Final Hours, Part 2: Crucifixion
Jesus is flogged, mocked, and condemned while Barabbas goes free. Walk through the crucifixion, the inscription above the cross, and the seven sayings from the cross.
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The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.
Classroom Instructions
Lesson
Review & Preview
Suffering & Glory (John 12-21) – The Coming King, 12 – The Suffering Servant, 13 – Farewell Address, 14-17 – Passion, 18-19
John 19:1-16 (The Flogging & Judgment of Jesus)
Flogging & Mockery (19:1-3) ● The flagellum was a leather whip with pieces of lead or bone attached (EDNT). ● Roman law did not have the limit of thirty-nine stripes (cf. Deut 25:2f.; 22:18; Acts 5:40; 22:19; 2 Cor 11:24). ● A game of “Mock King” by an entire “battalion” of soldiers (Mt 27:27; Mk 15:16). ● William Lane states, “The delinquent was stripped, bound to a post or a pillar, or sometimes simply thrown to ground, and was beaten by a number of guards until his flesh hung in bleeding shreds…men condemned to flagellation frequently collapsed and died from the flogging. Josephus records that some were flogged until entrails or bones were visible (War II. xxi. 5; VI. v. 3). (TNICNT)
Pilate’s Verdict (19:4-16) ● I find no guilt in him! (18:38; 19:4, 6) ● Behold your King! (19:14) ● What I have written, I have written (19:22)
Custom to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd ● There is no record of this custom in extrabiblical accounts, however, this is not atypical to similar actions of political leaders who gave proclaimed favors to appease a crowd. Remember Passover is a “freedom” festival and Pilate appears to have been prepared to release Barabbas who was likely a “freedom fighter”. ● Bar-Abbas (His name means “son of the father”) – Insurrectionist (rebel/terrorist/freedom fighter/patriot)—Josephus frequently uses the term for those engaged in revolutionary warfare. – Well-known or “notorious” from the Roman perspective. – Sentenced for the very crime Jesus is going to be punished for even though Pilate perceived Jesus to be innocent.
– This is a picture of substitutionary atonement.
The Final Rejection of the Messiah (19:15) ● We have no king but Caesar
Conflict of Kingdoms ● ‘Repent’ = change allegiance
John 19:16-30 (The Crucifixion of Jesus)
Roman Crosses – keep in mind that the idea of uniformity of anything crafted in the first-century world is an anachronism from our post-industrial assembly-line world. So too, we should not assume that the methods of crucifixion were uniform. I, simplex X, decussata T, commissa t, immissa
patibulum, horizontal beam stipes, vertical beam titulus, sign with the charge Inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” ● Aramaic, Local dialect ● Latin, Official language of Rome ● Greek, Trade language of the Empire
The Via Dolorosa – Jesus would have likely carried a crossbeam to the site of the crucifixion. This entire parade scene was a common Roman public spectacle (Plutarch, Moralia 554)—it stood in clear juxtaposition to a Roman triumphal parade. This route may have been a half-mile if Pilate was stationed in the western palace. However, the traditional path, called the Via Dolorosa, starts at the Antonia fortress on the eastern side near the temple and wanders through the entire city.
“The place of the skull” | Golgotha Aramaic for skull | Calvary = Latin for skull ● The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built around 326 AD by Constantine to commemorate this event. ● Another proposed site is a skull-like rock formation near Gordon’s tomb.
Approximate Timing of the Crucifixion ● 6AM Sentencing (Jn 19:14 – sixth hour) Q: Roman Time? Approximation? ● 9AM Crucifixion (Mk 15:25 – third hour) ● 12PM Darkness (Mk 15:33 – sixth hour)
● 3PM Death, (Mk 15:34 – ninth hour)
Common causes of death ● Loss of blood, asphyxiation, exposure, scavengers. ● The average lived about 72 hours—the longest recorded was 9 days. ● Q: Did Jesus experience a pulmonary rupture? ● Q: What was the reason for breaking the leg bones of the other two (not Jesus)? Breaking the leg bones of the other two would have expedited their deaths by asphyxiation so that they would not remain on the crosses at the start of the Sabbath and week-long festival. The fact that Jesus’ legs were not broken is compared by John to the requirements of Passover sacrificial lamb (Ex 12:46). ● Q: What was the reason for piercing Jesus’ side? (Zech 12:10) Actions of Bystanders (19:23-27) ● Soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garments (19:23-24). This would have been a common practice to see the belongings of a defeated enemy as bounty to be procured. It also depicts Psalm 22:18. ● Women are gathered. As the eldest son, Jesus entrusts his mother to “the Beloved” disciple as a final act of his earthly life. Remember that Jesus has redefined the boundaries of family around belief.
