Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.

Pilate declared Jesus innocent, but ordered his crucifixion anyway. Maybe being consistent wasn’t his strong suit. 

Little wonder he had a sign nailed to the cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. Did he believe that or was he just insulting the Jews?

The sign did insult the religious leaders. “Change it to say he claimed to be king,” they requested (19:21). 

Fed up with the whole situation, Pilate said, “What I have written, I have written” (19:22). 

Those are the last recorded words we hear from Pilate. Earlier, he asked, “What is truth?” and now he’s inadvertently publishing the truth about Jesus, a truth neither he nor the religious leaders believed. But his proclamation was there for all to see while Jesus was dying.

John’s description of the crucifixion is strangely muted. Nothing about the pain and torture. John tells more about how the soldiers distributed Jesus’ clothes than about the prisoner dying naked.

He places greater emphasis on Jesus’ request that John care for mother Mary, than on Jesus’ slow and torturous death. 

He quotes Jesus’ words, “I am thirsty.” Jesus, who promised rivers of living water, now dying thirsty? 

John quotes Jesus’ final words, “It is finished.” Oddly enough, not “I am finished,” but “It is finished.” What exactly was finished? His life? His mission? 

When the soldiers found Jesus unexpectedly dead, they were surprised. Most victims lived somewhat longer. The soldiers pierced Jesus with a spear, bringing a flow of blood and water. 

This is the climax, the strange climax, of Jesus’ teaching about blood and water. 

After Jesus fed 5,000, he invited the lunch guests to eat his flesh and drink his blood. They were repulsed. 

Water was also important to Jesus’ ministry. John baptized him in water. Jesus changed water into wine, he advised Nicodemus to be born of water and the spirit, he offered springs of living water to a thirsty woman. He walked on water, he washed his disciples’ feet, he promised that faith would cause rivers of living water to flow from within. 

And now at Jesus’ death, blood and water flow from his side. 

Let’s pray. 

O Jesus, as the Rock of Ages hymn says,
    Let the water and the blood
      From your riven side which flowed
    Be of sin the double cure,
      Cleanse me from its guilt and power. 
(Augustus Toplady, Rock of Ages Cleft for Me)

Your mother Mary was present at your death, experiencing what Simeon prophesied at your birth, “This child will cause the rise and fall of many in Israel . . . .and a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35). 

John doesn’t describe Mary’s grief at your death. But we believe the water and blood that flowed from your spear-wound will wash away her pain and heal her grief. And we believe your water and blood have flowed for two thousand years, washing us today, quenching our thirst, causing your life to live in us.

We receive the gifts you gave on the cross. Help us to live lives worthy of your gifts.

Amen.

I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.

YouTube channel: Pray with Me – YouTube.