The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
(John 17)
John 17:1-5
Five times - Glorify
“Jesus spoke these
words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may
glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh,
that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
I have glorified You on the earth. I have
finished the work which You have given Me to do. And
now, O Father, glorify Me together with
Yourself,
with the
glory which
I had with You before the world was. “NKJV Contrasted with
Satan’s rebellion in Isaiah 14 with the five “I wills”.
The high
priestly prayer of Jesus serves as a fitting conclusion to the upper room discourse of
chapters 14-16. In verse one of chapter 17 John informs us that this prayer is to be
understood as a kind of conclusion to the Lord’s teaching in chapters 14-16.
“These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, he said …”
(John 17:1a). It is my personal opinion that this prayer, the longest of Jesus’
recorded prayers, was intended to be overheard by His disciples. One purpose of
this prayer was to bring comfort and hope to the troubled hearts of the disciples. It may
have been more effective at the moment than all the teaching of chapters 14-16. While a
measure of assurance resulted from the words of our Lord in chapters 14-16 (cf. 16:29-30),
much more comfort and faith would be gained in the light of their fulfillment (John 13:19;
16:4). This prayer must have done much to calm the troubled hearts of the eleven.
Let us look
carefully at this prayer, then, to find the comfort that it afforded the disciples. And
let us remember that it was not only a prayer for the eleven, but for Christians of every
age (John 17:20).
The Prayer of Jesus for Himself
(17:1-5)
(1) Jesus requested that He be glorified
in order to bring further glory to the Father. Jesus’ petition was not to
receive glory independently from the Father, but to be glorified to the praise of the
Father. “… Father, the hour has Satan wanted to usurp God’s position and
glory (Isaiah 14:12-14). He wanted to receive glory independently of God. Jesus prayed for
glorification in order to exalt the Father.
(2) Jesus requested the glory which
rightfully belonged to Him. “And now glorify Me together with
Yourself, Father, with the glory which I ever had with You before the world was”
(John 17:5). When the second person of the Godhead left heaven to become God incarnate, He
temporarily set aside His glory:
Philippians
2:7 “But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: This ‘kenosis’
was illustrated by the washing of the disciples’ feet in John 13.
Philippians 2:6-8 “who,
being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to
be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation*,
taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men.
And
being found in appearance as
a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point
of death, even the death of the cross.”
Many translators of the
Bible during the Reformation and after recognized the problems with translating the verb kenow
as "emptied". Men such as William Tyndale, Cranmer, the translators of the
Geneva Bible and the translators of the King James Version rendered this word
metaphorically or figuratively rather than literally. They, as we, endeavour to translate
"as literally as possible, as free as necessary".
Translating kenow
as "emptied himself" introduces problems which liberal, neo-orthodox and
conservative commentators have wrestled with for years. The pages of commentaries and
annotated study Bibles are filled with all manner of heresy and speculation to try to
answer this question. If the word "emptied" is used, it must be asked, of what
did Jesus empty Himself in order to be able to take "upon him the form of a
servant" (Philippians 2.7)?
Various possibilities
have been offered. Some say He was emptied of His glory. Others say it was of one or the
other of His Godly attributes or abilities, such as divine privileges, divine majesty,
divine power and divine nature, riches, His favorable relationship to the divine law, the
independent use of His divine prerogatives, His glory or the environment of glory. Some
even believe that He emptied Himself completely of His deity or Godhood. Since these
explanations are not to be found in the context of Philippians 2.1-11, the only limit to
speculations is the imagination. The translation "made himself of no reputation"
eliminates the need for these distracting arguments.
The verb here rendered
'emptied' is in constant use in a metaphorical sense (so only in the New Testament: Romans
4:14, I Corinthians 1:17; 9:15; II Corinthians 9:3) and cannot here be taken literally.
I Corinthians 1:17 “For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest
the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.”
2 Cor 9:3 “Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our
boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready.” He did not
"empty"; He "took on" the form of a man -- i.e., was fully God and
fully man -- God manifest in the flesh.
Warfield, The Person and Work of
Christ], pp. 42f.)...
Our Lord did
not lay aside any of His deity, but rather added perfect humanity to His deity. When the
work of the cross was completed the glory which was momentarily laid aside was given back
to Him. This, in part, is that which Jesus requested in His prayer.
(3) Jesus’ glory was earned at the
price of the cross. In
addition to the restoration of the glory which our Lord possessed prior to His
incarnation, there is additional glory which was earned by His earthly life and ministry.
He had glorified the Father by His earthly life of obedience and submission (John 17:4).
He was glorified, along with the Father in the salvation of men by His work on the cross
(John 17:2-3). It is because of Christ’s willingness to set aside the glory that was
rightfully His in order to save sinful men that the Father gave Him even greater glory.
“Therefore also God highly
exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
(When
“Kenosis” is studied in Phil 2:7, we must also look at “Pleroma” Col
1:19 “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should
dwell,”NKJV).
The matter
of suffering and glory must be kept in proper perspective. The Christian experience is not
one of grim determination which causes one to face a life of suffering and sorrow with
glory to follow later. The Christian life is the abundant life (John 10:10b). It is one of
joy and peace.
Nevertheless, trials (James 1:2-4,12), persecution (John 15:18ff.; 2 Timothy 2:12) and suffering (Philippians 1:29) are an inseparable part of the Christian experience. In times of difficulty, our faith is deepened (James 2:3), our fellowship with God is enriched (Philippians 3:10) and we experience deep joy in the midst of difficulties (John 17:13; 1 Peter 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:10). In suffering and adversity we come to appreciate God as our great reward, as well as our rewarder. When all of our human resources have been spent, we find our sufficiency in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Our promise is: 2 Cor 3:18 “But we
all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the
Lord.” NKJV
The flip
side to glory is suffering. If then we are to move from glory to glory, between these
moves lies sufferings & trials. There are also the bitter experiences of suffering and
sorrow. These the Lord sweetens with His presence and peace, blending the bitter and the
sweet in such a way as to bring about His glory and our good (Romans 8:28). There is no
lifestyle more desirable than that of the disciple. There is none more difficult. But He
gives greater grace to meet life’s trials and provides His strength for our
weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The prayer
of our Lord reveals that He has already glorified the Father by His earthly life and
ministry (verse 4). But now the hour of His death had come (verse 1). As He had glorified
the Father by His life, now He prays that He might do the same in His death.
