In the church Bibles.
1-0-8-8.
John chapter 19.
And I'll be starting in verse 28.
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished,
and so that scripture would be fulfilled,
Jesus said, I am thirsty.
A jar of wine vinegar was there,
so they soaked a sponge in it,
put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant,
and lifted it to Jesus' lips.
When he had received the drink,
Jesus said, it is finished.
With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Now, it was the day of preparation,
and the next day was to be a special Sabbath.
Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath,
they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
The soldiers, therefore,
came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus,
and then those of the other.
But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead,
they did not break his legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear,
bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The man who saw it has given testimony,
and his testimony is true.
He knows that he tells the truth,
and he testifies so that you also may believe.
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled.
Not one of his bones will be broken.
And, as another scripture says,
they will look on the one they have pierced.
Amen.
Good morning, everyone.
Nice to see you today.
I'm just going to adjust some things here.
Bear with me.
Well, let's have our Bibles open at John's Gospel,
Chapter 19, the text we just read.
We're going to look at together,
so let's pray first.
Father, would you reveal to us
the wonder of your word.
Would you show us Jesus
in all his greatness and glory.
And we pray, Spirit of God,
that you would give us a fresh understanding
a new experience
of what Jesus has done for us.
May it change us.
May it comfort us.
And may it challenge us.
Please help us now, we pray.
Amen.
Well, today is the beginning of Easter week
when we particularly think about
the death of Jesus.
But what has Jesus' death,
which happened more than 2,000 years ago,
got to do with you and I today?
Well, we're going to see how it changes
and transforms lives.
We're going to look at two things
from the text that was read to us.
Jesus' death was planned
and Jesus' death has purpose.
So planned and purpose.
First, Jesus' death is planned.
It's extraordinary.
Although Jesus has been arrested
by the chief priests,
put on trial by Pilate,
crucified by the soldiers,
Jesus has been in control of his death.
In other words,
the events that are unfolding
around his death
are not by chance.
They are a fulfillment of God's plan.
So look at what Jesus says in verse 28.
Later, knowing that everything
had now been finished,
that is, the arrest, the trial,
the mocking, him being crucified
on the cross.
And so that scripture would be fulfilled,
Jesus said,
I am thirsty.
Now this isn't just the random request
from a dying man.
Jesus is fulfilling
what scripture said would happen.
Go back with me, please,
to Psalm 69.
Psalm 69.
As we think about what Jesus has just said,
I thirst.
Psalm 69 is a psalm of King David
who is facing
into a death-like experience.
And it's these very words
that Jesus takes
and applies to himself
and to his own death
on the cross.
So, verse 1 of Psalm 69,
we can think of the sufferings of Christ.
Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in the miry depths
where there is no foothold.
I have come into deep waters.
The floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help.
My throat is parched.
Go to verse 20.
Scorn has broken my heart
and has left me helpless.
I looked for sympathy,
but there was none.
For comforters,
but I found none.
They put gall in my food
and gave me vinegar
for my thirst.
Now let's go back
to John's Gospel.
We pick it up again
in verse 28.
In verse 28.
And so that Scripture
would be fulfilled,
Jesus said,
I am thirsty.
A jar of wine vinegar
was there,
so they soaked a sponge in it,
put the sponge on the stalk
of the hyssop plant
and lifted it to Jesus' lips
and he drank.
You see,
Jesus is fulfilling
what has been planned
and what has been spoken of
in Scripture
decades,
centuries before.
Now you might think
this is all a coincidence.
But look at the events
leading up to his death.
Jesus foretold
what would happen.
Go to chapter 18.
Jesus is about to be arrested.
Chapter 18, verse 4.
Jesus,
knowing all that was going
to happen to him,
that is,
in reference to his death
and crucifixion,
went out and asked them,
Who is it that you want?
Down to verse 8,
the middle of verse 8.
Jesus said,
If you are looking for me,
then let these men go.
This happened
so that the words
he had spoken
would be fulfilled.
I have not lost
one of these
you gave me.
