Gospel of John - The Atonement for the World

 

For the Atonement of the World

Jn. 19:16-27

The cross is eternally linked to Jesus and Christianity. It symbolizes not the shame of a criminal act, but the substitutionary atonement for the sins of all mankind. The cross was one of the capital punishments for criminals, and crucifixion was exacted immediately after sentencing in most cases. The four gospel accounts give us a complete mosaic of the crucifixion and will be used in this lesson to complete the context of the text. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “They had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross…“Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).” (Matt. 27:31-33)

Jesus had obeyed his Father by submitting to his will in the garden and in the trial, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Heb. 5:7-9) “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Phil.2:8)

Being stripped of all his dignity, mocked, beaten, and humiliated by the soldiers, they stripped off the royal robe and put his clothes back on him. They began by forcing him to carry his cross beam through the streets of Jerusalem and to the place of the skull, to the tears of women, and the jeers and mockings of the people in the city, all except one. Simon of Cyrene, who came to the Passover to offer a sacrifice for the forgiveness of his sins and those of his family. As Jesus stumbled along, the soldiers forced Simon to assist Jesus in carrying Jesus’ cross beam to Golgotha. Many women along the way wept for Jesus. “A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Lk. 23:27-28)

As they came to the hill called Golgotha, the soldiers took the cross beam from Simon, and nailed Jesus’ hands at the wrists to the beam, lifting it up and inserting it onto the vertical beam in the ground. Then placing Jesus’ feet on the supporting block at the bottom of the vertical beam, they nailed his feet to the cross. 

Application - Most people have been the blunt of cruel jokes or belligerent bullying, and a few have been violently molested because of who they were. This falls short to the atrocities of our Lord faced at the hands of mankind and the enemy of God. We must understand in obedience to the Father’s will we will be victorious over sins and atrocities done to us by those in the world who do not believe in God or his Son. Jesus said “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. (Matt.24:9) Hatred is not new, it had its origin at the beginning. We have seen hatred redefined to select areas or groups of society. Just as the people in Jesus’ day did. What Jesus is teaching us through this portion of the text is obedience to God and his will is the main factor to conquering the fears, pain, and disbelief that come through walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Jesus prayed earnestly for this cup of God’s wrath to pass from him, but he submitted to the Father and he was perfected after the crucifixion. He rejoins with his Father in the kingdom of heaven and is seated at God’s right hand, victorious and given full authority. 

Many people will jeer and mock us as they did to Jesus and God the Father. Paul wrote to the Galiatians, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:7-8)

We are to walk in the Holy Spirit in order to please God, and not to the tune the world desires for us to walk in. Just as Jesus carried his cross down the Via Dolorosa, he had told us to carry our cross if we want to be his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matt. 16:24-25)

Like Simon, we are to obey authorities in tasks that may seem repugnant and repulsive, but in his obedience, he bored the cross like no other human being other than Christ. For bearing the cross means just that, to bear the burdens placed on you regardless of the abhorrence to the flesh or to the disdain of our spirits and put to death that which is sinful. Jesus told us we must bear these crosses if we want to be his disciples, but he has placed others around us like Simon, who will bear the burden with us, “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2)

The obedience to the will of the Father was one of the  driving forces that kept Jesus submission to death by the cross and the mocking, jeering by the people he had come to save. Let’s read the next portion of the text, “There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the jews.  Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened so that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did.” “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matt.27:39-43)

As Jesus hung on the cross, the crowd who had yelled in the courtyard for his crucifixion now joined the religious leaders and others in mocking him. The soldiers began gambling for his outerwear, his one piece robe. They didn’t want to tear a valuable robe into four pieces, so they threw lots for it. Unbeknownst to them, they were fulfilling the prophecy “My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. Ps. 22:17b-18

And as the soldiers were gambling, the religious teachers and those who had demanded the crucifixion for Jesus were now mocking him as he hung laboring to breathe because of the restriction of crucifixion on the lungs and heart. “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!... we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

