1. 1. John 19 They Scourged Jesus; Crucify; All Authority Is From God; Degrees Of Sin and Punishment; Social Gospel Reforms; What Languages Did Jesus Speak?; Jewish Or Roman Hours?; Golgotha; The Cross; The Titlon; Hyssop; Mary Magdalene; Water And Blood; Purgatory; It is finished Yehoshua Halevi's beautiful photo of one of Israel's primary sources of drinking water. Our sages compare the Torah to water, as they both are m
2. 2. BIBLE IN FIVE Pastor Dave Kooyers Valley Bible Fellowship Box 433 Boonville CA 95415 http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers www.ValleyBibleFellowship.org (707) 895-2325 God bless you as you examine His Word, Your servant in Christ, 2Cor. 4:5 These Microsoft PowerPoint presentations are provided "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-15). To help Christians to "to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." So that "we are no longer...tossed here and there...by every wind of doctrine." They may be downloaded and modified free of charge. Matthew 10:8 Freely you received, freely give.
3. 3. In review, John 17:17 Sanctification NAU John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. The John never uses sanctification in the NAU. The root of the word he only uses four times, in all his writings. Vance Havner asked, Has he taken over your heart? Perhaps he resides there, but does he preside there? 3
4. 4. Let's read John 19:1-16 4
5. 5. John 19:1, They Scourged Jesus 5
6. 6. John 19:1, They Scourged Jesus 6
7. 7. John 19:5, Behold the Man, Antonio Ciseris depiction of Ecce Homo, 1871. shutterstock_135954239 The Ecce Homo arch spanning the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalems Muslim Quarter This is known as the Ecce Homo arch and is purported to be the site where Pilate handed Jesus over to the crowd, uttering here is the man! (John 19:5). There are two problems with this tradition. The first is linguistic and has to do with its name. Ecce Homo means here is the man in Latin. While it is certainly true that Roman appointed prefects like Pontius Pilate spoke Latin among themselves, the language they would have used in the eastern provinces such as Judaea was Greek. Latin was the language of the western provinces of the Roman Empire (e.g., Gaul, Britannia, Africa). In the eastern provinces (e.g., Syria, Egypt, Asia), by contrast, Latin was only used in official imperial inscriptions (milestones, dedications, etc) and in written correspondence with the imperial authorities back in Rome. Old Jerusalem 10th Legion Column.jpg A column in an alley near the Jaffa Gate containing a 3rd century Latin inscription: M(arco) Iunio Maximo leg(ato) Aug(ustorum) Leg(ionis) X Fr(etensis) Dom(itius) Serg(ius) Jul (ius ) Honoratus. Str (atores) eiu{s}. When a Roman governor addressed a crowd of Jews (who had gathered from all over the Mediterranean region) in Jerusalem, Greek would have certainly been the default tongue. This situation is somewhat analogous to a Norwegian UN peacekeeping soldier in Mali today speaking English with the locals rather than his own native tongue (Norwegian) or the official language of the country (French). It is assumed today that everyone around the world knows at least bit of English; the same would have been true across the Roman Empire in the first century. File:Evstafiev-bosnia-sarajevo-un-holds-head.jpg According to the Gospel of John, the phrase that Pilate really did utter was: (ide ho anthropos), which literally means look at the human being. This is quite different than the Latin phrase ecce homo which simply means 7 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Ecce_homo_by_Antonio_Ciseri_%281%29.jpg
8. 8. John 19:6, 1st Use Of Crucified, Crucify, Crucifixion NAU John 19:6 So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out saying, "Crucify, crucify!" Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him. John uses the root of the word for crucify more then any other book of the NAU Bible. And every one of those uses except one in Revelation, is here in chapter 19. I think John and the Holy Spirit would have you consider and focus on the crucifixion now.
9. 9. John 19:10-11 No Authority Except From God NAU John 19:10 So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You? 11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin. NAS Romans 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. NAS Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.
10. 10. John 19:11, Greater Sin? NAU John 19:11 he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin. NAU Deuteronomy 25:2 beaten the number of stripes according to his guilt. NAU Matthew 11:24 "Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."
11. 11. Luke 12:47, Degrees Of Punishment Luke 12:47 "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Matthew 18:35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you
12. 12. John 19:11 Social Reforms 12
13. 13. John 19:11, Social Reforms John the Baptist did protest the secular government, but he was an Old Testament saint (Matt 11:11), under the law, and he was beheaded for it. We have a different mission/commission; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are 13
14. 14. John 19:11, Social Reforms ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God . He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. So, Christians are ambassadors to the secular world, not rebels to it. Keep praying for America, vote wisely for the most moral candidate, and keep preaching the forgiveness of sins through the Lord Jesus Christ. The world needs to hear that their sins can be paid for, and they can be reconciled to God, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 14
15. 15. John 19:13,Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic What Languages Did Jesus Speak? Joseph A. Fitzmyer, What languages did Jesus speak during His ministry on Earth? Of course He spoke Aramaic, since that was the common language of the people He taught. When He read from Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, He would have read it in Hebrew. But did Jesus also speak Greek? Greek was in common use in Israel in the first century. Greek inscriptions are frequently found in Jewish graves from the period. This is evidence that many Jews knew the Greek language. Some scholars point to some of the terms in Jesus' recorded sayings that have Greek origins; however, their arguments are not universally accepted.
16. 16. John 19:13,Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic What Languages Did Jesus Speak? But Jesus did grow up in Nazareth, which is in "Galilee of the Gentiles," where Greek as well as Aramaic would have been spoken. Nazareth was only an hour's walk from Sepphoris, where one would have to speak Greek to do business. As scholars point out, Jesus was educated and as a carpenter, He was a skilled artisan. He would have to speak Greek to deal with customers. At one point His disciples wondered whether He would go to teach the Gentiles, a task that would require Greek. Language is a gift of God. It is through this gift that God gives us the greater gift of His saving Gospel which assures us of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ Notes: Biblical Archaeology Review, 9-10/92, pp. 58-63, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, "Did Jesus Speak Greek?" Photo: "Mona Lisa of the Galilee", ancient mosaic in Sepphoris. Courtesy of Tomisti. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/what-languages-did-jesus-speak
17. 17. John 19:14 the sixth hour, Jewish Hours NAU John 19:14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King! [close to daybreak] NAU Mark 15:25 It was the third hour when they crucified Him. John is recording Roman time. The Roman day started at midnight. Mark is recording Jewish time, starting at daybreak, and the third hour would be 9 AM. 17
18. 18. John 19:16, Golgotha NAU John 19:16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. 17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Fausset, Golgotha,1404.01 Aramaic, Gulgaltha, Hebrew Gulgoleth. (See CALVARY, Latin) Greek (Luke 23:33) Cranion, "a skull"; "Calvary" is from Vulgate The "place" of our Lord's crucifixion and burial, not called in the Gospels a mount, as it is now commonly.
