In His Footsteps Week 24: The Crucifixion and Death

Send us a text

What if the events of a single day could change the course of history forever? Join us on Living Words Podcast as we explore John 19:17-42, delving into the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. We'll uncover the deep theological implications of these monumental moments, from the fulfillment of ancient prophecies to the profound display of God's sacrificial love. Discover the significance behind the inscription proclaiming Jesus' kingship and the careful preservation of his robe. Reflect on his compassionate act of entrusting his mother to his beloved disciple and the powerful declaration, "It is finished," signifying the completion of his divine mission and victory over death.

In the second part of our episode, we'll guide you through a heartfelt prayer inspired by Jesus' unparalleled compassion during his suffering. Learn how to cultivate a heart that mirrors His love, staying attentive to the needs of those around you and acting with kindness and responsibility. This prayer aims to help you find comfort and peace in God's care while reflecting His concern in your daily life. We wrap up with a blessing for a good week, inspiring you to embody and share His love with others. Tune in for an episode filled with deep reflections and practical insights to enrich your spiritual journey.

Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning and happy Sabbath.
Today is the 23rd week in ourdevotional In His Footsteps 52
Weeks in the Gospel of John.
I'm Charles Vance and this isLiving Words Podcast and if you
want a copy of this devotional,you can find it in the show
notes, a link to it in the shownotes, or you can find it on

(00:21):
Amazon.
Charles Vance In His Footsteps52 Weeks in the Gospel of John.
So week 24 is crucifixion anddeath of Jesus and the text for
the week is John 19, 17 through42.
Even though you know I'm goingthrough this devotional and I'm
reading it, basically, but Iwant to be as spontaneous and

(00:47):
natural as I can be.
This is really about findingthe heart of Jesus, finding a
way to transform our lives insuch a way that we can improve
our relationship with him andwith others.
So I'm going to try to besensitive to that.
Obviously, there have a.
Obviously there's a schedule,there's a pattern to this, but

(01:09):
you know I also want to leaveroom for spontaneity.
So I don't know if I may readthe scripture.
I may not read the scripture.
I may read it in King James, Imay read it in New King James, I
may read it in from thePeshitta, you know so it I'm
going to leave it open to theflow of the Spirit.
So, john 19, 17 through 42,.

(01:29):
It details the crucifixion,death and burial of Christ,
marking the culmination of hisearthly ministry, and it is the
central event in Christianhistory.
The passage is rich withtheological depth, prophetic
fulfillment, and it underscoresthe sacrificial love that Christ
has in his divine redemption,the divine plan for redemption.
You know, the death andcrucifixion is only half of the

(01:57):
story, though.
See, if you just leave it atcrucifixion and death, then he
was just a good guy and he diedand it's just too bad.
You know, there's nothing else.
That's the natural secularviewpoint.
You know, if you're an atheist,if you're an agnostic, if
you're a secularist, if you'rejust a humanist, and you just

(02:18):
say that, you know, when you die, you're just, you go to the
dirt, you become food for theworms.
And I tell you that's why wedon't leave it there.
And that's why, because that'snot the truth, that's why, you
know, later we talk about theresurrection, because when you

(02:44):
talk about the death and thecrucifixion of Jesus Christ, you
also have to, in the samebreath, talk about the
resurrection, because that isthe central theme.
That is the story, that is whatmakes everything about Jesus
Christ real and alive andmeaningful is his resurrection,
and the resurrection he promisesto you if you're a believer in
him.
He led us, uh, so, jesus, he'sled to golgotha.

(03:12):
He's crucified between twoothers and there are some key
moments and we know these arethe two thieves the thief on the
left and the right.
But there was an inscription.
You know, pilot placed theinscription above his head jesus
of nazareth, king of the jews.
It's in aramic, latin and Greekand it signifies his universal

(03:33):
kingship.
He is the Lord of Lords, he isthe king of kings.
The fulfillment of the scripture.
The narrative highlights thefulfillment of all the Old
Testament prophecies, such asthe division of his garment, the
casting of lots and theunderscoring of the divine
orchestration.
You know they didn't tear hisrobe.

(03:53):
If they had torn his robe, hispriesthood would have been
nullified, as when Caiaphas renthis robe, he nullified his
priesthood.
Yeshua Jesus was the priestafter a new order.
He was the priest after theMelech Zadig order, the order of
the righteous king.

(04:13):
He is the Malak Zadig.
The Malak Melchizedek is whatyou might hear in the more
common phraseology, but it's twoHebrew words Malak, king Zadig,
righteous.
So he is the Malak Zadig priestand if they had torn his robes
his priesthood would have beennullified.

