Welcome to AtoZMom’s BSF Blog! Learn about the apostle John as we study BSF International, or Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)’s study of the book of John called “BSF John’s Gospel: The Truth.” See Jesus through John’s eyes and grow in your relationship with him in this rewarding bible study. See all of the 12 Apostles learn from Jesus as they walk with him to the cross and to our eternal salvation.
Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body. Along with Nicodemus, the two men wrapped Jesus’ body for burial in accordance with Jewish customs. They laid Jesus in a new tomb in a garden.
12) Jesus’ body would not decay with the preparation by the two men. He would be buried richly in death. He was placed in a new tomb with a heavy stone to guard the entrance.
13) I am awed by Jesus’ death and the wounds he sustained for me. The care fits our Lord and Savior.
Such reverence in Jesus’ burial. What a sight to see!
Normally, servants would prepare a body for death, but here these two wealthy men did. They washed Jesus’ body and ensured it was in pristine shape for burial.
The burial of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 53:9 ). It was proof Jesus was truly dead. His body would not decay (Psalm 16:10)
The burial allowed Jesus to conquer sin and death. As Jesus was in the tomb, he went to Hell to bring out the faithful to heaven (1 Peter 3:18-20 )
The tomb was Joseph’s, and it would be grand for a rich man as himself.
In Jewish custom, bodies were left in small tombs to decay. The bones would then be collected and put into ossuaries. The doors to the tombs would be heavy, so no one would disturb the bodies.
It was important that the tomb was empty so that no other theory or resurrection could take place except by the Hand of God.
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Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body. Along with Nicodemus, the two men wrapped Jesus’ body for burial in accordance with Jewish customs. They laid Jesus in a new tomb in a garden.
9) Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus and a member of the Council. He was a good and upright man who did not agree with Jesus’ death. Nicodemus was the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. He was a Pharisee who came to Jesus asking who he was. Jesus told him about being born of the Holy Spirit. He tried to defend Jesus to the Pharisees.
10a) They lost the chance to personally know Jesus and to bring others to him.
b) They risked excommunication from the church and their livelihood. They gained so much by worshipping Jesus this night as they buried him, including eternal life.
11a) I think many are afraid to give up control of their lives. Many are afraid to give up their sins and follow Jesus.
b) By giving Jesus the credit for my amazing life more.
I love how these two men who had the means to bury Jesus stepped up and did so. They overcame their fear for their Savior. Wonderful!
Normally, servants would prepare a body for death, but here these two wealthy men did. They washed Jesus’ body and ensured it was in pristine shape for burial.
The burial of Jesus fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 53:9 ). It was proof Jesus was truly dead. His body would not decay (Psalm 16:10)
The burial allowed Jesus to conquer sin and death. As Jesus was in the tomb, he went to Hell to bring out the faithful to heaven (1 Peter 3:18-20 )
The tomb was Joseph’s, and it would be grand for a rich man as himself.
In Jewish custom, bodies were left in small tombs to decay. The bones would then be collected and put into ossuaries. The doors to the tombs would be heavy, so no one would disturb the bodies.
It was important that the tomb was empty so that no other theory or resurrection could take place except by the Hand of God.
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The soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, fulfilling scripture that not one of his bones would be broken, and he would be pierced.
6a) He was pierced and blood and water flowed from his body, which are physical parts of our bodies.
b) Because so many people say that Jesus never came in human form.
7) Jesus was without defect/sin. His blood was shed to cleanse the people of their sins. No bones were broken.
8a) He was pierced for our sins, and his wounds healed us and took away our sins.
b) Profoundly. It gives me immense awe of Jesus’ actions for my sins, and I praise him all the more.
So much awe here — what Jesus did for us and how it was all planned from the beginning of time. Amazing!
It is presumed the soldier was making sure Jesus was dead by piercing him.
John was an eye witness to Jesus’ death so that we may believe.
The fact that prophecy (Psalm 34:20) was fulfilled leads us to belief in Jesus.
The water may represent a new spiritual life poured out onto all believers. The blood is what makes atonement for our sins.
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The Jewish leaders wanted the bodies removed for the Sabbath, so the soldiers broke the legs of the other two, but not Jesus’s because he was already dead.
3) If a body is left hanging, it would put the people hanging under God’s curse and desecrate the land.
4a) It’s pointless, really. They illegally crucified Jesus with a false trial and charges, so why follow the law now when they already broke the law?
b) To not be a hypocrite.
5) That he willingly died for my sins for me.
Great lesson on obeying all of God’s laws, not just the ones you choose to obey.
