AM May 8th John 19

May 8^th              The Lord dies

28: After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29: Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 31: The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32: Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33: But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35: And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36: For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37: And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

The Lord is buried

38: And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39: And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40: Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41: Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42: There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Jesus realising that his time was nearly over he said, ‘l thirst’. This was not a request but just a fact. After this final fulfilment of scripture he declared his work accomplished the word is ‘Paid’. At this moment Christ bowed his head and died. Heaven gasped, Satan cried and men stood in silence. The Jews were concerned about their Sabbath. They requested that the crucifixion be brought to an end. So those men hanging with Christ had their legs broken and died. But when they came to Christ they found him already dead. The soldier who pierced the side of Christ noticed the signs of blood and water separation and evidence of death. Even in Christ’s death scripture is fulfilled. Joseph of Arimathea emerges from the shadows to arrange for the burial of Christ is his own tomb nearby. Nicodemus also stepped forward to assist Joseph. They wrapt Jesus’ body and included 100 pound weight of spices according to the custom of Jews to bury their dead.