The Gospel of John, 10/28/15
John 19. From Jon Courson: People are like tea bags. You find out who they are when they get into hot water. We've already seen what Peter is capable of. Now, we see Pilate buckling under peer pressure. Any dead fish can go with the flow, but it takes strength and character to go against the flow. Pilate was a coward. He had Jesus scourged to the point of being unrecognizable as a man, in an attempt to appease the angry crowd. Jesus didn't even open His mouth to utter a word of objection. If ever there was a man's man- it was Jesus. He was tough. He endured hell for you and me. We should regularly make it a part of our practicing faith to take some time and dwell on this truth. Take a walk, enjoy a sunrise or sunset, consider what Jesus went through for you. He was thinking of you the whole time. This was His purpose for coming to Earth. He was providing The Way for you and me to be reconciled to Himself and join Him in Heaven for eternity. It's mind-boggling, trying to comprehend all He was accomplishing in this chapter. We've already seen Him sweating blood, a condition induced by extreme stress and burden. He was somehow taking on the sins of humanity upon Himself. He single-handedly took the consequences of our sin. He personally brought grace, mercy, and freedom into our lives. He demonstrated His great love for us. This is the most inspiring story in all the Bible. When the Holy Spirit revealed what Jesus accomplished by dying and resurrecting, it spun off a revolution that changed everything.
Jesus' bones were not broken. Just like the Jewish custom detailed, the Passover Lamb's bones were not to be broken. And here is the Lamb of God, being sacrificed for us. The bones unbroken symbolized the integrity and continuity of blood flow, thus we have continual grace abounding-sufficient to continually cleanse us of our sins. It's never-ending. You can't do too much wrong or go too far off track. His amazing grace reaches the furthest depths and distances. You're covered completely.
Jesus' robe was woven of one solid piece of material, just as the High Priest's robe was in the Old Testament. Once a year, on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the High Priest would don a common, plain linen and would enter the Holy of Holies, as directed by God Almighty, to provide sacrifice for the sins of the people. He would face the stone altar, which was surrounded by two cherubim angels, and sprinkle pure blood on the altar. If the priest was not clean himself, he would be killed instantly, and the underling priests would haul him out by the rope. Thousands of people would be standing anxiously outside awaiting the High Priest's arrival from the inner sanctum. They were tense, wondering if their sins would be atoned for or if they would be disgraced and covered in shame. The High Priest would come out and exclaim, "It is finished!", tetelestai in Greek. The people would celebrate in freedom. We are going to see Jesus exacting this picture next week, on Resurrection Sunday! Our High Priest's blood was spilled on the stone altar of sacrifice. He will come out of the tomb between two angels and proclaim total victory! "It is finished!"
Tetelestai was a common phrase in the day. It was used by an artist, after he put the final touch on his painting or when the writer penned his last word of the book. "It's perfectly done." It was used by merchants when a buyer paid the price in full. Shepherds and priests used it when they found the perfect sheep for sacrifice. Servants would report to their masters with this word when they completed their work. It is finished. It is complete. It is done, folks. Nothing more is needed on the part of God. He did it all. Christianity is the only religion that doesn't base it's operation on what you have to do- like so many of the cults. Being a Christ-follower means we believe He has done it all for us! We are forgiven and free. The veil is torn, giving us total access to God, the Father. He loves us enough to die for us and do what's best for us, even when we think we know better! Go back to the cross. Take your family there. Take your situations there. Commit all to Him at the cross. Let His peace settle upon you as you submit, agree, and trust His sovereign will to be done in your life.
Here's an original poem by David Garcia:
