Crucifixion and Death - Week 25

John 19:17-42

Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Unless otherwise noted, on scriptural references are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Read John 19:17-42

1. The sign posted over Jesus was written in three languages. Why? Why does John note it?
(a) The sign, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews", was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. It was written in these three languages because they were the three most common languages in that time and place. (b) John, as with otherthings, writes on many levels. The most obvious is stated previously, that these were the common languages. However, also note the order these were listed. Hebrew, the language of the Jews, Latin, the language of the Romans, and Greek, the most universally known language of that time and the language of the Gentiles. John, by listing these languages, is also listing the people associated with these languages. This illustrates the point that we are all culpable for the Crucifixion of Christ, regardless if we are Jews or Gentiles. The Jew first, but also the Gentile. There is no partiality with God. St. Paul makes this same statement in his Letter to the Romans:

9: There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10: but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11: For God shows no partiality. (Rom 2:9-11)

2. Why did Pilate refuse to change the inscription? What is the irony in this?
(a) Pilate's reply to the chief priest is "What I have written I have written". An indication that he, Pilate, would not submit their request, which could be construed as submitting to their authority. (b) The irony is that Pilate did submit to their request for the Crucifixion of Christ. The irony is that when Pilated did this, he unknowingly submitted to the authority of Christ.

14: I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, 15: as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16: And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. 17: For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18: No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father." (John 10:14-18)

Another irony is instead of recognizing the crime they had just commited, the chief priests instead worry about the technicalities of why Jesus was crucified.

3. What Scripture was fulfilled about the division of Jesus' clothes?
(a) The Scripture fulifilled comes from one of the most famous Messianic passages from the Old Testament, Psalm 22:

16: Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet -- 17: I can count all my bones -- they stare and gloat over me; 18: they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots. (Ps 22:16-18)

4. Who is the disciple that "Jesus loved" in verse 26? Why did Jesus say to His mother, "Woman, behold your son" and to the disciple, "behold your mother"? What significance does this hold for John's message to his audience?
(a) The disciple that "Jesus loved" refers to John the Evangelist. (b) Once again, John writes on many levels. Superficially we see a son concerned for the well-being of his mother. However, we must also remember that Jesus is God. He could have taken care of His mother regardless of His death. However, as a git to us all (thus the use of the generic term disciple), Jesus gives His mother to us and us to her. John could have written "Mary, behold your son John" and "John, behold your mother Mary". However, John purposefully uses the term disciple so that all of us who strive to serve and follow Christ might recognize that we also count Mary as our mother. Recall also that John wrote the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation). In this book, we see the Blessed Mother depicted as the mother of one who battles Satan (the dragon).

1: And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2: she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery. 3: And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads. 4: His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; 5: she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, (Rev 12:1-5)

We later see another characteristic associated with this "Woman".

17: Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Rev 12:17)

So all "who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus" are her offspring. (c) This is significant to John's audience (i.e. all of us) in that we should recognize the importance of inluding Mary in our lives and especially in our faith.

5. What does the scene between Jesus, Mary and the Beloved Disciple suggest about the Perpetual Virginity of Mary?
(a) This supporst the Perpetual Virginity of Mary because, had Mary had other children (i.e. the brothers of Jesus), she would have been left in their care. Instead, Jesus leaves her in the care of his "brother", the disciple John.

6. What is suggested in verse 28 that Jesus now knew that all was finished?
(a) This suggests the omniscience of Christ. This also alludes the Passover sacrifice, Jesus being the sacrificial Lamb, as well as the High Priest offering the sacrifice. During the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the priesthood, however He was also partaking in the Passover Seder (Hogadah). The liturgy of the Passover is divided into four distinct stages, each prefaced by blessing a cup of wine and passing it around to all who are partaking of the passover meal.
The first cup is the "Cup of Opening". A festival blessing, the "kadush", was spoken over the first cup of wine, then was consumed along with a dish of green, bitter herbs. The second cup, the "Cup of Thanksgiving" is then served. Prior to distributing the cup, the narrative of the first Passover, Exodus Chapter 12, is read, then the youngest participant asks the oldest participant a series of questions. Among them is "Why is this night different from any other". Once this is finished, every sings Psalm 113, also known as the "little Hillel". Hillel means praise, and hillel Ya means prais Yahweh. This is where we get the word hallelujah. Now the second is passed around.
We now reach the main course of the meal. Grace is said over the unleavened bread and the lamb and these are served along with bitter herbs. Then a prayer is said over rhe third cup, the "Cup of Blessing", and then shared by all.
We now reach the great Hillel which is a long hymn consisting of Psalms 114-118. The final cup, the "Cup of Consummation" is then passed around. This is the climax of the Passover meal. However, we should note that the Last Supper only consists of the first three of these cups. St. Paul makes this clear in his fisrt letter to the Corinthians:

16: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17: Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. (1 Cor 10:16-17)

This is significant because Jesus says he will not drink of the fruit of the vine until ..............
Also note that the hyssop branch is used to adminster the fourth cup to Christ. The same type of branch used to sprinkle the blood of the lamb in the first Passover.

7. In verse 31 the Jews requested that Pilate have the legs of Jesus and the two thieves broken so that they might be taken away. What purpose was served in having their legs broken?
(a) Breaking the legs of a crucified man hastens death because, since they can no longer support their weight, they soon suffocate.

8. Read Exodus 12:43-50. In this section, God is giving very specific commands to the Israelites regarding the sacrificial lamb. What connection do you see between this and John 19:33?
(a) From the Book of Exodus:

43: And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the passover: no foreigner shall eat of it; 44: but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45: No sojourner or hired servant may eat of it. 46: In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth any of the flesh outside the house; and you shall not break a bone of it. 47: All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48: And when a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49: There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you." 50: Thus did all the people of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. (Ex 12:43-50)

9. Read Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 1225. The blood and water that flowed from the side of Jesus are types of what two sacraments?
(a) From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

See where you are baptized, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from his death. There is the whole mystery: he died for you. In him you are redeemed, in him you are saved. (CCC, 1225)

The Sacrament of Baptism and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

10. St. John mentions twice that it is the Jewish Day of Preparation (verses 31 and 42). For what feast day were they preparing? Why do you think John emphasizes this?
(a) The Feast of the Passover. (b) John wants to reader to connect the events of Jesus' death with the Passover meal.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

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Alfredo Nevarez
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