THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS THE CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, ‘It is finished.’  And He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:30 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the events related to the trial of Jesus by Pilate, the crucifixion of Jesus, and the words which He spoke while He was on the cross.  After His “trial” by Pilate, (John 18:29-40)  Jesus was scourged, beaten, and had a crown of thorns placed on His head. (John 19:1-3)  Then Pilate again went before the people and said that he found no fault in Him, but the people said, “Crucify Him.” (John 19:4-16)  They made Him carry His cross to Golgotha, they nailed His hands and feet to the cross, they raised His cross up, and placed Him between two thieves. (John 19:17-19)  He spoke seven times while hanging on the cross before He died. (First He said, Father forgive them, Luke 23:34; Second He pardoned the thief on the cross next to Him, Luke 23:43; Third He told the Apostle John to take care of His mother, John 19:26-27; Fourth He said, Father God, why have You forsaken Me, Matthew 27:46;  Fifth He said, “I thirst.” John 19:28; Sixth He said, “It is finished.” John 19:30; and Seventh He said, Father into Your hands I commend My spirit. Luke 23:46)  Jesus suffered and He died, but they did not kill Him; He willingly gave up His life.  Although He died on the cross and was buried in a borrowed tomb, He defeated death and three days later He rose from the dead. (Matthew 28:5-6)

 

APPLICATION

When Jesus, The Christ, said, “It is finished” He was referring to the redemptive work which He was assigned to do as payment for our sins. (John 17:4)  He had also fulfilled the prophecies which were written in the Old Testament regarding His death. (Genesis 22:18 and Isaiah 53:1-12)  As it was written, His skin was scarred and lacerated from the scourging, His forehead was pierced from the thorns, but none of His bones were broken. (Psalm 34:20 and John 19:33)  They pierced Him in the side. (Zechariah 12:10 and John 19:34)  The crucifixion did not kill Him.  He willingly gave up His life as the sacrificial lamb, dying for the sins of the world. (John 1:29 and John 15:13-14)  He who was without sin, took on the sins of mankind to redeem us and give us a chance at salvation.  However, in order to benefit from His redemptive work, we must believe in Him and His death, burial, and resurrection. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8 and 10:9)