John Chapter 19
19:1-3. Scourging (whipping) often preceded crucifixion. The Roman flagellum consisted of a whip, split into
several strips, into which sharp bones were embedded so as to cut the flesh. The crown of thorns, the purple robe,
and the mocking Hail were used to ridicule His claim to be a king (cf. 18:36). When the soldiers hit Him in the face
and body it was probably with their fists (contrast with 18:22).
19:7. Here the Jews acknowledge the real reason they favor Christ's crucifixion: He claimed to be God, and they
were accusing Him of blasphemy (Lev. 24:16).
19:9. No answer: Compare to Isaiah 53:7.
19:10, 11. Pilate's assertion and Jesus' response are reminiscent of Jesus' third exchange with Satan (Matt.
4:8-10). God alone is Sovereign of the universe.
19:14. The preparation was on Friday before the Sabbath, so that no work would have to be done on the Sabbath.
the sixth hour: John uses Roman time,which would be six o'clock in the morning.
19:15. No king but Caesar is said by the chief priests of Sadducees (politicians). Would any Pharisee have been
willing to make such a blasphemous statement when God alone was to have been their King?
19:17. Jesus carries His own cross, as was the custom, to the place of a skull or Golgotha (cf. Matt. 27:33). His
path through Jerusalem has been called the Via Dolorosa ("Sorrowful Way").
19:18-27. These verses record the first three hours on the cross, from nine o' clock in the morning to noon.
19:23. This is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18. Psalm 22 is a messianic Psalm. See especially verses 1a, 7, 8, 14-18.
19:25. Four women attend the Crucifixion, and they remain while the disciples flee (except for john, who returns).
Several women, including these mentioned here, have accompanied Jesus and His disciples on their journeys,
taking care of their daily needs.
19:28-30. These verses record the second three hours on the cross from noon to three in the afternoon, Here is
the fulfillment of Psalm 69:21. Notice that the only words Jesus spoke indicating pain or discomfort were I thirst. It
was not that He did not suffer, but only that He did not complain.
19:30. It is finished: His passive (Lat. patior, "suffering") ministry is now completed. (See the note on 17:4.) The
words of Jesus on the cross are significant: The first words concern the Roman soldiers who were crucifying Him:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). The second statement is made to the penitent
thief: "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). The third statement comes from Psalm 22: "My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34). The fifth statement is "I thirst" (v. 28), followed by
His taking of vinegar from a sponge. The sixth cry is "It finished" (v. 30). (See comments on 17:4.) The seventh cry
was addressed to His Father: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
19:31. The preparation was Friday, the day before the sabbath (cf. vv. 14, 42). (See especially Mark 15:42.) It was
high day because it was the Sabbath during the Passover week. The Jews did not mind putting an innocent man to
death, even the Son of God, but they were very careful not to break the Sabbath.
19:36. A bone of him shall not be broken is a fulfillment of Psalm 34:20. It was also a requirement of the Passover
lamb (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12) that no bone be broken. Christ is our Passover according to 1 Corinthians 5:7.
Compare this with John 1:29, where John calls Him the Lamb of God.
19:37. This verse fulfills Zechariah 12:10.
19:38. The other gospels tell us that Joseph of Arimathea was rich (Matt. 27:57), and that this accomplishment
required boldness (Mark 15:43). Joseph was likely a member of the Sanhedrin. See Luke 23:51.
19:39. Nicodemus did the only anointing of Jesus' body before the burial (cf. 12:3, 7) Jesus was raised before the
women arrived on Sunday with the spices.
19:40. Notice that Jesus' body was wound, not mummy style, but with linen cloths lengthwise, from head to foot,
according to the Jewish custom. Lazarus was also wrapped this way, but Lazarus was unable to free himself
(11:44) because his hands and feet were tied together.
19:41. The other gospels tell us it was Joseph's sepulcher (Matt. 27:59, 60).
19:42. This work of Joseph and Nicodemus prevented the body of Jesus from being thrown into the valley of
Hinnom, as was often the case with the bodies of unclaimed crucified criminals.
John Chapter 20
20:1-21:25. John records four post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to His followers: to Mary Magdalene outside
the tomb on Resurrection morning (20:1-18); to 10 disciples in the Upper Room-Thomas is absent (20:19-23); to
11 disciples in the Upper Room (20:24-29); and to seven disciples in Galilee (21:1-25).
20:1-10. Several other women were present on this first visit (cf. Matt. 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; and Luke 24:1-12). His
clothes lay in an orderly fashion. Had His body been stolen, the grave cloths would not have been left.
20:8, 9. Believed. For as yet they knew not: They believed Jesus was alive, not yet knowing the details of His
resurrection.
20:11, 12. This was Mary's second visit (vv. 11-18; cf. Mark 16:9-11).
20:17. Touch me not is a present imperative, forbidding the continuation of an action already begun. "Stop
clinging to me" is a helpful paraphrase. Compare with verse 27, where one week later, we are told He encouraged
Thomas to touch Him. I am not yet ascended: "Do not worry, I am not leaving immediately."
20:19. This was Sunday evening of the Resurrection. The doors are shut, and Jesus appears in His Resurrection
body. Evidently He could appear, disappear, pass through material, and defy the law of gravity (as He did at the
Ascension) in His Resurrection body.
20:22. Here the disciples are anointed by the Holy Spirit preliminary to Acts 2. This corresponds to the Holy Spirit's
special ministries in the Old Testament. Such ministries were for special tasks. Soon the Holy Spirit would come
and permanently abide with them (Acts 2).
20:23. Remit. . .sins: This is a divine prerogative (cf. Mark 2:7). The anointing of the Holy Spirit makes this possible.
20:28. Lord. . . God: These words from Thomas form the climax to John's gospel and summarize its theme.
20:30, 31. John tells us here he wrote this gospel for purposes of conversion, that ye might believe, and of
satisfaction, that ye might have life.
John Chapter 21
21:7. Naked (i.e., stripped for work): Peter was wearing not outer garment. He swam the hundred yards to shore.
21:8. Little ship is the small skiff attached to the main fishing vessel.
21:14. This is the third appearance to the disciples, although there had been appearances to other people (cf.
comments after 20:18).
21:15-17. This interview was probably conducted within the hearing of the other six disciples. Peter had publicly
professed his loyalty before the Crucifixion and Jesus wants the other disciples to understand Peter's restoration.
Jesus uses his old name Simon, not "Rock," his new spiritual name. More than these is a reference to the other
disciples (cf. Matt. 26:33, where Peter claimed he would be loyal when all others failed). Jesus repeats the
question three times, no doubt to remind Peter of his three denials of his Lord.
21:18, 19. Jesus predicts the manner of Peter's death. A late tradition suggests that Peter was crucified upside
down in Rome by Nero (c. A.D. 68), but this is questionable since it is not recorded until the fourth century.
21:20-23. Perhaps John added this account to counteract a commonly believed notion that Jesus had predicted
that John would not die. He did outlive all of the other disciples. In fact, all of the others were probably dead by the
time John wrote this beloved gospel in about A.D. 85.