The Prayer of Jesus for His Disciples
(17:6-19)
John 17:6-19
6 "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out
of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your
word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I
have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and
have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9 I
pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they
are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy
Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We
are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost
except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to
You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in
themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are
not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do
not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from
the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I
also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they
also may be sanctified by the truth (Note 1).” NKJV
From His request concerning Himself our Lord quickly turned to the needs of His disciples, for it is in them that He had been glorified (verse 10). And it was in them our Lord would be glorified after His resurrection and ascension.
The request
of the Lord Jesus was founded upon several factors.
First, He accomplished His earthly task of
revealing the Father to the disciples (verse 6-8). It is interesting to note how
positively the faith of the disciples is stated. I believe the
perspective of the Savior throughout this prayer is from the other side of the cross.
Our Lord assumed the fact of His death, burial, resurrection and ascension. From the other
side of the cross the disciples would be fully assured concerning all Jesus said and did
to reveal the Father to them.
Second, our Lord assumed the consummation
of His ministry in the work of the cross. Our Lord prayed, “Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast
given Me, (Acts 4:12)
that they may be one, even as we are” (John 17:11b). The request of
Jesus is based upon the name which the Father has given to Him. In Philippians chapter two
we are told that, as a result of His humiliation and obedience unto death, the Father gave
Him a name above every other (Philippians 2:9). That name, I believe, is the name Jesus
(Philippians 2:10). Jesus (or its Old Testament counterpart, Joshua) meant ‘Yahweh is salvation.’
The name of
a person in the days of our Lord represented a person’s character. The character of
our Lord in His earthly life and ministry is well depicted by the name, Jesus. It is on
the basis of our Lord’s character as God’s Savior for man that this prayer of
our Lord is grounded.
Third, our Lord’s prayer is based
upon the fact that those for whom He prayed were true believers: “I ask on their
behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they
are Yours (John 17:9). The disciples were believers because
they belonged to the Father and were given to the Son (17:6,9-10). They
were believers also because they came to faith in the person of Jesus Christ as the One
sent from God (17:8).
The
Lord’s petition on behalf of His disciples was that the Father keep them: “Holy
Father, keep them in Thy name …” (John 17:11b). This keeping was done by the
Lord while He was with His disciples (verse 12), but now He is returning to the Father
(verses 11,13). The keeping of the disciples has several facets:
(1)
The keeping for which Jesus prayed
involved the security of His followers. Our Lord had already spoken to His
disciples concerning the frailty of their faith under fire (John 13:38; 16:31-32).
Keeping is God’s work, not ours.
It is ours to abide (chapter 15), and His to keep.
(2)
The keeping of the disciples involved
giving them joy in the midst of the world’s hatred and opposition, verses 13-14. They were not of the world, just as
the Savior was not. Consequently, the world would hate them and oppose them. The
Father’s keeping included joy and steadfastness in this opposition.
(3)
The keeping of the Father included protection against
the attacks of Satan, verse 15. “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world,
but to keep them from the evil one.” Our Lord’s prayer does not guarantee that
we will be kept from Satan’s attack (Ephesians 6:10ff.; 1 Peter 5:8), (Luke 10:19,
2Thess 3:3, Psalm 121:7) but that we will be preserved in times of Satanic opposition.
God does not promise we will avoid testing, but that we will endure it.
(4)
The keeping of the Father includes
the sanctification of the believer.
“Sanctify them in the truth; Thy
word is truth” (John 17:17). This sanctification is a far cry from mere separation.
This spacial view of holiness was held by the Pharisees. They were only concerned with
external separation (cf. Mark 2:15-17). Their ideas stemmed largely from a misconception
of Old Testament sanctification. God, however, is not impressed with externalism, but with
the condition of the heart (cf. Matthew 6:1-18; 23; Luke 16:15).
Some
branches of Christianity of our present day equate sanctification with mere separation. We
think we are holy ‘because we never allow ourselves the occasion to be in the world.
We hide behind church walls as though the church building was a fortress against
worldliness. We spend all of our time in church activities so that we cannot be among the
lost. This is not sanctification. There is a great difference between being ‘in
the world’ and being ‘of the world.’ Billy Graham once defined it as the
difference between isolation and insulation.
There is no
better illustration of sanctification than that of our Lord Jesus Christ (verses 16-19).
Our Lord was physically untouched by man’s sin in the sanctity of heaven. There, God
was untouched by the sins of men. But He left the blessedness of heaven in order to remove
the blemish of sin from men. Even as the Holy God was no less holy for entering a sinful
world, neither are we for living in the world. This is our calling (verse 16).
If our
sanctification is not made complete in separation, what is it? We can see it best
defined in the work of our Lord. “And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they
themselves may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19). Daniel
lived in Babylon all of his adult life. However Babylon did not live in Daniel, not for
one day. Ultimately, this sanctification took Jesus to the cross of Calvary.
And it was this work of the Son which assures the sanctification of every saint.
We are sanctified by the
work of Christ on the cross. We are also sanctified by the Word of truth (verse 17). As we trust in the Lord Jesus and
devote our hearts to do His will we can live holy and blameless lives in the midst of a
sinful world.
The Prayer of Jesus for All Believers
(17:20-26)
The petition
of the Lord Jesus for all believers primarily concerns Christian unity:
JESUS’ PRAYER IS FOR US TOO:
John 17:20 "I do
not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their
word;”
NKJV
“John 17:21-24 …”that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” NKJV
It is vital that we recognize the
vast difference between unity and uniformity. Unity is best demonstrated in diversity;
uniformity is threatened by diversity.
Our Lord chose as disciples
men who were radically different in temperament, personality and political philosophy. It
was because of their glaring differences that their unity was so evident. (for example:
Simon the Zealot & Matthew the Roman tax collector. Also the Bible with commentaries
written by Salem Kirban (born-again Palestinian Arab) and Dr. Daniel Cohen, (Messianic
Jew) – what a testimony to this world!