19. 19. John 19:17, The Cross NAS John 19:17 They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, 19
20. 20. John 19:17, The Cross A.W. Tower said, The work of Christ on the cross did not influence God to love us, did not increase that love by one degree, did not open any fount of grace or mercy in His heart. He had loved us from old eternity and needed nothing to stimulate that love. The cross is not responsible for God's love; rather it was His love which conceived the cross as the one method by which we could be saved. God felt no different toward us after Christ had died for us, for in the mind of 20
21. 21. John 19:17, The Cross God Christ had already died before the foundation of the world. God never saw us except through atonement. The human race could not have existed one day in its fallen state had not Christ spread His mantle of atonement over it. And this He did in eternal purpose long ages before they led Him out to die on the hill above Jerusalem. All God's dealings with man have been conditioned upon the cross." -- A.W. Tozer, The Radical Cross: Living the Passion of Christ 21
22. 22. The Cross Blotted Out Our Sins NAU Psalm 51:9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. NAU Nehemiah 4:5 Do not forgive their iniquity and let not their sin be blotted out before You, for they have demoralized the builders. NAU Psalm 109:14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out. 22
23. 23. Let's read John 19:17-27 23
24. 24. John 19:19, The Titlon < reasonsforhopejesus.com NAU John 19:19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Matthew 27:37 Luke 23:38 Mark 15:26) It was customary for the Romans to put a sign on each cross. This sign labeled the person being crucified with the crime for which they had been charged. The sign was called a titlon and it was an official announcement from the presiding government official. Pilate wrote the inscription and had it nailed to the top of the cross of Jesus In the Greek, Pilate answered the chief priest using the perfect tense, which is understood to mean, What I have written will always remain written. And so it has remained writtennot only on the cross that day but throughout the pages of history from that time forth http://reasonsforhopejesus.com/pilate-proclaimed-jesus-god/?utm_source=Reasons+for+Hope%2A+Jesus&utm_campaign=87745f394e- Pilate_proclaim_Jesus_God_3_29_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b2f0cb52da-87745f394e-102838805#sthash.n0CNNwdS.dpuf"
25. 25. John 19:19, The Titlon < reasonsforhopejesus.com The remez is found in understanding the inscription written in Hebrew. Remember that the Hebrew language is written from right to left, so it would have read: The Jews The King The Nazarene Jesus HaYehudim v Melech HaNazarei Yeshua The message is found in the acrostic that is formed by these words. An acrostic is a form of writing in which the first letters of each word, line or paragraph are strung together to spell a word or message (we call this an acronym)
26. 26. John 19:19, The Titlon < reasonsforhopejesus.com The acrostic formed by the first letters of each word in the inscription on the titlon (reading right to left) is YHVH. Therefore, above Jesus head, written in an acrostic, was revealed YHVH, which is Yahweh or Jehovah. This is the covenant name of God, given to His people. It is also known as the tetragrammaton, the unpronounceable name of God, and the Great I Am
27. 27. John 19:19, The Titlon < reasonsforhopejesus.com
28. 28. John 19:19, The Titlon < reasonsforhopejesus.com Did Pilate Proclaim Jesus to be God?, by Reasons for Hope* Pilate Proclaimed Jesus God, By Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope There was a message nailed to the cross of Jesus. Its not easily seen, but its there. What did Pilate write? He wrote more than what you know. Did Pilate intentionally write the message and have it nailed to the cross? Of course we know whats really important. Nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ was every sin we have committed, or ever will commit. Jesus took upon Himself our sins and paid for them with His blood, opening the way of salvation for all who come to Him in faith. But there is also another message, nailed to that cross. It was written on a piece of wood, placed above the head of the Lamb of God, and it proclaimed Jesus not only to be The King of the Jews but also to be the Great I Am. A Hidden Message Written in Wood This message is a remez A remez, in Jewish hermeneutics (study of Scripture), is the hint of a hidden message or a deeper meaning. Its something below the surface or behind the words that reveals another message or a deeper understanding. We find a remez in the piece of wood that Pilate commanded to be nailed to the cross of Jesus. Its really amazing what Pilate commanded to be written on it. The Scripture tells us that Pilate asked Jesus the question, Art thou the King of the Jews? We are also told that Jesus confirmed Pilates words with, Thou sayest it. (Luke 23:3) Next we are told that Pilate offered to release one of the prisoners to the people and he used the title The King of the Jews in referring to Jesus: John 18:39 But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews? The Jews did not accept this offer, but instead cried out, Crucify Him (Luke 23:21). So Pilate sentenced Jesus to be crucified. The Titlon titlon above Jesus headIt was customary for the Romans to put a sign on each cross. This sign labeled the person being crucified with the crime for which they had been charged. The sign was called a titlon and it was an official Don't squint! The complete article follows after the THE END slide.
29. 29. John 19:19, The Titlon < catholicsay.com What does INRI stand for? What was written on the sign nailed to the cross above Jesus head? Answer: John 19:19 records, Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:20 continues, Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek." Today, many times when the cross of Jesus is displayed, the letters INRI are placed on the sign above the cross. In Latin, the text JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" would have been written, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum." Abbreviated, this phrase results in INRI." It is unlikely that the letters INRI were truly on the sign that Pilate placed over Jesus head, as John 19:20 specifically states that the sign was written in Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. Although Johns gospel refers to the writing as a title," Mark and Matthew both refer to it as an accusation." It was customary to set up over the heads of persons crucified the crime for which they suffered, and the name of the sufferer. The accusation on which Jesus had been condemned by Pilate was his claiming to be the King of the Jews. Ironically, the crime" for which Jesus was crucified is not a crime at all, but an absolutely true statement. Not only is Jesus King of the Jews, He is the King of all the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14 and 19:16). He is King over all the universe and all its inhabitants. And it was not any crime of His own that was nailed to the cross; it was the crimes (sins) of everyone who would ever put his or her faith in Him for salvation. He has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14) Don't squint! The complete article follows after the THE END slide.
30. 30. John 19:19, The Titlon < catholicsay.com What does INRI stand for? What was written on the sign nailed to the cross above Jesus head? Answer: John 19:19 records, Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:20 continues, Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek." Today, many times when the cross of Jesus is displayed, the letters INRI are placed on the sign above the cross. In Latin, the text JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" would have been written, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum." Abbreviated, this phrase results in INRI." It is unlikely that the letters INRI were truly on the sign that Pilate placed over Jesus head
31. 31. John 19:20, Translated? NAU John 19:20 Therefore this inscription many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. 21 And so the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am King of the Jews." What languages did Jesus, and the apostles speak, read, and transact business in? Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, for sure; NAU Acts 13:8 But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) Ezr. 4:7, 18, Matt. 1:23, Mk. 5:41, 15:22, 34, Jn. 1:38, 41-42, 9:7, Acts 4:36, 9:36, 13:8, 21:37, 40
32. 32. John 19:20, Translated? NAU John 19:20 it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek. GNV NJB NAS YLT NKJ KJV NAU written in Hebrew MIT NIVO NET ESV written in Aramaic BYZ BGT [Hebraisti, my translituration]
33. 33. John 19:24+36 The Nails, Hyssop, Gambling, Unbroken Bones, Archaeologist Dr. James Fleming at his Explorations in Antiquity Center, with Dr. David Reagan The Nails Dr. Reagan: Where were the spikes put in the hand? Dr. Fleming: It's interesting that in this particular case we only have one finding so far where we know the person died by crucifixion in Jerusalem. It shows the spike is where you would have a wristwatch. That's not where we traditionally would think in the hand. But, what's interesting is that the Hebrew word for hand covers from the shoulder down. So, wounds in Jesus' hands do not need to mean an English hand from the wrist up. Probably the nail would enter where the wrist bones pull together at the ulna and radius, and there would be put the spike. Dr. Reagan: How long did it normally take to die? Dr. Fleming: You could last for days depending on whether you had been scourged or not. We have two spikes here because a piece of acacia wood was found under the head of the nail in the crucified person we have talked about. In our replica you can see in this case the soldier hammered the spike into a piece of wood first like a washer so it would be less likely the body could pull out over the spike. Another aspect, the criminal normally carried a sign through the streets with his crime posted around his neck. It'd say, "I'm a robber," or a thief or whatever. For Jesus His sign read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It was also nailed above His head. That was probably the sign He carried for mocking. We have three languages written on the sign. Romans signs had these little fly wings on the edge of them. The Hyssop Stick Dr. Fleming: What's also interesting is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke say someone put a sponge with sour wine on a stick. John uses the word hyssop stick which is a reed that grows nearby. You remember in the book of Exodus the ancient Hebrews are told to dip hyssop in the blood of a paschal lamb and swab it on their doorpost and lintel. Do you see now why John is mentioning the stick? There is a Passover connection with the crucifixion. There's a bloody doorpost and hyssop and redemption from death in Egypt. The Passover points to a bloody crucifixion post. Hyssop and blood bring redemption from death at the cross. John is drawing a paschal connection with Christ's death. The hyssop stick doesn't need to necessarily be a long pole. Someone doesn't want to touch a dying person, and Jesus doesn't have the strength. Remember the first time He didn't want something to drink, but later in the day He said, "I thirst." He doesn't have the strength to lift His head back. You can suck from a sponge if someone held it up to you. Now, the sour wine is a strong wine that has turned to vinegar. It doesn't hasten the death, but it is considered merciful because it makes you a little bit less aware of your surroundings after they put sour wine into your system. Those who loved Jesus would have been grateful that some sour wine had been offered to Him. Gambling Dr. Fleming: John's gospel mentions there were four soldiers at the cross. It's curious because Roman sources talk about four soldiers involved in crucifixions as well. A Jewish male had five items of clothing. Therefore, if there are four soldiers attending to the person being crucified, you can see what is going to happen. They are going to gamble for the fifth item of clothing. One soldier gets the turban that's usually tied around the head. One soldier gets the sandals. One soldier gets the outer robe which normally open in the front. Another soldier gets the sash to tie the outer robe. What remains is the long tunic, or the long tee-shirt. If I can speak as a Roman soldier for a minute, one of the perks of crucifixion is that you can sell the guy's clothes on the market. Who is going to buy a quarter of a tunic if you tear it into four pieces? So, the soldiers throw the dice. For Roman dice, believe it or not, they were made from the ankle bones of cattle. They land on four sides rather than six. Well, if there are four soldiers, you could cast lots to see who would be the lucky soldier to get the fifth item the tunic. Unbroken Bones Dr. Fleming: Death by crucifixion was definitely brutal. Jesus was on the cross from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. In Judaism, you are supposed to be buried the day you died, so that afternoon the Roman soldiers broke the leg bones to hasten the deaths. The first person on one side of Jesus, they broke his legs. The middle person Jesus did not need his bones broken as he was already dead. They never did break Jesus' legs. The third prisoner, again, his legs are broken. Jesus' bones not being broken has a very important Passover connection. The Passover sacrificial lamb's bones were not to be broken. Jesus became the unblemished sacrifice with unbroken legs. Not having his bones broken also fulfilled the Psalm 34:20 prophecy that His bones would not be broken.
