Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 9

 

Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” (John 19:31–37 ESV).

 

The Reformers, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, viewed our reading today as a profound confirmation of Christ’s dual nature and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. They focused on the "blood and water" as symbols of the two central sacraments and the "unbroken bones" as proof of Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb. Calvin’s commentary focuses on the sovereignty of God and the meticulous fulfillment of prophecy. Calvin argued that the Roman soldiers’ decision not to break Jesus' legs was not an accident but a "divine restraint." He saw this as the literal fulfillment of the Law regarding the Passover Lamb (cf. Exodus 12:46), proving Jesus was the true sacrifice that ends all others. Further he wrote the soldier's spear was a "witness" to the world. He noted that even the enemies of Christ were used by God to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10 ("They will look on him whom they have pierced"). He interpreted the water and blood as a "double cure"—one to justify (blood) and one to sanctify (water) the believer.

 

Until that day, though, we continue to look upon Jesus on the cross, not just for our salvation as the Passover lamb, and not just for our continual forgiveness as our cleansing fountain, but also for our perseverance. So until that day, let us remember Jesus’ death on the cross, proclaiming him as our Passover Lamb and inviting all to cleanse in the fountain of forgiveness whenever we gather as a church. Until that day, let us meditate on Jesus’ death as we sit down together at the Lord’s Table, remembering his human body (bread) broken for us and his blood (wine) spilled for us for the forgiveness of sin. Until that day, let us sing of Jesus’ sacrifice, as so many have done before us and as we will all do for all eternity. Until that day, let us sing “Rock of Ages” by Augustus Toplady:

 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save me from its guilt and power.

 

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 8

 

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28–30 ESV).

 

Today we come to the last two “statements on the Cross” as John records Jesus’ words. It should be remembered that John was the only disciple actually present at the crucifixion. While he was the last to write about the events of Jesus’ ministry, his recollection certainly had great influence in the early church. James Russell Miller (1840–1912), was a prolific American Presbyterian author and pastor renowned for his devotional writings. He authored some 60 to 80 books, including bestsellers like In Green Pastures and Silent Times. His works sold over two million copies during his lifetime. He also pastored several influential churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, notably growing Bethany Presbyterian in Philadelphia from 75 to 1,200 members during his tenure. As we turn our attention to Jesus’ last utterance, it would do well to hear Miller on this topic:

 

The three hours of darkness was ending. The light was breaking. The Scripture tells us that Jesus then cried out in a loud, strong voice. It was not the cry of exhaustion and faintness; it was the shout of a victor. The cross seemed like defeat. Those who understood nothing of the meaning of the life and death of Christ, would think of Him as a man who had failed, all of whose dreams and hopes had perished. But we who understand something at least of the meaning of His mission and of the great purpose of His life, know that nothing failed. "It is finished," was the shout of a victor in the hour of His glorious success. It told of the completion of His work. All had been accomplished that He set out to do. His work was done. He had nothing more to do. There was no reason why He should live an hour longer, for the last task had now been done. A little while before, He said in His prayer in the upper room, "I have glorified you on the earth: I have finished the work which you gave me to do." When He said in dying, "It is finished!" He meant that there was nothing whatever left now for Him to do.

 

The phrase “it is finished” in the original language is τετέλεσται (tetelestai). It is from the root telos; which means to end (i.e. complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt), accomplish, make an end, expire, fill up, finish, go over, pay, perform). The root means "reaching the end (aim)." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength achieving the full capacity of effectiveness). Perhaps the most amazing thing about all of Jesus’ death is how the plan of God was completed in that very moment. It was revealed in the moments after Adam and Eve sinned (cf. Genesis 3:15).

 

The is much left to discover about the Cross Event; however, this we can know now. Jesus’ work of atonement was completed in that moment. There is nothing that remains for our debt of sin to be forgiven. That gives me such relief and hope. Even when I wildly succeed in doing a good thing, it would never be enough to pay the debt I owe. It would never be enough to prevent the death I deserve. Only Jesus’ act of sacrifice could do that. And now it is utterly finished! Hallelujah!

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 7

 

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:23–25 ESV).

 

Today as we continue the journey of making our way to the cross, I have come to this portion of the Gospel of John. It is a poignant look at the crass cruelty of Jesus’ execution. The soldiers assigned the task of performing the execution efficiently did their job. They had evidently done it many times before and approached the gruesome task with little or no attention given to either the victim of the bystanders. In fact, they see the clothes that were no doubt taken off Jesus before the scourging and began to divide them among themselves as “spoils” of their duty. The pain and horror must have been unbearable as Mary, her sister, and Mary Magdalene stood by powerless to intervene.