In the 12th
chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches that diversity is not opposed to unity; it is
essential to it. How could the body function rightly if every member were an eye, or an
ear, or a mouth? True unity demands diversity, and diversity displays true unity. Marriage
could be used to further illustrate this principle.
I say this
because some churches seem to be trying to turn out ‘cookie cutter Christians’
who look alike (dress codes), think alike (creedal codes, often concerning non-essentials)
and act alike (codes of conduct). Sad to say, such legalism does not display true unity,
nor does it constitute true spirituality. It simply teaches Christian conformity. But when
the peer group changes, so does creed and conduct. This is all too frequently seen as our
young people go off to college. We have not taught them to think, but to conform.
If unity is
not to be found in uniformity, it is to be seen in union. “I in them, and them in
Me that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst love
Me” (John 17:23). The unity of the trinity is unity of being, of essence and of
purpose. We are the children of God by faith if we dwell in God and He dwells in us (verse
23); there is then essential unity, between the believer and God, and also between one
believer and every other.
Our unity, then, does not lie in nonfundamental (I did not say unimportant) factors, but in being a true believer. Unity is those teachings forming the Doctrine of Christ – These are essential. Unity should not be hindered between two believers who hold differing views concerning the details of our Lord’s return, or concerning the doctrine of eternal security (Example John Wesley and George Whitefield).
John 17:24 “Father,
I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may
behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the
world.”NKJV
In verse 24 the Lord prayed for reunion. He will shortly be led away to His trial and execution. After His ascension He will no longer physically walk among His people, until they are reunited with Him. It is for this reunion that our Lord prayed.
Finally, in
verses 25 and 26, Jesus prayed He might continue to minister to His own, even in His
physical absence. “John 17:25-26
O righteous
Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You
sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love
with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." NKJV
He desired to continue to reveal Himself in them and to abide in them. This I take to be the substance of His request in verse 26.
It is a
great prayer which our Lord allowed His disciples to overhear in their hour of anxiety and
distress. It is little wonder that the Spirit of God has preserved it for us as well.
Conclusion
Before we
leave this prayer of our Lord, let us focus our attention on it so far as we are
instructed by this prayer about prayer.
(1)
The Presuppositions of This Prayer. A prayer such as this one cannot be
made apart from several premises. First of all, it assumes the sovereignty of God in the
salvation and keeping of men. True believers are those who belong to the Father and are
given to the Son (verses 6,9-10). Their salvation is procured by the work of the Son
(verses 2-3) in which we believe (verses 6-8).
(2)
The Power of This Prayer. While we are not specifically told
so, this prayer must have had a tremendous impact on the hearts of the disciples. We can
assume, since this prayer has been preserved for us, that it was intended to bring peace
and assurance to our troubled hearts.
(3) The Price of Prayer. Let us
not leave this prayer of our Lord without seriously considering the price of it. Every
request which our Lord made on our behalf necessitated the personal sacrifice of the Lord
Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Apart from His finished work in His death, burial and
resurrection and ascension, these words would be mere wishful thinking.
The price He
has paid for man’s salvation is one none of us could have paid. It was paid once for
all, and never needs to be paid again (Hebrews 9:24-28).
He had completed His mission
a.
By glorifying the Father (John 17:4)
b.
By providing salvation and service for
God’s elect (John 17:2, 17:12, 17:18
c.
By revealing the Person of God to men (John 17:6, 26)
d.
By revealing the Word of God to men (John 17:18, 17:14
e.
He was ready to die (John 17:19)
a.
Glorify the Shepherd
b.
Edify the sheep by
(1)
keeping them John 17:11
(2)
by unifying them John 17:11
(3)
by filling them with joy John 17:13
(4)
by protecting them John 17:15
(5)
by sanctifying them John 17:17
(6)
by perfecting them John 17:23
(7)
by someday receiving them John 17:24
(8)
by filling them with love John 17:26
Note 1 Truth (Greek:
Aletheia)
a) truth as a personal
excellence
And that candour of mind
which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
b) what is true in things
appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
First, He accomplished His earthly task of
revealing the Father to the disciples (verse 6-8).
Second, our Lord assumed the consummation
of His ministry in the work of the cross.
Third, our Lord’s prayer is based
upon the fact that those for whom He prayed were true believers:
The Trials, Agony & Crucifixion of Jesus
Heb 12:2 -
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy
set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of
the throne of God."
In
the last few hours of Jesus' life what did He endure, and what shame did He suffer? The word “EXCRUCIATE”
means
"excruciate",
(the root of the word "excruciating")
which refers to something which causes great agony or torment. The Latin roots of the word
are :"ex", meaning from or out of, and
"cruciate", meaning cross. The word "excruciate" comes from the Latin for "from, or out of, the cross".(Websters)
GENERAL
OVERVIEW
Jesus
spent the last hours before the crucifixion at several places in Jerusalem. He started the
evening in the Upper Room, in southwest Jerusalem. At the Last Supper, He told the
disciples that His body and His blood were to be given for them (Matt 26: 26-29) He went
outside of the city to the Garden of Gethesemane. He was then arrested and brought back to
the to the palace of the High Priest. where He was questioned by Annas, a former High
Priest, and Caiaphas, Annas' son-in-law. Afterwards, He was tried by the Sanhedrin, and
found to be guilty of blasphemy by proclaiming Himself the Son of God. He was sentenced to
the death penalty. Since only the Romans were able to execute criminals, He was sent to
Pontius Pilate at the Antonia Fortress. Pilate, not finding anything wrong, sent Him to
King Herod , who returned Him back to Pilate. Pilate, submitting to the pressure of the
crowd, then ordered that Jesus be flogged and crucified. He was finally led out of the
city walls to be crucified at Calvary.
THE
HEALTH OF JESUS AND DEMANDS OF THE ORDEAL
It
is reasonable to assume that Jesus was in good health prior to the ordeal that He faced in
the hours before His death. Having been a carpenter and traveling throughout the land
during His ministry would have required that He would be in good physical condition.