34. 34. The Nails, Archaeologist Dr. James Fleming at his Explorations in Antiquity Center, with Dr. David Reagan Dr. Reagan: Where were the spikes put in the hand? Dr. Fleming: It's interesting that in this particular case we only have one finding so far where we know the person died by crucifixion in Jerusalem. It shows the spike is where you would have a wristwatch. That's not where we traditionally would think in the hand. But, what's interesting is that the Hebrew word for hand covers from the shoulder down. So, wounds in Jesus' hands do not need to mean an English hand from the wrist up. Probably the nail would enter where the wrist bones pull together at the ulna and radius, and there would be put the spike. Dr. Reagan: How long did it normally take to die? Dr. Fleming: You could last for days depending on whether you had been scourged or not. We have two spikes here because a piece of acacia wood was found under the head of the nail in the crucified person we have talked about. In our replica you can see in this case the soldier hammered the spike into a piece of wood first like a washer so it would be less likely the body could pull out over the spike. Another aspect, the criminal normally carried a sign through the streets with his crime posted around his neck. It'd say, "I'm a robber," or a thief or whatever. For Jesus His sign read, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews." It was also nailed above His head. That was probably the sign He carried for mocking. We have three languages written on the sign. Romans signs had these little fly wings on the edge of them.
35. 35. The Hyssop Stick, Archaeologist Dr. James Fleming at his Explorations in Antiquity Center, with Dr. David Reagan Dr. Fleming: What's also interesting is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke say someone put a sponge with sour wine on a stick. John uses the word hyssop stick which is a reed that grows nearby. You remember in the book of Exodus the ancient Hebrews are told to dip hyssop in the blood of a paschal lamb and swab it on their doorpost and lintel. Do you see now why John is mentioning the stick? There is a Passover connection with the crucifixion. There's a bloody doorpost and hyssop and redemption from death in Egypt. The Passover points to a bloody crucifixion post. Hyssop and blood bring redemption from death at the cross. John is drawing a paschal connection with Christ's death. The hyssop stick doesn't need to necessarily be a long pole. Someone doesn't want to touch a dying person, and Jesus doesn't have the strength. Remember the first time He didn't want something to drink, but later in the day He said, "I thirst." He doesn't have the strength to lift His head back. You can suck from a sponge if someone held it up to you. Now, the sour wine is a strong wine that has turned to vinegar. It doesn't hasten the death, but it is considered merciful because it makes you a little bit less aware of your surroundings after they put sour wine into your system. Those who loved Jesus would have been grateful that some sour wine had been offered to Him.
36. 36. Gambling, Archaeologist Dr. James Fleming at his Explorations in Antiquity Center, with Dr. David Reagan Dr. Fleming: John's gospel mentions there were four soldiers at the cross. It's curious because Roman sources talk about four soldiers involved in crucifixions as well. A Jewish male had five items of clothing. Therefore, if there are four soldiers attending to the person being crucified, you can see what is going to happen. They are going to gamble for the fifth item of clothing. One soldier gets the turban that's usually tied around the head. One soldier gets the sandals. One soldier gets the outer robe which normally open in the front. Another soldier gets the sash to tie the outer robe. What remains is the long tunic, or the long tee-shirt. If I can speak as a Roman soldier for a minute, one of the perks of crucifixion is that you can sell the guy's clothes on the market. Who is going to buy a quarter of a tunic if you tear it into four pieces? So, the soldiers throw the dice. For Roman dice, believe it or not, they were made from the ankle bones of cattle. They land on four sides rather than six. Well, if there are four soldiers, you could cast lots to see who would be the lucky soldier to get the fifth item the tunic.
37. 37. Unbroken Bones, Archaeologist Dr. James Fleming at his Explorations in Antiquity Center, with Dr. David Reagan Dr. Fleming: Death by crucifixion was definitely brutal. Jesus was on the cross from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. In Judaism, you are supposed to be buried the day you died, so that afternoon the Roman soldiers broke the leg bones to hasten the deaths. The first person on one side of Jesus, they broke his legs. The middle person Jesus did not need his bones broken as he was already dead. They never did break Jesus' legs. The third prisoner, again, his legs are broken. Jesus' bones not being broken has a very important Passover connection. The Passover sacrificial lamb's bones were not to be broken. Jesus became the unblemished sacrifice with unbroken legs. Not having his bones broken also fulfilled the Psalm 34:20 prophecy that His bones would not be broken. In the sixteenth part of this series with archaeologist Dr. James Fleming at his Explorations in Antiquity Center, we'll glean some biblical insights by looking at how Jesus would have been buried.
