READ: John 19
Verses chosen for
meditation: John 19:6, 30.
6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him,
they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” .. .
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,
“It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
REFLECT
Michelangelo’s Pietà（La Pietà）is a remarkable marble
sculpture of Jesus and Mary at Mount Golgotha. This masterpiece captures the
poignant moment when Jesus, taken down from the cross, is tenderly cradled by
mother Mary. Rising behind Mary, the upright beam of the cross carries these
words, “There they don’t think of how much blood it costs.” Michelangelo’s
point was profound: when we contemplate the death of Jesus, we must consider
the price He paid.*
Chapter 19 accounted on how Jesus was delivered to Pilate to be trial
and crucified. Clearly, He was betrayed by His own people, ridiculed, humiliated,
abused and finally died. His final dying declaration was then, “It is finished”
(v.30).
Surely, we could not disagree with Michelangelo’s profound
point that believers today need to contemplate more on the death of Jesus with
the price He paid on the Cross. Imagine the
suffering Jesus has to endure was so immense, so much so that He has to pray to the Father, “may this cup be taken
from me…” (Matt 26: 39).
RELATE
Although Jesus is the Son of the Most High, He knew exactly how He would die (Luke 18:32, 24:7). But the Bible plainly tells us that He did not relish the experience.
He had to set Himself
to “endure” it as part
of the Father’s mission to Him. Hebrews
12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
…”. The man of sorrows is to endure,
meaning He is committed, not going to move but stay put in his spot and not
surrender it to anyone for any reason.
Scriptures were fulfilled unto Jesus one by one. He was humiliated and
betrayed by His followers, who once hailed, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13, Mark 11:9). Not long later, they all
betrayed Him and shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him!’’ twice (vv. 6 and 15) and
demanded his death (v.70). They divided His garments among them, and for His
clothing they cast lots (vv.23-24). Jesus was fed with sour wine (v.28), Jesus’
side was pierced, (vv.33, 36-37). In the final fulfilment, Jesus would be
crucified with two other sinners and be raised from the dead on the third day.
The price paid by Christ is captured in His dying declaration, “It is
finished” (John 19:30). The
term for “it is finished” (tetelestai) was
used in several ways - to show a bill
had been paid, a task finished, a sacrifice offered, a masterpiece completed.
Each of them is applicable to what
Jesus had done on our behalf
on the cross. That’s why the apostle Paul expressed that he has nothing
to boast about except the cross (Gal 6:14). He fully understood the price that
Jesus had paid with His sacrifice. The expression, “it is finished” is not a
defeated outcome. Death didn’t win. Instead, Jesus rose from the grace. What
a glorious victory!
As I contemplate
the sacrifice of Jesus, I often ask this question, “How could the Almighty God
died for a person like me?” But He did all because of love and He showed it on the cross! That is extent of God’s love for you and me. May
we response to love Jesus even more and give our all to Him. May we also endure any difficult moments till the end while keeping our
eyes fixed on Jesus alone, as we look forward to the final triumphant when
we Him face to face.
REST
Jesus, keep
me near the cross so that I can be humbled and deeply grateful for Your
sacrifice.
Song: “Once for All” (CityAlight)
https://open.spotify.com/track/4KzeAoeCuldRS1i33kzM2P?si=b9022f5b61164ce9
Vincent
*Source: The Cost | Our Daily Bread (odb.org)
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