The Death of Jesus (John 19:28-30)

This set of verses by John contains three details connected to the death of the Saviour. Two of them are among the sayings of Jesus commonly called the Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross. ‘I thirst’ is the fifth saying and ‘It is finished’ is the sixth saying. The connection to the seventh saying, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,’ is found in John’s description that ‘Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’ As we read this set of verses, it is obviously a very moving account of what happened to Jesus and it is not possible for a Christian to read them and not be affected by what they describe.

In addition, John is describing Jesus here as the master of what is taking place. Although he is dying, he is in control, and in control of several crucial things. We can see that he is in control of the fulfilling of the Old Testament prophecies; we can see that he is in control of the work of atonement (he knew when it was completed); and we can see that he is in control of his own destiny (he gave up his spirit). So we can consider each of those areas of control briefly. As we do so, we should remember the purpose of John’s Gospel – to bring to faith in Jesus and to strengthen the faith of those who believe in Jesus. We should see that what could have been regarded as a moment of tragedy is actually a moment of triumph and therefore a very suitable focus for faith.

His control of the Old Testament

John tells us that ‘Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”’ A first detail that comes to mind is the reality of the humanity of Jesus. He had been on the cross for several hours and no doubt was dehydrated. We have to remember that the pain of the cross was real to Jesus and it affected his physical frame. It was inevitable that he would have become thirsty.

A second detail is that although he was thirsty he put the needs of others before that of his own. The previous verses describe how he arranged for his mother to be taken care of by John, and we should realise that those instructions were given by a voice affected by thirst.

Then, a third detail is the reminder that the words of the Bible are always important wherever we find ourselves and whatever are our circumstances. It was prophesied of Jesus in Psalm 40 that the law of God would in his heart and no doubt it was in his memory as well. Obviously there is a reality that the Old Testament spoke to him in a way that it does not speak to anyone else, because he was the main subject of the contents. Nevertheless it was from the Word of God that his soul was fed and guided. Here he is at the end of his awful experience on the cross, yet with his mind (and heart) focussed on its contents.

We can see a fourth feature in the outlook of Jesus and that is his willingness to give to others the opportunity of serving him. We are told in Matthew and Mark that an individual brought sour wine to him, but that drink was offered to him earlier that day when Jesus had cried that God had forsaken him. So this occasion mentioned by John occurs later. So are the ‘they’? It could refer to the bystanders in general, although the immediate group that has just been referred to is the female disciples of Jesus who were standing near to the cross. If it were them that helped Jesus, would they not be grateful for the opportunity he gave to help him. Again, if it was them, it would be wonderful to know that the final act down on behalf of the living Saviour before he died was done by his people.

His control of the atonement

Our English translation gives the impression that Jesus uttered a short sentence whereas as far as this statement is concerned he spoke one word. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the English translation, only that we may miss out the dynamic effect of what Jesus was claiming when he spoke this profound word. This dynamic effect is strengthened when we see from other Gospel records that he said this word with a loud voice.

I suppose it could have been in John’s mind that his readers would ask if there ever was another time when Jesus would have said this word. We can direct our minds to two possible occasions when he could have. The first is when he completed the work of creation. John had begun his Gospel account by reminding or informing his readers that Jesus was the eternal Word who made all things. We can imagine the Son, with the Father and the Spirit, at that time saying ‘Finished’ to one another in an exclamation of mutual delight. And we can ask if Jesus is speaking to the same other divine persons when he cries ‘Finished’ on this occasion, because after all their delight in the completed work of Calvary would be greater than what they experienced at the time of creation.

The second time when Jesus could have used this word would have been in the workplace in Nazareth when he completed another piece of carpentry work for his neighbours. Their response would have been something like, ‘Another job perfectly done, Jesus. It is amazing that your work is always perfect.’ While it is the case that all his completed works on earth deserved admiration, there is one finished work that excels them all and that is the life of perfect obedience that he performed on our behalf. Like the imaginary neighbour in Nazareth, we can stand and say to Jesus, ‘It is amazing that your life was so perfect in thought, word and deed and we are grateful that you lived on behalf of us.’

As we hear Jesus announce this precious word, our minds should go back to the occasion when it was planned that he would say it at Calvary. The occasion was the eternal counsels when the persons of the Trinity arranged what each of them would do in order to provide salvation for sinners. It was the role of the Son that he should become a man and bear penalty for sin on behalf of a huge number of sinners, a number that no one can count. The task given to him was enormous, but he achieved it and provided for sinners like us such a perfect remedy.

Will there be a time in the future when Jesus will use a similar word? One date on which he will is during the period of the second coming when at some stage he will say, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ It will not take him long to do so, perhaps a second or two, and then he will say, ‘It is done’ (Rev. 21:5-6). Will it not be marvellous to hear his loud voice on that occasion and to recall his previous perfect finished work that allowed the future work to take place?

His control of his own destiny

Earlier in his Gospel, John records Jesus as saying that he had received authority to lay down his life from his Father. Now the moment had come for Jesus to do so. As we think about John's description several ideas come to mind.

First, the fact that Jesus bowed his head indicates that prior to him bowing it his head must have been lifted up. No doubt we can think of several moments when it would have been looking up, as when he turned to his Father and prayed for the soldiers who had crucified him. And we can think of times when he would have looked round as when he turned and spoke comforting words to the penitent criminal and said concerned words to his mother and to John. If we had been at Calvary, we would have noticed this, I am sure, and observed that he was now bowing his head and looking down.

Second, the bowing of his head reminds us that Jesus died with great dignity. In the hours preceding the cross and during the time he was on the cross he had been treated with contempt and cruelty. Yet despite the taunts and the pain he never for one moment acted without dignity. We know that death can be an undignified time for some. Jesus, despite his surroundings and his sorrows, provided the most beautiful death ever. As with everything else that he did, he died as we should have died in order to provide a perfect righteousness for us.

Third, is it too much to read into this action of bowing his head as Jesus preparing himself for entering into heaven? He had come forth from there as the Servant of the Father. Now he was about to go there, although he would leave behind his body for a short time. How should a Servant, even such a dignified Servant as he, enter into the presence of God? As far as his divine nature was concerned, he is equal with the Father. Yet here the Saviour, who had been sent by the Father, is about to enter heaven as the Mediator, the God/man and does so humbly because humility is the atmosphere of heaven.

Fourth, we have here as far as Jesus is concerned the lowest point of his humiliation even if it accompanied the time of his triumph. He is about to experience death and know what it is like for his body and spirit to be separated. Although it is the lowest stage, it is also the last stage of his humiliation. The next time they will be united, he will be the Lord of death and the grave.