And then during his trial,
after the arrest,
Jesus has been sentenced
to be executed
by way of crucifixion.
And look what we read
in verse 32.
This took place
to fulfill
what Jesus had said
about the kind of death
he was going to die.
And now look at the events
after Jesus has died.
Chapter 19,
verse 33.
33.
You see,
the common practice
to speed up
the death
of someone
who was being crucified
was to break
their legs
because they would
lift themselves
up on their legs
to be able to breathe.
Break your legs
and you would suffocate.
So if they had not died,
the Roman soldiers
would come along
and break people's legs.
We pick it up
in verse 33.
But when they came
to Jesus
and found
that he was already dead,
they did not
break his legs.
Instead,
one of the soldiers
pierced Jesus' side
with a spear,
bringing a sudden
flow of blood
and water.
Verse 36.
These things happened
so that the scripture
would be fulfilled.
Not one of his bones
will be broken.
That comes from the Psalms.
And as another scripture says,
which comes from
the prophet Zechariah,
they will look
on the one
they have pierced.
You see,
all these events
that are happening
around the death
of Christ,
John,
the author of this gospel,
is telling us
that everything
down to the single detail
has been designed
and orchestrated
by God,
spoken of
centuries
beforehand.
Jesus' death
is not
a random
event.
It has been
planned
and purposed
by God.
So what does all
this mean for us,
the fact that it is
planned?
Well,
first,
that these events
are true.
We only know
what happened
around Jesus' death
because of those
who were eyewitnesses
at the time,
like John,
the author of the gospel.
He refers to himself
in verse 35.
The man who saw it,
that is,
John himself,
has given testimony
and his testimony
is true.
He knows
that he tells
the truth
and he testifies
so that you also
may believe.
How could anybody
make this up?
Scripture written
hundreds of years
before,
yet providing
intricate details
of what would happen
just as Jesus said,
just as the scriptures
in the past
had said.
And John records
all that has happened
for us
so that we can know
that this is true.
This is not made up.
And if it is true,
then it means
that these events
provide hope
for us.
You see,
if God has planned
and designed
what would happen
to Jesus,
then he has also
planned and designed
what will happen
in our life.
Our life
is not random.
None of us
are here
by accident.
The events
of our life
are known
from God
from beginning
to end
and are in the hands
of God.
He's in control.
He rules
over every situation.
Therefore,
you and I
can trust
in this Jesus.
We don't need
to fear
what will happen.
We don't need
to worry
about what will happen.
Everything
about our life
is designed
and planned
by God.
As the writer
of Psalm 139
says,
all the days
ordained for me
were written
in your book
before one of them
came to be.
Our being
here today
is planned
by God.
Where you are
tomorrow
is planned
by God.
I can say
that my life
and my death
are all
in God's
safe
and sovereign
hands.
these events
are true
and therefore
provide hope
for us.
But what kind
of hope
do we have
from the death
of Jesus?
Well,
this brings us
to the second
main thing
and we'll spend
a bit more time
on this.
Jesus' death
has purpose.
Look at verse 30
with me.
When he had
received a drink
Jesus said,
it is
finished.
And with that
he bowed
his head
and gave up
his spirit.
He died.
You see,
the religious
leaders
wanted
Jesus dead.
And the Roman
soldiers
made sure
that Jesus
was dead.
But this
cry,
it is
finished,
is not
a cry
of defeat,
I'm going
to die,
but this
is a cry
of victory.
You see,
Jesus' death
brings something
to its end.
It
is
finished.
Literally,
it's completed,
it's done,
it's over,
there's no more
work to be done.
The goal
has now
been
achieved.
So,
what is
finished?
What has
the death
of Jesus
completed
for you
and for
me?
Well,
the clue
comes for
us in
verse 31.
Now,
it was
the next
day,
or now
it was
the day
of preparation,
and the
next day
was to be
a special
Sabbath.
That special
Sabbath
was the
Passover.
So,
here they
were
preparing
for
the
Passover.
