 20:11-18; Mark 16:9-10; (2) to Peter, probably in the afternoon (Luke 24:34);1Cor.15:5); (3) to the disciples on the Emmaus road toward evening (Luke 24:13-32:Mark 16:12); (4) to the disciples, except Thomas, in the upper room (Luke 24:36-43;John20:19-25);(5) to the disciples, including Thomas, on the next Sunday night (Mark 16:14; John 20:26-29); (6) to seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-24); (7) to the apostles and more than five hundred brethren and James, the Lord’s half-brother (1Cor.15:6-7); (8) to those who witnessed the ascension (Matt.28:18-20; Mark 16:19;Luke 24:44-53;Acts1:3-12).

Verse 1, the first day of the week, or the day after the Sabbath, signifies a new beginning, a new age. In Lev.23:10-11, 15 a sheaf of the first fruits of the harvest was offered to the Lord as a wave offering on the day after the Sabbath. That sheaf of the first fruits was a type of Christ as the first fruits in resurrection (1Cor.15:20,23). Christ resurrection on precisely the day after the Sabbath. By His all-inclusive death He terminated the old creation, which had been completed in six days, after which was the Sabbath day. In His resurrection He germinated the new creation with the divine life. Hence, the day of His resurrection was the beginning of a new week – a new age. This day of His resurrection was appointed by God (ps.118:24), was prophesied as “today” in Ps.2:7, was predicted by Himself as the third day. (Matt.16:21; John2:19,22) and later was called by the early Christian “the Lord’s day” (Rev.1:10). On this day Christ was born in resurrection as the firstborn Son of God (Acts.13:33; Heb.1:5) and the Firstborn from the dead to be the Head of the Body, the church (Col.1:18)

The Lord’s resurrection had been accomplished, but the discovery of it required the disciples’ seeking in love toward the Lord. It was thus that Mary the Magdalene discovered it and obtained the fresh manifestation of the Lord and the revelation of the issue of His resurrection: that His Father is the Father of those who believe into Him, and that those who believe into Him are His brothers (v.17), Peter and John only knew of the discovery; but Mary obtained the experience. The brothers were satisfied with having faith in the fact of the Lord’s resurrection, but the sister went further and sought the resurrected Lord Himself, i.e., the personal experience of the Lord. The Lord was there all the time, but He was not manifested until verse 6.

Verse 5 all the things that were cast off from the Lord’s resurrected body and left in His tomb signify the old creation, which He wore into the tomb. He was crucified with the old creation and buried with it. But He rose from within it, leaving it in the tomb and becoming the first fruits of the new creation. All the things left in the tomb were a testimony to the Lord’s resurrection. If these things had not been left there in good order, it would have been difficult for Peter and John to believe (v.8) that the Lord had not been taken away by someone but had risen by Himself. These things had been offered to the Lord and wrapped around Him by His two disciples. Joseph and Nicodemus (19:38-42) what they had done toward the Lord in their love to Him became very useful in the Lord’s testimony.

Verse 6 the strips on linen lying there. If the body been stolen, the thieves would have carried body with linen, not unwrap it; but even if they did, wrappings would have been strewn around tomb, not lying in perfect order as they saw. The strips would have been tossed.

Verse 9 the Lord is not only life but also resurrection (11:25). Hence, death cannot bold Him (Acts 2:24). He went into death of His own accord to accomplish His work. When He finished His mission, He came out of death and rose up from it.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)

 

11Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

 

Verse 17 on the day of His resurrection the Lord ascended to the Father. This was a secret ascension, the ultimate fulfillment of the going predicted in 16:7. It occurred forty days prior to His public ascension, which took place before the eyes of the disciples (Acts 1:9-11). On the day of resurrection, early in the morning He ascended to satisfy the Father, and late in the evening He returned to the disciples (v.19) the freshness of His resurrection must be first for the Father’s enjoyment, as in the type the first fruits of the harvest were brought first to God.

