Given A Choice

Joel 2:1-20

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. “ (Joel 2:1-2)

Joel warns they need to sound the alarm in Jerusalem and the surrounding area because God’s judgment is coming.  The judgment would be such as had never been seen before and it’s like would never be seen again for many generations.   The description relates to the Babylonian invasion and destruction of Jerusalem.    

“A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.  The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.  Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.  Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.” (Joel 2:3-6)

When Babylon conquered Jerusalem, initially they tried to leave the nation intact, carrying away only the rebellious leaders.  After repeated rebellions they came back and completely destroyed the nation, carrying off everyone except a few of the poorest who were left as caretakers.  Even those rebelled, fleeing to Egypt and leaving the land desolate and unoccupied.  The land was as empty as if it had been burned with a fire.  The Babylonian forces moved from country to country like a forest fire leaping from mountain top to mountaintop.  Their attack would be as fast and unstoppable as fire burning a stand of dried weeds, turning everything black. 

“They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:  Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.  They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.” (Joel 2:7-9)

The Babylonians would develop tactics used centuries later by the Greeks and Roman. Marching in close order so that their shields overlapped, making it almost impossible to get a clear shot at an individual.  Stones from a Ballista or catapult would knock men down but the close packed shields would absorb much of the impact preventing injury.  Because they were so well disciplined and trained they were unlikely to accidentally stab or cut one of their own men.  They would be equipped with scaling ladders and grappling hooks to climb over the walls or into second story windows. 

   

“The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” (Joel 2:10-11)

As terrible as the invasion and defeat by Babylon was, it was only a precursor of the judgment that Jerusalem and Israel will suffer during the last half of the Tribulation period.   At that time, God will bring forth his army to deliver Israel, as described in Revelation 19:11-16.  “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?” (Joel 2:12-14)

Even at the point of the pending invasion, God was still asking Judah to turn to him.  He stresses that he wants a real turning of the hearts, not just a symbolic tearing of their clothes as a display.  He is a gracious and forgiving God. and had put up with a great deal, but was still willing to forgive if they would turn, blessing them instead of punishing them. He could miraculously supply even the crops for food and enough for sacrifices as well. 

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17)

If they wanted God’s blessing, they needed to spread the word and setting aside a period for getting close to God and setting themselves apart to hi,  They would to get everyone together, from the infants and children to the engaged couple to spend time getting close to God.  The priests and ministers needed to get down and pray, asking God to forgive their sins and deliver them from their enemies, because they had so completely turned away that other groups were asking where their God was. 

“Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.  Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.” (Joel 2:18-20)

If they would turn to him wholeheartedly, God promised to forgive them and answer their prayers.  He would send them abundant food.  People would no longer make fun of them.  The invading army would be defeated and driven away, and ultimately destroyed.  As we know from History, The Jews never turned to God and were conquered by Babylon.  In the Tribulation, they will turn to God and their enemies will be destroyed.  

Conditions In Joel’s Day

Joel 1:1-20

There is no way of determining exactly when Joel was written.  Schofield and others have stated that Joel was a contemporary of Elisha, but there is no evidence to support the claim, so far as I know.  Joel’s prophecies resemble some of those by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel’s.   

In any case, Joel’s prophecies were clearly accepted as being from God, as we see from Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:14-16.  “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.”

  

“The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.  Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?  Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.  That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.” (Joel 1:1-4)

They were going through a period of pestilence such as they had never experienced in their lifetimes.  Early crops had been devoured by an infestation of Palmer worms.  What survived the palmerworms had been eaten by swarms of locusts.  When they replanted, canker worms attacked the sprouting plants, and finally caterpillars invaded the growing plants, killing nearly everything.  While an infestation of one of these pests was not uncommon, having all of them in single year was unheard of.   Such an event signified something important. 

“Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it is cut off from your mouth.  For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.” (Joel 1:5-7)

Even the drunks and drug addicts could no longer ignore what was happening.  The insects had eaten off even the bark of the trees and vines, killing them so that there would not be a crop.  There wouldn’t be any drugs or alcohol even if they tried to steal it.  The economy was completely destroyed. 

“Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.  The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.  The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.  Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.  The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.” (Joel 1:8-12)

The churches and charitable organizations that the drunks and drug addicts had depended on were broke.  The farmers and workers who had supported the charitable organizations were starving themselves.  Even the solidest most dependable producers and industries had been wiped out.  They could no longer take pride in their ability to take care of themselves.  There was nothing left for them to feel good about. 

“Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.  Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.  Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.  Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?” (Joel 1:13-15)

Under the Law, the priests and temple workers were to wear their holy garments and keep themselves to a certain moral standard.  Joel said they needed to get themselves back to that standard, humbling themselves and weeping over their sin because the offerings were not being given.  As so often happens the leadership was the last to feel the effects of the sin and resultant problems.  They needed to call for a fast, a time of seeking the Lord, because it was God who was causing the things that were happening and they would only get worse if they were ignored.  The fact that they were already going without should be warning enough. 

“The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.  How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.  O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.  The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.” (Joel 1:17-20)

It wasn’t as if no one was trying, they planted the seed, and it rotted in the ground rather than growing.  The storage barns were falling down from lack of care because there was nothing growing to put in them or or pay for repairs.  The livestock and wild animals were starving because the Locusts and other insects have left no food for them.  The trees had died and dried up, and fires spread rapidly through the dried branches.   Even the wild animals were turning to the people for help, coming into the cities in hopes of finding something to eat or a little water to drink because the rivers were dry.  Grass fires destroyed any straw or stubble left from previous years. 

The main reason Joel has been assumed to be contemporary with Elisha is because of the famine during Elisha’s say.  In fact we know that there was also famine in Hezekiah’s day, and again just before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.   Internal evidence suggests Joel was probably written during one of these later famines, rather than in Elisha’s day.       

Feed My Sheep

John 21:15-25

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” (John 21:15a)

After they had eaten the food Jesus had prepared for them, Jesus asked peter if he loved him more than these.  Many have taught Jesus was asking if Peter loved him more than his fishing career, and as we see in scripture that is a very important question but Jesus’ question had a different point.    Petrer had been very proud when he said he would never deny the Lord.  In fact, Mark 14:29 tells us, “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.”  Peter was in effect saying,  I love you more than anyone else.  Jesus was asking if Peter still thought he loved the Lord more than anyone else. 

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

 Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” (John 21:15b-17a)

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him.  Each time Peter answered yes, but the third time he was kind of frustrated that the Lord kept asking him the same question.   He felt like the Lord didn’t believe him because he’d denied him.    

“Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.” (John 21:17b-19)

The Lord was driving home the point that even those who think they are the strongest mess up from time to time.  Each time Peter responded , “I love you,” Jesus commanded him to feed the sheep.  If we love the Lord, our job is to feed the Sheep, whether they are the new Crhistians who have recently been saved, or people who have served the Lord for fifty years.  It is our job to see that they receive the teaching and encouragement they need to grow and stay strong in the Lord.  We shouldn’t get proud and refuse to work with them because they aren’t living up to our standards, and don’t love the Lord as much as we do.  At the same time we shouldn’t quit because we messed up.  As Jesus explains, as a young man, Peter was able to do pretty much what he wanted, but the time would come when he was no longer able to feed and dress himself or decide where he wanted to go.     In fact, in Peter’s case they would take him out and crucify him. 

“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:20-22)

People don’t like focusing on their sin or weakness, so Peter attempted to redirect attention, Asking what John was going to do.  What John did or didn’t do would not affect Peter at all.  Peter needed to focus on serving God himself instead of worrying about what the others were doing.    God would decide what happened to John. 

“Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:23-24)

Jesus had said that some of them would not die until the Lord’s return.  Luke 9:27 says, “But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.”  They remembered what he had said, and when he stated that it was irrelevant to peter whether John lived until the Lord’s return, some of them assumed that Jesus was saying John would not die.  John is quite insistent that Jesus did not say he wouldn’t die, but that it was God’s business whether it would be John or one of the others who lived until the Lord’s return.    As a result of the disciples assumption, many believe John will be one of the two witnesses in Revelation 11, but as John points out he may not be. 

