PROOF THAT JESUS WAS DEAD

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WITH BOB

Newsletter 298 June 3, 2012
___________________________________________________________________________JOHN 19:34-42
The Lord often used simple things to illustrate profound truths. We have no problem associating shed blood as being essential to salvation. Animal sacrifices had been a part of God’s plan for rolling back the sins of the Children of Israel illustrated in the blood splatterd on their door frames at the inauguration feast celebrating the passing over of the death angel in Egypt, and the sacrifices with the use of the blood of the sacrificial animals offered on the altar of the tabernacle and later the temples. Even though perfect animals were chosen, they never removed the sin. They were a representation that which would come.

Christ, who had no sin, came to become the perfect sacrifice, one that would, not roll back, but would remove the sins of the individual. Salvation is a very individual, personal, relationship. I can’t repent for you or anyone else, neither can I be baptized for another, however much I might wish I could, not even for a loved one. I can teach my child, and pray for him, but he has to believe in Jesus whose blood was shed for him, confess his divinity, and obey his command to be baptized for the remission of sins before he can be assured of his salvation. John clearly reports Jesus’ words in John 3:16, “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.” And Peter applies them in Acts 2:38.

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

(1 John 5:6, 1 John 5:8)

When the Roman soldiers were told to hasten the deaths of those on the cross, they did so of the criminals, but not of Jesus. These were hardened men. They knew death when they saw it. They knew Jesus was dead so they made proof positive. They ran a spear into his lifeless body. The fact that water and blood flowed forth was proof enough. If the heart was still beating, blood alone would have gushed forth. They had their proof, and so did John, as he affirms in the next line.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

John 15:27, John 21:24)

36 For these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

(John 19:24, John 19:28, Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20)

37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

(Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7)

38 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, Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56, Mark 15:43, John 7:13)

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.

(John 3:1, Mark 16:1, Psalm 45:8, Proverbs 7:17, Proverbs 7:55, Proverbs 4:14, Matthew 2:11, John 12:3)

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

(Matthew 26:12, Mark 14:8, John 11:44, Luke 24:12, John 20:5, John 20:7)
Joseph of Arimathaea, and Nicodemus, both wealthy, both well known Jewish leaders, but both at that time not openly disciples of Christ, were used of God to fulfill important prophecies concerning the Lord’s death, and burial. After his resurrection, they apparently became openly his followers.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid.

(Matthew 27:60, Luke 23:53)

The “Garden Tomb” certainly fills the description, and is certainly near what is called “The Place of the Skull,” but. whether it is truly the tomb of this particular rich man, is uncertain. This is one of those questions we will probably only have answered when he comes in his glory. It is certainly “nigh at hand,” and outside the city walls, both now and then.

42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

(John 19:14, John 19:31, John 19:20, John 19:41)
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012

JUNE

3rd. Sunday – 2 Samuel 4, 5, Acts 3, Psalm 69:13-28
4th. Monday – 2 Samuel 6, 7, Acts 4, Psalm 69:29-36
5th. Tuesday - 2 Samuel 8, 9, Acts 5:1-16, Proverbs 14:10-18
6th. Wednesday - 2 Samuel 10, 11, Acts 5:17-42, Psalm 70
7th. Thursday - 2 Samuel 12, 13, Acts 6, Psalm 71:1-8
8th. Friday – 2 Samuel 14, 15, Acts 7:1-36, Psalm 71:9-18
9th. Saturday - 2 Samuel 16, 17, Acts 7:37-60, Proverbs 14:19-25

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12
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THINK ABOUT THIS

The scribes and other religious leaders in Jesus’ day did not object that Jesus preached and prayed. What bothered them, was the fact that his teaching moved people to action.
Does this sound familiar? Do you feel the restrictions tightening on religious influence? First, the symbols of Christianity are banished. Then prayer is banned from the public arena and consigned to mere “private” devotion. Also, we can preach, but we are not allowed to speak what the Bible speaks, because Biblical content is termed “hate speech” in the world of “political correctness.”
At the end of this road lies a church irrelevant to real life. That’s more like a historical museum, not the church for which Jesus died.
-Selected and adapted - RKO