Previously, the most intimate term the Lord had used in reference to His disciples was “friends” (15:14-15). But after His resurrection He began to call them “brothers,” for through His resurrection His disciples were regenerated (1Pet.1:3) with the divine life, which had been released by His life-imparting death, as indicated in 12:24. He was the one grain of wheat that fell into the ground and died and grew up to bring forth many grains for the producing of the one bread, which is His Body (1Cor.10:17). He was the Father’s only Son, the Father’s individual expression. Through His death and resurrection, the Father’s only Begotten became the Firstborn among many brothers (Rom.8:29). His many brothers are the many sons of God and are the church (Heb.2:10-12), a corporate expression of God the Father in the Son. This is God’s ultimate intention. The many brothers are the propagation of the Father’s life and the multiplication of the Son in the divine life. Hence, in the Lord’s resurrection God’s eternal purpose s fulfilled. 

Through His life-imparting death and resurrection, the Lord made His disciples one with Him. Therefore, His Father is the Father of His disciples, and His God is the God of His disciples. In His resurrection they have the Father’s life and God’s divine nature, just as He has. In marking them His brothers, He has imparted the Father’s life and God’s divine nature into them. By making His Father and His God theirs, He has brought them into His position-the position of the Son- before the Father and God. Thus, in life and nature inwardly and in position outwardly they are the same as the Lord, with whom they have been united.

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 

 

Jesus’ crucifixion, the burial and the resurrection (John 19:1-37) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Jesus’ crucifixion, the burial and the resurrection (John 19:1-37)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

 

Ø  Jesus was arrest yet, Pilate fined no basis for a charge against him (John19:1-16)

 

 Three times Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John18:38; 19:4, 6).  

 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him fluffed. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” and they struck him in the face.(John19:2-3). Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “ Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” (19:1-6).

The Jews insisted, “ We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me? Pilate said. “ Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “ You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is gquilty of a greater sin. (19:7-11)

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no fiend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha) it was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take away! Crucify him!” “Should I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. (John19:12-16).

 

Verse 7 Jews said, “ According to the law he must die.” A reference to Jesus’ alleged blasphemy because He claimed to be God. Pilate , even more afraid, perhaps of several things: of possible violence; of loss of favor in Rome for his inability to control the turbulent Jews (v.15); of some sense of Jesus’ true nature (This may be indicated by the question in v.9). Verse 11 the one who handed me over to you . evidently a reference to Caiaphas (18:28).

Verse 12 The Jewish authorities reverted to the political charge against Jesus, suggesting a potent threat to a provincial governor who served at the whim of the emperor (Tiberius). The Jews had already protested to Rome Pilate’s actions in other matters where he was insensitive to their customs.

Verse 13 Stone Pavement. Almost certainly the large paved area that was part of the Castle of Antonia at the NW corner of the Temple area beneath Ecce Homo Arch. A Aramaic term from Hebrew, meaning a raised place. This must have been an elevated place. Like a reaised platform, paved with beautiful stones, as indicated by the Greek word for pavement, mentioned earlier in the verse.

Verse 14-15 Pilate’s sarcasm was directed to the chief priests (whom he hated and mistrusted) and to their clique. He drew from them the response “ We have no king but Caesar,” a blasphemous denial of the kingship of God over their nation . Day of Preparation. Friday of Passover week. In v.31 Preparation refers to Friday as the day of Preparation for the Sabbath.

Verse 16 this unjust joint sentence exposed the blindness of religion and the darkness of politics.

Ø  Jesus’ Crucifixion scriptures reading John19: 17-37

 

 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. Here they crucified him, and with him two others –one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “ Do not write ‘ The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” (John19:17-22)

 When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decided by lot who will get it.”  This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did.  (vv.23-24).

 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to this mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (vv.25-27)

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “ I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “ It is finished.” With that he bowed his head and gave up his sprit. (vv.28-30)

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. (vv.31-34)

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of His bones will be broken.” And as another scripture says, “ They will look on the one they have pierced.” (vv.35-37)

Verse 20 Hebrew here represents the Hebrew religion, Latin represents Roman politics, and Greek represents Greek culture. These three together represent the entire world, all of mankind. This signifies that the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God was killed by and for all mankind. Verse 22 What Pilate wrote was not of himself but of God’s sovereignty. Verse 23 in His crucifixion, the Lord’s right to be clothed (vv.23-24) and to drink (vv.28-30) was stripped from Him, along with His life. Verse 24 this was not of the soldiers but of God’s sovereignty. Verse 25 Salome (Mark15:40), the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John (Matt.27:56)

