"Christ Lays Down His Life"

   JOHN 19:25-42

 Each of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, write of our Saviours death with more or less fullness of detail, while the bir­th, the baptism, and the temptation of Christ are in but two of the four Gospels; several of His miracles are found in only one but, the Saviors Passion is recorded in all four, and this at once and within itself, denotes its extreme importance.

The four Gospels are not four biographies of Christ, nor do the four when read together supply one complete biography of Christ. A harmony of the four Gospels does however reveal great blanks which makes incompatible the theory that they supply us with the “Life of Christ.” Only the briefest mention is made of His birth and infancy, and little is said after that until the age of twelve-years. Then after a few words relating to His boy­hood we do not see Him again until He was about thirty years of age, Matt chapters 1 & 2; Luke chapters 1-2 & 3; Mark 1: and John 1! Even His public ministry is not given to us with completeness.

What the four Gospels do give us is an outline of  Yahshua/Jesus Christ in four very distinct characters: Matthew presents Christ as the Son of David, the King of Israel. Mark portrays Christ as God’s workman and this Gospel bears directly upon the Servant and His service. Luke pictures Him as the Son of man and dwells upon His sympathies and His human perfection. John reveals Christ as the Son of GOD incarnate, "The Word become flesh and tabernacled among men". The most prominent subjects concerning Christ in the Gospel of John is the Divine Glory and the dignity and majesty of His person. John says nothing of the Saviour’s agony in Gethsemane, yet he and he alone mentions the fact that *those who came to arrest Him fell backward to the ground as He spoke and made Himself known to them, John 18:4-6. John omits all of what took place when Yahshua/Jesus appeared before Caiaphas, but he describes the trial before Annas, John 18:12-24. The Gospel of John is the only one of the four which records the words of Yahshua/Jesus to Pilate con­cerning His Kingdom, John 18:36, and of His coming into this world to bear witness to the truth, John 18:37; and of the fact that Pilate had no power to turn Him over for crucifixion except that God gave it to him, John l9:11 John was the only one to make mention of the seamless garment which Yahshua/Jesus wore to the Cross; 19:23, of His legs not being broken, 19:33; and of the water and the blood which flowed together from His pierced side, 19:34. John omits the painful and awful cry, “Why hast thou forsaken me?” and in its place gives His Triumphant “It is finished.” John says nothing of Yahshua being numbered with the transgressors as does Mark 15:28 and Luke 22:37, yet John does speak of Jesus Christ being with or among the rich in His death for he alone mentions the costly spices and herbs brought to anoint His body, John 19:38-42.  *-1 See End Notes

That the Roman soldiers were present at the crucifixion of Jesus is no secret and is so stated in John 19:23-24 where we see them cast lots for His clothing, and in verse 34 as we see a Roman soldier pierce His side. It is also a fact that the Jews were present in great number to satisfy their fiendish craving for the shedding of His blood, John 19:31, Mark 15:29-32 and Matthew 27: 39-44. But John 19:25 tell of another group who had been drawn there to that awful place because of a devoted affection for the one who suffered on that Cross. They did not interfere with the soldiers and they did not mingle with the morbid crowds nor stand back at a great distance as if to be disassociated from Jesus. Rather, they stood close at hand to the Cross, a very small number, only five in all. Yet this number is rather significant, for five in the study of Biblical numerics is the number of “GRACE” and in contrast with the crowd and the depravity of their motive and actions and their enmity for Jesus, these five represented those found in Divine favor. There as they stood, were four women and one man; Mary, the mother of Jesus, and you must know that now in this hour, she realized the truth of the words spoken some 30-years before by the aged Simeon as recorded in Luke 2:34-35.. .“Yet, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also.” The second mentioned was Mary the wife of Cleophas and in reality the sister of Joseph making her the aunt of Jesus and Mary’s sister-in-law. The third is Mary Magdalene, of whom Christ had cast out seven demons and to whom He had first appeared when He was risen from the dead, Luke 16:9-10. We need to turn to Matthew 27:56 where we find that the fourth woman present yet not mentioned by John was Mary, the mother of James. The fifth one present on that day is said to be that disciple whom he loved and entrusted with the care of His mother, John 19:26-27.

