John 19 - Jesus Sentenced To Death

Joh 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. Pilate gave the order to have Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. This was a common practice for "Romans" to whip their prisoners with a device called a "flagrum." (A handle with long leather straps that had pieces of bone and lead pieces imbedded in the straps). It is interesting to know that third century records show that the soldiers (auxiliary soldiers), in Pilates charge weren't even from Rome, but recruits from the nearby province of Syria, who were very hostile of the Jews. (The beating of Christ may have been more severe than normal). 

Joh 19:2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it of the head of Jesus. Then they put a purple robe on Him. (Purple being a sign of royalty). The thorns were a sign of the earth's curse. (Genesis 3:18). 

Joh 19:3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. The soldiers yelled "Hail! King of the Jews!" Mocking Him and then slapping Him across the face. They were doing more than slapping Him, they were punching Him in the face. Isaiah and Mark describe it a little better. (Isaiah 52:14, Mark 15:19).

Joh 19:4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Pilate told the people again, "I will bring Him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find Him not guilty." Even though Pilate found Him not guilty, he still had Him illegally scourged, hoping to satiate the blood thirst of the Jews. (Remember that these so called Jews that wanted Jesus crucified were the kenites, not our brother Judah).

Joh 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe; Pilate saying, here is the man! Even after the horrible torture of the flagellum, Jesus had to endure the insults and cruelties of the soldiers. (Isaiah 50:6). Pilate was hopping that the pitiable spectacle would melt their hearts. "Not a kenite!" It only whetted their appetite. (Kenites were sons of Satan)!

Joh 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The leading priests and temple guards began shouting, Crucify Him! Crucify Him! "Perhaps they were a little upset over what Jesus did in the temple when He overthrew the money changers." (Matthew 21:12-15). Pilate being a little reluctant to put Jesus to death says, "take Him yourselves and crucify Him," I find Him not guilty. Pilate just didn't want anything to do with it, even though he knew that crucifixion was not a Jewish, but a Roman mode of punishment. Pilate was getting a little nervous here, and I think he was hoping that they would let Jesus go. "But, that's not going to happen."

Joh 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. The Jewish leaders replied to Pilate, "By our law He should die because He called Himself the Son of God." The law they were referring to was written in (Leviticus 24:16, Matthew 26:63-66), punishment for blasphemy. (The charge on which the Sanhedrin condemned Him). The only problem here is that Jesus was telling the truth, "He was the Son of God."

Joh 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; When Pilate heard this He was more afraid than ever. Pilate heard of the miracles that Jesus had done. Not only that, but earlier that morning Pilate received a disturbing message from his wife. (Matthew 27:19). Pilate's wife sent him a message to "leave that good man alone; because she had a terrible nightmare concerning Him the night before." If that wasn't enough, now he hears that Jesus has claimed to be the Son of God.

Joh 19:9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked Him, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him. It was written in the old testament that Jesus would not open His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7). Sometimes we need to just keep our mouths shut and trust in God.

Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? "Why don't you talk to me Pilate asked Jesus?" "Don't you realize that I have the power to release You, or crucify You?" 

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. Jesus answers Pilate, "You would have no power over Me at all unless it were given to you from above." (Romans 13:1). We are to submit to government authorities, because all authority comes from God, and those in position of authority have been placed there by God. (Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17). Obey the law of our governments and you will have freedom of religion. Be a good citizen and bring forth God's Word. The lawmakers are here to protect those who are doing good and can protect you to further God's Word. Therefore he that delivered Me: "So the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin." We know that Judas betrayed Jesus and handed Him over to the Romans, but who was the one/one's that delivered Jesus to Pilate? It was the high priest "Caiaphas" and the kenites. Caiaphas knew the scriptures and the prophecies about the coming Messiah. Yet he willingly (with a little help from Satan), ignored the evidence about Jesus being the Messiah. He stirred up the people with the help of the kenites to ask for Jesus to be put to death. It was "Caiaphas" that had the greater sin than Pilate.  

Joh 19:12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release Him, you are no friend of Caesar." (Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar). i.e. The Jewish leaders knew that Pilate wasn't convinced by hearing about their laws, so they are going to bring up Pilate's political responsibilities.

Joh 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Pilate now brings Jesus out to the Jewish leaders again. Then Pilate sat down on his raised stone platform (in Hebrew Gabbatha). 

Joh 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! i.e. the day before the Passover was eaten ("at even" on the 14th of Nisan). All four Gospels state that our Lord was entombed on the preparation Day. (John 19:31, 42, Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54). The sixth hour: (Midnight). The hours in all the Gospels are according to Hebrew reckoning: i.e. from sunset to sunset. Some have though that the events from (John 13:1), could not be crowded into so brief a space, but the Jews were in deadly earnest to get it all finished before the Passover, and in such a case events more quickly. Just for the record: Christ was crucified on a Wednesday between 12 noon and 3:00p.m. then put in the tomb on Wednesday at sundown. Wednesday at sundown to Thursday at sundown was (1) day. Thursday at sundown to Friday at sundown was (2) days. Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown was (3) days, and He arose sometime during Saturday night, or Sunday morning.

Joh 19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. "Away with Him they yelled." Crucify Him! Pilate replies, "What? Crucify your King?" But the leading priests (mostly kenites), shouted, "We have no king but Caesar."

Joh 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified, and they took Jesus away. i.e. delivered to their will (Luke 23:25), thus the Lord's execution was in Jewish hands. (Acts 2:23). By the plan of God, He let you use the Roman government to nail Him to the cross and crucify Him. (Written 1,000 years ago in Psalms 22). The centurion and his quaternion of soldiers merely carried out the decision of the chief priests, Pilate having pronounced no sentence, but washed his hands, literally as well as metaphorically, of the matter.

