Sermon #126 — John’s Gospel

Title: Christ Crucified

The Scriptures Fulfilled

Text: John 19:28-42

Subject: Lessons from Our Savior’s

Death and Burial

Date: Sunday Morning — July 24, 2011

Reading: Psalm 69:1-36

Tape: John #26

Introduction:

My subject is Christ Crucified — The Scriptures Fulfilled. My text is John 19:28-42. This portion of of John’s Gospel contains points of deep interest which are silently passed over by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We are not told why Matthew, Mark, and Luke omit the things John was inspired to record in this portion of Holy Scripture; and we should not curiously seek to know the reason. It is enough for us to remember that, both in what they recorded and in what they did not record, all four Evangelists wrote by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.

(John 19:28-42) “28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put [it] upon hyssop, and put [it] to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

“31 ¶ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw [it] bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.”

“38 ¶ And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound [weight]. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation [day]; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

Proposition: Our Lord Jesus Christ lived, and died, and was buried in the sure hope and blessed prospect of His resurrection glory that sinners trusting Him might live, and die, and go to their graves in the sure hope and blessed prospect of His resurrection glory.

Divisions: In this passage of Holy Scripture God the Holy Spirit sets before us seven facts. May He be pleased to inscribe them upon our hearts.

1. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”

2. We must rest our souls upon the finished work of Christ.

3. Our Lord Jesus Christ really did die under the wrath of God as our Substitute.

4. The crucified Lamb of God is a Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness.

5. The man Jesus Christ is Himself God.

6. Our Savior has many disciples unknown to you and me.

7. We bury our dead in hope of the resurrection.

Scripture Fulfilled

First, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” Throughout the biblical accounts of our Lord’s crucifixion we read that the things done to Him by the hands of wicked men were done “that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” In this 19^th chapter of John alone we see this fact set before us by Divine Inspiration three times (John 19:24, 28, 36).

(John 19:24) “They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.”

(Psalms 22:18) “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

(John 19:28) “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

(Psalms 69:21) “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

(John 19:36) “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.”

(Exodus 12:46) “In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.”

(Numbers 9:12) “They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.”

(Psalms 34:20) “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.”

(Zechariah 12:10) “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.”

Here are three specific prophecies given in Exodus, Numbers, the Psalms, and Zechariah, which received their accomplishment at the cross. I could easily point you to many others. All of these fulfilled prophecies combined tell us one thing: —They tell us that the death of our Lord Jesus Christ at Golgotha was a thing planned, predestined, and prophesied by God. Hundreds of years before it came to pass every part of the solemn transaction was arranged in the Divine counsels, and the most minute particulars were revealed to the Prophets. From first to last it was a thing accomplished according to the purpose of God, and every portion of it was in fulfilment precise Divine prophecy. In the highest, fullest sense, when Christ died, He “died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3).

I stress this point because I want you to be fully confident that the Book you hold in your lap in indeed the inspired, inerrant Word of God. The Prophets did not merely foretell Christ’s death. They specifically foretold the particulars of His death in detail.

It is impossible to explain so many accomplishments of specific details by any means, except “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” and the fact that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” To say that these things are matters of luck, chance, or coincidence is as preposterous and absurd as it is blasphemous.

The only rational account of these prophecies and their fulfilment is the Divine inspiration of the Bible. The Prophets, who told God’s elect the details of the crucifixion of their Redeemer and ours, hundreds of years before it was accomplished, were inspired by the only Lord God who knows the end from the beginning and always performs all His will.

The Book of God must never be read as a human composition. It is the Word of the living God. The infidel who denies this runs in the face of all reason and credibility. Those who regard the repeated fulfillments of minute prophecies about Christ’s death, such as the prophecies about His dress, His thirst, His pierced side, and His bones being unbroken, as the result of chance and not of design, do so in blind rebellion, rebellion that renders them incapable of rational thought regarding the things of God.

Finished Work

Second, we must rest our souls upon the finished work of Christ (vv. 28-30).

(John 19:28-30) “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put [it] upon hyssop, and put [it] to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

John records three of the Savior’s seven words from the cross. Those seven words are:

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

2. “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

3. “Woman, behold thy Son” (John 19:26-27).

4. “My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46).

5. “I thirst” (John 19:28).

6. “It is finished” (John 19:30).

