4.6 Summary
The Diverse Testimonies About Jesus as the Messiah

Lesson 4 deals with the diverse testimonies about Jesus Christ as the Messiah presented in the Gospel of John. Through the testimony of John the Baptist, the first disciples, and through the encounters with Nathanael and Nicodemus, Jesus’ identity as the promised Savior and Messiah is revealed. Each of these testimonies offers deeper insight into the nature and mission of Jesus and shows how people recognize Him as God’s envoy and respond to His teachings.

John the Baptist: The Witness for the Messiah

John the Baptist played a central role as the forerunner and witness of Jesus. In John 1:19–28, John clearly understands that he is not the Messiah, but the one who is to prepare the way for the true Messiah. He testifies about Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This image refers to the Old Testament sacrificial system, where lambs were sacrificed for the sins of the people. John thus indicates that Jesus has come to serve as the ultimate sacrifice for humanity, correcting the prevalent image of a military Messiah.

By pointing out Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God, he directs attention to the spiritual dimension of salvation. Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies not through military power, but through His self-sacrifice and the sacrifice of His life. This testimony shows the central message of the Gospel of John: Jesus has come to restore the relationship between God and humans through His death.

The First Disciples: Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, and Nathanael

The first disciples of Jesus, including Andrew and Simon Peter, recognize Jesus based on John the Baptist’s testimony. Andrew hears John say that Jesus is the Lamb of God and follows Him immediately (John 1:35–40). Andrew then brings his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, demonstrating the immediate effect of the encounter with the Messiah. Jesus gives Simon the new name “Cephas” (Peter), indicating his future role in the church. This encounter shows how people, upon meeting Jesus, experience a profound change and enter His service.

Philip, another disciple, is equally enthusiastic and invites Nathanael to meet Jesus. In John 1:43–51, we see Philip telling Nathanael that Jesus is the one “about whom Moses and the prophets wrote.” Philip thus shows that he recognizes Jesus as the fulfillment of messianic prophecies. However, Nathanael initially meets this message with skepticism and prejudice against Nazareth, a city he considers insignificant. Instead of arguing, Philip simply invites him: “Come and see!”

This invitation is powerful because it gives Nathanael the opportunity to meet Jesus personally and overcome his doubts. When Nathanael finally meets Jesus, he is deeply moved as Jesus reveals that He has already seen him “under the fig tree.” This divine insight convinces Nathanael and leads him to confess, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49). The encounter with Jesus shows Nathanael that his initial prejudices were unfounded and that Jesus truly is the promised Messiah.

Nicodemus: The Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth

Nicodemus, a respected teacher of Israel and member of the Sanhedrin, comes to Jesus in John 3:1–21 to learn more about Him. Although Nicodemus acknowledges Jesus as Rabbi and sees the signs pointing to His divine calling, he does not immediately grasp the full meaning of Jesus’ mission. Jesus confronts Nicodemus with a profound spiritual truth: “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Nicodemus is confused, taking this statement literally. Jesus explains that this rebirth is not physical but spiritual, accomplished by the Holy Spirit, who renews a person’s heart and life from the ground up. This message shows that access to the kingdom of God is not achieved through external affiliation or knowledge but through a profound spiritual transformation. Jesus challenges Nicodemus—and thus us—to lay aside the old self and lead a new life in faith.

Nicodemus is initially hesitant, but this encounter shapes him. Later, when Jesus is crucified, Nicodemus appears as a follower of Jesus and brings expensive ointments to anoint Jesus’ body (John 19:39). His journey from intellectual curiosity to deep faith demonstrates the transformative power of a genuine encounter with Christ.

The testimonies of John the Baptist, the disciples, and Nicodemus about Jesus as the Messiah have direct relevance to our daily lives and faith. They challenge us to overcome our prejudices, doubts, and intellectual barriers and to encounter Jesus on a deeper, more personal level. Like Nathanael, we are often skeptical or blocked by preconceived opinions, but the invitation “Come and see!” shows us that the true path to faith is through personal experience with Jesus.

The testimonies of John the Baptist, the disciples, and Nicodemus about Jesus as the Messiah have direct relevance to our everyday lives and our faith. They challenge us to overcome our prejudices, doubts, and intellectual barriers and to encounter Jesus on a deeper, more personal level. Like Nathanael, we are often skeptical or blocked by preconceived notions, but the invitation “Come and see!” shows us that the true path to faith is through personal experience with Jesus.

This lesson teaches us that we should not merely follow knowledge or traditions, but must seek a living relationship with Christ. The rebirth that Jesus speaks of is a call to be renewed inwardly each day by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This renewal not only changes our perspective but also our behavior and our testimony to others.

The testimonies in this lesson remind us that faith is not static, but a journey of discovery, transformation, and growth. Whether we, like John the Baptist, courageously point to Jesus, like the disciples, tell others about Him, or like Nicodemus, seek deeper answers – we are all called to live out the testimony of Christ as the true Messiah in our daily lives.

Every day offers us the opportunity to be renewed internally through Christ and to grow in His grace.

