1st Movement: Pilate's Dilemma. Pilate was a man of great authority. He had the power of life & death. Yet, he couldn't extricate himself from this very difficult situation: What to do with Jesus? He ran the risk of executing an innocent man vs. losing his job (& possibly his life) if he did the right thing. He knows what he should do, but ends up doing the opposite, all b/c he was too weak not to try to save himself.
Read John 19:1-16
Hymns: O Sacred Head/The Old Rugged Cross
2nd Movement: The King Is Crucified. The titulus over the condemned man's head was customary, as a warning to others not to commit the same crime (hence it's being written in Aramaic, Latin, & Greek, so that everyone who could read would be able to know what Jesus had done). But this one took on even greater significance b/c it was a declaration of the truth -- a truth Pilate didn't believe (even though he wrote it), & one the Jews resented. Still, it was the truth, & it remained. At the foot of the cross there was a striking contrast taking place between the soldiers' heartless gambling for Jesus' clothing & the touching love of a Son for his mother, & of a Savior for His disciple.
Read John 19:17-27
Hymns: When My Love to Christ Grows Weak/Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?
3rd Movement: "It Is Finished!" Jesus' struggle to utter His last cry shows how important it was for Him to say it: "It is finished!" But why? What was finished? His earthly life? In one sense, yes, but He would rise again soon. The suffering of the cross & the sorry spectacle of cruelty & injustice? Yes, but there seems to be more to it than that. The plan of God, & Jesus' fulfilling it by His death for us all? Yes! The plan of God. Hadn't Jesus been saying all through the Gospel, "My hour has not yet come?" And later, "Now has the hour come?" And now, "It is finished!"
Read John 19:28-30
Hymns: Why Did My Savior Come to Earth?/Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
4th Movement: After Death. Even in death Jesus was abused, as a spear was thrust into His lifeless body, just to be sure. And even in death He continued to fulfill the Scriptures written so long before. Also, His death gave courage to some who previously had followed at a distance, but who now came out of the shadows & placed themselves at risk so they might honor Him with a decent burial.
But even as they placed Him in the tomb, there was a clear sense that this wasn't His "final resting place," that the story was not yet finished, & that God still had plans that must come to fruition. This is the hope in which we live today. The grave is certain, but death isn't the end of our story with God!
Read John 19:31-42
Hymns: There Is a Fountain/Nailed to the Cross/One Day!
Tommy South
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