Verse 26 In Luke 23:43 the Lord said to one of the two thieves crucified with Him, “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” That word was in regard to salvation, since Luke’s Gospel proves that the Lord is the sinner’s Savior. Here, in vv.26-27, the Lord said to His mother, “Behold, your son, “and to the disciple whom He loved, “Behold, your mother.” These words indicate a life union, since this Gospel testifies that the Lord is life imparted into His believers. It is by this life that His beloved disciple could be one with Him and become the son of His mother, and that she could become the mother of His beloved disciple.

Verse 30 In Matt.27:34 and Mark 15:23, wine mingled with gall and myrrh was offered to the Lord as a stupefying drink before His crucifixion, but he would not drink it. In this verse vinegar was offered to Him in a mocking way at the end of His crucifixion (Luke23:36). In His crucifixion the Lord was still working, and through His crucifixion He finished the work of His all-inclusive death, by which He accomplished redemption, terminated the old creation, and released His resurrection life to bring forth the new creation to fulfill God’s purpose. In the process of death He proved that He was life. The dreadful environment of death did not frighten Him in the least; it provided a contrast that proved strongly that He, as life, was versus death and could not be affected by death in any way.

Verse 34 Two substances came out of the Lord’s pierced side: blood and water. Blood is for redemption, to deal with sins (1:29;Heb.9:22) for the purchasing of the church (Acts20:28). Water is for imparting life, to dead with death (12:24;3:14-15) for the producing of the church (Eph.5:29-30). The Lord’s death, on the negative side, takes away our sins, and on the positive side, imparts life into us. Hence, it has two aspects: the redemptive aspect and the life-imparting aspect. The redemptive aspect is for the life-imparting aspect. The record of the other three Gospels portrays only the redemptive aspect of the Lord’s death; John’s record portrays not only the redemptive aspect but also the life-imparting aspect. The words spoken by the Lord on the cross in Luke 23:34, “Father forgive them,” and in Matt.27:46, “ My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (because He bore our sin at that time)., also depict the redemptive aspect of His death. But the flowing water and the unbroken bone mentioned by John in vv.34 and 36 are signs that related to the life-imparting aspect of the Lord’s death. This death that imparts life released the Lord’s divine life from within Him for the producing of the church, which is composed of all His believers, into whom His divine life has been imparted. This life-imparting death of the Lord’s is typified by Adam’s sleep, out from which Eve was produced (Gen.2:21-23), and is signified by the death of the one grain of wheat that fell into the ground for the bringing forth of many grains (12:24) to make the one bread-the Body of Christ (1Cor.10:17). Therefore, it is also the life-propagating and reproducing death.   

Verse 36 The Lord’s pierced side was prefigured by Adam’s opened side, out from which Eve was produced (Geb.2:21-23). The Blood was typified by the blood of the Passover lamb (Exo.12:7,22; Rev.12:11) and the water was typified by the water that flowed out of the smitten rock (Exo.17:6, 1Cor.10:4). The blood formed a fountain for the washing away of sin (Zech.13:1) and the water became the fountain of life. (Psa36.9;Rev.21:6).

It was absolutely of God’s sovereignty that these things happened in such a meaningful and wonderful way. This is further proof that the Lord’s death was not accidental but had been planned by God before the foundation of the world (1Pet.1:19-20).

In the Scripture the first mention of a bone is in Gen.2:21-23; there it was a rib taken out of Adam for the producing and building of Eve as a match for Adam. Eve was a type of the Church, which is produced and built with the Lord’s resurrection life released out of Him. Hence, the bone is a symbol, a figure, of the Lord’s resurrection life, which nothing can break. The Lord’s side was pierced, but not one of His bones was broken. This signifies that although the Lord’s physical life was terminated, His resurrection life, the very divine life, could not be hurt or damaged by anything. This is the life with which the church is produced and built; it is also the eternal life, which we have obtained by believeing into Him. (3:36).

