JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:1 Jesus’ sentencing begins. FLOGGED HIM. Jesus was beaten before (v. John 19:1) and after being sentenced to death (e.g., Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15). It seems likely that this first flogging was the lightest form of beating that the Romans administered for minor crimes. John 19:... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:2 The CROWN OF THORNS is a mock crown ridiculing Jesus’ claim of being a king. The PURPLE ROBE (compare Matthew 27:28; Mark 15:17) is a mock royal robe. Purple is the imperial color. The soldiers’ actions are ironic, since Jesus truly is the King. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:3 HAIL, KING OF THE JEWS! mimics the “Hail, Caesar!” shouted to the Roman emperor. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:5 Pilate probably said “BEHOLD THE MAN!” sarcastically, as if to say, “What possible threat could this man pose?” John may have included this detail in his account to ironically highlight Jesus’ identity as one who truly is the perfect man. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElemen... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:6 CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM. On crucifixion, see note on Matt. 27:35. TAKE HIM YOURSELVES. Pilate uses sarcasm, fully aware that the Jews do not have the authority to impose the death penalty (see note on John 18:31). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:7 The Jews’ comment recalls Leviticus 24:16. See note on John 8:59. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:8 Pilate WAS EVEN MORE AFRAID. See the reference to Pilate’s wife’s dream (Matthew 27:19). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:9 HIS HEADQUARTERS. See note on 18:28. WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Jesus’ origins were frequently at issue in his dealings with his opponents (e.g., John 7:27; John 8:14; John 9:29). For John, there are clear spiritual implications to Pilate’s question (see John 18:36). GAVE HIM NO ANSW... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:11 FROM ABOVE refers to God. HE WHO DELIVERED ME OVER TO YOU probably refers to Caiaphas, the high priest (see John 18:24, John 18:28). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:12 Pilate remains unconvinced of Jesus’ guilt. He sentences him to die only after intense pressure from the Jewish leaders (vv. John 19:13). NOT CAESAR’S FRIEND. “Friend” here is likely a technical term, used here by the Jewish leaders to accuse Pilate of being disloyal to Caesa... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:13 The Greek for JUDGMENT SEAT here implies a raised area used for official judgments (see Matthew 27:19). The name GABBATHA also probably indicates a “raised place.” The exact locations of the STONE PAVEMENT and the judgment seat, however, are uncertain. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = doc... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:14 THE DAY OF PREPARATION OF THE PASSOVER may refer to the day preceding the Sabbath of Passover week (compare Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; see note on John 18:28). Thus all four Gospels agree that Jesus’ Last Supper was a Passover meal eaten on Thursday evening (by Je... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:15 By professing to acknowledge Caesar alone as their king, the Jewish leaders betray their national heritage (in which God himself is their ultimate King; see Judges 8:23; 1 Samuel 8:7). They also deny their own messianic expectations. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsBy... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:16 After being sentenced, the person was first beaten (see note on v. 1) and then executed. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:17 Jesus set out carrying HIS OWN CROSS until he collapsed on the way. Simon of Cyrene was then forced to carry the cross (see Matthew 27:32 and parallels). HE WENT OUT is in keeping with the Jewish requirement that executions take place outside the camp or city (see Leviticus 2... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:18 On crucifixion, see notes on 18:32; Matthew 27:35. Jesus’ crucifixion between two criminals recalls Psalms 22:16 and Isaiah 53:12. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); f [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:19 The INSCRIPTION indicated a person’s specific crime. THE KING OF THE JEWS. This is another example of John’s frequent use of double meaning and irony (see note on 3:14). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:20 ARAMAIC was the language most widely understood by the Jewish population of Palestine. LATIN was the official language of Rome. GREEK was the “international language” of the empire, understood by both Jews and Gentiles. Using multiple languages for the inscription made sure a... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:23 The soldiers’ actions fulfilled Scripture (see notes on v. 24; 12:37–40). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:24 John quotes Psalms 22:1 (the psalm most frequently quoted in the NT). Here David provides numerous prophetic details of the execution scene that are fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion nearly a thousand years later. This is the first of several references to Jesus as the righteou... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:25 On Jesus’ MOTHER, see vv. John 19:26 and John 2:1. HIS MOTHER’S SISTER may be Salome, the mother of the sons of Zebedee mentioned in Matthew 1:1 and Mark. On Mary the wife of CLOPAS, see Luke 24:18. Regarding MARY MAGDALENE, see John 20 [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:26 Jesus provided for his mother (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). She was almost certainly a widow and probably in her late 40s or early 50s, with little or no personal income. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:28 The reference to Scripture being fulfilled is most likely an allusion to Psalms 69:21 (compare Matthew 27:34, Matthew 27:48; see also Psalms 22:15). The SOUR WINE (see Mark 15:36) Jesus is offered here was used by soldiers to quench their thirst. It is different than the “win... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:30 IT IS FINISHED proclaims that Jesus had completed all the work the Father sent him to accomplish (see John 4:34; John 9:4), particularly his work of bearing the penalty for sins (see Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:25). The term GAVE UP emphasizes the voluntary nature of Jesus’ self-... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:31 On THE DAY OF PREPARATION, see note on v. 14. THAT SABBATH WAS A HIGH DAY (that is, a special Sabbath) because it was the Sabbath of Passover week. The Jews’ request was based on Deuteronomy 21:22 (compare Joshua 8:29). Bodies of hanged criminals were not to defile the land b... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:34 The flow of BLOOD AND WATER indicates that Jesus truly died as a fully human being with a genuine human body. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:36 NOT ONE OF HIS BONES WILL BE BROKEN. This is the third scriptural proof (see vv. John 19:24, John 19:28) cited by John to indicate that Jesus’ death fulfills Scripture (Psalms 34:20; also Exodus 12:46). The spear piercing his body likewise failed to break any bones. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:37 The second of two texts fulfilled by the Roman soldiers’ actions in v. John 19:34 is Zechariah 12:10: THEY WILL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED (also cited in Revelation 1:7). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var im [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:38 JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, a wealthy member of the Jewish ruling council (Matthew 27:57), asks Pilate for Jesus’ body, fulfilling Isaiah 53:9. The location of Arimathea is not certain, though some identify it as Ramah (or Ramathaim-Zophim; see 1 Samuel 1:19). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:41 Regarding THE PLACE WHERE Jesus WAS CRUCIFIED, see note on v. 17. GARDEN indicates a large space; a gardener is mentioned in John 20:15. TOMB. See note on Mark 15:46. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = do [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 19:42 Regarding the JEWISH DAY OF PREPARATION, see note on v. 14. The Sabbath was rapidly approaching. Work had to stop, including that of carrying spices or moving a corpse. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]