Reading for March 25th

 Read John 19.16b-30. In 19.16b-30: Crucifixion. Note the theme of the fulfillment of scripture in 19.24, 28, 36-37. In verse 17: Carrying his cross, that is, the cross bar. Golgotha is Aramaic for skull, perhaps because of the shape of the hill. In verse 19: An inscription of the charges was displayed. The Latin, "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum" provides the acronym "INRI."In verse 20: Jews spoke Greek and Hebrew or Aramaic; Romans spoke Latin. In verses 21-22: Jesus was executed as a political revolutionary, and Pilate is unwilling to appease the Jewish leaders.  In verses 23-24: The clothes were divided among the four soldiers. They cast lots for the more valuable one-piece tunic. Scripture, Ps 22.18. In verse 25: There are probably four women, two identified by relationship and two by name. It is unlikely that the sister of the mother of Jesus would also be called Mary. Mary Magdalene is probably named after the town of Magdala on the western shore of the sea of Galilee. In verses 26-27: John does not name the mother of Jesus here or elsewhere (2.1-5, 12; 6.42; 19.25). She and the disciple Jesus loved, who is not named either (see on 13.23), are committed to each other's care. They are portrayed here as ideal disciples. In 28-30: The death of Jesus. When Jesus knew, see 13.1, 3; 18.4. Fulfill the scripture ...  I am thirsty, probably an allusion to Ps 22.15; perhaps the fulfilling of scripture by the provision of sour wine (see Ps 69.21). Hyssop was unsuitable for the task but was an important part of Passover observance (see Ex 12.22), building a picture of Jesus as the Passover lamb. In verse 30; He said, it is finished (compare 4.34; 5.36; 17.4) ... and gave up his spirit: he was in control until the end. Comments or Questions..