38. 38. John 19:24, Gambling NAU Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. 38
39. 39. John 19:25, Mary Magdalene NAU John 19:25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. John names 4 ladies (3 Marys), he also was there but unnamed. John and the Holy Spirit give honor to the women. Where are all the big strong male disciples? 39
40. 40. John 19:25, Was Mary Magdalene ever a Prostitute? Mary Magdalene is definitely one of the most well-known female characters of the New Testament; popularized in dozens of films, stories and even once in popular rock opera - Jesus Christ Superstar. In almost all popular presentations she is portrayed as a former prostitute who comes to Jesus in the spirit of true repentance. While the gospels are known for its graciousness towards persons (both men and women) with moral failings; in our interpretation of the Bible, I believe we have misrepresented the person we call Mary Magdalene. There are several Marys - not least, of course, Mary the mother of Jesus. But there are also Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus; Mary the mother of James and Joseph and Mary the wife of Cleopas. Equally important, there are two unnamed women who are expressly identified as sexual sinners - the woman who anoints Jesus feet with costly perfume, and an adulteress whom Pharisees bring before Jesus to see if he will condemn her (this incident is not found in most ancient manuscripts). Do the Gospels actually support the notion that Mary Magdalene was once a prostitute? The answer is, surprisingly - no. Quite the opposite. In the gospels Mary Magdalene is afforded a very high status indeed, one might even argue higher than that of the twelve. So who was Mary Magdalene? Well we dont know much of her story, but there are some things we do know for sure. Mary is a traditional Jewish name (Mariam) and Magdalene is a form reflecting the Hebrew original, which means a tower (Migdal); referring either to a place with that name or to her character as observed by her community. So, for an experienced reader, her name should already give a hint of her towering personality that is yet to be revealed. The association of Mary Magdalene with prostitution (albeit repentant) is the result of post-New Testament interpretations; identifying the actual Mary Magdalene with several other women; at least one of whom was indeed a prostitute. Mary was one of the, if not the most, common Hebrew name at that time. So simply because someone named Mary was a prostitute does not mean that Mary Magdalene was in fact one as well. The long and short of it is that there is simply no scriptural basis to link these sinful women stories to Mary Magdalene. The interpretation hinges on a reference in Luke 8:2 that speaks of Jesus casting demons from Mary Magdalene, sometime prior to her becoming his committed follower. However, when demons left people (men included) in no case 40 Don't squint! The complete article follows after the THE END slide.
41. 41. John 19:25, Was Mary Magdalene ever a Prostitute? There are several Marys - not least, of course, Mary the mother of Jesus. But there are also Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus; Mary the mother of James and Joseph and Mary the wife of Cleopas. Equally important, there are two unnamed women who are expressly identified as sexual sinners - the woman who anoints Jesus feet with costly perfume, and an adulteress whom Pharisees bring before Jesus to see if he will condemn her (this incident is not found in most ancient manuscripts). Do the Gospels actually support the notion that Mary Magdalene was once a prostitute? The answer is, surprisingly - no. The association of Mary Magdalene with prostitution (albeit repentant) is the result of post-New Testament interpretations; identifying the actual Mary Magdalene with several other women; at least one of whom was indeed a prostitute 41
42. 42. Let's read John 19:28-37 42
43. 43. John 19:29, Wood, Hyssop And Scarlet If I said nothing but wood, hyssop and scarlet what would you think of? Wood= cross; NAU Galatians 3:13 Christ 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 "-- Hyssop = NAU John 19:29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Scarlet = NAU Matthew 27:28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. NAU Numbers 19:6 'The priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet material and cast it into the midst of the burning heifer.
44. 44. John 19:30, Our Enemies Are Beaten John 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. NAU John 17:4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. The message of the cross is that our enemies, sin, the curse, and death, are finished for Christians. The battle was won by Jesus; we must not fear them, or capitulate to them any more. Fight the good fight, because Jesus won our victory over the power of sin for us. When Jesus cried, It is finished, He did not take away the conflict, the contest, the fight. No! He took
45. 45. John 19:30, Heresy 101 RCC Purgatory or Finished 1030 All who die in Gods grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. 1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.606 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:607 (954, 1472) As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.608
46. 46. John 19:30, Heresy 101 RCC Purgatory or Finished NAU John 19:30 It is finished!" . NAU 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; NAU Luke 23:46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." Having said this, He breathed His last. Where was #Jesus, and how do we know what he was doing between his death and resurrection? http://www.gotquestions.org/where-was-Jesus.html#QuestionoftheDay #Easter 46
47. 47. John 19:30, www.gotquestions.org 47
48. 48. http://www.gotquestion s.org/purgatory.html #QuestionoftheDay Question: "What does the Bible say about Purgatory?" 48
49. 49. The Cross of Christ NAU John 19:31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Proclaiming The Gospel | PO Box 940871 | Plano | TX | 75094
50. 50. http://www.gotquestions.org/purgatory.html #QuestionoftheDay Question: "What does the Bible say about Purgatory?" Answer: According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. To summarize, in Catholic theology Purgatory is a place that a Christians soul goes to after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life. Is this doctrine of Purgatory in agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not! Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8). Isaiah 53:5 declares, But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus suffering was insufficient. To say that we must atone for our sins by cleansing in Purgatory is to deny the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2). The idea that we have to suffer for our sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation. The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers works being judged. If our works are of good quality gold, sliver, costly stones, they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality wood, hay, and straw, they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believers works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer escaping through the flames, not being cleansed by the flames. Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of Christs sacrifice. Catholics view the Mass / Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christs sacrifice because they fail to understand that Jesus once-for-all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient (Hebrews 7:27). Catholics view meritorious works as contributing to salvation due to a failure to recognize that Jesus sacrificial payment has no need of additional contribution (Ephesians 2:8-9). Similarly, Purgatory is understood by Catholics as a place of cleansing in preparation for heaven because they do not recognize that because of Jesus sacrifice, we are already cleansed, declared righteous, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and sanctified. 50 Don't squint! The complete article follows after the THE END slide.
51. 51. John 19:32-37, Prophecy NAU John 19:32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; The odds of Jesus fulfilling just EIGHT of the prophecies from the Old Testament is 1:100,000,000,000,000,000. These are just a few of many prophesies...this book was not an invention of man but written by God. The Holy Spirit used men to write. From: The Reformation Resurgence. 51
52. 52. From: The Reformation Resurgence. NAU 2 Peter 1:20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 52
53. 53. John 19:33, How Do We Know That Jesus Really Died? A recent podcast listener offered the following objection: Couldnt the disciples have been wrong about the death of Jesus? After all, when Paul was stoned by the Jews from Antioch and Iconium (in Acts 14) they drug him out of the city and left him for dead. While the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city (verse 20). If the disciples were wrong about Paul, couldnt they also have been wrong about Jesus? As I always say, anything and everything is possible, but not everything is reasonable. There are good reasons to believe that the disciples were not wrong about the death of Jesus: 1. Extended Contact Unlike the their contact with Paul after his stoning, the disciples were in intimate and extended contact with the body of Jesus. We have a tendency to read over the following verses very quickly: Mark 15:43-46 So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. But stop and think about it for a minute. The disciples had to remove the nails, collect the body, carry it some distance to the tomb, treat the body thoroughly with the customary ointments and spices used in such situations, wrap the body and then place it in the tomb. While we can read through this process in minutes, it takes a lot longer to actually complete. Surely the disciples were also deeply grieved by the death of Jesus. In all this extended contact with his body, do we really think they wouldnt do everything possible to prove to themselves that he wasnt really dead? In all of this time, is it reasonable to believe that they wouldnt have noticed the three inconvenient properties of dead bodies? Ive been around enough dead people to recognize that properties that appear when a heart stops beating: Loss of Temperature When the heart stops pumping, the body begins to cool. In the time it would take to prepare Jesus for the tomb, the disciples would certainly have observed this feature of death. Rigidity When blood is not circulating, the body begins to stiffen. Dead bodies begin to feel and behave differently than unconscious bodies with a beating heart. 53