The scripture says that, "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother." Neither her own present danger, nor the extreme sadness of the spectacle of the crucifixion, nor the bitter insults and lunatic ravings of the jewish mob could restrain her from performing the last office of duty and tenderness to her Divine Son as He hung on the Cross. After His infancy and early childhood we read little of Mary in the Scriptures. We in the Christian Israel Church know from reliable sources and sound information passed down through many centuries that Mary and the young Jesus lived for a time in and around Glastonbury and the Isle of Avalon in England. However, during His public ministry around Galilee, Nazarath, Capernaum and other places, we read nothing of Mary as she lived in the background of His work. Then, when the supreme agony of Jesus on the Cross strikes, she stands there at the foot of the Cross. As she stands there we have to believe that she is totally mystified at the event which is taking place, watching him suffer such pain and indignation must have been a paralyzing strain both physically and emotionally upon her. His disciples might desert Him, His friends may forsake Him and His nation may despise Him, but His mother is there where all might see her. She stands there at the foot of the Cross, near Him in His death as she was in His birth.

Mary showed extreme fortitude, for hers was not a hysterical or dem­onstrative sorrow. There was no show of  weakness, no outcry of uncontrollable anguish or falling to the ground in a faint. Not one single word that fell from her lips on this occasion was recorded by even one of the four evangelists. It is as though she had suffered in unbroken silence. The crowds were mocking, the thieves taunting and the soldiers occupied with His garments as Jesus hung on the Cross bleeding, and there stood His mother, beholding it all. It would seem the normal thing for her to have turned or even have fled from such a horrible scene. But no! She did neither of these. She stood there by the Cross with a tremendous courage displayed and with extreme love and reverence for our Saviour.

John 19:26, "When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved stand­ing by, he saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold thy son!"  While occupied with the most stupendous work ever done, not only on earth but in the entire universe, and under a burden that no mere human could have possibly sustained, and as the object of satans fiercest malignancy, Jesus did not deem natural ties as being unworthy of recognition. To the very end He showed Himself to be both the perfect Son of God and perfect Son of man. Luke 2:52 tells us that in his boyhood he honored His parents, and here, John shows us that he does the same from the Cross. About to leave the world He first sees to it that a home is provided for His mother who was widowed. First he had prayed for His enemies, then He had spoken words of assurance and salvation to the repentant thief and now He speaks to His mother.

He said unto her, “Woman, behold thy son!” Twice we read of Jesus add­ressing Mary as, “Woman”. First at the Cana marriage feast, John 2:4 and here at the Cross. It should be considered noteworthy that both of these references are found in John’s Gospel, the one out of the four Gospels which points most specifically at His Deity. The Synoptics present Him in a human relationship, but John portrays Him as the Son of GOD, above all. Here in this instance when Jesus addresses Mary as “Woman” it is done in a sense of polite behavior. The term is not harsh, nor was it meant to be discourteous, as is made clear from a comparison of John 20:13. There was a reason why he did not call her mother as he hung on the Cross, even though he had undoubtedly done so many tomes as he was growing up. The fact of His death on the Cross made an end to all of His natural ties, II Corinthians 5:15-17. From this day forward all believers would be tied or linked to Christ by a closer bond, by a Spiritual relationship. This is what the Saviour was now teaching both His mother and His beloved dis­ciple. His words said, “Behold thy son; I am thy Son no longer.” This is confirmed in Johns writings here as Mary is not mentioned at all in any way with Christs’ Resurrection. The only other time she will be mentioned in the New Testament writings is in Acts 1:14, where it is shown that she takes her place among believers at a prayer meeting.

Here it is that our Saviour and our GOD, Jesus Christ, lays aside all His human affections. He sees his mother and His beloved disciple near to the Cross, but it is only to commend them one to the other, and thus to completely seperate Himself from the place which He had once filled among them. With this done to completion He must now form their knowledge of Him by other thoughts, for they are henceforth to be joined to Him as “One Spirit", for such are His blessed ways.

In Matthew 26:56 we read concerning the eleven, “Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” This is the result of what He had told them as is recorded in Matt 26:31, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night" from the Greek this would mean they were scandalized. They found themselve to be ashamed to be found in His company, yet it is blessed to know and read that the one returned to His side as He went to His death. Who was it of this small number of men, that would make known the superiority of his love. First to Mary Jesus had said for her to, “Behold now, the one who cares for you, the one whom will take my place at your side and even now would not allow you to stand here alone “Then He said to John, “Behold thy mother! Regard her from this day forward with the tenderest affection; she is my living legacy to you.” John was to continue and endure with Mary and to support her and guard her from the evil of the world, not the other way around. The order which Christ gave to John was one of a much higher place than that which he had given Peter“And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” John 19:27

This act on the part of Jesus did several things:

First, he has forever set an example for children to honor their parents through adulthood, not just when they are in their youth.

Second, it marked His tender compassion; He did graciously spare His mother the worst scenario of the Crucifixion by making instant arrangements for her, that she would and should not witness the awful darkness that would surround Him, nor hear His cry of great agony, or be present at the moment which He died.”

Third, it showed Him, The Son of GOD, as the protector and provider of His people; it was the pledge of His equal care for all those He leaves behind on this earth. It says that while we are here in the earth, He will supply our every need.