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

Jesus was Passover Lamb (John 18:1-27) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Jesus was Passover Lamb (John 18:1-27)  

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce   

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music

When He had finished praying Jesus left with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. (John 18:1-3)

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I AM He,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I AM HE, “they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-5) Again He asked them, who is it you want?” and they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

“I told you that I AM He,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled: “ I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? (John 18:6-11).

  

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound Him and brought Him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. (vv.12-14).

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. “ You are not one of His disciples, are you? “ the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.”

 It was cold, and the servants and official stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.

I have spoken openly to the world, “Jesus replied. “ I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

When Jesus said, this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

“If I said something wrong, “Jesus replied, “Testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth why did you strike me? (vv.12 -23)

Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “ Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. (vv.24-27).

 

The Kidron Vally. A ravine E. of Jerusalem, between the city and the Mount of Olives. A detachment (regiment). A group of three hundred to six hundred Roman soldiers. The Lord delivered Himself of His own accord to the process of death, as He had indicated in 10:17-18. He did it voluntarily and boldly.

Verse 5, Jesus said, “I AM He”. I AM is the name of Jehovah. When the soldiers heard this name, they drew back and fell to the ground.

Verse 8, while suffering betrayal at the hands of His false disciple and arrest by the soldiers, the Lord still took good care of His disciples. This reveals that He was at ease in passing through the process of death.

Verse 11,  Jesus shows that He was willing to pass through the process of death.

Verse 13, a small inner circle of high priests, headed by Annas and Caiaphas, ruled Jerusalem regardless of who was officially the high priest. The Lord was the Lamb of God (1:29), and He was killed on the day of the Passover (v.28). As the Passover lamb was examined before it was killed (Ex0.12:3-6), so He was examined by the whole of mankind, represented by the high priest of the Jews and the governor of the Romans, and proved to be without blemish (v.38b;19:4,6). 

Verse 21, while judging the Lord, both the high priest of the Jewish religion and the governor of the Roman Empire were judged by Him in His dignity.

Verse 24, No examination before Caiaphas is reported by John. Under Roman law, as in free societies today, a prisoner was assumed to be innocent until proved guilty.

 Jesus came into the world to testify the truth (John 18:28-40)

Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. (vv.28-31)

This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” ” Am I a Jew? Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done? Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“ You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (vv.32-37)

What is truth? Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want to release the king of the Jews?” They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion. (vv.38-40)

 

 Verse 28 A references to the fourth watch 3am to 6 am. The Jew did not enter the palace. The Praetorium. This was the Roman headquarters, the barracks (also in v.33). As a dwelling place of Gentiles it was unclean. Thus the Jewish authorities would not enter, lest they be defiled for the Passover. They were willing, however, to see the murder of Jesus committed without fearing defilement!

Verse 31 we have no right. The Sanhedrin could condemn a man to death, but the Roman government had to approve and execute the sentence. (Luke 22:66).

Verse 32 The Jews’ way to put criminals to death was to stone them (Lev.24:16). But the Lord Jesus predicted, according to the type in the Old Testament (Num.21:8-9), that He would be lifted up (3:14; 8:28;12:32). It was of God’s sovereignty that not long before that time the Roman Empire had made it a law that criminals sentenced to death should be crucified. It was in this way that the Lord was executed. This proves that the Lord’s death was not accidental but was predetermined by God. (Acts.2:23).

Verse 34 Jesus asked whether Pilate’s question arose from his own Roman viewpoint (Is that you own idea) or from a Jewish viewpoint (or did others talk to you about me?   

Verse 36 Because Pilate’s answer indicated that he was concerned only about a rival political kingdom to Rome (v.35), our Lord replied as He did in this verse, indicating that His was not such a kingdom.  Pilate was then satisfied that Jesus was not a political threat and therefore wished to release Him. Kingdom, better, kingship; i.e., My authority is not of human origin.

Verse 37 in view of the entire revelation of this book, truth here denotes the divine reality embodied, revealed, and expressed in Christ as the Son of God.

Verse 38 What is truth? Pilate was not being philosophical but was simply expressing frustration and irritation at Jesus’ avoidance of a direct answer to what seemed to him to be a simple question. He did not really understand the charges (18:31,35,38;19:4,12)

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.