 

I hope you notice the significance of not tearing Jesus’ robe. Arthur Pink, one of the great preachers and writers of the 19^th Century wrote the following:

 

“The deeper significance of this is not difficult to perceive. Garments in Scripture, speak of conduct, as a display of character (cf. Psalms 109:18; 1 Peter 5:5). Now, the Savior’s "coat," His outer garment, was of one piece intimating the unity, the unbroken perfection of His ways. Unlike our "garments," which are, at best, so much patchwork, His robe was "without seam." Moreover, it was "woven from the top throughout" the mind of Him above controlled His every action! This "coat" or "robe" was a costly one, so owned even by the soldiers, for they declined to tear it to pieces. It spoke of the righteousness of Christ, the "robe of righteousness" (cf. Isaiah 61:10 ), the "best robe" (cf. Luke 15) with which the Father clothes each prodigal son. For this "robe" the soldiers cast lots, and we are told in Proverbs 16:33 that "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." Thus the action of these soldiers declares that the "best robe" is not left to the caprice of man’s will, but the Lord Himself has determined whose it shall be! Note another contrast; the sinful first Adam was clothed by God; the sinless last Adam was unclothed by wicked men.” – Arthur Pink

 

Humanity has been trying make for themselves “the best robes” since the sin of Adam and Eve. The only clothing that will do is the righteousness of Jesus! And, we do not “cast lots” for that privilege; it is freely given to all those who are the called according to the grace and mercy of God. Turn your thoughts with gratitude for being the child of God and having the best of robes to wear into eternity!

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 6

 

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39–43 ESV).

 

As I mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, today we take up the two thieves that were crucified on either side of Jesus. These two thieves, often called the "Good Thief" and the "Bad Thief," are not named in the New Testament but are identified in early Christian tradition—specifically the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus—as Dismas (or Dysmas) and Gestas (or Gesmas). Dismas asked for forgiveness and was promised paradise, while Gestas mocked Jesus, dying without grace. St. Gregory the Great, who lived from approximately 540 to March 12, 604 was a pivotal figure in early medieval history, and served as the 64th Pope of the Catholic Church from 590 to 604. In his work, Moralia in Job, he wrote:

 

“On the cross nails had fastened his hands and feet, and nothing remained free from torture, but his heart and tongue. By the inspiration of God, the thief offered to Him the whole which he found free, that as it is written, With the heart he might believe unto righteousness, with the mouth he might confess unto salvation. (Romans 10:10.) But the three virtues which the Apostle speaks of, (1 Corinthians 13:13.) the thief suddenly filled with grace both received and preserved on the cross. He had faith, for example, who believed that God would reign whom he saw dying equally with himself. He had hope who asked for an entrance into His kingdom. He preserved charity also zealously in his death, who for his iniquity reproved his brother and fellow-thief, dying for a like crime to his own.”

 

As we journey through this Lenten season, I pray that we would understand the wholeness of this work of Christ. Nothing needs to be added; it is a completed work. No wonder Jesus told the “good thief” his entrance into paradise would be “that day.” Anatoly of Optina relates a story that when the thief of the Gospel came to the gates of the Kingdom, the Archangel with the flaming sword wanted to chase him away, but he showed him the Cross. Immediately the fire-bearing Archangel himself withdrew and permitted the thief to enter. This was not the wooden cross on which he died; but the Cross of the Lord Jesus. We need no other identification or authentication than that! What will your confession be at that moment? Only faith in Jesus will gain us an open door!     

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 5

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” (Luke 23:32–38 ESV).

 

In today’s devotional I’ve chosen St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) to quote as we make our way to the Cross. He is renowned as one of the greatest preachers in Christian history, earning the moniker "golden-mouthed" (Chrysostom) for his immense eloquence. A Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople, he is best known for his powerful sermons, commitment to serving the poor, and for composing the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom used in Eastern Christianity. His preaching on the Cross and the love of God expressed in the Cross is incredibly impactful as we consider our own response to Calvary:

 

“But we are able to see Christ’s inexpressible love for man not only from the cross itself but also from the words which He spoke while upon the cross. At the very time when He was nailed and they were mocking Him, deriding Him and spitting upon Him, He said: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34)… At the same time that they were saying, “If You are the Son of God save Yourself,” He was accomplishing everything necessary to save these same ones who were reproaching Him. …He did forgive them, if they wished to repent, because if He had not forgiven them this sin, Paul would not have become an apostle;’ if He had not forgiven them this sin, the three thousand and the five thousand, and the many other thousands, would not have immediately believed.”