Before the crucifixion, however, He was forced to walk 2.5 miles over a sleepless night,
during which He suffered great anguish through His six trials, was mocked, ridiculed and
severely beaten, and was abandoned by His friends and Father. (Edwards)
THE
UPPER ROOM OR CENACULUM
The
ordeal began in an upper room of a house at what we now call the Last Supper, where Jesus,
in giving the first communion, predicted that His body and blood would be given.(Matt
26:17-29) Today in Jerusalem, one can visit the Cenacle or Cenaculum (Latin for dining
hall), a room which is built over what is believed to be the site of the Upper Room,
(Kollek) which was located on the southwestern aspect of the old city.
GETHESEMANE:
Luke
22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more
earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
From
the upper room, Jesus went outside of the city walls where he spent time in prayer at the
Garden of Gethesemane. The garden has many ancient olive trees today, some of which may
have grown from the roots of the trees that were present in Jesus' time. (All trees in and
around Jerusalem were cut down when the Romans conquered the city in 70 A.D. Olive trees
can regenerate from their roots and live for thousands of years.) The name "Gethesemane", comes from the Hebrew Gat
Shmanim, meaning "oil press"
(Kollek).
It
was here that Jesus agonized in prayer over what was to occur. It is significant that this
is the only place in the KJV where the word "agony"
is mentioned.(Strong's agonia = “struggle for victory”) Jesus agonizes over what
He is to go through, feeling that He is at the point of death.(Mark14:34). Yet He prays, "Not my will, but thine be done."
Of
medical significance is that Luke mentions Him as having sweat like blood. The medical
term for this, "hemohidrosis" or "hematidrosis" has been seen in patients
who have experienced, extreme stress or shock to their systems. (Edwards) The capillaries
around the sweat pores become fragile and leak blood into the sweat.
A
case history is recorded in which a young girl who had a fear of air raids in WW1
developed the condition after a gas explosion occurred in the house next door.(Scott))
Another report mentions a nun who, as she was threatened with death by the swords of the
enemy soldiers," was so terrified that she bled
from every part of her body and died of hemorrhage in the sight of her assailants."(Grafenberg)
As a memorial to Jesus' ordeal, a church which now stands in Gethesemane is known as the
Church of the Agony. (also called the Church of the Nations because many nations donated
money to its construction.(Kollek)
ABANDONED
BY MAN
Matthew
26:56:
"Then all the disciples deserted him and
fled." Psa 22:11: "Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and
there is no one to help." While in Gethesemane, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and
arrested by the Jews. His disciples all desert Him, even at the expense of running away
naked (Mark 14:51-52). He is bound (John 18:12) then brought back to the city to the court
of the High Priest, which is located near the Upper room.
ILLEGAL ASPECTS
OF THE TRIAL OF JESUS
Legal Errors of the Sanhedrin: 1.
It was illegal to hold criminal
proceedings in the evening after the evening sacrifice. Trials could not occur on the eve of the Sabbath
or Feast Days.
2.
Trials
could occur only in the regular meeting places of the Sanhedrin (not in the palace of the
High Priest).
3.
A
sentence of 'guilty' might only be pronounced on the day following the trial.
5.
The witnesses must concur on all of
the essential details. The two witnesses that came forward were unable to agree on the
circumstances and the time that Jesus allegedly blasphemed. Matthew 14:57-58 indicates
that witnesses were not sequestered to protect the accused presumption of innocence. (Even
then their testimony did not agree.Mark 14:59). Jesus was not given the right to
interrogate His accusers.
6. Caiaphas asked Jesus if He was the Son of God, to which Jesus answered “I am”. Luke 22:70 – compelling Jesus’ own words to be testimony against Him. (Jesus had to answer the high priest: )
Lev 5:1-2
“If
a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen
or known of the matter--if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. “
NKJV
7.
The high priest tore his robes
after hearing what he believed to be blasphemy. This violated another Judaic Law which
charged that the youngest men would vote first with the elderly and the Chief Priest
voting last in order to ensure that the older men did not influence the younger men. Also
the high priest is forbidden to rent his garments as we covered.
(Lev 21:10 “And he that is the
high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is
consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his
clothes;”)
8. The Sanhedrin was without authority to
instigate charges. It was only supposed to investigate charges brought before it. In
Jesus' trial, the court itself formulated the
charges. Under law, the Sanhedrin were not allowed to convict and put the death
sentence into effect. (John 18:31)
9. The charges against Jesus were changed during the trial. He was initially
charged with blasphemy based upon His statement that He would be able to destroy and
rebuild the Temple of God within three days, as well as His claim to be the Son of God. When He was brought before Pilate, the charge was that
Jesus was a King and did not advocate paying taxes to the Romans.
Roman Law (Lex Romana)
Pilate’s
own wife warned him about Jesus and not to have anything to do with this innocent man.
Matt 27:23
A Roman
trial consists of 4 elements: indictment, examination, defense and verdict.
The Roman
prosecutor or the judge could ask questions of the accused. The accused could also call
witnesses in his defense. Trials were held in the day time. The Jews were unwilling to
charge Jesus with blasphemy in writing to Pilate. Therefore Pilate began the citatio, bringing the accused before him. At one
point in the questioning, Pilate asked “What crime has He committed?”(Matt
27:23)
Pilate
washes his hands symbolically to try to show that Jesus’ blood would not be upon his
hands. Pilate may have been emulating a Jewish practice by washing his hands at this
point. If a murdered body is found near a town, the town elders will ceremonially wash
their hands indicating that they are without guilt. Deut 21:6-7.
Pilate had the authority to release
Jesus and to quell any riot of the people. Instead of enforcing Roman law, Pilate tries to
absolve himself of any responsibility:
Matthew
27:24 “When Pilate saw that he could
prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands
before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see to it
yourselves.”
LEGAL ERRORS UNDER LEX
ROMANA
1.
Romans did not convict a man
without a formal charge against him
2.
The accused was presumed innocent
unless otherwise proved guilty.
3.
enforcement of Roman law was not an
option open to the discretion of Roman governors. They were required to follow and to
execute that law. Pilate’s actions of turning an innocent man over to His accusers,
while at the same time, providing Roman soldiers and the Roman method of execution
(crucifixion) makes Pilate guilty of condemning an innocent man. Tradition has it that
Pilate was later exiled to Gaul where he committed suicide.
4.