The seven sayings of the cross
- “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”, (Lk 23:34)
- “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”, (Lk 23:43)
- “Dear woman, here is your son.” “Here is your mother.”, (Jn 19:26–27)
- “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?, (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34)
- “I am thirsty”, (Jn 19:28)
- “It is finished”, (Jn 19:30)
- “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”, (Lk 23:46)
Final Hours, Part 2: Crucifixion Instructions
Lesson
Review & Preview
Suffering & Glory (John 12-21) – The Coming King, 12 – The Suffering Servant, 13 – Farewell Address, 14-17 – Passion, 18-19
John 19:1-16 (The Flogging & Judgment of Jesus)
Flogging & Mockery (19:1-3) ● The flagellum was a leather whip with pieces of lead or bone attached (EDNT). ● Roman law did not have the limit of thirty-nine stripes (cf. Deut 25:2f.; 22:18; Acts 5:40; 22:19; 2 Cor 11:24). ● A game of “Mock King” by an entire “battalion” of soldiers (Mt 27:27; Mk 15:16). ● William Lane states, “The delinquent was stripped, bound to a post or a pillar, or sometimes simply thrown to ground, and was beaten by a number of guards until his flesh hung in bleeding shreds…men condemned to flagellation frequently collapsed and died from the flogging. Josephus records that some were flogged until entrails or bones were visible (War II. xxi. 5; VI. v. 3). (TNICNT)
Pilate’s Verdict (19:4-16) ● I find no guilt in him! (18:38; 19:4, 6) ● Behold your King! (19:14) ● What I have written, I have written (19:22)
Custom to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd ● There is no record of this custom in extrabiblical accounts, however, this is not atypical to similar actions of political leaders who gave proclaimed favors to appease a crowd. Remember Passover is a “freedom” festival and Pilate appears to have been prepared to release Barabbas who was likely a “freedom fighter”. ● Bar-Abbas (His name means “son of the father”) – Insurrectionist (rebel/terrorist/freedom fighter/patriot)—Josephus frequently uses the term for those engaged in revolutionary warfare. – Well-known or “notorious” from the Roman perspective. – Sentenced for the very crime Jesus is going to be punished for even though Pilate perceived Jesus to be innocent.
– This is a picture of substitutionary atonement.
The Final Rejection of the Messiah (19:15) ● We have no king but Caesar
Conflict of Kingdoms ● ‘Repent’ = change allegiance
John 19:16-30 (The Crucifixion of Jesus)
Roman Crosses – keep in mind that the idea of uniformity of anything crafted in the first-century world is an anachronism from our post-industrial assembly-line world. So too, we should not assume that the methods of crucifixion were uniform. I, simplex X, decussata T, commissa t, immissa
patibulum, horizontal beam stipes, vertical beam titulus, sign with the charge Inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” ● Aramaic, Local dialect ● Latin, Official language of Rome ● Greek, Trade language of the Empire
The Via Dolorosa – Jesus would have likely carried a crossbeam to the site of the crucifixion. This entire parade scene was a common Roman public spectacle (Plutarch, Moralia 554)—it stood in clear juxtaposition to a Roman triumphal parade. This route may have been a half-mile if Pilate was stationed in the western palace. However, the traditional path, called the Via Dolorosa, starts at the Antonia fortress on the eastern side near the temple and wanders through the entire city.
“The place of the skull” | Golgotha Aramaic for skull | Calvary = Latin for skull ● The Church of the Holy Sepulcher was built around 326 AD by Constantine to commemorate this event. ● Another proposed site is a skull-like rock formation near Gordon’s tomb.
Approximate Timing of the Crucifixion ● 6AM Sentencing (Jn 19:14 – sixth hour) Q: Roman Time? Approximation? ● 9AM Crucifixion (Mk 15:25 – third hour) ● 12PM Darkness (Mk 15:33 – sixth hour)
● 3PM Death, (Mk 15:34 – ninth hour)
Common causes of death ● Loss of blood, asphyxiation, exposure, scavengers. ● The average lived about 72 hours—the longest recorded was 9 days. ● Q: Did Jesus experience a pulmonary rupture? ● Q: What was the reason for breaking the leg bones of the other two (not Jesus)? Breaking the leg bones of the other two would have expedited their deaths by asphyxiation so that they would not remain on the crosses at the start of the Sabbath and week-long festival. The fact that Jesus’ legs were not broken is compared by John to the requirements of Passover sacrificial lamb (Ex 12:46). ● Q: What was the reason for piercing Jesus’ side? (Zech 12:10) Actions of Bystanders (19:23-27) ● Soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ garments (19:23-24). This would have been a common practice to see the belongings of a defeated enemy as bounty to be procured. It also depicts Psalm 22:18. ● Women are gathered. As the eldest son, Jesus entrusts his mother to “the Beloved” disciple as a final act of his earthly life. Remember that Jesus has redefined the boundaries of family around belief.
The seven sayings of the cross
- “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”, (Lk 23:34)
- “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”, (Lk 23:43)
- “Dear woman, here is your son.” “Here is your mother.”, (Jn 19:26–27)
- “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?, (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34)
- “I am thirsty”, (Jn 19:28)
- “It is finished”, (Jn 19:30)
- “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”, (Lk 23:46)