(04:34):
We see his care for his mother,so from the cross, he entrusts
the care of his mother Mary tothe disciple he loved.
He emphasizes this, emphasizeshis concern for relational bonds
and responsibilities, even infinal moments.
And the completion of themission and he said it is
finished signified thecompletion of the mission and he
said it is finished signifiedthe completion of his redemptive

(04:54):
work.
There are theologicalsignificance the sacrificial
love of Jesus.
His crucifixion is the ultimatedemonstration of God's
sacrificial love for humanity,offering forgiveness and
reconciliation through hissacrifice.
It signifies victory over death.
Through the passage he detailsthe death and burial, it sets

(05:17):
the stage for the resurrectionand it highlights the victory
over death and sin.
Prophetic fulfillment, themeticulous fulfillment of
prophecy throughout thecrucifixion narrative
underscores the sovereignty ofGod and redolability of
scripture.
And you cannot understand infull depth the true context and
the true meaning of just howcomplex the meticulous

(05:43):
fulfillment of that prophecy wasbecause to the very moment, you
would have to understand thefeasts from the Hebrew
perspective, the Passover, allof the things that happened that
synchronized to the momentexactly what Jesus, as the Lamb

(06:03):
of God, was going through.
This was a rehearsal that hadbeen done for thousands of years
, and it was fulfilled to thesecond and it was fulfilled to
the second.
Some lessons to be learned fromthe death and crucifixion of
Jesus' ultimate sacrifice oflove.
His crucifixion represents theultimate expression of God's
sacrificial love for us.

(06:24):
His willing submission to deathon a cross for the sake of sin
illustrates a love that isincomprehensible in depth and
breadth.
This act of love invites us torespond in gratitude, devotion
and commitment to live our livesin a manner that honors His
sacrifice.
John 19.30,.
When he had received the drink,jesus said it is finished, and

(06:47):
with that he bowed His head andgave up His spirit.
Another lesson is thefulfillment of scripture and
divine sovereignty.
Events of his death, includingthe casting of lots for his
garments and his side beingpierced without breaking his
bones, all fulfilled OldTestament prophecies showcasing
the divine sovereignty.
Over the course of human historyUnderscoring God's redemptive

(07:10):
plan has been unfoldingaccording to His perfect will
and timing, care and concern andsuffering, and even in the
midst of his own agony, hedemonstrated care and concern
for the well-being of others,specifically entrusting the care
of his mother to the beloveddisciple.
This act of compassion amidstsuffering teaches us about the

(07:32):
importance of communityrelational responsibilities and
looking beyond our pain toattend to the needs of those
around us.
In John 19, 26 and 27, whenJesus saw his mother there and
the disciple whom he lovedstanding nearby, he said to her
woman here is your son.
And to the disciple here isyour mother.
And from that time on, thatdisciple took her into his home.

(07:58):
Questions for reflection.
Reflect on his declaration itis finished.
What does that statementsignify?
But the nature andaccomplishment of his mission?
It's finished means it's afinished work.
It means we don't need newprophecy declared to us fresh.
It's been done.
The prophetic word of Jesus iscomplete.

(08:21):
There isn't new revelation inthe form that some might think.
I think there's new revelationin the form that the book of
Acts is still being written, butI don't believe that there's
new divine revelation, as Jesushimself would do, because he is
alive in our heart now and he'srevealing his word that he's

(08:42):
already given us.
Some suggested prayers.
There's a prayer for gratitudeand devotion.
Lord Jesus, I stand in awe ofthe depth of your love displayed
on the cross for my sake.
Your sacrifice, a testament todivine love, compels my heart to
respond in gratitude.
Teach me to live a life ofdevotion, honoring the sacrifice

(09:03):
you made.
May my words, actions andthoughts reflect a heart
transformed by your love, andlet me never lose sight of the
gift of salvation you freelyoffer.
Amen.
Prayer for Trust in God'sSovereignty.
Heavenly Father, in thenarrative of your Son's
crucifixion I see thefulfillment of your words, the
unfolding of your redemptiveplan.

(09:23):
This strengthens my trust inyour sovereignty and the
authority of Scripture.
Help me to rest in theassurance that you're in control
, guiding history in my lifetowards your perfect will.
Increase my faith, especiallyin moments of uncertainty, to
trust in your promises and yourtiming.
Amen, and a prayer forcompassion and care.
Holy Spirit, in the midst ofHis own suffering, jesus showed

(09:46):
profound concern for others,teaching us the importance of
compassion and care even in ourhardest moments.
Cultivate in me a heart thatmirrors this compassion,
attentive to the needs of thosearound me.
Empower me to act with kindnessand responsibility, bearing one
another's burdens in love.
May my life reflect your careand concern, drawing others

(10:08):
closer to the comfort found inyou.
Amen.
My prayer is to go with youthis week and just in your life,
that you would find comfort andpeace in his care.
He cares for you, he died foryou, he rose again for you and
he's there now with you and foryou.

(10:29):
I just pray to have a good weekand you show his name.
Go forth.
Amen, and I'll see you nexttime.