As
stated above, the requirement of two witnesses in agreement to merit the death penalty was
not met.
PILATE'S
VERDICT
Mark
15:15 -
"Wanting
to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed
him over to be crucified."
In
spite of all the charges, Pilate finds nothing wrong. He sends Jesus to Herod. Jesus is
speechless before Herod, except to affirm that He is King of the Jews. Herod sends Him
back to Pilate.
Pilate
is unable to convince the crowds of Jesus' innocence and orders Jesus to be put to death.
Some sources state that it was Roman law that a criminal that was to be crucified had to
be flogged first.(McDowell) Others believe that Jesus was flogged first by Pilate in the
hope of getting Him off with a lighter punishment .(Davis) In spite of his efforts, the
Jews allow Barabbas to be released and demand that Jesus be crucified, even crying that
,"His
blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25).
Pilate
hands Jesus over to be flogged and crucified. It
is at this point that Jesus suffers a severe physical beating. (Edwards) During a
flogging, a victim was tied to a post, leaving his back entirely exposed. The Romans used
a whip, called a flagrum or flagellum which consisted of small pieces of bone and metal
attached to a number of leather strands. The number of strikes is not recorded in the
gospels.
The
number of blows in Jewish law was set in Deuteronomy 25:3 at forty, but later reduced to
39 to prevent excessive blows by a counting error (believed to be an act of mercy).
(Holmans). The victim often died from the beating. (39 hits were believed to bring the
criminal to the point of death. Roman law did
not put any limits on the number of blows given. (McDowell) During the flogging, the skin
was stripped from the back, exposing a bloody mass of muscle and bone. Extreme blood loss
occurred from this beating, weakening the victim. perhaps to the point of being
unconscious.
ROMAN
SOLDIERS MOCK AND BEAT JESUS
Matthew
27:28-30 (The soldiers) stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him and then twisted
together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and
knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail,
king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him
on the head again and again. Jesus was then beaten by the Roman soldiers. In mockery, they
dressed Him in what was probably the cloak of a Roman officer, which was purple in color.
(Mk 15:17, 20 and John 19:2, 5)
He also wore the crown of thorns. Unlike the
traditional crown which is depicted by an open ring, the actual crown of thorns may have
covered the entire scalp.(Lumpkin) The thorns may have been 1 to 2 inches long. The
gospels state that the Roman soldiers continued to beat Jesus on the head. The blows would
drive the thorns into the scalp and forehead, causing severe bleeding.
THE
CROWN OF THORNS AND THE ROBE
Genesis
3:17-18:
"Cursed
is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your
life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the
field."
The
significance of the thorns goes all the
way back to the Garden of Eden and one of the signs
of the curse.
THE
SEVERITY OF THE BEATING
Isaiah
50:6:
"I
offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did
not hide my face from mocking and spitting." Isaiah
52:14: "..... Just as there were many who were appalled at him -- his appearance was
so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--"
The severity of the beating is not detailed in the
gospels. However, in the book of Isaiah, it suggests that the Romans pulled out His
beard.(Isaiah 50:6) .
It
is also mentions that Jesus was beaten so severely that His form did not look like that of
"a son of a man" i.e. that of a human being. The literal translation of the
verse reads, "So marred from the form of man was His aspect, that His appearance was
not as that of a son of a man."
People were appalled to look at Him (Isaiah 52:13).
Jesus
walked on a path, now known as the Via Dolorosa or the "way of suffering", to be crucified at
Golgotha. The total distance has been estimated at 650 yards. (Edwards). A narrow street
of stone, it was probably surrounded by markets in Jesus' time. He was led through the
crowded streets carrying the crossbar of the cross (called a patibulum) across His
shoulders. The crossbar probably weighed between 80 to 110 pounds. He was surrounded by a
guard of Roman soldiers, one of which carried a titulus, a sign which announced His
crime of being "the King of the Jews"
in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. On the way, He was unable to carry the cross.
Some
theorize that he may have fallen while going down the steps of the Antonio Fortress. A
fall with the heavy patibulum on His back may have led to a contusion of the heart,
predisposing His heart to rupture on the cross. (Ball) Simon of Cyrene (currently North
Africa (Tripoli)), who apparently was affected by these events, was summoned to help. The present Via Dolorosa was marked in the 16th
century as the route over which Christ was led to His crucifixion.(Magi) As is the
location of Calvary, the true location of the Via Dolorosa is disputed.
SUFFERING
ON THE CROSS
Psalm
22:16-17: Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced
my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me."
In
John 3:14, Jesus talks about His fulfillment of that prophecy when He says, "Just as
Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up that everyone
who believes in Him may have eternal life."
Jesus
refers to the events recorded in Numbers 21:6-9. The Lord had sent a plague of fiery
serpents on the people of Israel and they bit the people so that many of the people died.
After the people confessed their sin to Moses, the Lord forgave them by having a bronze
serpent made. Bronze is a symbol for judgment and the serpent is a symbol of the curse.
Whoever was bitten by a serpent and then looked at the bronze serpent, was saved from
death.. These verses are prophecies that point to the crucifixion, in that Jesus would be
(lifted up ) on the cross for the judgment of sin, so that whoever believed in Him should
not die (an eternal death), but live an eternal life. The brazen serpent that God told
Moses to raise up for the people in Numbers 21:4-9 is a type of Christ (Bronze the symbol
of judgment, serpent a symbol of sin). (The people apparently kept this brazen serpent
and worshipped it. Calling it “Nehushtan”, King Hezekiah ordered it to be
destroyed in order to end the idolatry. 2Kings 18:4).
II Cor 5
:21 amplifies this point, in that "He (the Father) made Him who knew no sin (the Son)
to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
It
is interesting that the sign of Aesculapius which is the symbol of the medical profession
today, had its roots from the making of the bronze serpent.(Metherall) This figuratively
shows that Jesus is the healer of all! Jesus
is led to the place of the skull (Latin Calvary, Aramaic :Golgotha) to be crucified. The
actual location of Calvary is also in dispute. At the end of the Via Dolorosa, there is a "T intersection". If one turns left,
we go to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. If one turns to the right, one goes to Gordon's
Calvary. The Church of the Holy sepulcher has long been believed to be the traditional
site of the crucifixion.