54. 54. John 19:33, Did Jesus Really Die on the Cross? Cold Case Christianity Training Videos with J. Warner Wallace In this brief excerpt from J. Warner Wallaces talk on the Resurrection of Jesus, J. Warner discusses the evidence surrounding the death of Jesus on the cross. Did Jesus really die, or was he just unconscious? Did he resurrect or was he simply resuscitated? For more information on this topic, read Cold-Case Christianity (Chapter 2) or ALIVE. http://coldcasechristianity.com/2016/did-jesus-really-die-on-the-cross- video/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ColdCaseChristianity+%28Cold+Case+Christianity%29 54
55. 55. John 19:31-34, Did Jesus Really Die on the Cross? 55
56. 56. John 19:34, Water And Blood NAU John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. NAU 1 John 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth 8 For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. NAU John 3:5 unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 56
57. 57. John 19:35, True Eye Witness NAU John 19:35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. NAS John 19:35 And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. NAU John 21:24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. NAS John 21:24 This is the disciple who bears witness of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his witness is true. 57
58. 58. Let's read John 19:38-42 58
59. 59. John 19:39, Myrrh NAU John 19:39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. Karl Poppelreiter, And gave Him gifts reflective of His 3 offices, King of Kings (gold), our High Priest & Propitiatory Sacrifice (mhyrr), & the Incarnate Word of God (frankincense). We could do well by offering our bodies as living sacrifices, acknowledging in word & deed & demeanor His 3 offices
60. 60. John 19:38-39, Nick & Joe- Two Secret Believers We know that there are at least two Jews at the time of Jesus who were secret Believers: Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. I'm guessing they went by Nick and Joe. :-) Nick secretly came to Jesus at night as recorded in the famous John 3 passage. "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night..." John 3:1-2 Joe was also called a secret Believer in John 19:38. Both of these men must have known each other as they together ended up taking the body of Jesus off the cross and burying it in Joe's unused tomb. "After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night [In secret], also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight." John 19:38-39 I'm sure there are people alive today who are Believers but keep it a secret. Only God knows their true heart. However, if you are one of these, for the long-term peace of mind, you should confess Jesus as Lord and Savior publicly. Tell someone you trust the Risen Savior's shed blood to pay for your sin and His resurrection defeating death! "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." Rom. 10:9-11 Just saying.Bill Perkins, Compass eNews 6 0
61. 61. In closing Remember; 61
62. 62. THE END The Lord bless you; 62
63. 63. John 19:19, The Titlon < reasonsforhopejesus.com Did Pilate Proclaim Jesus to be God?, by Reasons for Hope* Pilate Proclaimed Jesus God, By Shari Abbott, Reasons for Hope There was a message nailed to the cross of Jesus. Its not easily seen, but its there. What did Pilate write? He wrote more than what you know. Did Pilate intentionally write the message and have it nailed to the cross? Of course we know whats really important. Nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ was every sin we have committed, or ever will commit. Jesus took upon Himself our sins and paid for them with His blood, opening the way of salvation for all who come to Him in faith. But there is also another message, nailed to that cross. It was written on a piece of wood, placed above the head of the Lamb of God, and it proclaimed Jesus not only to be The King of the Jews but also to be the Great I Am. A Hidden Message Written in Wood This message is a remez A remez, in Jewish hermeneutics (study of Scripture), is the hint of a hidden message or a deeper meaning. Its something below the surface or behind the words that reveals another message or a deeper understanding. We find a remez in the piece of wood that Pilate commanded to be nailed to the cross of Jesus. Its really amazing what Pilate commanded to be written on it. The Scripture tells us that Pilate asked Jesus the question, Art thou the King of the Jews? We are also told that Jesus confirmed Pilates words with, Thou sayest it. (Luke 23:3) Next we are told that Pilate offered to release one of the prisoners to the people and he used the title The King of the Jews in referring to Jesus: John 18:39 But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews? The Jews did not accept this offer, but instead cried out, Crucify Him (Luke 23:21). So Pilate sentenced Jesus to be crucified. The Titlon titlon above Jesus headIt was customary for the Romans to put a sign on each cross. This sign labeled the person being crucified with the crime for which they had been charged. The sign was called a titlon and it was an official Don't squint! The complete article follows after the THE END slide.
64. 64. John 19:19, The Titlon < catholicsay.com What does INRI stand for? What was written on the sign nailed to the cross above Jesus head? Answer: John 19:19 records, Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:20 continues, Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek." Today, many times when the cross of Jesus is displayed, the letters INRI are placed on the sign above the cross. In Latin, the text JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS" would have been written, Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum." Abbreviated, this phrase results in INRI." It is unlikely that the letters INRI were truly on the sign that Pilate placed over Jesus head, as John 19:20 specifically states that the sign was written in Aramaic, Greek, and Latin. Although Johns gospel refers to the writing as a title," Mark and Matthew both refer to it as an accusation." It was customary to set up over the heads of persons crucified the crime for which they suffered, and the name of the sufferer. The accusation on which Jesus had been condemned by Pilate was his claiming to be the King of the Jews. Ironically, the crime" for which Jesus was crucified is not a crime at all, but an absolutely true statement. Not only is Jesus King of the Jews, He is the King of all the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14 and 19:16). He is King over all the universe and all its inhabitants. And it was not any crime of His own that was nailed to the cross; it was the crimes (sins) of everyone who would ever put his or her faith in Him for salvation. He has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14)
65. 65. John 19:25, Was Mary Magdalene ever a Prostitute? Mary Magdalene is definitely one of the most well-known female characters of the New Testament; popularized in dozens of films, stories and even once in popular rock opera - Jesus Christ Superstar. In almost all popular presentations she is portrayed as a former prostitute who comes to Jesus in the spirit of true repentance. While the gospels are known for its graciousness towards persons (both men and women) with moral failings; in our interpretation of the Bible, I believe we have misrepresented the person we call Mary Magdalene. There are several Marys - not least, of course, Mary the mother of Jesus. But there are also Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus; Mary the mother of James and Joseph and Mary the wife of Cleopas. Equally important, there are two unnamed women who are expressly identified as sexual sinners - the woman who anoints Jesus feet with costly perfume, and an adulteress whom Pharisees bring before Jesus to see if he will condemn her (this incident is not found in most ancient manuscripts). Do the Gospels actually support the notion that Mary Magdalene was once a prostitute? The answer is, surprisingly - no. Quite the opposite. In the gospels Mary Magdalene is afforded a very high status indeed, one might even argue higher than that of the twelve. So who was Mary Magdalene? Well we dont know much of her story, but there are some things we do know for sure. Mary is a traditional Jewish name (Mariam) and Magdalene is a form reflecting the Hebrew original, which means a tower (Migdal); referring either to a place with that name or to her character as observed by her community. So, for an experienced reader, her name should already give a hint of her towering personality that is yet to be revealed. The association of Mary Magdalene with prostitution (albeit repentant) is the result of post-New Testament interpretations; identifying the actual Mary Magdalene with several other women; at least one of whom was indeed a prostitute. Mary was one of the, if not the most, common Hebrew name at that time. So simply because someone named Mary was a prostitute does not mean that Mary Magdalene was in fact one as well. The long and short of it is that there is simply no scriptural basis to link these sinful women stories to Mary Magdalene. The interpretation hinges on a reference in Luke 8:2 that speaks of Jesus casting demons from Mary Magdalene, sometime prior to her becoming his committed follower. However, when demons left people (men included) in no case 65
66. 66. John 19:26-27,Sons Of Thunder Q. Why were James and John given the name Sons of Thunder and what is its meaning? A. Many believe that Jesus chose this nickname because of the dispositions of these fisherman brothers. Apparently, they were short tempered and over reactive. Luke tells of the time when Jesus and his disciples were walking through Samaria. Coming to a village, Jesus sent runners ahead to ask about accommodations for the night. The Samaritans, who hated the Jews, refused them. James and John wanted to call down fire from Heaven and destroy the whole town (Luke 9:51-56). These brothers were both close friends with Jesus, who charged John with caring for Mary as he was dying (John 19:26-27). James was the first of the original disciples to be martyred (Acts 12:2), and John was the last to die, the only disciple who wasnt martyred. Reading Johns letters shows how the Holy Spirit tempered his fiery personality into a loving father figure in the early church. http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/sons-of- thunder/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith% 29
