Monday | Week 14
Tragedy. One after another. These two chapters of John’s Gospel begin with the arrest of Jesus and end with the burial of His body in a tomb. In between, we have Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, and the crowd demanding Barabbas be released rather than Jesus. We read of Jesus carrying His own cross to the place He would be crucified, between two criminals. This short period of time is often known as The Passion.
The word Passion is from the Latin verb patior which means “to suffer, bear, or endure.” It also means “to allow, acquiesce, or submit”, and it is where we get the word patience. While reading these parts of scripture, it’s beneficial to slow down and work to understand the depth of the story.
It seems that Jesus could have escaped His death on the cross. The soldiers were so shocked by Him that He had to repeat to them, “Who is it you want?” Pilate had the power to let him go free, but we don’t see any attempt by Jesus to escape crucifixion. In John 19:10, Pilate asks, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answers simply, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” Jesus submitted to the cross and forgave those responsible along the way.
Another focus of John’s writing is on the events that fulfilled scripture. The account we read is tragic and moving, and makes a good emotional case that we should at least consider. What happened to Jesus, and what is the importance of these events? But John chooses to weave into this impassioned story, strong evidence that this event was more than a good man being crucified. He makes it clear that this was the Son of God, of whom the scriptures had foretold, and even in the last hours He was fulfilling prophesies as well as the will of the Father.
If the story of Jesus ended with John chapter 19, it is a sad story full of hopelessness. The disciples have been scattered and their leader has been killed. If this is the end, then we have no reason to revisit this story at all. But it’s not the end.
It actually feels a lot more like the beginning.
Discussion Questions
What stands out in the text to you?
What verse(s) did you really connect with?
Do you see any themes throughout the whole passage of scripture?
Did you see anything new that you have never noticed before?