Gordon's
location of Calvary has a possible prophetic reason for being the actual site of the
crucifixion .In Genesis 22, Abraham is tested by God to sacrifice Isaac on the top of a
mountain. Abraham prophetically answered his son that "God Himself will provide a
Lamb",Gen 22:8. Abraham calls the place of the event "Jehovah Jireh",
meaning "In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen."(Genesis 22:14) (Jehovah
Jireh means “Jehovah sees” it also means Jehovah provides)If
we take this as a prophetic event of Jesus' death, then Jesus' died on the high ground of
Jerusalem. Gordon's location of Calvary is the highest point of Jerusalem, 777 meters
above sea level
At
the location of Gordon's Calvary, caves in the rock are situated which give the site the
appearance of a skull.
Jesus
was then crucified. Crucifixion was a practice that originated with the Persians and was
later passed on to the Carthaginians and the Phoenicians. The Romans perfected it as a
method of execution which caused maximum pain and suffering over a period of time. Those
crucified included slaves, provincials and the lowest types of criminals. Roman citizens,
except perhaps for soldiers who deserted, were not subjected to this treatment. (McDowell)
The
crucifixion site "was purposely chosen to be outside the city walls because the Law
forbade such within the city walls...for sanitary reasons ... the crucified body was
sometimes left to rot on the cross and serve as a disgrace, a convincing warning and
deterrent to passers by."
(Johnson) Sometimes, the subject was eaten while alive and still on the cross by wild
beasts or thrown into the local garbage dump (In Jerusalem, that would be the Valley of
Hinnon from which Gahenna, the lake of fire will be formed in the end of the age.
(Lipsius)
The
procedure of crucifixion may be summarized as follows.
·
The
patibulum was put on the ground and the victim laid upon it. Nails, about 7 inches long
and with a diameter of 3/8 of an inch) were
driven in the wrists . The points would go into the vicinity of the median nerve, causing
shocks of pain to radiate through the arms. It was possible to place the nails between the
bones so that no fractures (or broken bones) occurred. Studies have shown that nails were
probably driven through the small bones of the wrist, since nails in the palms of the hand
would not support the weight of a body. In ancient terminology, the wrist was considered
to be part of the hand. (Davis)
·
Standing
at the crucifixion sites would be upright posts, called stipes, standing about 7
feet high.(Edwards) In the center of the stipes was a crude seat, called a sedile or sedulum,
which served a support for the victim. The patibulum was then lifted on to the
stipes. The feet were then nailed to the stipes. To allow for this, the knees had to be
bent and rotated laterally, being left in a very uncomfortable position.
·
The
titulus was hung above the victim's head. There
were several different types of crosses used during crucifixion. In Jesus' time, it was
most likely that the cross used was a T shaped (or tau cross,), not the popular Latin, or
t shaped cross which is accepted today.(Lumpkin)
PHYSICAL
SUFFERING ON THE CROSS
Psalm
22:14-15: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart
has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd
(baked clay), and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of
death."
Having suffered from the beatings and flogging,
Jesus suffered from a severely diminished blood supply. The verses above describe His
dehydrated state and loss of His strength. When
the cross was erected upright, there was tremendous strain put on the wrists, arms and
shoulders, resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints.(Metherall) The
arms, being held up and outward, held the rib cage in a fixed end position which made it
extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath. The victim would only
be able to take very shallow breaths.
·
As
time passed, the muscles, from the loss of blood, loss of oxygen and the fixed position of
the body, would undergo severe cramps and spasmodic contractions
ABANDONED
BY GOD -- SPIRITUAL DEATH
Matthew
27:46: "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama
sabachthani?'--which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
With
the sin of the world upon Him, Jesus suffered spiritual death (separation from the Father
). Isaiah 59:2 says that sins cause a separation from God, and that He hides His face from
you so that He does not hear. The Father must turn away from His Beloved Son on the cross.
For the first time, Jesus does not address God as His Father.(Courson)
DEATH
BY CRUCIFIXION : SLOW SUFFOCATION
Shallowness
of breathing causes small areas of lung collapse. Decreased
oxygen and increased carbon dioxide causes acidic conditions in the tissues. Fluid builds up in the lungs. Heart is stressed
and eventually fails.
it
appears likely that the mechanism of death in crucifixion was suffocation. Furthermore,
movement of these muscles was opposed by the weight of the body. With the muscles of
respiration thus stretched, the respiratory bellows became relatively fixed.
Pain
in the wrists and arms increased, the victim was forced to raise the body off the sedulum,
thereby transferring the weight of the body to the feet. Respirations became easier, but
with the weight of the body being exerted on the feet, pain in the feet and legs mounted.
When the pain became unbearable, the victim again slumped down on the sedulum with the
weight of the body pulling on the wrists and again stretching the muscles. Thus, the
victim alternated between lifting his body off the sedulum in order to breathe and
slumping down on the sedulum to relieve pain in the feet. Eventually , he became exhausted
or lapsed into unconsciousness so that he could no longer lift his body off the sedulum.
In this position, with the respiratory muscles essentially paralyzed, the victim
suffocated and died. (DePasquale and Burch)
One
theory states that Jesus died of cardiac rupture." (Bergsma)
A
LAST DRINK OF WINE VINEGAR
John
19:29-30 "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 spirit."
Having
suffered severe blood losses from His numerous beatings and thus in a dehydrated state,
Jesus, in one of His final statements, said "I
thirst." He was offered 2 drinks on the cross. The first, which He refused, was a
drugged wine (mixed with myrrh). He chose to face death without a clouded mind. Edersheim
writes: "It
was a merciful Jewish practice to give to those led to execution a draught of strong wine
mixed with myrrh so as to deaden consciousness" (Mass Sem 2.9; Bemid. R. 10). The
draught was offered to Jesus when He reached Golgotha. But having tasted it....He would
not drink it. ....He would meet Death, even in his sternest and fiercest mood, and conquer
by submitting to the full....(p.880). The
second drink, which He accepts moments before His death, is described as a wine vinegar.