7. “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Our Lord's work was accomplished. He had honored the law in His life of perfect obedience and holiness as our Representative. Now by His suffering and death under the wrath of God against the sin of His people, He had fully satisfied Divine justice as our Substitute (Isaiah 53:4-6). That the Scripture might be fulfilled (Psalm 22:15; Psalm 69:21), He cried, “I thirst.” He suffered the burning thirst of hell (Luke 16:24) that we might drink the water of life and never thirst (John 4:14).

Then, once the Lord Jesus had received the vinegar, He cried, “It is finished,” bowed his head, and died. What was finished?

1. The whole will of God in regard to redemption (Hebrews 10:7).

2. The whole work His Father had given Him to do (1 Timothy 1:15).

3. The whole law of God and all the types and ceremonies it contained (Hebrews 10:9-14).

4. The righteousness of God performed, perfected, and imputed to believers (Romans 3:19-24; Romans 10:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

The proof that our blessed Surety accomplished all He came to accomplish was His resurrection from the dead (Acts 17:31). Salvation and eternal life is the gift of God, not of works on our part, but through the Person and work of our Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21). ‘

“’Tis done, the great transaction's done;

I am my Lord's and He is mine.”

Nothing can be added to His finished work. We rest our souls on a finished work, if we rest them on the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need not fear that either sin, or Satan, or law shall condemn us at the last day. We have a Savior who has done all, paid all, accomplished all, performed all that is required for our everlasting salvation. We may take up the challenge of the Apostle, “Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). Trusting Christ, we lack nothing (Colossians 2:9-10; 1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

(Colossians 2:9-10) “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”

Real Death

Third, our Lord Jesus Christ really did die under the wrath of God as our Substitute. — It was late in the afternoon, and the Jews’ sabbath day began immediately after sunset; so they urged Pilate to break the legs of the crucified and hasten their death that their bodies might be taken down and buried before their sabbath began. Dead bodies hanging on crosses would defile their sabbath and their religious ceremonies (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). What hypocrisy! These self-righteous Pharisees were not concerned about crucifying the Messiah; but they were very conscientious about not defiling their holy day!

So the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves; but when they came to the Lord Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they broke not His legs. This was not out of compassion for Him (as we see in the next verses), but that which restrained them was God’s sovereign providence and purpose.

(John 19:34-37) “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw [it] bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.”

Our dear Savior really did die in our place, as our penal Substitute, under the wrath of God. The heart of our blessed Redeemer was pierced. This was not a death stroke. Our Redeemer had already dismissed His spirit. But the piercing of His heart was done to both fulfil the Scriptures (Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7) and to demonstrate that His life was gone. Our Lord did not merely faint, or swoon away, or become insensible, as some have dared to insinuate. His heart actually ceased to beat, and He actually died.

This is a matter of great importance. — Without a real death there could be no real sacrifice. Without a real death there could be no real resurrection. Without a real death and a real resurrection, there is no hope and we are yet in our sins! The whole Gospel of Christ, the whole of true Christianity stands or falls with the reality of our Lord’s death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:14-17).

(1 Corinthians 15:14-17) “And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

Though that reckless, hardened Roman soldier never dreamed it, he was the unwitting servant of our God and a mighty helper to our holy faith, when he thrust his spear into our Savior’s side!

Fountain Opened

Fourth, the crucified Lamb of God is a Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. When the soldier pierced His side and there came out blood and water, John tells us that he saw this and his record is true (1 John 5:6-8). Christ is the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness (Zechariah 13:1).

(Zechariah 13:1) “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”

(1 John 5:6-8) “This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”

The blood and water from the Lord’s side signify justification and sanctification.

“Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the DOUBLE CURE,

Cleanse me from its guilt and power”

Truly God

Fifth, the man Jesus Christ is Himself God. If you will compare John’s statement in verse 37 with the prophecy from which it is taken in Zechariah 12:10, you cannot fail to see that God the Holy Spirit is here, again, giving us one of those subtle, but sweet declarations of our Savior’s Divinity.

(John 19:37) “And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.”

The Lord God, speaking by Zechariah, said “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced.” He who predicted and promised these things was and is the eternal God, the Lord Jehovah. John, writing as an inspired historian, points to Christ and tells us (quoting Zechariah), “They shall look on Him whom they have pierced.” — Jesus is Jehovah! The man Christ Jesus is Himself God!