Fourth, He confirmed the law of love under the shadow of the Cross. In this, He did unite forever those who loved Him and those whom He loved; (note that we did not say as the Arminian says that it united all the world, every man, in spite of race, creed, or national origin, only those whom He loved and loved Him). There was no command issued here for love in this instance which is of GOD and needs none. The love which Christ gives so freely to those whom He will is the love that responds to a glance or a gesture, not a command. The beloved disciple immediately understood His Saviours mind.”

Fifth, Jesus intimated that in providing for His people, He would do so by means of His people or through His people and not through others. To this very day the words spoken and recorded in John 19:26 & 27 still apply. Christ is still saying to us, “Behold thy son, Behold thy mother.” Compare these words to the record of Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me.” How marvelously blended together here are the Divine and the human per­fections of Christ. As man, honoring the one who is His mother; and as GOD, the Head of the family in the earth, making arrangements for the children.

“From that hour, the disciple took her unto his own home.” From days of old it was said that Jesus would act discreetly; “Behold, my Servant shall deal prudently”, Isaiah 52:13. In commending Mary into the care of His beloved disciple, our Saviour displayed for us His wisdom by choice of her future guardian. It is doubtful if any man ever understood the man Jesus as did His mother, and from the words He spoke from the Cross, “Behold thy mother,” it is certain that none had apprehended His love as had John. So we see that Mary and John would be most suited companions for each other as we consider the intimate bond of Spiritual love uniting them together and to Christ.

“From that hour, that disciple took her unto his own home.” From this pair of verses,John 19: 26-27, the Roman Catholic does greatly err, they argue that Mary could have had no other children or Christ would have never committed her, a widow, unto the care of John. This is how the Roman church passes Mary off as the, “Holy Virgin.” The church of Rome and its Pope and its traditions continually ignore Matthew 13:55-56 where speaking of Jesus it is said,”Is this not the carpenters son? Is not His mother called Mary? and his brethern (brothers), James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?.. and His sisters, are they not all with us? If we check the Word of God, Psalm 69:8, “I am become a stranger unto my brethern and an alien to my mothers children", these were the words of our Saviour. It is like John 1:11 where the church translates "own" as the Jews. They need to more properly say, "My possessions" as would relate to the elect whom He came to reconcile, thus making it clear just who did make up the true family of Christ. We have our answer in Matthew 1:1; through the land as was promised to Abraham, and through David as was promised through the Throne of permanent rulership, Jesus came. Jesus was pro­mised as Saviour to come through both Abraham and through David; Genesis 12:3, Gen 22:18 and Galatians 3:16; Matthew 9:27, 12:23 & 20:30-32, Psalm 132;11, Isa 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5-6 and Acts 13:22-23. That Jesus was born of the elect seed line is true and that he was not the only child born of Mary is also true. That leaves the Roman church in a lurch as to their program of Mother/Child worship in so much as having Mary a perpetual virgin. That Mary was like the rest of us is fact, she was not and is not divine and is not to be prayed to or worshipped and trusted in as the friend and patroness of sinners. Mary can do no more to save you than you can do to save yourself. Common sense tells us that if she needed the care and protection that could be offered or given by man, she could give man no divine care, protection or assistance to attain the Kingdom of Yahweh.

After speaking the words as recorded in verses 26-27, Jesus knowing that all things were accomplished, that the scriptures might be fulfilled saith, “I thirst, John 19:28, Psalm 69:19-21. What a tragic sight this is for us to behold; The maker of heaven and earth hanging on the Cross with parched and dry lips; The beloved of YAHWEH-GOD crying out, “I thirst”. This tells us several things, first it evidenced His humanity. Jesus was not a divine man, nor was He a humanized God; He was the God-man who was forever God and now, forever man. When the eternal Word became incarnate, He did not cease to be GOD, nor did He lay aside any of His Divine attri­butes; but he did become flesh, being made in all things like unto His brethern.. .Heb 2:9-17. He increased in stature and wisdom, Luke 2:52; He wearied in body, John 4:6; He was an hungered, Matt 4:2; He slept, Mark 4:38; He Marvelled, Mark 6:6; He wept, John 11:35; He prayed, Mark 1:35; He rejoiced, Luke 10:31; He groaned, John 11:23; and we read in our text that He thirsted. God does not thirst and there is no hint of a clue that the angels ever did and the Bible says that in Glory, we shall not either. But as man, in the depths of His humiliation, Jesus did. When Jesus spoke those words, "I thirst," it was just following the three hours of darkness, during which the light of God’s countenance had been withdrawn from the one who was the Sin-Bearer. It was then that our Saviour had endured the fierceness of the outpoured wrath of a Holy God. It was this cry of two words,”I thirst” which tells of the intensity of all which He had suffered and the severity of the conflict through which He had just passed.

