Jesus’ Trial, Death and Resurrection (As Recorded by John)Sample

Everything fulfilled

“They crucified Him” (John 19:18)

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished,’ and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30)

I have read the above words many times but still find them poignant. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died a martyr's death. He was hung naked on a cross, suffered excruciating pain, was mocked and finally gave up His spirit.

It had every appearance that His opponents had won.

Yet that was not true. Jesus' last words indicate that: “It is finished!” It was precisely by dying that Jesus fulfilled His mission. In this way He achieved victory over Satan. As He had previously expressed in figurative language, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Details surrounding Jesus' crucifixion also showed that these events fit into God's plan. John cites several examples of this. For example, he describes how the soldiers cast lots to divide Jesus' clothing, which was already mentioned in Psalm 22:18. A little later, Jesus indicated thirst, “to fulfill the Scripture” (from Psalm 69:21). And when Jesus had just died, prophecies from Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10 were fulfilled. These are just some examples. But the big picture of the Bible also makes it clear that Jesus' death on the cross, as shocking as it was, was part of His rescue plan for mankind.

What do you think about a God who allows Himself to be tortured and killed?