Jesus is Dead (John 19:31-42)

“What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain; mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place; look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.” (from the song: O Sacred Head Now Wounded)

Jesus has been crucified. From Rome’s perspective, He was guilty of rebellion (King of the Jews). From the Jews’ perspective, He was guilty of blasphemy (Son of God). From God’s perspective, He wasn’t guilty at all. He is perfectly righteous and without sin (1 Peter 2:22). He did not deserve to die, but He died for us so that we might be forgiven of our sin and reconciled to God. Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24) because the Father “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). In today’s sermon, we shall once again hear from John who wrote: “he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe” (19:35).

Jesus’ Bones (31-33, 36)

John tells us about Jesus’ bones. Specifically, that Jesus’ bones were not broken. In verses 31-33, John writes, “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs” 

Why does John mention this? John says, “For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken” (19:36). This is important because Jesus is the true Passover Lamb. Jesus fulfills the requirements of the Passover Lamb even down to the detail that none of His bones were broken. Exodus 12:46 says about the Passover Lamb, “In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you break one of its bones.” Number 9:12 adds, “They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.” Also of note is Psalm 34:20, which says of the Messiah: “He guards all His bones; Not one of them is broken.” Jesus was crucified as the true Passover Lamb who is our substitutionary sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.

Jesus’ Side (34, 37)

John tells us about Jesus’ side. Specifically, that He was pierced. In verse 34, John writes that when the soldiers saw that Jesus was already dead, instead of breaking Jesus’ legs, “one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” John mentions the blood and water to prove to us that Jesus is truly dead. The “Word became flesh” (1:14) and blood and water immediately came out of His side when He was pierced with a spear as He hung on the cross. 

Why does John mention this? John says, “And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced’” (19:37). This is more fulfillment of prophecy about Jesus and of His death. King David prophesied of the Messiah, “They pierced My hands and My feet” (Ps 22:16). The Prophet Zechariah says, “they will look on Me whom they pierced” (Zech 12:10). Revelation 1:7 quotes this verse in Zechariah saying, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Jesus was pierced “for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…and by his stripes we are healed” (Is 53:5-6). Jesus willingly died on our behalf, so that all who believe in Him shall never die for their sin.

Jesus’ Tomb (38-42)

John tells us about Jesus’ tomb. Specifically, that He was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Pilate gave Joseph permission to take the body of Jesus. Nicodemus (John 3) joined him “bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.” (19:39-40). John continues, “Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby” (19:41-42). 

Why does John mention this? It is because Isaiah 53:9 says, “And they made His grave with the wicked–but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence nor was any deceit in His mouth.” It was prophesied of Jesus that He was supposed to be buried with the wicked, as if He were a criminal, but He ended up being with the rich at His death as vindication. He is the spotless Lamb of God who did not die for Himself, but for us. Jesus was buried in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb because he was the rich man (Matt 27:57) who made this “new tomb in which no one had yet been laid” (19:41). Luke tells us that Joseph was “a council member, a good and just man. He had not contented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God” (Luke 23:50-51). It is remarkable that Jesus, who was born in very poor condition, was buried in a rich man’s tomb. He was crucified as a criminal, but buried in honor. 

Jesus’ Heel (Gen 3:15)

What does Jesus’ heel have to do with His crucifixion? John does not mention this, but it is worthwhile for us to remember that Jesus’ crucifixion fulfills the prophecy of the Seed of the Women from Genesis 3. When Adam and Eve were confronted by the Lord about their sin, the Lord said to the serpent (who deceived Eve): “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen 3:14-15). God promised that a descendant of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.

Jesus’ death fulfilled this promise. Jesus is the seed of the woman (Gal 4:4) and the devil is the serpent (Rev 12:9). 1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus defeated the devil and death when He was sacrificed on the cross. He now provides forgiveness for all sin and His perfect righteousness to all who believe. His heel was bruised (crucifixion), but the serpent’s head was crushed (Mark 3:22-28; Luke 10:18). Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Let us believe in Him and have life in His name!

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend, for this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? O make me Thine forever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love for Thee. (from the song: O Sacred Head Now Wounded).