THE ONLY KING WE HAVE IS THE EMPEROR! They had rejected their True king. Now they claim the Emperor, Tiberias, as their king. [_Caesar =_ Emperor.] This choice seals their doom, and in about forty years, the Roman Emperor will crush their nation and destroy Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY TOOK CHARGE OF JESUS. See notes on Matthew 27:32-66. John gives a few details. 25. HIS MOTHER'S SISTER. Matthew 27:56 identifies Salome as one of the four women ["the mother of Zebedee's sons"]. Since John does not give his own name, it would not be unusual for him to omit any mention of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY DID THIS BECAUSE IT WAS FRIDAY. Friday was "the preparation day" for the Sabbath [Saturday]. This would be a "double Sabbath," because it was the Passover. Victims were usually left on the cross until the bodies rotted away. But the Jews want to get it all over, to prevent ritually defiling the... [ Continue Reading ]
PLUNGED HIS SPEAR INTO JESUS' SIDE. They did not break Jesus' legs, since he was already dead. Just to make sure, the spear is plunged into his side. AT ONCE BLOOD AND WATER POURED OUT. _Johnson_ thinks this shows Jesus died of a bursted heart. The fact that John clearly identifies _blood_ and _wate... [ Continue Reading ]
36-37. TO MAKE THE SCRIPTURE COME TRUE. The prophecies about the Messiah were so complex that only the One who was the Son of God could fulfill them all! Compare Psalms 34:20; Exodus 12:46; Psalms 22:16; Zechariah 12:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASKED PILATE IF HE COULD TAKE JESUS' BODY. For notes on the Burial, see Matthew 27:57-66. NICODEMUS. Only John tells that he helped with the burial. [This is the third time Nicodemus is mentioned. _See_ John 3:1; John 7:50.] WHERE NO ONE HAD EVER BEEN BURIED. This is important, because of Jewish ide... [ Continue Reading ]