Two
points are important to note. The drink was given on the "stalk of a hyssop
plant". Remember that these events occurred at the Feast of the Passover. During this
feast, (Exod 12:22) hyssop was used to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the wooden
doorposts of the Jews. It is interesting the end of this hyssop stalk pointed to the blood
of the Perfect Lamb which was applied to the wooden cross for the salvation of all
mankind. (Barclay)
In addition, the wine vinegar is a product of fermentation, which is made from grape juice
and yeast. The word literally means "that which
is leavened". (Holmans) Yeast or leaven, is a Biblical symbol of sin. When Jesus
took this drink, (i.e. a drink which was "leavened")
it is thus symbolic of His taking the sins of the world into His body.
CELEBRATION
OF THE OPPOSITION - SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Psalm
22:12-13: "Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions
tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me."
While He was on the cross, darkness covered the
land (noon to three p.m.). Jesus, in Luke 22:53, associates those who arrested Him with
the power of darkness. Where were the evil forces while Jesus was on the cross? The verses
above from Psalm 22 seem out of place when first read. There seems to be no mention of "bulls" and "lions" around the cross. The verses,
however, have a deeper meaning.(Courson) Bashan was an area to the east of the Jordan
River which was famous for its fertility. Cattle were raised there which grew to enormous
sizes. The people there worshipped demon spirits (associated with Baal) within the cattle.
In
1
Pet 5:8, Satan is described as "a roaring lion...seeking those who he may
devour"
These
verses are thus suggestive of the spiritual activity of Satan and his demons, celebrating
as Jesus was suffering on the cross.
JESUS
LAID DOWN HIS LIFE
John
10:17-18 "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it
up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to
lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my
Father." Luke 23:46 "Jesus called
out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit'."
When he had said this, he breathed his last. The
average time of suffering before death by crucifixion is stated to be about 2-4
days(Tenney).
Jesus
died a quick physical death (Pilate was surprised that He had died so soon.(Mark 15:44).
While many of the physical signs preceding death were present, one possibility is that
Jesus did not die by physical factors which ended His ability to live, but that He gave up His life of His own accord. His last
statement, "Into your hands I commit my Spirit"
shows that Jesus' death occurred by giving Himself up. In John 10, He states that only He
has the power to lay down His life. He proved His power over death by His resurrection.
Jesus’ deliberately timed His death to coincide with the death of the last Passover
Lamb\at 3pm (The ninth hour).
DEATH
BY CRUCIFIXION:
HASTENED
by the breaking of the legs, so that the victim could not push up to take a good breath.
John
19:32-33: 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.
CONFIRMED by a spear thrust into the right side of the heart. John 19:34: Instead, one of the soldiers pierced
Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
Jesus
fulfills one of the prophetic requirements of the Passover Lamb, that not a bone shall be
broken.(Exodus 12:46, John 19:36) To confirm
that a victim was dead, the Romans inflicted a spear wound through the right side of the
heart. When pierced, a sudden flow of blood and water came Jesus' body . The medical
significance of the blood and water has been a matter of debate.
One
theory states that Jesus died of a massive myocardial infarction, in which the heart
ruptured (Bergsma) which may have resulted from His falling while carrying the cross.
(Ball) Another theory states that Jesus' heart was surrounded by fluid in the pericardium,
which constricted the heart and caused death.(Davis)
My belief is that Jesus literally died of a broken-heart when, becoming sin for
us, the Father’s wrath upon sin brought His wrath on His only son. Jesus handled his
human tormentors, but had His heart broken when He could not call God His Father for that
time period of three hours.
The
important fact is that the medical evidence supports that Jesus did die a physical death.
The
greatest event that separates Jesus from all others is the fact that He rose again and
lives today. He intercedes for those who follow Him at the right hand of the Father.(Heb
7:25)
APPEARANCE
IN HEAVEN
Revelation
5:6: Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the
throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
In
eternity, Jesus will bear the marks of His crucifixion. Rev 5:6 suggests that He appears
in heaven with the marks as a Lamb "looking as
if it had been slain". We know that when He appeared to Thomas that He bore the
scars of the nails and the spear in His side. (John 20:26-28).
FOLLOWING
JESUS CHRIST
Luke
9:23:
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would
come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me." When
He was on earth, Jesus stated that , "If
any man would come after me, let him take up his cross daily and follow me."
(Luke 9:23)
We
are challenged by the example of
Simon
of Cyrene. Scripture mentions Him as being the father of Alexander and Rufus.(Mark 15:21)
Rufus ("a choice man in the Lord") and Simon's wife were both addressed by Paul
in his letter to the Roman church. (Romans 16:13)
Here was a man, who indeed carried the cross...and made an impact for Christ in eternity.
Medical
evidence compiled by David Terasaka M.D. |
|
References:
Ball, D. A.
"The Crucifixion and Death of a Man Called Jesus". J Miss St Med Assoc 30(3):
77-83, 1989.
Bergsma,
Stuart. "Did Jesus Die of a Broken Heart?". The Calvin Forum, 14:165, 1948.
Bible,
Amplified version. Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1964.
Bucklin,
R.. "The Legal and Medical Aspects of the Trial and Death of Christ". Med Sci
Law. 10:14-26, 1970.
Courson,
Jon. "Why Psalms 22?" (tape) Firefighters for Christ, Westminister California.
Davis, C.T.
"The Crucifixion of Jesus :The Passion of Christ from a Medical Point of View".
Ariz Med 22:183-187, 1965.
DePasquale,
N. P. and Burch, G.E. "Death by Crucifixion", Am Heart J 66(3):. 434-435, 1963.
Edersheim,
A. "TheLife and Times of Jesus the Messiah". Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.
Peabody, Massachusetts, 1993.
Edwards,
W.D., Gabel, W.J and Hosmer, F.E. "On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ." JAMA.
255 (11), pp. 1455-1463, 1986.
Gonen, R.
"Biblical Holy Places : an illustrated guide",Palphot Ltd. Israel 1994
Grafenberg,
J. S.."Observ.Medic.," Lib.III. p.458.
Holman's
Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Publishers, 1991.
Johnson,
C.."Medical and Cardiological Aspects of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus, the
Christ", Bol Asoc Med P Rico 70 (3) :97-102, 1978.
Kollek, T.
and Dowley, T. , "Next Year in Jerusalem", Harvest House, Eugene, Oregon, 1995.
