My Beloved

STUDIO #1372 CHURCH IN THE HOSES Wednesday, September 6, 2023

"My Beloved" - John 19:31-40 How much suspicion (conscience = knowledge) one has regarding whether a thing is acceptable, or not, according to morality. Such were these religious Jews about the details even during a cold-blooded murder. They thought it would "not" be proper to let the bodies "remain on the cross on the Sabbath. There was going to be a religious festival in the city. They ask Pilate if they "broke their legs" to hasten death.

I. (33) My beloved had already died.

A. His legs were not broken! (break)

1. They saw that Jesus was "already dead."

2. (34) But one of the soldiers cut open His side with a spear.

3. It may have been the last outburst of evil in his heart.

4. It was the blow of the defeated enemy after the battle, which denounced the deep-seated hatred in man's heart against God and against His Christ.

5. (Exodus 12:46) Neither shall thou break (break) His bone.

6. This is the Passover lamb.

7. God's decree was that the bones should be kept intact (which is complete).

8. Christ is the true Passover Lamb, fulfilling the type (ideal model), with great accuracy.

9. (Zechariah 12:10) They will look upon Him whom they pierced.

10. Although the soldier did not know it, his action was another "wonderful fulfillment of Scripture."

11. Man has his wickedness, "but God has His way."

12. Zechariah's prophecy refers to the future day when believing Jews will see the Lord returning to Earth.

13. "They will look to Me, whom they have pierced, and they will weep as one mourns for the only begotten son.

14. Two good men, who could do nothing for His life, was death, and death on a cross.

15. Jesus' burial: Who Will Do It?

16. His disciples were not with courage, but hidden, and doubting without end.

17. Hitherto, Joseph of Arimathea had been a secret believer.

18. "Fear" of the Jews had "prevented" him from openly confessing Christ.

19. Now he bravely came forward (strength, courage) to claim "the body of Jesus" for burial.

20. He was now full of courage, though he exposed himself to excommunication, persecution, and violence.

21. It is only to be regretted that he was unwilling to manifest himself in public for a rejected Master while Jesus was still administering to the masses.

22. If you are a reader of John, you are already familiar with Nicodemus, for we already know of him when he came to Jesus by night (John Ch. 3), and when he also urged that Jesus be heard justly by the Sanhedrin (John 7:50, 51).

23. Now he is reunited with Joseph, carrying a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes.

24. These spices were probably in the form of powder and myrrh and were sprinkled over the body.

25. Then "the body" of Emmanuel, the Son of God, the Messiah, Savior, Creator, the one at the right hand of the Father, of the great I Am, the Alpha and Omega, sustains the universe, is a fearful God, then "the body" was wrapped in linen.

26. The great privilege was given to Joseph and Nicodemus.

27. (Isaiah 53:9) (John 19:41) And His burial was arranged with the wicked, but with the rich it was in His death, it was in fulfillment of prophecy.

28. The man wanted to bury the Messiah with the wicked, but that it would be with the rich in His death.

29. "A new tomb in an 'orchard' evidently belonged to a rich man.

30. (John 19:42) Jesus' body was laid in the tomb.

31. The Jews were anxious to get rid of the body for their feast that began at sunset.

32. But all of this was part of God's determination that the body should be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Amen