3 Observations Of The Cross
We’re moving quickly through chapter 19 of the Gospel of John. Today we take a look at the crucifixion. Here are 3 observations, though not every observation, of the cross.
Close To Believing Is Still Not Believing
Pilate doesn’t want to crucify Jesus. After talking to Him, Pilate knows something is up with Christ. He knows that he doesn’t deserve to die. And, I think, he is close to believing.
Guess what?
That isn’t good enough. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I found that out early in life. I was on my elementary school basketball team and I wasn’t any good. I got to play when the game was basically over. I shot a lot and missed. I thought it was great that I was close a few times. The bad thing is I wasn’t pitching horseshoes or throwing hand grenades.
Close to believing is still not believing.
Details Are Important
Two things in this account tell me that Jesus.
First, the soldiers gambled for Jesus’ clothing. This happened to fulfill scripture. Imagine that. Dying on the cross, but holding on so that scripture is fulfilled. Jesus is concerned with details that were prophesied hundreds of years before.
Second, He looked at John and Mary from the cross. He told Mary to consider John her son. He told John to take care of her. While Christ was taking care of cosmic business of the grandest scale on the cross, He was also concerned with the personal care of His mother. What a God!!!
Jesus Is In Control
Finally, it’s over. But only when Jesus says it’s over.
Christ knew that all things had been accomplished according to scripture. He told the soldiers he was thirty. After receiving a sponge of sour wine, He declared it to be finished. He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
Jesus had shown he was in control in the garden of Gethsemane. He had been in control during the trial. Finally, He was in control on the cross. He died when He decided to die. Not when anyone else did.
These are three observations I found on the cross.
What do you observe from the account of Christ on the cross in the gospel of John?
“But only when Jesus says it’s over.”
Amen. What an assurance that He’s in control!
Ricky, that’s what has struck me throughout the gospel of John. But nowhere like at this point.
I have a secret. I grieve for Pilate. I hope that some time after the Bible let him fade in to history that he somehow came back to Christ and is waiting in Heaven to surprise everyone and fill us in on a great redemption story.
That would be awesome. I wonder how many others we don’t expect will be there?