Unknown Disciples

Sixth, our Savior has many disciples unknown to you and me. Many boldly and confidently assert that they know who the Lord’s disciples are. They are not hesitant to denounce those who do not agree with them on all matters as reprobate unbelievers. They do not hesitate to denounce as Pharisees and hypocrites all who do not meet their measure. They tell us that a true believer will not be found here, that a child of God would never do that, that anyone who knows God will not follow that path.

I’ve had men ask me (and they were serious in asking), “Do you think Solomon was saved?” And I’ve known many who denounce Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus as hypocrites and unbelievers because were among the Pharisees and feared the Jews. But God the Holy Spirit tells us plainly that these two men were “disciples,” followers of Christ. Though they were secret disciples, they were still true disciples; and they proved it. When Peter denied Him and all forsook Him, Joseph and Nicodemus identified themselves with the crucified Son of God.

All are Christ’s who trust Christ; but none of us knows who the Lord’s disciples are or where they are. Let us therefore be guarded and gracious in our judgment concerning others.

· Aaron led Israel in the worship of golden calves.

· Solomon worshipped idols with his wives.

· Peter sided with the Judaizers at Antioch.

· Paul took a legal oath at Jerusalem.

· John fell down to worship and angel.

· And Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus remained among the Pharisees for a long time, though they were true followers of Christ.

Burial not Cremation

Seventh, we bury our dead in hope of the resurrection. Our Savior’s body was buried in the tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea, in the anticipation of His resurrection (Psalm 16:9-11).

(Psalms 16:9-11) “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.”

It was necessary that Christ die as our Substitute to do away sin and death by the sacrifice of Himself. — It was as necessary that He be “buried,” that His humiliation be complete. A thousand years earlier, our Lord spoke by the Spirit of prophecy and said, “Thou hast brought me into the dust of death” (Psalm 22:15). — And it was necessary, that though He died as one under the sentence of justice, He should have an honorable funeral.

Therefore, in order to fulfil the seemingly contradictory prophecies, in which it was said, “he is taken from prison and from judgment, and cut off out of the land of the living,” yet, contrary to all human probabilities, He must “make his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death” (Isaiah 53:8-9), these godly men, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus were raised up by God at the time needed to perform the task of burying our Savior’s holy body.

Our dear Savior conquered death by His own death. He went into the grave to subdue the power of the grave. And He arose from the dead, in proof that He has triumphed over both death and the grave. In doing so, our Savior showed the way we shall, at last, conquer death and the grave by virtue of our union with Him.

As our Lord was buried in prospect of the resurrection, we bury our dead, the bodies of our believing brothers and sisters in Christ, in the sure and certain hope of resurrection glory (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

I am often asked, and several of you have asked me about this. — “Should a believer be cremated or buried?” While the Scriptures do not give any commandment, they do, in my opinion, clearly indicate that the burial of our bodies is most consistent with the faith of the Gospel. Our Lord was buried in the earth; and we confess our Savior and our faith in Him by a burial in believer’s baptism. Clearly, there is a connection between burial and our faith in Christ.

Application

Let us often meditate upon the things revealed in this Book about our dear Savior’s sufferings and death as our sin-atoning Substitute. Follow Him from Gethsemane to Gabbatha and from Gabbatha to Golgotha. Hear His voice, as He cries, “Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted Me in the day of his fierce anger!”

Read the inscription on the cross. — “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed!” Matchless love! The Son of God became a man that sinful men might become the sons of God! The Lord Jesus, the Holy, harmless, undefiled Lamb of God, was made sin, He who knew no sin, that His people might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Neglect not to follow the Savior, in frequent and blessed meditation, to the tomb. — “Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” Glorious triumph is this. The tomb is empty! Our crucified, risen, ascended Lord holds the keys of death, hell, and the grave. Oh, for grace frequently to visit the garden and the tomb where the body of my Savior was buried. Here, I would meditate on death with sweet, happy prospect, hope, and anticipation, until He who has the key of David, opens my little spot in the earth to receive my body. Even now I hear the voice of comfort and consolation. — “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord!”

Make sure, that you are “washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). Faith in Christ is the one thing needful. — “He that hath the Son has life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). — “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” God help you now to believe, for Christ’s sake.

Amen.

Don Fortner

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