Read the Passage: John 19

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: John 19

Pilate’s Decision (19:1–16)

After the first phase of Jesus’ Roman trial, Pilate declared Jesus to be innocent (cf. John 18:38). While John omits the details that Luke includes (cf. Luke 23:6–12), in the middle of His trial Pilate sent Christ to Herod. Yet, Jesus refused to speak to Herod, thus He was returned to Pilate and the second phase of His Roman trial ensued. In John 19:1–6 Pilate had Jesus scourged, possibly with the goal of: (1) appeasing the Jewish leaders, (2) creating sympathy for Jesus in the public eye, and/or (3) demonstrating that Christ was not the dangerous, seditious criminal whom the religious elite had made Him out to be. Indeed, Pilate’s declaration in John 19:4, “Behold the Man!” seems to be a sarcastic statement directed at the Jews, not toward Jesus. Note that, as he had done at John 18:38, so again at both John 19:4 and John 19:6, Pilate concluded, “I find no fault in Him.”

Although Pilate is responsible for ordering the crucifixion of Christ, he clearly believed Jesus to be innocent. Indeed, As John reports, after declaring Christ to be innocent three times, “Pilate sought to release Him” (John 19:12). However, the Jewish leaders knew that like some politicians Pilate coveted power and position more than he valued justice and truth. Therefore, once the religious leaders made it clear that they would report Pilate to Rome if he released Jesus, Pilate caved in to their request to kill Jesus. Observe the Roman Emperor at this time was the notoriously brutal and unstable Tiberius Caesar—a man with whom Pilate was already in trouble due to instability in the region of Palestine. Furthermore, note the irony of the Jewish leaders charging Pilate with not being a friend of Caesar, as Pilate knew that the Jews hated Caesar and the occupying Romans forces.

Jesus’ Crucifixion (19:17–30)

In John 19:17–22 some details about Jesus’ crucifixion are given related to the Jewish leaders and Pilate. The text notes that after Christ’s Roman trial, Jesus, carrying His own cross, went to Golgotha to be crucified. Of all the Gospel writers, only John omits the details of Christ not being able to bear the weight of the cross, and Simon of Cyrene being conscripted to help. Note that John also omits the dialog between the two thieves, the three hours of darkness, the tearing of the temple veil, the resurrection of some of the dead, the confession of the Roman centurion, the earthquake, four of Jesus’ final seven statements, as well specifics about who was present at the cross. It seems John chose to omit certain details about Christ’s crucifixion, as he did not want to distract his readers from his ultimate goal of presenting Jesus as the Son of God (cf. John 20:31).

John 19:23–27 narrates further details about Jesus’ crucifixion, focusing specifically on the soldiers who were present, Jesus’ family and friends, and Christ’s last words. Here John details how the soldiers divided up Christ’s possessions. Only John notes that the casting of lots for Jesus’ tunic was a fulfillment of Ps. 22:18. John also gives some details about who among Jesus family and friends was gathered at the cross. This group included: (1) Mary, the mother of Jesus and wife of Joseph; (2) Mary’s sister, who is likely to be identified as Salome, the mother of James and John, and wife of Zebedee (cf. Mark 15:40); (3) Mary, the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and wife of Clopas, who is also called Alphaeus (cf. Matt. 27:56); and (4) Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. Only John records Jesus’ mother Mary being at the cross.

Christ’s Burial (19:31–42)

It was common Roman practice to leave the bodies of those who were crucified on their crosses until they asphyxiated, and then to allow the corpses to be eaten by birds and wild animals. Yet, the Old Testament specified, “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God” (Deut. 21:22–23). Since the Passover was at hand, the Jewish leaders asked Pilate for those who had been crucified to be killed and buried. John, who was an eyewitness to these events, notes that unlike the others who were crucified, Jesus’ legs were not broken. This was in fulfillment of Exod. 12:46; Num. 9:12; and Zech. 12:10.

Application Questions:

1. Why did Jesus not vigorously defend himself when accused? When is self-defense right or wrong? How do you respond to criticism?
2. Why was Pilate, the Roman governor, afraid when he heard that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God?
3. If Pilate was convinced of Jesus’ innocence, why did he assent to the death of one whom he knew to be without guilt?
4. Why did Pilate write a placard declaring that Jesus was king of the Jews? Why was Pilate unwilling to change what he wrote?
5. What did Jesus mean in declaring, “It is finished”? What impact should this declaration have upon the lives of those who follow Christ?