John’s Faith Rested on the Word of God

October 3, 2016

John’s Faith Rested on the Word of God

But when they came to Jesus,

they saw that he was already dead,

so they didn’t break his legs.

John  19: 33

We have seen that John’s account of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial is full of specific details that point to the fulfillment of scripture that Jesus is God’s Messiah. In today’s passage, John’s details emphasize two points: the death of Jesus and the manner of his death.

Remember that fairly early after the crucifixion, groups opposing Jesus’ resurrection claimed that Jesus never died. We have already observed that John’s account identifies six eyewitnesses to Jesus’ death, five by name and one by inference. In today’s passage, John again emphasizes the actual death of Jesus: “But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.)” (John 19:33-35). Although this eyewitness isn’t mentioned by name, I believe the intended inference is that the witness is the author of this Gospel, John. John also tells us that the piercing of Jesus was in fulfillment of Zechariah 12:10, “They will look on the one they pierced” (John 19:37).

John also provided the detail that unlike the two persons crucified on either side of Jesus, the soldiers did not have to break the bones in Jesus’ legs to hasten his death, because Jesus was already dead. This omission by the soldiers fulfilled three Old Testament prophecies about God’s Messiah: Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, and Psalm 34:20.

It was hugely important to John that Jesus wasn’t just a good and innocent man put to death by the Romans; Jesus is God’s Messiah who was crucified in the manner that fulfilled Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah. John’s faith rested securely on the Word of God. Does mine? Does yours?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.