What Jesus Did

Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Dear woman, here is your son." And he said to this disciple, "Here is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

—John 19:25-27 NLT

Key Thought​

We find our spiritual family at the foot of the cross. Jesus' death brings us all together, destroying any...

 

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, "Rather than tearing it apart, let's throw dice for it." This fulfilled the Scripture that says, "They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing." So that is what they did.

—John 19:23-24 NLT

Key Thought​

There was a whole lot more gambling going on at the cross than...

 

And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, "Change it from 'The King of the Jews' to 'He said, I am King of the Jews.'"

Pilate replied, "No, what I have written, I have written."

—John 19:19-22 NLT

Key Thought​

The sign declaring...

 

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to [the Jewish leaders] to be crucified.
So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

—John 19:16-18 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus came to earth to live among us and to pay the ransom price to buy us out of sin and death. So where should we expect to find him...

 

Then Pilate tried to release [Jesus], but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release this man, you are no 'friend of Caesar.' Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar."
When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was now about noon on the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, "Look, here is your king!"

"Away...

 

Then Pilate tried to release [Jesus], but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release this man, you are no 'friend of Caesar.' Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar."

—John 19:12 NLT

Key Thought​

Who was Pilate trying to please, God or the masses? Who were the masses trying to please, themselves or God? Who are you trying to please, yourself, your peers, or your Savior? Answering that last question is just as crucial for you as it was for the masses and for...

 

"Why don't you talk to me?" Pilate demanded [of Jesus]. "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?"
Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin."

—John 19:10-11 NLT

Key Thought​

Sin clouds our thinking. Sin tempts us to overestimate our abilities; then sin ensnares us in its deceitful and deadly web of death. Sin wounds others. And as...

 

The Jewish leaders replied [to Pilate after he said Jesus was not guilty], "By our law [Jesus] ought to die because he called himself the Son of God."
When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer.

—John 19:7-9 NLT

Key Thought​

Pilate was trying to find a way out of dealing with Jesus. He knew Jesus was innocent, but couldn't appease the crowd if he released...

 

The Jewish leaders replied [to Pilate after he said Jesus was not guilty], "By our law [Jesus] ought to die because he called himself the Son of God."

—John 19:7 NLT

Key Thought​

We often have a hard time hearing Jesus specifically make the claim to be "the Son of God." Yet that claim is made carefully and repeatedly in the gospel story. Jesus often referred to God as his Father. He accepted the title of Son of God when others gave it to him, except on some occasions when the...

 

Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, "Look, here is the man!"
When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

"Take him yourselves and crucify him," Pilate said. "I find him not guilty."

—John 19:5-6 NLT

Key Thought​

"Not guilty!" That's the true verdict on Jesus. However, he assumed our guilt and sin on the cross so that we can be freed from them. He died as a...