Jesus had hung on that Cross for six hours and had passed through suffering that was unparalleled, nevertheless His mind was perfectly clear and His memory entirely unimpaired. Through the utterance of those two words, “I thirst” Jesus shows forth perfect submission to the will of God. Jesus Christ, the one who had caused the water to flow from the smitten rock to refresh the Israelites of old testament scripture and who had turned the water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana could have spoken the same word of power here and instantly quenched His own thirst. But He was placed in the will of God and it was written that He should thirst. He came to do God’s will and He did it perfectly. He reviewed in a fleeting moment the entire scope of the Messianic prophecy and overlooked nothing. He thirsted on the Cross that we might drink of the water of life and thirst no more forever.

In John 19:29-30 we read of the drink which they gave to Jesus in lieu of water which we would expect them to give, it was vinegar squeezed from a sponge onto hyssop which is an aromatic herb. This is not to be confused with the mixture of vinegar and gall in Matt 27:34 which was a drink given to criminals to deaden their pain, and was a drink which was refused by Jesus. Now, when offered the vinegar a second time He received it and when He had done so He said, “It is finished.” The Greek for this is but one word, "teleo", which Jesus spoke and it was the shortest of the seven words He spoke from the Cross, yet it will be for all eternity to make manifest all that it contains. All things had now been done that the law of God required and all things established which prophecy had foretold. All things were brought to pass which the types of old had foreshadowed and all things accomplished which the Father had given Him to do and all thing were performed which were needed for our redemption. The costly ransom was given and the wages of sin had been satisfied; “It is finished.” Man-kind is full of questions; what was paid?.. .the price of redemption; what was performed?.. .the requirements of God’s law; what was accomplished?.. .the work given by YAHWEH was completed; what was finished?.. .The making of Atonement.

And He bowed His head and gave up the Spirit, John 19:30. This suggests to all who read and understand that up to this point, during the entire event of the crucifixion, Jesus had kept His head erect. This declaration from the Cross, “It is finished”, show the strength of His words from John 10:17-18, “I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This was not a man who hung on the Cross in impotency, unable to do as He desired, had it have been his head would have bowed long before this moment in time. We really have to take notice of what is said here in John 19:30... “He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost, or spirit.. Jesus did not just allow His head to fall forward, but He consciously, calmly and reverently bowed His head,” It was undoubtedly this same majestic bearing that prompted the centurion to cry, “Truly this was the Son of God.”.. .Matthew 27:54!

We read in verses 31-33 that the soldiers had come forth to break His legs and hurry the process of dying, however when they reached Jesus they found Him to be already dead. Mark 15:44 tells us that Pilate marvelled at the fact He was dead after only six hours on the Cross, and this tells us that Jesus lay down His own life rather than that it was taken by man. Verse 34 tells us that one of the soldiers took his spear and pierced the side of Jesus as he hung dead on the Cross and as he did this, there came out of the wound blood and water. This act did all that was necessary to make bare the record of truth of the scripture as was said in verse 35-37 and was first written of in the record of Zech 12:10. The soldier had received orders to break the legs of Jesus, which he failed to carry out, and at the same time he had received no orders to pierce the side of Jesus which he did. For 1,500-plus years Israel had meticulously obeyed the law that was set down in Exodus 12:46 to refrain from breaking a bone of the paschal lamb/Passover lamb, and that is what happened at the Cross. Jesus was that Passover lamb as is told in I Peter 1:19-20. All that    was done at the Cross was done in accordance with the law of God.

Because Yahshua/Jesus lay down His life, satan is a vanquished foe. Through His death on that Cross so many years ago, Christ Jesus destroyed the one that had the power of death, that Old Serpent the Devil. The triumphant answer of our Lord and savior made to the rage of man and the enmity of that old serpent is found in the Greek word teleo, “It is fin­ished.” Yahweh our God is completely satisfied with the work of Yahshua/Jesus the Christ. Remember always the words of our Saviour from John 10:17-18.... “Therefore doth My Father love me, because I lay down my life.. .No man taketh it from me but I lay it down myself, I have power to take it up again"...Amen!!

Rick Giesenschlag

Christ's Church Militant

Copyright (C) 2000 a.d.

END NOTES:

*-1  It needs to be noted here that the guards who came to Gethsemane to arrest Yahshua were not Roman soldiers. They were however...Jewish Temple Guards under the control of the Jewish Sanhedrin Council. It

was this Council of Jews who placed Yashua the Christ on tial. See 1b-The Trial of All Ages