The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – John 19:38-42 (day two)

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. vs. 38

It has become a common occurrence today to refer to your faith as ‘a private matter.’ This is often the case when you hear public officials talk about their own personal beliefs. We see people willing to take a stand on any number of issues, but when it comes to a personal conviction about their relationship to Jesus Christ, they obfuscate. This is not what John meant when he referred to Joseph and Nicodemus as ‘secret disciples.’ Their reality dealt with not just popular opinion, but life itself. There are places where the mention of your trust in Jesus will still bring retribution. That is distinctly different from making people feel uncomfortable. There are times when it is prudent to hold your tongue, but we should be careful not to hide behind some social nicety when it comes to sharing our faith.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day seven)

A command from the very first Passover and reiterated by the psalmist:

He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:20

This may not mean much to us, but to John and the other followers looking on, this is a moment of hope in day of despair. This is where it begins to click. This is the Passover Lamb. This Passover Lamb is The Lord. Even if our heart stops beating, He can bring dry bones to life.

Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.’ Ezekiel 37:5

His body may be broken, but His bones tell a different story. Sunday is coming. He will bring His own dry bones to life. There may be scars on His hands, but He will run out of that grave on unbroken legs!

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day six)

(This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.^[a]) John 19:35

How else would we know apart from the testimony of the Apostles? All the gospel writers, but especially John, longed for us to believe. He knew, and so did Jesus, that what was required was the reliable testimony of others (John 17:20). All along the road to the cross, John wanted us to see how Jesus fulfilled the prophets, he wanted us to see that the cross was God’s plan all along, and he wanted us to see that Jesus really suffered, and really died.

It was important for John to make clear there was no way Jesus could have survived, thus the spear, and blood and water. He wanted to leave no doubt as to the outcome of the cross.

Why? Simply, so that all who read his testimony would believe that it is not a sham, but in fact it is the real deal; to those being saved the message of the cross is the power of God to save sinners (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day five)

“And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.”
He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that thought I was blind, now I see.”

What is it that you know about Jesus, or that you have seen God do in your life?  What experiences have you had with Jesus that have shaped and changed your life?  We call these testimonies. Just simply telling the truth of what has happened in your heart and life. (It’s what John has done in his gospel) Share what you have seen and experienced- things God has done in your life and the lives of others.

Talk about those things early and often. Talk about what you have seen and experienced (what you know). Tell those stories when you get opportunity. They are your testimony. No one can take them away from you. Share so that others might believe too.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day four)

“Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

Have you noticed the small differences in John’s gospel from Matthew, Mark, and Luke? Throughout the whole book, John focuses less on what Jesus said and did, and focuses more on showing us who Jesus really is. Here, John is showing us that Jesus is the true Lamb of God. John takes the time to remind us that this is all taking place during Passover, the annual Jewish festival commemorating God’s faithfulness as the angel of death “passed over” Jewish homes with the blood of a sacrificial lamb over their door. The Jewish people knew that they couldn’t leave the crucified bodies out in public on the holy day of Passover, so they asked for them to be taken down.

It’s ironic, isn’t it? The Jewish people made sure to keep their Passover customs, even though they had just put to death the One who would fulfill the Passover for all eternity. Jesus is the true Passover Lamb, breaking the chains of captivity and sparing His people from death. John is bringing us back to his first chapter, verse 29, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This was lost on the Jewish people at the time, but John makes it clear that Jesus is the Son of God, the one who’s blood spares the sinner from death. That is who our savior is.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day three)

“Not a bone of him shall be broken.”

Loneliness is one of the most horrific circumstances that a human being can experience. It will lead to severe distress, which can manifest as despair, depression, even psychosis. It is agony. To be lonely is to suffer. Jesus knew loneliness. His hometown turned its back on him. A disciple betrayed him. Hoped-for companionship in the garden of anguish did not materialize. Most of the others left him prior to his execution. His Psalm 22 quote on the cross became his cry of utter abandonment. He remained alone until the very end. No one came to hasten his demise by the breaking of his legs to force bodily collapse and suffocation. He went all the way through without solidarity, without fellowship, without the intimacy of God the Father, without even an assist to speed his death.

Re:Verse passage – John 19:31-37 (day two) 

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. vs. 31

This verse reminds me of of Matthew 7:3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Or James 3:10  from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Those who were in leadership, who were responsible for Jesus’, death were fastidious about keeping Sabbath rules, but had little regard for the atrocity they had just committed. We all have our areas that we keep neat and orderly. Oftentimes it is to have a good outward appearance, and yet there are other areas where we may have no regard for propriety, right, or truth. The Jewish officials reconciled in their own minds how what they were doing was ‘good’ for the people. We, similarly, justify our actions in an attempt to turn our faces from our own sinful nature. Where are those places in your heart that need a radical reshaping?

Re:Verse passage – John 19:28-30 (day seven) 

... knowing that all things had already been accomplished. vs 28

Jesus was born to die. This was the reason for the incarnation. God offered His Only Begotten Son to earth so that His people could become His children. As fully God, Christ could not accomplish what needed to be done. He could not die for sinners. He had to be born a man. Fully God, fully man. This was the only way it could be accomplished. Jesus was born to die.

Jesus was born to die so that we could live. The cloud of sin that prohibited us from having communion with God was lifted as the veil was torn. As the prophecy goes, His name will be called Immanuel. He became God with us so that He could always be God with us. Jesus was born to die so we could live with Him. Mission Accomplished.

Hebrews 2:14-15