67. 67. John 19:30, Mass, Eucharist, or Tetelestai It is finished! pulpitandpen.org, Perhaps the most notable, and most troubling, aspect of the Mass is the sacrament of the Eucharist. According to Paragraph #1336 of The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), the Mass seeks to re-present Jesus as a sacrifice during the observance of the Eucharist. CCC Paragraph #1367 communicates that the atoning Sacrifice of Jesus and the Eucharist are one in the same. In other words, every time the Catholic Church observes the Eucharist during Mass, it is re-sacrificing Jesus. John OBrien explains this well in his book The Faith of Millions, The priest brings Christ down from heaven and renders Him present on our altar as the eternal victim for the sins of man, not once but a thousand times. These doctrines, as presented in the CCC, conflict with the biblical account. As recorded in John 19:30, Jesus exclaimed Tetelestai as he died upon a Roman cross. This verb is often rendered in English translations of the Bible as It is finished!. Its use indicates that the sin debt of the elect, for whom Christ died, has been paid in full. The Greek perfect tense in which this verb is presented indicates that the debt has been paid in full with a perpetual effect; it has been paid in full once and for all. Since the sin debt of the elect has been fully and perpetually paid, no further works are needed; Jesus need not be re-sacrificed in the Catholic Mass. The author of Hebrews put is this way Christ (has) offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins. (Hebrews 10:12 ESV) 67
68. 68. (teleo) (ginomai) John 19:30, "What did Jesus mean when He said 'It is finished'?" Answer: Of the last sayings of Christ on the cross, none is more important or more poignant than His very last utterance, It is finished. Found only in the Gospel of John, the Greek word translated it is finished istetelestai, an accounting term that means paid in full. When Jesus uttered those words, He was declaring the debt owed to His Father was wiped away completely and forever. Not that Jesus wiped away any debt that He owed to the Father; rather, Jesus eliminated the debt owed by mankindthe debt of sin. Just prior to His arrest by the Romans, Jesus prayed His last public prayer, asking the Father to glorify Him, just as Jesus had glorified the Father on earth, having finished the work you have given me to do (John 17:4). The work Jesus was sent to do was to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19:10), to provide atonement for the sins of all who would ever believe in Him (Romans 3:23-25), and to reconcile sinful men to a holy God. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). None other but God in the flesh could accomplish such a task. Also completed was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies, symbols, and foreshadowings of the coming Messiah. From Genesis to Malachi, there are over 300 specific prophecies detailing the coming of the Anointed One, all fulfilled by Jesus. From the seed who would crush the serpents head (Genesis 3:15), to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, to the prediction of the messenger of the Lord (John the Baptist) who would prepare the way for the Messiah, all prophecies of Jesus life, ministry, and death were fulfilled and finished at the cross. Although the redemption of mankind is the most important finished task, many other things were finished at the cross. The sufferings Jesus endured while on the earth, and especially in His last hours, were at last over. Gods will for Jesus was accomplished in His perfect obedience to the Father (John 5:30; 6:38). Most importantly, the power of sin and Satan were finished. No longer would mankind have to suffer the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). By raising the shield of faith in the One who completed the work of redemption and salvation, we can, by faith, live as new creations in Christ. Jesus finished work on the cross was the beginning of new life for all who were once dead in trespasses and sins but who are now made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1, 5). Recommended Resource: One Perfect Life: The Complete Story of the Lord Jesus by John MacArthur.
69. 69. Purgatory, Purifying The Church By Fire? Q. I appreciate your site so much. I have a friend who keeps telling me Christians are going to go through The Great Tribulation, because it is the cleansing fire we must go through to purify for our redemption when Christ comes back. I have been a Pre-Trib Rapture believer since my conversion many years ago. Can you help me here? Thank you so very much. A. People who talk about the Church needing purification for our redemption usually havent thought about what that means, because what theyre saying is that while Jesus paid the price in full for all the other generations of believers, He just couldnt get it done for us, so we have to finish the job ourselves by suffering through at least part of the Great Tribulation. This purification view shows a lack of faith in the sufficiency of the cross, a lack of understanding of the nature of Grace, and a lack of trust in the Lords promises. Hebrews 10:12-14 tells us, But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/purifying-the-church-by- fire/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThr uFaith%29
70. 70. Three Day Three Night Mystery Solving the Three Day Three Night Mystery Saturday, April 19th, 2014Featured Israel Prophecy A Bible Study by Jack Kelley In Matthew 12:38 Jesus was asked for a sign to show that He was the promised Messiah. The religious officials had just accused Him of using the power of Satan to perform His miracles, and so He described the only sign they would see. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, He said, So will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40). By this He meant that because of their hardened hearts they would only know for sure that He was their Messiah after He rose from the dead, an unmistakably miraculous sign. History shows they didnt accept even as incredible a sign as this, but His response has resulted in a 2000 year controversy surrounding the time of His death. Whats A Sabbath? People who were unfamiliar with the sequence of the spring Feasts of Israel determined that the phrase in John 19:31 identifying the day after the crucifixion as a special Sabbath meant that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, because everyone knows that the Jewish Sabbath is Saturday. And almost everyone agrees that He rose again on Sunday. But there isnt any way you can put three days and three nights between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. Hence the controversy. So lets set the record straight. Sabbath is a Hebrew word that means means rest and refers to holy days when no work is allowed. There is one every Saturday in Israel, but there are also several during the year that are date specific. That means they are always observed on a specific calendar date, regardless of the day. Theyre like our Christmas. Every year it comes on the 25th of December no matter what day of the week that happens to be. The special Sabbath John referred to is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and its a date specific holy day; always observed on the 15th of the month they call Nisan, which corresponds to March/April on our calendar. So the first thing we learn is that the special Sabbath mentioned in John 19:31 didnt have to be a Saturday. Originally there were four special days in the month of Nisan. The first was Passover on the 14th. Then the Feast of Unleavened Bread which began on the 15th and ended on the 22nd, both of which were special Sabbaths. And finally, there was the Feast of First Fruits which fell on the Sunday morning following Passover (Leviticus 23:4-14). Of the four, only the two that opened and closed the Feast of Unleavened Bread prohibited work like the weekly Sabbath, but all have both a historical and prophetic purpose and like all days in the Jewish calendar they begin at sundown, following the pattern of Genesis 1 where God repeated the phrase, and there was evening and there was morning six times, once for each day of creation. The Passover Lamb The next issue we have to consider is the sequence of events in the week we call Holy Week. In Exodus 12:1-13, where the Passover was ordained, we learn what that sequence was. God told the Israelites to select a lamb on the 10th day of the month and inspect it for defects until the 14th. This means through the end of the 13th. Then at twilight they were to slaughter and roast it, eating it that same evening, as the 14th was beginning. Using some of its blood they were to paint their door posts red to protect them from the plague coming upon Egypt at midnight. Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy of the Passover Lamb, to save from death everyone who spiritually applies His shed blood to their lives. The only day He ever allowed the people to hail Him as King was on the day we call Palm Sunday, and as well see it was the 10th day of the month. He did this to fulfill the selection process for the Passover Lamb. When the officials told Him to rebuke His disciples, He said that if they became quiet, the very stones would cry out (Luke 19:40). For this was a day ordained in history. It was the day He officially presented Himself as Israels Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). It was 483 years to the day from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet (Daniel 9:25). A little while after the officials cautioned Him, He condemned Jerusalem to utter destruction because they did not recognize the day of His visitation (Luke 19:41-44). The next three days were filled with the most aggressive debate and confrontation with the officials in His entire ministry. He was being inspected for any doctrinal spot or blemish that would disqualify Him as the Lamb of God. They found none, and finally no one dared ask Him any more questions. (Matt. 22:46) Tradition, Tradition Some years before the birth of Jesus, the Passover celebration had been changed and in the Lords time called for a brief ritual meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs (horseradish) to begin the 14th followed by a great and leisurely festival meal on the 15th, when the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins. This meal is called the Passover Seder. The 14th became known among the people as Preparation Day , because during the day they made ready for the great feast day beginning at sundown, after which no work was permitted. Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, John 19:31 all identify Preparation Day as the day of the Lord s death, while Matt. 27:62 says the day after the crucifixion was the day after Preparation Day. So all four Gospels agree; Jesus died on Preparation day, the 14th of their month Nisan, which is Passover. As evening began the day, He ate the ritual meal with His disciples in the Upper Room, and then was arrested, tried, convicted, and put to death; all on Passover. So just like the Lord had commanded in Exodus 12, our Passover Lamb was selected on the 10th, inspected on the 11th, 12th, and 13th, and executed on the 14th of Nisan. How Do We Know This? A little over 100 years ago a believer named Robert Anderson was head of Scotland Yards investigative division. He became intrigued by the three days and three nights issue and enlisted the help of the London Royal Observatory to investigate the problem since astronomers can locate the exact position of the planets and stars on any date in history. Since Passover always falls on the 14th, and since the Jewish calendar is lunar (moon) rather than solar (sun) oriented, there is always a full moon on Passover. This fulfills Genesis 1:14. Plotting the course of the Sun and Moon they documented the day and date of every full moon. The Royal Observatory discovered that the first Palm Sunday was the 10th of Nisan, the day when Exodus 12 says to select the lamb. Therefore Passover, the 14th, was a Thursday. The Feast of Unleavened bread began on Friday the 15th, Saturday the 16th was the weekly Sabbath, and Resurrection Morning was also a Sunday, the 17th, when the Feast of First Fruits was celebrated. From Thursday to Sunday there are three days and three nights. Its a little confusing to our way of thinking because the Hebrew day changes at sunset, which means that night precedes day. But read carefully and youll see that it makes sense. As Ive said, Jesus had to die on Passover to fulfill the prophecy. Early that Thursday morning the Jewish leadership had gotten permission to crucify Him. (Matt. 27:1-26) His fate was sealed and He was hanging on the cross by 9 AM, as good as dead. His actual time of death was about 3 PM and His body was laid in the tomb sometime later, since the officials wanted it off the cross before sundown brought the Feast of Unleavened Bread, after which no work was permitted. By then Jesus had been in Sheol for several hours. Thursday was day one. Because in Jewish reckoning the night precedes the day, at sundown it became Friday the 15th, night one, and the special Sabbath John mentioned began (John 19:31). At sunrise it was Friday morning, and day two began. The next sundown brought Saturday night the 16th, night two, and the regular Sabbath began. As of sunrise it was Saturday day, the beginning of day three. At sundown on Saturday it became Sunday night the 17th, night three, and sometime before sunrise Jesus rose from the tomb. Three days and three nights. When the women arrived at sunrise to anoint His body early in the morning, He was already gone. So in the week Jesus died two Sabbaths that permitted no work were observed back to back: The Feast of Unleavened Bread on Friday the 15th, and the regular weekly Sabbath on Saturday the 16th. In Matthew 28:1 we read that at dawn on the first day of the week (Sunday the 17th) the women who were close to Jesus went to the tomb. Luke 24:1 tells us they were going to anoint His body for burial. The two consecutive Sabbaths had prevented them from doing so earlier (Luke 24:55- 56). But He wasnt there. He had risen. Being the Sunday after Passover, at the Jewish Temple it was Feast of First Fruits. At the Empty Tomb it was Resurrection Morning. How Can We Confirm This? Some people try to equate his time of death with the burial of His body and say you cant count Thursday as day one, because His body wasnt laid in the tomb until sunset was upon them. But that doesnt make sense. A persons death always precedes his or her burial, sometimes by several days. In the Lords case it was several hours between the time He died and the time His body was laid in the tomb. The two disciples who met the Lord on the road to Emmaus that Sunday (the day the Lords resurrection was discovered) help us to confirm this (Luke 24:13-35). At first they thought the Lord must have been a very recent visitor to the area when He asked them to explain why they were so sad. In the course of the discussion they indicated it was the third day since the crucifixion. Since is roughly equivalent to after. It being a Sunday, the previous day (Saturday) would have been the 2nd day since it happened , and Friday would have been the first day since it happened, making Thursday the day it happened. Others argue that this view doesnt permit three full days and three full nights in the tomb but thats not what the Scripture says. It simply says three days and three nights. If you move his death up to Wednesday to get three full days you violate the Passover Lamb prophecies, the women wouldnt have waited until Sunday morning to prepare the Lords body because they could have done it on Friday, and the disciples on the Emmaus road would have said Sunday was the fourth day since the crucifixion. So the Thursday date is the only one that will accommodate both the Passover Lamb and the three day three night prophecies. Mystery solved. http://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/holidays-and-holy-days/solving-the-three-day-three-night-mystery/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29
71. 71. Mystery "...the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations." Col. 1:26 "the mystery which for ages has been hidden" Eph 3:9 The word mystery in the Greek is "mysterion," and it means "truth undiscoverable except by divine revelation."We have the divine Holy Spirit living in us so we should be able to understanddeep truths. The Bible mentions several mysteries in the New Testament Epistles, such as: The Mystery of the Rapture. 1 Cor. 15:51 The Mystery of God coming in the flesh. Col 2:2,3,9 The Mystery of Israel's unbelief.Ro 11:25 The Mystery of the Antichrist. 2 Thes 2:6-10 The Mystery of Gentile inclusionin God's promises. Eph. 3:3-6 But the mystery of all mysteriesis the mystery of the Church Age. "...the mysterywhich has been hidden from the past ages and generations."Col. 1:26 "the mystery which for ages has been hidden" Eph 3:9 To best understand the Church Age "mystery," we need to start with God's foundational purpose for sacrifices. Mankind is born sinful and separated from God because the penalty for sin is death. "For the wages (penalty) of sin is death" Ro. 6:23 Therefore, in the Old Testament God provided a way toLevitical Priest at God's Altar temporarily cover man's sin via an animal blood sacrifice so that He could fellowship with man. Blood is the key. Our life depends on our blood. "For the lifeof the flesh is in the blood, and I havegiven it to you on the altar to make atonementfor your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement." Lev. 17:11 "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. ThereforeI said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of anyflesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood;" Lev. 17:14 "And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Heb. 9:22 Blood is an amazing thing. We can't live without it. Eachhumanhas about five gallons of constantly circulating blood. It's composed of red blood cells for carrying oxygen to the tissues, white blood cells for fighting infections and platelets that cause the blood to clot. God even commandedNoah to not eat blood. "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gavethe green plant. Only you shallnot eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." Gen. 9:3-4 So the first thing Noah did when his family walked off the ark after the flood was to make a blood sacrifice to cover their sins (Gen.8:20). This necessity of shedding blood to atone for man's sin (Lev. 17:11) was later incorporated in the Levitical law (Lev. 16). So for over 1500 years God's Law demanded, andthe Israelites furnished, blood sacrifices.Then, as prophesied, the Lord God came in the flesh and shed His blood on the cross as a permanent sacrifice (Eph. 1:7), ending the necessity of sacrifices for sin. Saul (Paul) of Tarsus was chosen to explain this "Good News" to the world... that a great "mystery"had been revealed... that Jehovah God no longer demandedblood sacrifices because all sin had been "paidin full" by Jesus on the cross (Col. 2:13-14) and now God the Spirit was able to come to earth to permanently indwell Born-again Believers (2Cor. 1:22). God's Spiritcoming to the earth ushered in a completely new time period we call the Church Age.The Church Age is a new time period with a distinct purpose and destiny. The Church Age will end when God's Spirit departs at the Rapture. This was a complete surprise to the Jews living at the time of Christ. They were correctly reading all the verses in the Bible about the Lord sending a Messiah to conquer their enemies and rule the earth from a throne in Jerusalem. But they totally missedthe fact He firsthad to come, shed His blood, die and be resurrected as payment for their sins. They obviously skipped over Isaiah 53. Jew at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. And because Believers' sins were paid on the cross making them sanctified, God could now send His Holy Spirit to indwell Believers even while they still lived in their sinful earthly containers. That was quite a shocker for the Jews. Even today, if you want to mix it up with a RabbinicalJew at the Wailing Wall, tell one you have God living in your heart. It makes them fighting mad because they fully understandman's sinfulness. They know they need a Messiah. They just don't think He's come yet. One of the jokes among the guides in Israel is that when the Messiahcomes, the first question