John 19

Atonement

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. John 19:1

Jesus is whipped before His crucifixion. Latter-day Saints see His suffering as part of the Atonement, the price He paid so we could be healed.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils Isaiah 53:5 — "with his stripes we are healed"
• the same event in Matthew 27:26 — Matthew's account of the scourging

King of the Jews

King of the Jews — the promised Son of David, rightful King of Israel

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, John 19:2–3

The soldiers mock Jesus with a crown, robe and title, not knowing the title is true. He really is the King, and He wears a crown of thorns to redeem His people.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Matthew 27:28-29 — the mocking with robe and crown of thorns
• fulfils Isaiah 53:3 — "He is despised and rejected of men"

Jesus

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. John 19:4–6

Pilate three times declares Jesus innocent, then presents Him to the crowd. The sinless One is condemned anyway, like a lamb without blemish offered for others.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Luke 23:4 — Pilate: "I find no fault in this man"
• alludes to 1 Peter 1:19 — Christ as "a lamb without blemish and without spot"

Son of God

Son of God — the literal Son of the Father

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. John 19:7

The accusers state the real reason they want Him dead: He claimed to be the Son of God. What they called blasphemy is the central truth of the gospel.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in John 10:36 — Jesus: "I said, I am the Son of God"

Jesus

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. John 19:9–11

Jesus stays silent, then tells Pilate that his power comes only from above. Jesus is not a victim of Pilate; He is giving His life willingly according to the Father's plan.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:7 — "he openeth not his mouth"
• alludes to John 10:18 — "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself"

King of the Jews

King of the Jews — the promised Son of David, rightful King of Israel

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. John 19:12–15

Pilate presents Jesus as their King, and the leaders reject Him for Caesar. The irony is that Israel's true King stands before them and they choose a Roman emperor instead.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Zechariah 9:9 — "behold, thy King cometh unto thee"
• the same title in John 1:49 — Nathanael: "thou art the King of Israel"

Passover Lamb

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! John 19:14

John times Jesus' condemnation to the day the Passover lambs were being prepared. Jesus is the true Passover Lamb whose blood saves God's people from death.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• typified by Exodus 12:6 — the Passover lamb killed by the congregation of Israel
• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 5:7 — "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us"
• the same title in John 1:29 — "Behold the Lamb of God"

Crucifixion

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. John 19:16–18

Jesus carries His cross to Golgotha and is crucified between two criminals. Even this detail fulfills Isaiah's prophecy that He would be counted among sinners.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:12 — "he was numbered with the transgressors"
• the same event in Luke 23:33 — crucified at Calvary between two malefactors

Isaac (type)

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: John 19:17

As Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice up Mount Moriah, Jesus carries the wood of His cross. Abraham offering his son is a similitude of the Father offering His Only Begotten (Jacob 4:5).

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• typified by Genesis 22:6 — Abraham laid the wood of the burnt offering upon Isaac his son
• interpreted by Jacob 4:5 — Abraham's offering of Isaac is "a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son"

King of the Jews

King of the Jews — the promised Son of David, rightful King of Israel

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:19–22

The sign over the cross, in three languages, announces to the whole world who Jesus is. The leaders want it changed, but Pilate refuses, and the truth stays written above Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Matthew 27:37 — "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS"
• the same event in Mark 15:26 — the superscription of His accusation

Crucifixion

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. John 19:23–24

The soldiers gamble for Jesus' clothing exactly as the Messiah's suffering was foretold in Psalm 22. John points out that even small details of the cross were prophesied.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 22:18 — "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture"
• the same event in Matthew 27:35 — they parted His garments, casting lots

High Priest

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. John 19:23

Some teachers see in the seamless, unrent coat an echo of the high priest's robe, which was not to be torn. Jesus is the great High Priest offering Himself.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Exodus 28:31-32 — the high priest's robe with a woven binding "that it be not rent"

Jesus

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. John 19:25–27

In the middle of His agony, Jesus makes sure His mother will be cared for. His love reaches to the people near Him even on the cross.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Luke 2:35 — Simeon to Mary: "a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also"

Crucifixion

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. John 19:28–29

Jesus, fully aware that His work is nearly done, says "I thirst" and is given vinegar, as the psalm foretold. The hyssop recalls the branch used to put the Passover lamb's blood on the doorposts.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Psalm 69:21 — "in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink"
• alludes to Exodus 12:22 — a bunch of hyssop dipped in the Passover blood

Atonement

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. John 19:30

"It is finished" means the work His Father sent Him to do on the cross is complete. He chooses the moment He gives up His spirit; no one takes His life from Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to John 17:4 — "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do"
• the same event in Luke 23:46 — "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit"

Passover Lamb

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: John 19:33–36

The law said no bone of the Passover lamb could be broken, and the soldiers do not break Jesus' legs. John shows Jesus is the Lamb that the Passover had pointed to all along.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Exodus 12:46 — "neither shall ye break a bone thereof" (the Passover lamb)
• fulfils Psalm 34:20 — "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken"

Crucifixion

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. John 19:34–37

The spear proves Jesus truly died, and an eyewitness testifies so we can believe. The blood and water recall the elements of rebirth, and Zechariah foresaw people looking on the One they pierced.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Zechariah 12:10 — "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced"
• alluded to by 1 John 5:6 — "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ"
• alluded to by Moses 6:59 — born again of water and of the Spirit, and cleansed by blood
• alluded to by D&C 45:51-52 — the Jews will look on Him and ask about the wounds in His hands and feet

Burial of Jesus

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. John 19:38–42

Two secret disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, now openly honor Jesus and lay Him in a rich man's new tomb. His burial fulfills prophecy and sets the stage for the empty tomb.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Isaiah 53:9 — "with the rich in his death"
• the same event in Matthew 27:57-60 — Joseph of Arimathaea lays Him in his own new tomb
• alludes to John 3:1-2 — Nicodemus first came to Jesus by night