In the first part of John 19, Jesus is condemned to death by Pilate. Then in the rest of the chapter John describes Jesus’ death. There are five truths that the crucifixion reveals to us.
John 19:19-20
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, The King Of The Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek.
Jesus is the King over all people.
The sign was put up to irritate the Jewish leaders, but it was the truth. Jesus is The King.
When I have traveled I have seen the sign outside of many towns which said, “Jesus is Lord over (the name of the town)” I thought, “No, He’s not,” because Jesus was not Lord of every person’s life in that town. One day I said that out loud and Jesus gently remind me that He was Lord and King.
Jesus is king over all people whether people acknowledge that truth or not.
Jesus’ Lordship is not dependent on my believing it or living like it.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is Jesus being King.
John 19:23-24
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from the top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.”
Jesus gave up all on the cross for us.
Jesus gave His life so we could have forgiveness of our sin and also eternal life with God.
Jesus had very few material possession. Jesus had only the clothes on His back. Those clothes were taken from Him and divided among the soldiers.
Jesus gave up everything for you and me on the cross.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is Jesus giving up everything for us.
John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, the disciple took her into his home.
Jesus was focused on the needs of His mother.
Jesus was focused on others as He hung on the cross.
Jesus’ opening words were to ask the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him.
When one of the thieves who was crucified with Jesus asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom, Jesus told him that on that very day he would be with Jesus in paradise.
All of these statements are evidence of His others-focus on the cross.
Jesus was not hanging on the cross focused on Himself or His pain. Jesus was not on the cross feeling sorry for Himself.
Jesus was on the cross for our benefit.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is Jesus being focused on us and our needs.
John 19:28
Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
Jesus did everything according to God’s will.
The Scripture reveals God’s will and God’s way, and Jesus fulfilled all that God desired.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is Jesus completely fulfilling the Father’s will.
John 19:30
When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
The last words Jesus spoke on the cross were not a cry of defeat.
The last words Jesus spoke on the cross were a cry of victory.
It is finished!
Jesus’ suffering for our sin was finished.
All that was necessary for our salvation was finished.
Jesus had done it all.
Jesus came.
Jesus lived a perfect sinless life.
Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice for our sin.
Then it says that Jesus bowed His head and gave up His spirit or His life.
Jesus was not murdered.
Jesus’ life was not taken from Him.
Jesus was in total control.
Jesus chose the:
Place of His death
Time of His death
Manner of His death
Jesus gave His life for us.
Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is Jesus giving His life to set us free from the penalty of sin, the power of sin and, one day, the presence of sin.
The death of Jesus on the cross is the only source of forgiveness of sin and of eternal life that exists. It is only through the death of Jesus on the cross that we can be accepted by the Father. It is only through the death of Jesus that we can know an intimate relationship with the Father.
Through the Death of Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
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