Passover
was the
big
highlight
in the
Jewish
year,
a national
holiday to
remember and
celebrate
their rescue
and redemption
from Egypt.
So,
on Friday,
the day
that Jesus
died,
the people
were spent
preparing
for this
special
Passover
meal.
Now,
if we're to
understand
the context
here,
and why
Jesus
Christ
it is
finished,
and what
it's got
to do
with
Passover,
we need
to understand
the whole
Passover
event.
So,
go with
me,
please,
back to
Exodus
chapter 11.
We're going
to read
and find
out about
what happened
during the
Passover.
Exodus
11.
So,
the story
so far
is that
God's
people were
slaves in
Egypt for
400 years
under the
cruel regime
of Pharaoh.
God had
heard their
cry and
had come
to their
rescue.
And to
force
Pharaoh's
hand,
God had
sent a
series of
nine
plagues,
all of
those
plagues
on the
Egyptian
people.
But Pharaoh
still wouldn't
let them
go.
So,
God warned
and said,
I'm going
to bring
a tenth
and final
plague.
We pick
it up in
chapter 11
verse 1.
Now,
the Lord
said to
Moses,
I will
bring one
more plague
on Pharaoh
and on
Egypt.
After that,
he will let
you go from
here.
And when he
does, he
will drive
you out
completely.
Verse 4.
So,
Moses said,
this is what
the Lord
says.
About
midnight,
I will
go throughout
Egypt.
And every
firstborn
son in
Egypt
will die.
This
plague
of
judgment
that was
going to
fall,
the tenth
and final
plague,
would fall
not just
on Pharaoh's
people,
but also
on God's
people.
Do you see
what it says
in verse 4?
I will go
throughout
Egypt.
You see,
no one
was going
to be
immune
from God's
judgment.
There was
no one
who was
truly
innocent,
not even
amongst
God's
people.
However,
God
showed
grace
and mercy
to his
people.
He provided
a way
of redeeming
them so
that they
could be
set free.
So,
chapter 12,
verse 1.
The Lord
said to
Moses and
Aaron in
Egypt,
this month
is to be
for you
the first
month,
the first
month of
your year.
Tell the
whole community
of Israel
that on the
tenth day
of this
month,
each man
is to
take a
lamb
for his
family,
one for
each
household.
Verse 5.
The
animals
you
choose
must be
year-old
males
without
defect,
without
blemish,
and you
may take
them from
the sheep
or the
goats.
Take care
of them
until the
fourteenth
day of
the month
when all
the members
of the
community
of Israel
must
slaughter
them at
twilight.
Then
they are
to take
some of
the blood
and put
it on
the sides
and tops
of the
door frames
of the
houses
where they
eat
the
lambs.
Verse 12.
On that
same night
I will
pass through
Egypt
and strike
down every
firstborn of
both people
and animals
and I will
bring judgment
on all the
gods of
Egypt.
I am
the
Lord.
The
blood
will be
a sign
for you
on the
houses
where you
live
and when
I see
the blood
I will
pass
over you.
No
destructive
plague
will touch
you
when I
strike
Egypt.
So that
very night
the angel
of God
came
and passed
over all
those who
were living
in Egypt
any home
with blood
on the
door
they were
kept safe
but any
home without
blood on
the door
the firstborn
would die.
Now this
may seem
strange and
odd to us
and we can
ask why
do they
have to
kill
a lamb?
Why do
they have
to put
blood
on the
door?
Well through
this whole
sacrifice
system
God was
saying
the
judgment
for sin
is death
but if
you take
a perfect
lamb
and slaughter
it
I will
accept
that death
as a
symbolic
substitute
for you.
Either you
are going
to die
or the
lamb
is going
to die.
either
the
lamb
gets
slaughtered
and its
blood
is
spilt
or your
blood
will be
spilt.
So in
the act
of killing
the lamb
and putting
the blood
on the
sides
of the
door
was an
act
of
obedient
faith.
Those
who
obeyed
were
trusting
in what
God
said.
It
was an
acknowledgement
that yes
we deserve
death
but God
in his
mercy
will
rescue
me
from
the
judgment
to
come.
