A Tour Through John, Lesson 32

Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

“They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”

25 And that is what the soldiers did.

• The soldiers cast lots for his clothing (vv.23-25a).
  • By custom, the clothing of the executed normally became the property of his executioners.
  • Gambling (v.24) was ever popular among soldiers.
  • The gambling for his clothing fulfills scripture (Psalm 22:18).
• Clothing:
  • In ancient times, garments included, among other things, tunic and cloak. The tunic was an undergarment (not underwear, but what would be worn indoors or while working). The cloak provided warmth and protection.
  • Like the garment of the high priest (Exodus 28:32), the robe was a seamless whole. John may be indicating that Jesus is our high priest (recall his "high priestly prayer" in chapter 17).

25... Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

• The women are standing nearby (vv.25b-27).
  • The men, on the other hand (with few exceptions), do not support Jesus in his time of need.
  • Many women supported Jesus both morally and materially. See Luke 8:3.
• Jesus must realize that his brothers are unable to take care of their mother. (Exactly why is a bit of a mystery to me. One writer suggests that Mary, because she believed in / was a disciple of Jesus, had become alienated to them. That makes sense, although by Acts 1 we see that his siblings are now included among the believers.) And so he entrusts his mother to the special disciple, who is the author of John. Tradition records that later Mary was taken into John's home, and that they even lived together in Ephesus, where John's ministry shifted in later years.
• A crucified person (vv.26-27) still had the legal power to declare his will, in this case planning for his mother's waning years.

28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

• Jesus thirsts (v.28), and receives a drink (v.29).
  • This is not the initial offer of a drink (actually, a mild analgesic), recorded in Matthew 27:34.
  • It was unusual for a member of an execution squad to allow or give a prisoner a drink. Apparently the soldier was touched, and showed a kindness to Jesus.
  • Note: The drink (v.29) was oxos, watered-down vinegar or cheap wine, popular among soldiers. Normally a branch of hyssop would be too weak to support a sponge. A couple of manuscripts (476 and *1242) read hyssos (javelin) in place of hysoppos. On the other hand, if the stem of the hyssop plant was intended, as opposed to a sprig, the weight could probably have been supported.
  • This fulfills Psalm 69:21-22; see also Psalm 22:15 and John 4:6,10,13-14; 7:37-39.
• At long last, Jesus cries, "It is finished!"
  • Salvation's work is done. (It will be complemented by the resurrection, ascension, accession, and outpouring of the Spirit.)
  • Matthew (27:50) and Mark (15:37) record a final cry of Jesus, but not the words. Here we have them. Luke also reports the words, "Into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
  • Jesus has been murdered by the leaders of the Jews, men who have betrayed their own nation.
• Jesus gives up his spirit (v.30), yet another example of symbolism in John. He surrenders his spirit to the Father, while making it possible to give his spirit to his followers (see chapter 20).

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

• Note: The Day of Preparation ends when the Sabbath begins (Friday sundown).
  • Originally the Greeks called this day prosabbaton (the pre-Sabbath [day]), but in time paraskeve (preparation), the modern Greek word for Thursday, supplanted it.
  • Some (mistakenly) think Jesus was crucified on a Thursday. For more, click here.
• Jesus is dead. His body hangs on the cross, as do those of the men crucified with him.
• In accordance with the teaching of the Torah, the bodies must be removed before sunset (Deuteronomy 21:23). Moreover, the Sabbath is about to begin (v.31), so the bodies must be removed quickly.
  • The legs are broken, which hastens death. The thieves are still alive, and so the soldiers break their legs.
    • The soldiers typically used an iron mallet for this purpose.
    • Skeletal remains of a crucified man were found in the area north of Jerusalem. One leg was fractured, the other smashed to pieces.
  • When they come to Jesus, however, he is already dead.
  • Just to make sure, a soldier drives a lance into his heart (v.34). This fulfills Zechariah 12:10.
  • Thus the scriptures are fulfilled (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20); not a one of his bones was broken. Jesus was our Passover Lamb.
• The result of the piercing (v.34) is a flow of blood and water.
  • Water and blood are significant. 1 John 5:6 says "This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood."
  • In the ancient world, many writers describe humans as being composed of water and blood. This means that the Gospel of John is underscoring the fact that Jesus is human.
  • The ancients easily believed Jesus was (a) god, but not (b) that he was human. The view that he was divine but only appeared to be human is called Docetism (from dokein, to seem).

38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

• Normally the Romans allowed the vultures to dispose of the body -- there was no proper burial for a crucified man unless the authorities extended kindness to the family. Usually they granted the body, although not usually in cases of sedition. This is an exceptional situation.
• Joseph' of Arimathea makes a request of Pilate: the body of Jesus (v.38).
  • Joseph has been a "secret disciple" (v.38). In light of 12:42-43, there is nothing commendable about this. But now he is coming out into the open, taking a risk in asking for the body of Christ.
  • Pilate agrees to Joseph's request. This makes sense, and fits with the other details in our account.
    • Pilate knew Jesus was innocent.
    • In a small way he was doing something good for Jesus.
    • Sadly, he caught a glimpse of the greatness of Jesus, but lacked the backbone to ensure that justice was done.
• Joseph must have known that Jesus' brothers would not be coming forward to claim the body -- or perhaps they made an arrangement with him.
• The body needed to be buried -- and soon -- yet Bethlehem (a family plot?) was too far away, and Galilee was impossibly far, especially with the Sabbath about to begin.
• Joseph's action is recounted in all four gospels. Like Nicodemus, he was a dissenting voice within the Sanhedrin. (See Luke 23:51.)
• Costly myrrh and aloes (v.39) are found also in Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17; and Song 4:14.
  • This is an enormous quantity -- enough for the burial of a king! (See 2 Chronicles 16:14.)
  • John is emphasizing here, and elsewhere, the kingship of Jesus Christ.
• Nicodemus joined Joseph (v.39), bringing myrrh and aloes, which would have offset putrefaction and covered over part of the odor of decomposition.
  • Note: Verse 40 is just one of many showing that the gospel is not written primarily for the Jews (Jewish Christians).
  • This was an expensive mixture, especially considering its sheer weight.
  • The weight of the spices, perhaps 100 lbs (c.45 kg) was enormous, considering that Jesus, apparently a man of average size, would have weighed no more than 150-180 lbs (c.70-80 kg).
  • Cadaver and spices together would have come to 250-280 lbs (c.115-130 kg), very difficult even for two men to shift.
  • Together the two of them wrapped the body in a linen cloth and laid it in a nearby garden tomb (v.42).
    • According to Matthew 27:60, this was Joseph's own family burial site.
    • Executed criminals were buried well away from the city (Josephus Ant. 5:44). In later times two burial places for the executed were provided, one for those stoned and burned, another for those beheaded and strangled.
• Thus the two cautious believers come into the light. Here is an implicit call for all true believers to take a stand for Jesus.
  • Nicodemus and Joseph came into the light, exposing themselves to criticism and worse. Is there any way in which I have been living as a "secret disciple"?
  • Do I need to come out into the open? be more public with my faith?