As well they didn’t realize they too were fulfilling the scriptures written about Jesus the Messiah, “I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!” Ps. 22:6-8

Pilate had the soldiers place a plaque over the head of Jesus that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the jews.” As well, Pilate had two others hung on each side of Jesus. It is during all of this turmoil one of the criminals insults Jesus as well with the same mockery of the people, only to be shushed by the other criminal. The second criminal reminded him that they were crucified justly, but that the one between them was innocent of his crime. It was at this point, the second criminal lifted himself up to ask Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus, as well, exerted himself above the pain to answer him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23:43)

Application - Mockery is the weak persons’ way of getting back at those who are unable to defend themselves. Their insecurities drive them to maim others with divisive and disdainful words. Whether it is in the school yard, the social media realm, or the political arena, the mockery and jeering of others show the low self-esteem mankind has in themselves. 

The old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” may have been to symbolize the brutality of mankind towards one another, and the resilience of those who do not succumb to violence but avoid physical retaliation. Here is the act of bearing one’s cross again. We are not to join the world and their mocking of God, but like Jesus, bear the cross and all its shame for great is our reward in heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:11-12)

But in the midst of the clamor of mockery, there is an opportunity to do God’s will to do good, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…” (Gal.6:10) 

As Jesus saw the minute faith of the second criminal, and gave him a promise of eternal life in his paradisiacal kingdom. We too can see the opportunities to offer the invitation of salvation in Jesus’ name to the lost souls who see no other hope. The death bed committal and repentance to Jesus is just as legit as the soul who has followed Jesus since their youth. For many are out in the world, who have committed horrendous atrocities against others and God, yet God is love, and if there is but the seed of faith as small as a mustard seed in their souls and spirit Jesus came to save them too. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:16)

Last, it was the love for his creation that he endured the suffering (intense pain, mocking, jeering, and shame) of the cross. 

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (Jn. 19:) “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus knew the time of his death had come, yet there were still souls to console and souls to be forgiven of the heinous darkness of sin and evil that Satan’s seeds had spread throughout the world. The ones he loved had now moved past the jeering crowd of onlookers. Mary, his mother, and other women, as well as John, the one whom Jesus loved stood at the foot of the cross, weeping and still believing in Jesus the Son of God. Jesus again laboringly speaks in strained pain from the cross to Mary and John, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” 

Mary and John strained to hear the words Jesus was speaking as they leaned in to be near the cross of his suffering. The words of comfort and promise were like a balm to both their hearts. Mary knew the words Simon had spoken in the Bethlehem synagogue “This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted— the pain of a sword-thrust through you— But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.” (Luke 2:35 MSG) were now being fulfilled. John knew that widows were special in God’s sight, especially the widowed mother of his Lord. The charge was sacred to John and he wouldn’t forget to fulfill this dying word from his master. And both Mary and the others heard Jesus’ words of forgiveness to all for their act of crucifixion, and later would come to understand the forgiveness was for all who had sinned, for it was his purpose to bear the sins of all mankind for atonement before God the Father.

Application - It is said that the spikes that held Jesus to the cross were love. Jesus said earlier in his journey with the disciples, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (Jn. 10:17-18) “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (Jn. 15:13)

It was Jesus’ love for the Father and for his creation that kept him upon the cross. Jesus knew that the Father wouldn’t leave him in the grave for the scripture foretold of his resurrection Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful b one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; (Ps. 16:9-11)

Though Jesus doesn’t hang on the cross today, his words from God are still speaking comfort. He sees and hears all who draw near to him, near the cross of his suffering. These words draw us closer to him as the old hymn says, 

Jesus, keep me near the cross,

There a precious fountain;

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calvary's mountain. 

Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the Bright and Morning Star

Shed His beams around me. 

Written by a blind saint of God, Fanny Crosby, who knew no sight, but in the spirit knew the cross better that most who have sight. We are to take comfort that Jesus sees us all today, we’re not out of his sight or mind. He has given a command to all who are his disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (Jn. 13:34)

Let his words of comfort and love speak to you today, for his love is alive in all who obey his command.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com