He
will
pass
over
me.
Now
it's
this
Passover
that
was to
be
remembered
by the
people.
So
chapter
12
verse
26
and
when
your
children
ask
you
what
does
this
ceremony
mean
when
you
slaughter
the
lamb
and
you
put
blood
on
the
doors
verse
27
tell
them
it
is
the
Passover
sacrifice
to
the
Lord
who
passed
over
the
houses
of the
Israelites
in
Egypt
and
spared
our
homes
when
he
struck
down
the
Egyptians
then
the
people
bowed
down
and
worshipped
That's
the
Passover
and
this
is
the
Passover
that
everyone
was
preparing
for
as
Jesus
died
on
the
cross
as
they
were
getting
ready
to
slaughter
the
lamb
for
their
celebratory
meal
and
to
remember
all
that
had
happened
in
their
history
was
the
same
time
that
Jesus
was
dying
on
the
cross
the
same
time
that
the
lambs
were
being
slaughtered
now
go
back
with
me
please
to
John's
gospel
but
chapter
one
John's
gospel
chapter
one
here
John
the
Baptist
has
been
preparing
and
announcing
that
Jesus
is
going
to
come
John
chapter
one
verse
twenty
nine
the
next
day
John
saw
Jesus
coming
towards
him
and
said
look
the
lamb
of
God
who
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world
John
identifies
Jesus
as
the
fulfillment
of the
Passover
you see
the
slaughtered
lamb
was
only
symbolic
it
could
never
deal
with
the
sin
of
the
people
and
God's
judgment
fully
and
finally
in fact
as soon
as
God's
people
got
out
of
Egypt
they
rebelled
against
God
and
judgment
fell
again
and
this
pattern
continued
year
after
year
sin
judgment
!
death!
Sin
judgment
death!
So the
question
always
was
how
could
this
cycle
ever
end?
How
could
it
ever
finish?
Well we
only needed
to look
at the
cross
and hear
Jesus
cry
it
is
finished!
You see
it's on
the cross
that the
true
and
ultimate
lamb
came to
die
for the
sins
of the
whole
world
and
for
you
and
for
me
you
see
the
reality
is
all
sin
deserves
God's
judgment
look at
the state
of the
world
today
what we
see on
the TV
nations
at war
leaders
planning
destruction
innocent
lives
being
wiped
out
the
world
deserves
judgment
look at
the
violent
crimes
in our
own
country
vulnerable
women
attacked
and
murdered
children
harmed
and
abused
our
country
deserves
judgment
but
look at
my
life
look at
your
life
broken
relationships
angry
words
grudges
kept
selfish
actions
hateful
thoughts
but most
of all
our
rejection
of
Jesus
and
our
desire
to
love
ourselves
above
him
I
deserve
judgment
and
who can
bring
all of
this
to an
end
who
can
bring
it
to
completion
who
can
finish
the
judgment
that we
deserve
multiple
times a
day
but we
too need
to look at
the cross
afresh and
hear the
cry of
Jesus
it is
finished
you see
the death
of Jesus
completes
for us
an eternal
salvation
that remains
forever
here's
what the
death
achieves
for us
the curse
of death
is broken
and life
is given
death
is the
penalty
for sin
that was
true for
the people
of Egypt
way back
then
and it
is true
for all
people of
all time
and for
us today
but the
problem
with the
curse
of death
is
we can't
defeat
it
it's
going
to come
but as
Jesus
died
he was
taking
the penalty
of my
sin
and your
sin
the death
that I
deserve
for my
wrongdoing
is taken
fully
and completely
and finally
by Christ
yes
a day
will come
when I
will die
but that
will only
be a
doorway
into
eternal
life
to be
in God's
presence
with God's
people
forever
Jesus
is the
true
lamb
who breaks
the curse
of death
and gives
us life
it is
Jesus
who said
come to
me
and you
will have
life
in all
its
fullness
he cried
it
is
finished
the second
thing that
the cross
achieves
is that
the fear
of judgment
is removed
and peace
is received
when God
passed over
the homes
in Egypt
it was a
terrifying
thing
well one
day the
Bible tells
us that