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25)

Even when we combine Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we only have a few of the most memorable of the things Jesus did in his time here on earth.  No one knows how many people Jesus healed or miracles he did that no one recorded.   We only have enough to make us know Jesus is the Messiah, and the accounts from four different men at different times and through different sources agree sufficiently to indicate the record is true, differing enough to indicate there was no collaboration of slavish copying each other.    

Jesus Appears Again

John 20:24-21:14

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24-25)

The other Apostles had been there when Jesus came into the room and revealed himself to them Sunday evening after he was resurrected.  Thomas was not there, and refused to believe the testimony of the others until he physically touched the scars from the nails and the spear in his side.    I guess he was from Missouri. 

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:26-31)

Jesus had instructed his disciples to meet him in Galilee at a certain place.  On Monday, a week after the resurrection, the disciples were assembled together as he had told them, and Thomas was with them.  Once again Jesus appeared among them without opening the doors, greeting them.  He then asked Thomas to touch the scars and believe.  Thomas didn’t need to.  He just called Jesus his Lord and his God.  Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for not believing until he saw, but he said that those who would believe simply because of the testimony of others or God’s word would be much more blessed. 

There are a great many people like Thomas.  While other people can believe without worrying whether Jesus was crucified on Thursday or on Friday, people Like Thomas need that information in order to make a commitment.  Until they are convinced of the Bible’s historical and factual accuracy they will not believe.   When we accept and teach traditions that cause doubt about the scriptures, we leave them with little hope of salvation.  Our doctrine is critical.  In I Timothy 4:16, Paul told Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”  If we are to win the people God has sent us to. It is critical we give them the information they need to make a decision.  II Timothy 2:15 instructs, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  If we genuinely care about people’s souls, we will study to make sure we are providing the truth so they can make real commitments. 

“After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself.  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.

They say unto him, We also go with thee.

They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.   But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ” (John 21:1-4)

Jesus appeared to disciples again, at the Sea of Galilee.  At the time Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and James and John were present.  Peter decided he wanted ot go fishing and the others went with him.  After fishing all night they had caught nothing .  The next morning they saw Jesus standing on shore but didn’t recognize him. 

“Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?

They answered him, No.

 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.” (John 21:5-9)

Jesus asked them if they had any food and they said no, so he told them to cast the net out the other side of the ship.  When they did, the net was filled.   John remembered that when Jesus called them the same thing had happened and told Peter it was the Lord.  Peter dove into the water and started swimming to shore, while the others rowed to shore dragging the net.  They were only about a hundred yards from shore. 

“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.  This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” (John 21:9-14)

Jesus already had fish cooking on the fire, but he told them to bring some of what they had caught as well.  When Peter pulled the net ashore and they started sorting them there were a hundred and fifty three big fish, each weighing several pounds.   It was far more weight than their nets would usually stand.  None of them dared ask who he was or how he knew where the fish were, because they knew he was the Lord.  This was the third time Jesus had appeared to them after the resurrection, about a month before he ascended into Heaven in Acts 1.  

The Resurrection

John 20:1-23

 

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” (John 20:1-2)

Long before sunrise, Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the tomb to finish the burial process.  When they saw the stone rolled away and were told that Jesus was not there, they returned to the city and told the apostles.  They were quite upset because they didn’t know where the body had been taken. 

“Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” (John 20:3-9)

Peter and John then went to the sepulcher, to see what was going on.  John ran ahead while Peter walked with Mary Magdalene.  When he got there John just looked inside and saw the grave clothes lying there empty, so he knew it was the right place.  Peter barged right on into the sepulcher.  When he did, he saw that the cloth that had been wrapped around his head was folded up and lying separate from the rest of the wrappings.  John followed Peter in and saw it as well, and believed what Jesus had said, although they still didn’t understand he would be resurrected. 

The description of the grave clothes, with a separate cloth wrapped around the head so that it could be opened to identify the body and the remainder tightly wrapped in similar to a mummy to limit the bloating as the body decayed is typical of Jewish burials of the time.   The description, and the fact that Jesus was not in the grave long enough to decay makes it very clear the Shroud of Turin cannot have been Jesus’ burial cloths, despite the traditions.   

“Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?

She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?

She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.  Jesus saith unto her, Mary.

She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. ” (John 20:10-17)

Mary remained at the sepulcher after John and Peter left, still concerned about what had happened to the body.  Looking into the tomb, she saw the two angels sitting where the body had been.  When they asked why she was crying, she said it was because she didn’t know where the body was and turned away.  Not expecting to see Jesus, she didn’t assumed he was one of the gardeners and didn’t recognize him until he called her by name.    He told her not to touch him because he had not yet ascended into heaven to complete his offering on the altar there.  He told her to go and tell the Apostles that He was going into heaven at that time.   

“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” (John 20:18)

Mary obeyed, telling the disciples she had seen the Lord and talked to him.  Apparently there was quite bit of discussion throughout the day Sunday. 

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20)

About sundown that same evening, the disciples were hiding from the Jews and had shut the doors to keep from being seen.  Jesus suddenly appeared among them, telling them not be afraid and showing the wounds in his hands and side so they would know it was really him. 

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. “ (John 20:21-23)

Jesus then gave them a brief description of what their job would be in the future, designating them to receive the Holy Spirit, although as we saw in John 15, he could not come until Jesus ascended into heaven.   Just as he had promised earlier, they would have the power to make sure people were saved during this life, and not have to wait until they get to heaven to find out. 

Jesus’ Death and Burial

John 19:23-42

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.  They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” (John 19:23-24)

After they had placed Jesus on the cross, the soldiers took his clothing apart at the seams civing each one a part.  In today’s society we would not even consider such an action, but in those days eachi piece of material started with a stalk of flax or a sheep.  Tthe flax h had to be beaten out to for the linen fibers or the sheep had to be sheared and the wool prepared, the linen or wool was then spun into thread by hand, then woven into cloth.  It took two or three months to make enough material for a man’s shirt, so cloth was a very valuable item and was not wasted.  They would carefully cut thing apart at the seams to keep from wasting any.  Jesus’ coat was woven using a special technique and had no seams, making it especially valuable.  They decided not to take it apart but to gamble for it.  In doing so they fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 22:18.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (John 19:25-27)

Every year, Jesus’ parents had made the journey to Jerusalem for the Passover, and this was no exception.   Mary was there when Jesus was crucified, accompanied by her sister, also named Mary, and Mary Magdalene.    When Jesus saw her, He directed John treat her as his mother.  At that point John took her to his home.  Despite his own suffering, Jesus was concerned that his mother not suffer more than necessary.    

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:28-30)

Knowing every other prophecy about his death to this point had been fulfilled. Jesus said he was thirsty, and they gave him a little vinegar mixed with gall to suck from a sponge.  Contrary to a popular teaching, people who were crucified did not die of suffocation because of the way their weight was supported by their arms, as was demonstrated by American POW’s who were tortured in Vietnam, often living for weeks as long as they were given water periodically.  Instead they died of dehydration and exposure.  The vinegar and gall mixture was intended to intensify their thirst, not to alleviate the suffering.    Giving it to Him fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 69:21.    

When he tasted the vinegar and gall, Jesus announced, “It is finished,” and died.  In doing so he fulfilled his prophecy in John 10:18.  “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again...”

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” (John 19:31)

According to Roman records, Most of those who were crucified lived two to three days before dying of dehydration.  When their legs were broken they usually succumbed within twelve to sixteen hours due to a combination of dehydration, shock, and internal bleeding.  The Jews requested that the prisoner’s legs be broken so they would die and could be removed before the Sabbath started.  Since the Sabbath officially started at sundown, such a request makes no sense if Jesus was crucified on Friday, as tradition claims, but makes perfect sense if he were executed on Thursday as the preparation for the Sabbath began at sundown Thursday. 

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” (John 19:32-34)

The Soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves, but since Jesus was already dead they didn’t bother.  Instead one of them ran his spear up through his side into the heart.  When he did, water and blood flowed out.  This does not indicate a broken heart as some have said, but that the blood had stopped circulating and the blood cells and plasma were beginning to separate in veins.   It is incontrovertible evidence Jesus was already dead before they pushed the spear into his side.  There is no possibility he just passed out and recovered consciousness after being placed in the tomb. 