Joh 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Jesus carried the cross by Himself, He went to the place called (Golgotha), "place of the scull." (Matthew 27:33-34, Mark 15:21-22, Luke 23:33). In the book of Luke it tells us a little more of what happened when He was carrying the cross. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. (Luke 23:27). The large crowds followed behind Him as He carried the cross, including many grief stricken women. (Matthew 27:55, Mark 15:40). But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (Luke 23:28). Jesus turned to the daughters of Jerusalem and said, don't weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. (Luke 23:29). God's elect that do not follow Satan, remain spiritual virgins. What about those who do not remain spiritual virgins? (Matthew 24 and Mark 13). And woe unto them that are with child , and them that give suck in those days. (Matthew 24:19). Those who fall for the false messiah. Those who do not remain "spiritual virgins" in the end times at the return of Messiah, will be deceived.

Joh 19:18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. There Jesus was nailed to the cross. Two others were also crucified with Him, one on each side of Jesus. Another fulfillment of prophecy. (Isaiah 53:12). 

Joh 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

Joh 19:20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The sign was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin. Because this title was written in three different languages, it might have slightly varied in each language. Luke and John wrote for the Gentiles, and would prefer the Greek inscription. Matthew, addressing the Jews, would use the Hebrew. Mark writing to the Romans, would naturally give the Latin.

Joh 19:21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. Then the leading priest (Caiaphas), objected and wanted Pilate to change what was written. Caiaphas wanted it to say "I am King of the Jews," because he didn't want people thinking that Jesus was actually the "King of the Jews," but only that He claimed to be the King. (Devine intervention). God wanted His Son to die on the cross that proclaimed Him the "King of the Jews."

Joh 19:22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. Pilate replies, "No way!" "What I have written, I have written." It therefore stands written forever. Caiaphas as representative of the Jews proclaimed the Lord as Savior for the world. Pilate fastens upon the Jews the hated name of the Nazarene as their King.

Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they divided His clothes among the four of them. They also took His seamless robe. (Chiton - tunic, an undergarment, usually worn next to the skin).

Joh 19:24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. The robe had more value together than in pieces, so rather than tear it apart and divide it among them, the soldiers decided to throw dice (cast lots), for it. Fulfilling the scripture of: (Psalms 22:18), the Psalm of the crucifixion, written 1,000 years before. 

Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. John omits the name of his own mother Salome, who was there also. (Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40-41).

Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! John was the disciple whom Jesus loved, and Jesus was pointing His mother towards John, and telling John to take care of His mother.

Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. Jesus said to John. "Here is your mother." From then on John took care of His mother.

Joh 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, "I am thirsty." The last prediction (Psalm 69:21).  

Joh 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch (a long reed), and held it to His lips. 

Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, "It is finished." Then He bowed His head and released His Spirit. (John 10:17-18, Luke 23:46).

Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. It was the high Sabbath, the first day of the feast, the 15th Nisan. (Leviticus 23:6-7). Our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset. They didn't want the bodies hanging there during the Passover feast. (Deuteronomy 21:23). They wanted to speed up the process by breaking the legs of those who were hanging so they would die (by asphyxiation), and then could take the bodies down.  

Joh 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. Broke the legs of the two men hanging with Jesus. Again, this would let the person hanging on the cross fall enough so they could not catch their breath, and would die from asphyxiation.

Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: Jesus had already given up His Spirit and He was dead, so they didn't break His legs.

Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. However, one of the soldiers did pierce His side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. "The blood and water may have been symbolic of the sprinkling with blood and cleansing with water of the Old Covenant." (Hebrews 9:12-14, 19:22, 1 John 5:6-8). 

Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. This is an eye witness report and accurate account, so that you can also believe. (Acts 10:39, 1 John 5:13). The apostles witnessed all Jesus had done throughout the land of Judea, as well as His crucifixion. 

Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. These things happened just as they were written in the scriptures. "Not one of His bones will be broken." Reference to: (Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 22:14, Psalm 34:20).

Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced. "They will look on the One they pierced." (Psalm 22:16-17, Zechariah 12:10). Also a future prophecy when Jesus Christ returns in the end times. (Revelation 1:7). There will be no mystery when He comes at the seventh trump. (This is when we will all be changed to our spirit bodies). Everyone will see Him come, even those who pierced Him. All nations will weep in sorrow and terror when He comes.

Joh 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. The great uncle and disciple of Jesus (Joseph of Arimathaea), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body. It was granted and he took the body away. (Isaiah 53:9). He was buried in a rich man's tomb. Joseph of Arimathaea (know as the tin man), dealt in tin and other metals and was very wealthy.

Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Nicodemus was the man who came to Jesus in John 3. (Jesus told him that he needed to be born again). Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin (John 3:1). He was trying to get the Sanhedrin to listen to Jesus before judging Him. Nicodemus was the one who brought the mixture of spices to perfume the body of Jesus. (About 100 pounds of spice that was very costly).

Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus' body with spices and long sheets of linen cloth. Swathing the bodies of the rich. (Isaiah 53:9). The criminals were wrapped in old rags.

Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. The garden tomb (wealthy mans vineyard), of Joseph of Arimathaea. (Matthew 27:59-60). 

Joh 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. Because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover, and the tomb being close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (Acts 13:29). When it was fulfilled by the prophecies concerning His death, He was taken from the cross and placed in a tomb.

Keep the faith,
Barton