they'll ask is whether or not He's been here before. The problem of course is that God has blinded the eyes and hardened the hearts of the Jewish race from receiving understanding about the mystery. John 12:40 "HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HE HARDENEDTHEIR HEART; LEST THEY SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND I HEAL THEM." Rom. 11:25 "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;" When God says He's blinded the Jewishrace, it was an understatement. We have non-Christian Jewish guides in Israel who lead us all over the holyland pointing out where the miracles of Jesus took place. They quote chapter andverse using the New Testament as a resource. But even though they say the words, they can't make the connection. One time a guide said, "This is where I think Jesus rose from the dead." So I asked him if he thought Jesus was the Messiah, and he said "no." I continued, "Do you think Jesus ever lied?" "No, never." the guide responded. I said, "Well, Jesus claimed to be God. Do you think He is God?" He said, "No." Smiling I said, "Then you think Jesus is a liar." "No, no, no." the guide protested. "Then you think Jesus is God?" "No, no, no!" Round andround we went. Being content to use this kind of circular reasoning is possible only because the Jews are blinded by God from understanding the truth. Otherwise they are a very, very intelligent race. So the "mystery" remains unsolved with the Jew, but is madeknown to the Gentile. Just as God predicted! Hos. 2:23 "And I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also havecompassion on her who had not obtained compassion, and Iwill say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they will say, 'Thou art my God!'" Amazing!So when you're talking to a Jew, always be respectful because even though he IS chosen by God, he is also blinded by God, until the Rapture! And it's only by the grace of God that we're given spiritual wisdom and knowledge! Col. 2:2,3 "...attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assuranceof understanding,resulting in a true knowledgeof God's mystery, that is,ChristHimself,in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
72. 72. John 19:30 http://carm.org, substitutionary- atonement-jesus-christ Paul tells us that we had a "sentence of death." This sentence is due to our breaking the law of God. Therefore, we were legally guilty before God because we broke his law. Furthermore, when Jesus was on the cross, he said "It is finished!" (John 19:30). In Greek it is, "tetelistai," and it was a legal term. "The sixth word or saying that Jesus spoke from the cross was the single Greek work tetelestai which means 'It is finished.' Papyri receipts for taxes have been recovered with the word tetelestai written across them, meaning "paid in full." This word on Jesus lips was significant. When He said, "It is finished" (not "I am finished"), He meant His redemptive work was completed. He had been made sin for people (2 Cor. 5:21) and had suffered the penalty of Gods justice which sin deserved."2 Jesus knew the culture, and he specifically used that word "tetelestai," which was used in legal statements in ancient Israel when a legal debt had been fully paid. Why was this necessary legally? Because sin only has power because of the law (legality) of God. The law has a punishment, and the punishment is death. http://carm.org/christianity/christian-doctrine/substitutionary-atonement-jesus-christ
73. 73. http://www.gotquestions.org/purgatory.html #QuestionoftheDay Question: "What does the Bible say about Purgatory?" Answer: According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. To summarize, in Catholic theology Purgatory is a place that a Christians soul goes to after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life. Is this doctrine of Purgatory in agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not! Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8). Isaiah 53:5 declares, But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus suffering was insufficient. To say that we must atone for our sins by cleansing in Purgatory is to deny the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2). The idea that we have to suffer for our sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation. The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers works being judged. If our works are of good quality gold, sliver, costly stones, they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality wood, hay, and straw, they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believers works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer escaping through the flames, not being cleansed by the flames. Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of Christs sacrifice. Catholics view the Mass / Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christs sacrifice because they fail to understand that Jesus once-for-all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient (Hebrews 7:27). Catholics view meritorious works as contributing to salvation due to a failure to recognize that Jesus sacrificial payment has no need of additional contribution (Ephesians 2:8-9). Similarly, Purgatory is understood by Catholics as a place of cleansing in preparation for heaven because they do not recognize that because of Jesus sacrifice, we are already cleansed, declared righteous, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and sanctified. 73
74. 74. Purgatory Why do various denominations believe in #purgatory, and how should we respond? http://www.gotquestions.org/purgatory.html #QuestionoftheDay Question: "What does the Bible say about Purgatory?" Answer: According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions. To summarize, in Catholic theology Purgatory is a place that a Christians soul goes to after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life. Is this doctrine of Purgatory in agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not! Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8). Isaiah 53:5 declares, But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus suffering was insufficient. To say that we must atone for our sins by cleansing in Purgatory is to deny the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2). The idea that we have to suffer for our sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation. The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers works being judged. If our works are of good quality gold, sliver, costly stones, they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality wood, hay, and straw, they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believers works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer escaping through the flames, not being cleansed by the flames. Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of Christs sacrifice. Catholics view the Mass / Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christs sacrifice because they fail to understand that Jesus once-for-all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient (Hebrews 7:27). Catholics view meritorious works as contributing to 74
75. 75. 19:34, Was John Describing Something He Saw, or Was He Trying to Make a Point? J. Warners Daily Email When investigating the gospel accounts of the Crucifixion, I was immediately interested in Johns description of the blood and water that came from Jesus side when one of the soldiers pierced Him with a spear (John 19:34). I wondered how John, the ancient peasant fisherman, would have known about any of the physical conditions that could account for the appearance of water (pleural or pericardial effusion, for example; two conditions that result from heart failure). This observation is consistent with the death of Jesus on the cross and seems to reflect Johns desire to accurately record the things he saw related to the Crucifixion. John placed the observation in his account without any attempt to clarify or explain his comment. He simply appears to be describing the events as he saw them. But is it possible that John was trying to make a theological point rather than merely recording history? Its remarkable that many early Church leaders and theologians believed this to be the case. Tertullian (in On Baptism XVI), Augustine (in Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John), Cyril (in Catechetical Letters), and Jerome (in A Commentary on the Apostles Creed 23), all suggest that John is either referring to the baptism of Jesus, water regeneration, or the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Many seem to point to 1 John 5:5-8: Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. These early theologians are trying to make sense of Johns words here in 1 John. Does this passage necessitate a metaphorical understanding of Johns account of the crucifixion in John 19:34? Did John include the description of water coming from Jesus side to make a theological point related to the triune witness of God (or the role of baptism), or did it really happen? I lean toward the latter. Its interesting to note that all the early thinkers in the church felt the need to better explain the water that emerged from Jesus side. Why? These theologians wanted to account for something unexpected and potentially unreasonable, and thats precisely my point. None of these ancient thinkers knew anything about the fatal anatomical conditions that would account for the presence of water, so they sought to assign theological implications to the observation. Perhaps God supernaturally provided the water to make the points they were advocating. I think there are three possibilities here. First, John may simply have been reporting what he saw at the cross, without any intention of spiritualizing this 75
76. 76. Are The Gospels Written By Eyewitnesses? J. Warner Wallace, author of Cold-Case Christianity, was interviewed by Bobby Conway (The One Minute Apologist) and discussed the status of the gospel authors. Are there any good reasons to believe these authors were truly eyewitnesses? (For more information related to Bobbys great ministry, visit: http://oneminuteapologist.com/) http://coldcasechristianity.com/2015/are-the-gospels-written-by- eyewitnesses/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_camp aign=Feed%3A+ColdCaseChristianity+%28Cold+Case+Christianity%29 76
77. 77. Are The Gospels Written By Eyewitnesses? 77
78. 78. John 19:38-39, Nick & Joe- Two Secret Believers We