God is
going to
bring a
final
universal
judgment
upon all
nations
upon all
people
and God
will pass
over
everyone
that will
be terrifying
but the
good news
is we do
not need
to fear
you see
as Jesus
dies on
the cross
he absorbs
God's
just and
right judgment
for me
the wrath
of God
falls on
Christ
instead of
me
he dies
for me
his blood
is spilt
for me
so when
that final
judgment
comes
he will
pass
over
me
Jesus
is the
true
lamb
who
removes
the
fear
of
judgment
and
peace
is
received
peace
with
God
for all
eternity
Jesus
cried
it
is
finished
and the
third thing
that the
cross
achieves
for us
is that
striving for
acceptance
is over
and assurance
is guaranteed
when the
family
slaughtered
the lamb
they would
put the
blood on
the door
frame
as an
act of
obedient
faith
they were
trusting
in God's
provision
of a
substitute
sacrifice
they were
saying that
this
innocent
slaughtered
lamb
is God's
perfect
provision
for
salvation
now
imagine
for one
moment
that one
family
said
well I'm
not going
to bother
with the
lamb
I forget
about
slaughtering
the lamb
and putting
blood on
the door
frames
I'm
going to
be just
fine
I'm
going to
trust
in me
well what
would
happen
they would
die
judgment
would
fall
because
they were
trusting
in their
own
performance
you see
the only
performance
that matters
is the
perfect
innocent
lamb
Jesus
Christ
without
blemish
without
sin
who lived
the perfect
full and
final life
for you
and for
me
and the
only
sacrifice
that truly
counts
is the
slaughtered
lamb of
God
Jesus
who dies
for me
and the
right
response
is to
trust
that
Jesus
sacrifice
is
sufficient
Jesus
cried
it
is
finished
imagine
that a
friend of
yours
goes into
your bank
and pays
off in
one lump
sum
your
mortgage
all of
it
paid
and you
go to
your bank
and or you
check out
your accounts
and you
realize that
money isn't
going out
anymore
and you go
I've come
to sort
out the
mortgage
there's a
problem
and they
say no
it's all
been paid
for
there's
no more
to give
the debt
has been
cancelled
the house
is yours
you can
live in
it and
enjoy it
no one
is going
to take
it from
you
or think
of it
like this
you go to
someone's
house and
they've got
dinner ready
for you
and you
say how
can I
help
is there
something
I can
do
no
it's all
been done
the meal's
ready
but what
can I
do for
it
no
just sit
down
eat your
meal
and enjoy
it
well that
is what
Christ has
done for
us
he has
paid it
all
he has
completed
the work
on our
behalf
our
striving
for
acceptance
is over
and our
assurance
is
guaranteed
not because
of who
we are
or what
we have
done
but because
of what
he has
done
for us
Jesus
is the
true
lamb
who cries
out
it
is
finished
he breaks
the curse
of death
he removes
the fear
of judgment
he overcomes
our striving
for acceptance
his death
secures
our salvation
forever
he cried
it
is
finished
let's just
take a moment
together
to reflect
as we
think of
what
Jesus
has
done
that he
has broken
the curse
of death
and gives
us life
in all
its fullness
he removes
our fear
of judgment
and we
receive
peace
he
overcomes
our
striving
and
guarantees
our
assurance
Lord
Jesus
thank you
for completing
that work
on our
behalf
for setting
us free
for giving
us life
and hope
we praise
you that
it is
done
there is
no more
but to
trust you
and enjoy
you
forever
help us
father to
go into
the work
into this
week
with these
words ringing
in our
minds
it is
finished
thank you
Jesus
for what
you have
done for
us
in
Jesus
name
amen
we're
going to
sing
together
man of
sorrows
the
first there
at the
bottom
says
lifted up
was he
to die
it is
finished
was his
cry
now in
heaven
exalted
high
hallelujah
what a
savior
we'll stand
together
as we
sing
a