 

St. John Chrysostom famously declared the Cross a triumphant weapon and symbol of salvation, noting it turned the earth into heaven and served as a "trophy against the devil". He emphasized it as the ultimate proof of God's love and the source of human resurrection, transforming a symbol of death into a crown.

 

While there is much more to be seen in our reading today and we will look further at the two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus tomorrow; however, for today, I hope you will focus your attention on that center cross. There Jesus, the King of all kings proffered all that was necessary for every person ever created to be forgiven. It was a complete and perfect sacrifice. He paid the debt we could never pay and died the death we deserved!

 

Turn aside, even for just a moment, and recognize how great a love the Father has for you. The Apostle Paul said it this way:

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:6–9 ESV).

  

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 4

 

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18–25 ESV).

 

Continuing our walk to Calvary, I would not do well to omit a brief look at today’s reading. John Calvin emphasized that these verses highlight the stark contrast between human wisdom and divine salvation through the cross. He reminds us that the early disciples focused on how God deliberately uses the "foolishness" of a crucified Savior to destroy human pride and demonstrate true power. In fact, Calvin issued a warning against “… letting preaching eloquence obscure the cross,” stating we must not let it "lead Christians to be taken up with an outward glitter of words... or cover over the cross of Christ with its empty show as with a veil".

 

The sterility of a message of the cross as mere doctrine denies the active, saving power of God, which seems foolish only to those who are perishing. God’s methods are purposefully designed to humble human intellect, as even the "foolishness" of God surpasses human wisdom (cf. v. 25). One of the central themes for the Reformers was that because salvation is entirely God's work through the cross, "no human being might boast in the presence of God" (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:29).

 

The Apostle Paul says the message of a crucified Messiah is a "stumbling block.” He uses the Greek word σκάνδαλον (skandalon), which literally translates “a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare.” This ought to give us pause when we use methods that do not directly point to the horror of the Cross. Jesus, the King of kings, the Creator of all things, the Lord above all, was executed in man’s most detestable way; and, He was innocent of any sin or transgression. It cannot be understood by anyone without faith as anything but foolishness. We cannot mask the true nature of Jesus’ sacrifice with any sort of human explanation. Only the declaration of the Scripture in all of its simplicity will do:

 

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:6–10 ESV).

 

No wonder the reformers utilized our reading to support Sola Fide (faith alone) and Soli Deo Gloria (glory to God alone), reinforcing that salvation is not attained through human philosophical wisdom; it can only be given by God, Himself! Thank God for such a gift!

 

Making Our Way to Calvary - Pt 3

 

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:16–21 ESV).

 

It is essential to understand which came first of grace and free will. Reformers, following Paul in our reading today, emphasize that believers are a "new creation" in Christ, having transitioned from a worldly view to a spiritual one. Central to this is the doctrine of justification, where Christ takes on human sin in His death on the cross, allowing believers to receive his righteousness. It is a foundational text for the ministry of reconciliation, emphasizing the imputation of righteousness and God's initiative in reconciliation. In a famous sermon on Romans 8 that John Calvin later quoted, Augustine once preached:

 

“Yes, you act and are acted upon. And if you are acted upon by one who is good, then you act well. The Spirit of God who acts upon you is the helper of those who act. The name ‘helper’ indicates that you also do something… Grace does not destroy the will but rather restores it” (Sermon 156, on Romans 8:12–17, discussed memorably in Calvin’s Institutes II.V.15).

 

I have often used this principle when I teach people the difference between “I’ve got to do…” and “I get to do…” the will of God. Augustine again wrote: "To will is of nature, but to will aright is of grace". He emphasized that grace is essential for salvation and precedes all human initiative. The cross made this a possibility. Without the atonement Jesus made and thereby imputing His righteousness on to us, we would be as lost as Adam and Eve were after eating the forbidden fruit.

 

Still today we find ourselves wandering  through this great creation of our heavenly Father sewing together fig leaves to cover our nakedness and not realizing we have Jesus’ robe of righteousness that covers completely and perfectly. Listen to Augustine again: "O Lord, everything good in me is due to you. The rest is my fault …No greater gift has been bestowed by God". Dwell on that as we continue our walk to Calvary!