The Apostle John delivers a precise and captivating account of the Passion of Christ within his Gospel, contained within two chapters (18 and 19) spanning approximately 82 verses. Delving into the narrative, one is immediately drawn into the gripping events surrounding Jesus: from his arrest and subsequent trials, to his unwavering assertions before Pilate, his agonizing suffering, and ultimately, his crucifixion. Amidst these profound moments, John paints a vivid portrait of Jesus, revealing his compassion and care amidst the chaos. Through John’s narrative, the truth of Jesus is not only empirically established but also compellingly presented, offering readers a deeply resonant glimpse into the heart of his divinity.

Few weeks back, I penned a blog presenting John’s account from Jesus’ arrest till the he was handed over to be crucified. You can read it here. Today lets look at the event’s that unfolded at HIS crucifixion and burial (John 19:16-42)

John starts his narration towards crucifixion as “Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull – Golgatha”. It implies that Jesus carried the burden of all our sins as the burden of the cross. John records that Jesus was crucified between with two others, with Jesus in the middle. The Gospel of Luke brings out more details about these two who were crucified with Jesus. We can look at it as three trees – Jesus dying for our sins in the Cross of Redemption, One of the thiefs was dying in his sin at the cross of Rejection and another one looked upon Jesus and he was saved from his sins at the Cross of Reception. Jesus (Benefactor) on the Redemption Cross offered Salvation to everyone, Believer on the Reception Cross was Saved from his sins & Blasphemer on the Rejection cross died because of his sins. Clearly the message to each one of us is to Repent & Believe !!! Do watch me speak on this topic.

John then records that Pilate had a notice fastened on the cross, which read “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS“. Pilate knowingly or unknowingly declared Jesus as King. Truth spoken Globally in three popular languages of that time. Then we see the soldiers dividing the clothes of Jesus amidst themselves. It all happened according to the scriptures. Jesus probably was hung naked in the cross. The WORD that was God, that became Flesh and made HIS dwelling on earth was Unclothed to Cloth you & me with righteousness. What a Passionate Savior we have got?

While all his disciples had fled away, John records about four women who braved their way and were near the cross looking at the suffering of the World’s Savior, the suffering HE willingly underwent, the cup of Wrath he drank submitting to the Will of the Father. It’s a call for each of one us to Brave our ways towards Jesus, like those Mary’s. Jesus asks John to take care of HIS earthly mother. Jesus shows HIS compassionate care even at the cross.

As Jesus felt that HE has accomplished HIS Work, Jesus expressed HIS Humanity, HIS Bodily thirst. A Paradox in a way, Thirsting Jesus is also the source of the living water. The undisputable fact that Jesus is fully man & fully God, comes to the foray here. The human body consists of 3 aspects – the Body, the Soul & the Spirit. The body is through which you act, while soul represents your mind and emotions which determines your will. The spirit is the inner most being – It’s about intuition, conscience & communication. (You can read more about it here). Jesus saying “I Thirst” points to HIS bodily need; when he said “It is finished”, It comes out of HIS soul. HE has done God’s will, HE has had a “picture perfect finish”. The expression “It is finished” is reflecting his state of mind & emotions that’s filled with Joy of doing what God, the Father wanted HIM to do. Jesus’ finished perfectly, for us to Believe & Begin a changed & transformed life; a life that will proclaim & witness HIM; a life that will do HIS will.

At the burial of Jesus, we see “Faith Unconcealed“. HIS secret disciples Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus came out in open and gave a Royal burial to Jesus. As John closes chapter 19, we see the “Garden connection”. In Obedience to God’s Will, Jesus is buried in a new Tomb in the Garden for an eventual Humanity’s Triumph, which reversed the Humanity’s Fall brought by Disobedience to God’s command at the Garden of Eden.

Jesus bore the weight of humanity’s sins upon his shoulders; so that each one of us can live. I will close this blog with a minute detail John brings about while Jesus said “I Thirst”

Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.

Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe….When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the.. doorframe and will pass over that doorway.

John 19:28b-29 (NIV), Exodus 12:22-3

Let’s Embrace Christ’s blood spilled Hyssop brush as our Faith, and watch our sins passed over by HIS Grace. To GOD be all the Glory.

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