Lipsius,
Justus. "De Cruce. Libri tres, ad sacram profanamque historiam utiles. (3rd part Tom
III. Opera Omnia. Antwerp, 1614)
Lumpkin,R.."The
Physical Suffering of Christ", J Med Assoc Ala 47: 8-10, 1978.
Magi, G.
"Israel". Casa Editrice Bonechi, Florence, Italy, 1992.
McDowell,
J. "The Resurrection Factor". Campus Crusade for Christ, Nashville, Tenn., 1981.
Metherall,
A.. "Christ's Physical Suffering" (Tape) Firefighters for Christ , Westminister,
Ca.
Missler, C.
"Isaiah 53" (Tape) Firefighters for Christ, Westminister, Ca.
Missler, C.
"Israel Tour Book" 1995 Edition.
Pink, A.
"The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross", Baker Book House, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, 1958.
Scott, C.T.
"A Case of Haematidrosis", Br Med J .1: 532-533, 1918.
Strong, J.
"Strong's Concordance", MacDonald Pub Co., McLean, Va.
Tenney,
S.M. "On Death By Crucifixion", Am Heart J .68(2) :286-287, 1964.
Websters
Dictionary, Grosset and Dunlap, New York, 1974.
THE LAST WORDS OF JESUS
DURING
HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS
We usually always
remember the last dying words of a loved one. These are the dying words of our Lord Jesus
Christ on the cross. They are not His last words because He lives!
1. John 19:26-27 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!”
2. Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
3. Luke 23:43 “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”
4. Matt 27:46 “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
5. John 19:28 “…I thirst.”
6. Luke 23:46 “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit…”
7. John 19:30 “It is finished”
EXCHANGES AT THE CROSS
“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
“Griefs” in Hebrew:
Strong’s 02483 khol-ee’ means sickness (12), disease (7), grief (4) “Sorrows”
in Hebrew: Strong’s 04341 mak’obah sorrow (12), pain (2), grief (2) sorrow &
pain meant is both physical and mental. Strong’s 03510 kawab is the root.
2.
He was punished for our transgressions
that we might have His peace – ISA 53:5
3.
He bore our sickness and infirmities
that we might have His health – ISA 53:5, MATT 8:17, ISA 53:5
4.
He was made a curse that we might have
His blessing – Gal 3:13-14
5.
He took our poverty that we might have
His wealth – 2 COR 8:9
(Note: This is not the
“health & wealth” Gospel. Jesus had an abundance – He had His
needs met plus.
However He had no lack.)
6.
He became rejection that we might have
His acceptance –Eph 1:6
7.
He became a slave so that we might have
His freedom – Exodus 21:32, Zech 11:12, MATT 26:15, Luke 4:18
Jesus’ Perfect
Victory over sin, death and hell
| Death | Gen 2:17 |
Hebrews 2:9 |
| Nakedness | Gen 3:10-11 |
John 19:23 |
| Curse | Gen 3:17 | Gal 3:13 |
| Sorrow | Gen 3:17 |
Isa 53:3-4 |
| Thorns | Gen 3:17-18 |
John 19:5 |
| Sweat | Gen 3:19 |
Luke 22:42 |
| Sword/Spear | Gen 3:24 |
Matt 10:34, John 19:34 |
Adam & Jesus as “Last Adam”
Rom
5:12-19
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.
16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
Jesus contrasted with Adam: 1 Cor 15:45-46 “and so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. “ NKJV
1. Adam introduced: Death Genesis 2:17
“but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." NIV
Jesus
responded:
Hebrews 2:9 “But we see
Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned
with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should
taste death for every man.”
KJV
2. Adam - Nakedness
Gen 3:10-11 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"
Jesus
responded:
John 19:23 “Then the
soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each
soldier a part, and also the tunic.
3. Adam – Curse Gen 3:17
“ Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.
Jesus
responded:
Gal 3:13
“Christ
has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is
everyone who hangs on a tree"
4. Adam – Sorrow Gen 3:17
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will
eat of it all the days of your life. (toil in Hebrew 06093 its-tsaw-bone’
from 06087AV-sorrow 2, toil 1; 3 1) pain, labour, hardship, sorrow, toil)
Jesus responded: Isaiah 53:3 (for the internalized feelings and thoughts of Jesus in His sufferings and death we must rely on Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. Only the external facts of the witnesses are recorded in the Gospels.
Isa
53:3 “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of
sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were,
our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
5. Adam – Thorns Gen 3:17b-18 “"Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.
Jesus responded: John 19:5 “Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. “
6. Adam – Sweat Gen 3:19
“In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
Jesus
responded:
Luke 22:44 “And being in agony, He prayed more
earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
7. Adam – Sword Gen 3:24
“So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Jesus
responded: The Sword
"Do
not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Matt 10:34
The
Spear John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water
came out.”
8. Adam communed with God hearing “the Voice of God”
(Word of God). When Adam sinned his spirit was the first to die. He became a carnal man.
God wants communion with the spiritual man (John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.) Since man could
not become spirit, the Word of God took on flesh in order to open again man’s
communication with God in spirit & in truth.
When Adam sinned he stepped into the
elements: temperature, time, sickness and death.
9. Adam
lost dominion over the garden of God. Jesus
recaptured that dominion. In John 20:14- 16 “Now
when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know
that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are
you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing
Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if
You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him
away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him,
"Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).
8. The Garden: Adam was assigned as master & gardener in Eden:
Gen 2:8 “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.”
Gen 2:15 “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” NKJV
Gen 3: 23-24 “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
So He drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” God did not want man, in a corrupted state to dwell for an eternity.
Jesus agonized in a garden: John
18:1
“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered.”
Jesus was buried in a garden. John 20:13-18 (The Garden of the Holy Sepulchre)
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.” NKJV
9. The Tree of life was blocked to man by the Cherubim with flaming swords. Gen 3:22. When Adam knowingly ate of the Tree of Knowledge of good & evil, man sinned leading to death.
a. Cursed is anyone who is hung on a
tree Galatians 3:13
Christ
has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: Deut 21:23
b. The fruit of the Tree of Life is available to us who believe on Jesus:
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."‘