The priests wanted the bodies removed to avoid polluting themselves and Passover. Normally, Rome let the bodies hang as a warning to others to not break the laws.
Breaking the legs would hasten the death of people because they would not be able to support themselves on the cross and would not be able to breathe.
This was even more torture of men already being tortured — having your legs broken.
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Jesus asked for something to drink. Once he had drunk, he said, “It is finished,” and died.
11) His work of dying on the cross to save all of humanity from our sins.
12a) Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
b) He went to the cross willingly to die for us, and he gave up his life; no one took it from him.
13a) It means all of our sins are forgiven, and we will have eternal life next to God, the Father in heaven. We will be righteous and justified. We will be free from sin and eternal death
b) It means everything. Everything I do is for Him, and when my time comes, I’ll worship the Lord forever.
I love how every step Jesus took on this earth was for us. Amazing!
Jesus’ throat was dry, and he wanted to speak once more before he gave up his life. He had turned down drink before on the cross (Mark 15:23).
When you thirst, you thirst for Jesus.
“It is finished” is one word in Greek “tetelestai”. The power of one word.
Here, God laid down all of man’s sin on His Son. Christ bore it perfectly.
This was victory.
Jesus bows his head in peace as we see elsewhere in the Bible (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:28)
Jesus gave up his life; no one took it from him.
This was the defining moment in all of history.
Jesus spoke to John to tell him to care for his mother, who was at the foot of the cross, along with his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
9a) Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene and the disciple whom he loved (John).
b) Jesus never thought about himself. Here, he ensures his mother’s care by entrusting her to John.
c) Knowing how God is, His character, and His great love for me helps me endure hardship.
10) Always put others first because they may be suffering, too.
Love how women are tending to Our Lord and Savior and how Jesus cares for everyone here. I love how we can care for others who are not our blood and how Jesus calls us to do so.
Can you imagine how Mary felt, seeing the baby she born being tortured and crucified?
Mary has support from others who loved Jesus: Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. We see these two faithful women again at the tomb of Jesus’s resurrection.
John referred to himself in this way 4 times in his gospel (John 13:23, 19:26, 21:7, 21:20).
We also know it was John because he tells us he was at the crucifixion (John 19:35).
Bible scholars say Jesus did not call Mary “mother” here so as not to cause her even more pain and suffering.
We are unsure why Jesus chose John to care for his mother when Mary had other children. We do know that John will outlive everyone. John was the only disciple that we know of that was at the crucifixion. This could be honoring him.
“Here is your mother” signifies the new relationship John and Mary would have.
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Pilate made a sign that read “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews” and hung it on Jesus’s cross. The soldiers stole Jesus’s clothes.
6) The sign read “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.” The priests did not want “The King of the Jews” on the cross because they thought it to be untrue.
7a) He was left virtually naked.
b) Jesus was rejected by mankind and took on sin as his own.
c) The prophecy is found in Psalm 22:18. It helps verify that Christ is the Messiah.
8 ) He took my sins on himself as his own, allowing me to be cleansed and be with God forever. We were forgiven forever.
This passage emphasizes how Jesus endured intense suffering for all of us to live forever.
All of those who were crucified had their crimes written out so all could see their crimes.
Most people were crucified naked. Jesus, however, was not due to Jewish sensitivities.
Jesus’s tunic was of high-quality, being made of one piece of cloth. Again, we see scripture here as High Priests wore such garments. Exodus 28:31-32
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“Carrying his own cross, he [Jesus] went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.”
3a) I see the cross as representing all of humanity’s sins, so Jesus physically and figuratively carried our sins on his back.
b) Jesus took on all of our sins; it does not matter who you are.
4a) Truthfully, it’s hard to fathom for the average person in the 21st century. We are not surrounded by this kind of violence. We don’t see people die around us in hideous ways, such as in the Colosseum in Rome or being hung or strung up. So, it’s hard for us to imagine the kind of torture Jesus endured for our sins. Therefore, it’s hard for me to grasp the gravity of it all.
b) Our sins are indeed severe and deep. Jesus was tortured and killed for our sins. When you think about giving up your life for someone else, there’s not many who qualify. Jesus did it for all of us! Amazing!
5) Awe, gratitude, disbelief, praise.
The simplicity of John’s description of this horrific act is startling. It really makes the gravity of the situation come to life.
The Romans used crucifixion for the worst of the worst criminals. It was designed to extend the suffering to the utmost. While the Persians invented crucifixion, the Romans used it most often. Roman citizens were not crucified.
Bible scholars have many metaphors for Jesus being in the middle:
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