 

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-4-witnesses-of-christ-as-the-messiah-4-6-summary-themes-in-the-gospel-of-john-living-faith/

October 25, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – John Chapter 19

¹ Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

² And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

³ And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

⁴ Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

⁵ Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

⁶ When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

⁷ The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

⁸ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

⁹ And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

¹¹ Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

¹² And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

¹³ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

¹⁴ And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

¹⁵ But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

¹⁶ Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

¹⁷ And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

¹⁸ Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

¹⁹ And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.

²⁰ This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

²¹ Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

²² Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

²⁴ They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

²⁷ Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

²⁸ After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

²⁹ Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

³⁰ When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

³¹ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

³² Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

³³ But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

³⁴ But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

³⁵ And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

³⁶ For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

³⁷ And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

³⁸ And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

³⁹ And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

⁴⁰ Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

⁴² There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

King James Version. Public Domain

 

Commentary

Introduction:

John Chapter 19 describes the end of Jesus’ earthly life and marks the climax of His journey of suffering. It begins with His scourging and mockery, continues with His condemnation by Pilate, and concludes with the crucifixion and His death at Golgotha. Despite the agony that Jesus endures, His sacrifice remains a profound sign of divine love and obedience. This chapter powerfully illustrates how Jesus fulfills the divine plan of redemption while those around Him act with injustice, betrayal, and fear.

Commentary:

John 19 begins with the brutal scourging of Jesus by the Roman soldiers. The crown of thorns they place on His head and the purple robe they drape over Him are clear signs of the mockery with which they ridicule Him as the “King of the Jews.” This act of derision demonstrates the deep contempt that both the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers held for Him. Nevertheless, Jesus remains calm and silent amid this suffering, highlighting His determination to fulfill the will of His Father. The contrast between His passive submission and the active cruelty of those around Him is striking. His silent patience, even in the face of the most severe physical and emotional abuse, speaks to Jesus’ profound inner strength and His dedication to the divine plan.

Pilate’s role in this chapter is ambivalent and tragic. Multiple times he attempts to release Jesus, finding no guilt in Him, yet he becomes increasingly pressured by the Jewish crowd and their religious leaders. It is particularly noteworthy how Pilate’s fear escalates when he hears that Jesus has declared Himself the “Son of God” (John 19:7-8). This designation awakens a deeper fear in Pilate that goes beyond the political—perhaps he senses a hint of the truth that Jesus embodies. Nevertheless, he cannot withstand the pressure. Pilate’s famous question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) from the previous chapter takes on a tragic dimension here. Although he has the truth before him, he ultimately decides to hand Jesus over to crucifixion out of political calculation and fear of a revolt.

The crucifixion itself is not only a cruel punishment but also the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. The description of Jesus carrying His cross and being crucified at Golgotha signifies His complete dedication and obedience to God’s will. John mentions two other individuals being crucified alongside Jesus, but the focus remains on Jesus, who hangs in the center. The fact that Pilate has the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” placed above the cross in three languages is symbolically significant. It indicates that Jesus’ work has universal importance—it is not directed only at the Jews but at all of humanity.

The division of Jesus’ garments among the soldiers fulfills another Old Testament prophecy mentioned in Psalm 22:18: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” This moment emphasizes the complete humiliation and degradation Jesus experiences during His crucifixion, yet He remains the sovereign King and the true Redeemer.

A particularly moving scene is when Jesus, from His cross, cares for His mother. He instructs John, “the disciple whom He loved,” to take Mary as His mother, and Mary to take John as her son (John 19:26-27). This act of care, even amidst His suffering, demonstrates Jesus’ deep compassion and concern for those close to Him. This too is a sign of His divine love, manifested not only in His sacrifice but also in the small, personal moments.

When Jesus finally dies, He cries out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). This statement encapsulates the entire work of redemption. Jesus has completed His mission—He has paid the price for humanity’s sins and paved the way for reconciliation between God and mankind. With this death, not only does His earthly life end, but also the old covenant. Through His death, Jesus establishes a new covenant in which people have direct access to God without the mediating role of the Old Testament priesthood.

Another remarkable detail in this chapter is that the soldiers do not break Jesus’ legs because He is already dead, and one of the soldiers pierces His side with a spear, resulting in the flow of blood and water. This scene fulfills two more prophecies: “None of his bones will be broken” (from Psalm 34:20) and “They will look on the one they have pierced” (from Zechariah 12:10). Here again, the continuity between the Old and New Testaments is evident—everything that happens to Jesus is part of the divine plan.

The chapter concludes with the burial of Jesus, organized by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. These two men, who had previously kept their discipleship secret out of fear of the Jews, now bravely come forward to prepare a proper burial for Jesus. Their actions testify to the profound impact Jesus had on those who truly recognized Him.

Summary:

John 19 describes the final hours of Jesus’ life, beginning with His scourging and mockery, leading up to His crucifixion and death. Despite the brutal treatment, Jesus remains calm and fulfills the divine plan of redemption. Pilate makes several attempts to release Him but ultimately succumbs to the pressure from the Jewish leaders and the crowd, handing Jesus over to be crucified. Jesus dies at Golgotha, proclaiming, “It is finished,” which concludes His mission to save humanity. The prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in these events, and Jesus is ultimately buried by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

 

 

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/25-10-2024-john-chapter-19-believe-his-prophets/