“And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” (John 19:35-37)

John states that he personally witnessed these things and knows them to be true.  He is not writing what others had told him.  Jesus is the Passover, and as John observed they did not break Jesus bones, fulfilling the command about the Passover lamb in Exodus 12:46, “…neither shall ye break a bone thereof…”  They also partially fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 12:10.

 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.  And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.  Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” (John 19:38-40)

Matthew 27:57 tells us it was already sundown when Joseph went to Pilate for the Body of Jesus.  “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea…”  Assisted by Nicodemus, they wrapped the body with a large volume of spices to mask the odor of decays, following the Jewish custom.    It would have been illegal for them to do this if Jesus was crucified on Friday as it would have been after the start of the Sabbath.  The next two verses emphasize that when they buried him it was the preparation for the Sabbath.  By laying Jesus in a ready-made sepulchre thye would be free to spend the following day preparing for the Sabbath. 

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.  There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” (John 19:41-42)

Why does it matter whether Jesus was crucified on Thursday or Friday? Matthew 12:39-40 tells us, Jesus “…answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  In other words , the only special sign that was given in that day was that Je4sus would be dead three days and three nights.  It there are not three days and three nights between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning, no matter how you count, so if Jesus was crucified on Friday the prophecy has never been fulfilled and Jesus cannot be the Messiah.  As an atheistic professor said in one of my college classes, If God couldn’t even tell the difference between two days and nights and three, how can you believe anything else he says?  Satan has used the tradition to cause many to doubt the accuracy of God’s word.  By ignoring the scriptures and teaching the tradition, we help Satan deceive the unsaved world.  

Pilate Allows Jesus To Be Crucified

John 19:1-22

“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.  Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!” (John 19:1-5)

John writes the events as he remembers them.  Luke tells us that after concluding Jesus was Innocent, Pilate sent him to Herod, because he was a resident of Galilee.  It was obvious the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were determined to have him executed.  It there were outstanding warrants against Jesus in Galilee, Herod could deal with them and allow Pilate to escape having an innocent man executed or causing a revolt.  Herod’s conclusion was the same as Pilate’s, but in an effort to appease the Jews it was Herod who had Jesus abused by the soldiers, violating his rights.   When that didn’t appease them, Herod sent him back to Pilate as he was the one responsible for what happened in Jerusalem.   His choice was between the lesser of two evils.    

“When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.  When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.” (John 19:6-13)

Pilate finally brought Jesus to them telling them to take him and crucify him if that’s what they wanted.  They insisted it wasn’t what they wanted but what their law required, which made the problem worse for Pilate, setting Jewish law against Roman law, since he was a Roman governor.  He knew he would be held responsible if he allowed them to prevail.  After Jesus told him that the primary fault would be the Jews, rather than Pilates, and that even the Roman authority came from God, Pilate worked desperately to free him.  Finally the Jews threatened to accuse him of treason for supporting a man who claimed to be a king without Roman approval, and Pilate capitulated.  

“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!  But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.

Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King?

The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.” (John 19:14-15)

It was about noon when Pilate released Jesus to them, announcing him as their king.  They refused to take him, demanding he be crucified. And Pilate asked why they wanted him to crucify their king.  For over seventy years, the Jews had been fighting against Roman rule, yet at this point they stated they had no king but Caesar. 

“Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified.  And they took Jesus, and led him away.  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.” (John 19:16-18)

Pilate finally authorized them to execute Jesus, using Roman soldiers, and he was taken out to be crucified, carrying his cross to Golgotha.  He was fastened to the cross with ropes and nails were driven through his hands to prevent getting his hands free.  Two thieves were executed at the same time. 

“And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.  This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.” (John 19:19-22)

It was customary when a person was crucified to post a sign stating the crimes for which he was being executed.  Pilate wrote that Jesus was the King of the Jews, and the Jewish leaders demanded it be changed to say he claimed to be the king of the Jews.  In one final act of defiance, Pilate refused to make the change.  He obviously resented being forced to execute a man he believed was innocent.