John Ch 19 v15
Pilot wanted to release Jesus, but the Jewish religious leaders pressed him into a corner by saying, ‘If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar’.
This is an incredibly ironic statement given the spiritual context & it highlights the machinations of human hearts unless they have been set free by the Spirit of truth, which is true worship.
Pilot wanted to set him free, his heart had been touched by the life of Worship Jesus lived, Pilots conscious recognized that there was not a fault in him, as he was not fighting anyone rather living a life of worship: this is truth.
Yet, he is pressed into a corner by a religious class whose whole identity and system of worship was grounded in the truth that man could never be a King unto whom the worship of the living God was compromised.
Daniel would not bow down to the golden image King Nebuchaddenar had made, nor would he have ever have countenanced forsaking the covenant promises of God that had promised a Saviour through King Davids line. If he wouldn’t bow to the golden head, then more so the iron and clay feet.
A secular ruler Pilot wanted to release Jesus due to the truth of his life of worship as a Jew, yet the religious rulers of the Jews wanted him crucified by Secular rulers irrespective to it contradicting the very priesthood and faith they claimed to follow.
Yet! Miraculously, this very betrayal to the truth of worship fulfilled all the prophecies and law by providing a perfect sacrifice for the machinations of the deeply deceitful heart of fallen man.
And this is why the Cross of Jesus Christ is the liberator.
And this is why it is the promised blessing unto all who believe.
This is love vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood.
His life of perfect worship in spirit and truth was actually done on are behalf. This is the chain breaker and liberator. We do not come to God on the merits of ourselves but we come in Spirit and Truth that Jesus is the shed blood to atone for all are sin.
The Cross is a miraculous gift of God that parts the Red Sea of the horrendous oppression of false gods, a life lived to acquire but the underworld does not get broader at its base to accommodate mans gold and chariots. No the torment of that place is knowing there are no steps to climb higher above your fellow man.
Jesus Christ lifted UP. Behold HIM.
A miraculous gift of God, that frees the human condition from self effort and striving and strife. It is a miraculous act of love and mercy, a gift we know deep in are heart is the only way God can set us free to worship him.
Worship must proceed out of seeing God as he truly is: The saviour and redeemer of mans soul.
The Cross is the perfect gift of love for any pilgrim to progress. As it is Gods Word affirming that ‘It is Finished’, the grand and full atonement made.
So they took Jesus,
And he went out, bearing his own cross.
Matthew Ch 16 v24-28.
Jesus does not expect any man to be able to follow him in respect to knowing that he himself had never sinned. Only his Cross saves us.
But Jesus does go before us as an example an example he expects us to follow. No he does not expect true discipleship to end with a tangible crucifixion, despite some of the apostles dying that way.
No the example is the surrender into the Fathers hands and the letting go of self defense and earthly pecking orders and kingdoms into being a true worshiper of God.
God has promised that he will not allow his individual sheep to be tested above what they are able to bear, hence, worship is the flow of provision from God for whatever suffering we may encounter. Worship is a sovereign act of God. Worship is unity with God, in the moment, that acknowledges the soverignty of God.
The sovereignty of God liberates us from sin and self.
Obedience is an act on mans behalf that moves in faith due to the opened door of calvary.
Obedience in inseparable to love & love is inseparable to faith & faith is inseparable from Gods written and spoken word & the word became flesh and dwelt among us and died to make salvation by faith a gift of eternal life to receive.
Obeying God is receiving a gift of eternal life and isn’t that the best pay check no Pharaoh has ever paid? The Cross is a miraculous gift that parts the Red Sea that captive slaves may enter a promised land of abundance.
Pilot had an inscription written, perhaps done even personally: ‘What I have written I have written’! This upset the chief priests of the Jews and they requested that it was changed.
The irony, they professed belief in the letter of the law and yet their law could not crucify Jesus and so they have gone to Pilot and forced him into doing it by leveraging their own loyalty to Caesar at the expense of their own faithfulness to the law and prophets!!!
And to make matters even worse, the depths of the deceitful hearts request that what Pilot has written is changed.
The absolute irony and depths of deception. They had no King but Caesar yet here they ask Pilot to assert that he was not the genuine King of the Jews who they actually believe scripture foretold should come and unto who the allegiance should be.
Pilot knew what he was doing, he saw through the utter hypocrisy of their hearts and actions and he deliberately wrote it as it was the direct truth as to why they had had to come to him to do what their law forbade them from doing.
In their request to Pilot they were confessing that they knew their law and prophets did not agree with putting Caesar as King over them spiritually, as they cared about the statement ‘The King of the Jews’.
People march for the freedom of Palestine yet they do and say little or nothing for the women beaten in Tehran who simply want the freedom they enjoy to be able to protest. Are they linked? Yes, by finance and antisemitism that is from the powers of darkness as salvation is from the Jews: The King of the Jews, is the saviour of the whole world.
But without the worship of God, the heart is blind to its own depths of deception.
John Ch 19 v26:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Women, behold, your son!’
Then he said to the disciples, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scriptures), ‘I thirst’.
A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to hi mouth.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished’, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Considering Johns gospel as a whole it is of great interest to consider what he has included and excluded in his account of the Cross of Jesus.
The first words recorded by John of his Rabbi on the cross are words spoken unto his mother, ‘Women, behold, your son!’.
Jesus in the extremity of personal anguish was mindful of his mother and her welfare. The Cross is not a separation from natural affection for family and friends – thank God. David was on the battle line because his Father Jesse desired a token from the family – Gods anointing is on those who are obedient to the fathers business.
This statement of Jesus to his mother is directly linked to the day John refers to as the third day in his gospel and the event of his first miracle! And as it is his first miracle it is synonymous as a spiritual principle and type of all which follow.
Jesus knowing all was now finished! After the first recorded words in Johns gospel from the Cross: Women, behold your son!
To fulfill the Scriptures said, ‘I thirst’.
As this is the fulfillment of prophesy it must have a greater implication than just a genuine natural thirst, which John is wanting to emphasize here.
And then after having received the sour wine he said, ‘It is finished’!
Father take this cup from me!
As this is a prophetic event, his time being at hand, the sour wine being drunk enabled him to then say: ‘It Is finished’, despite knowing that all was finished after having spoken to his mother and John about their commitment in love under his care to each other.
Jesus had to thirst and drink the sour wine before he could speak out the three words: It is finished.
A jar full of sour wine stood there. Large enough for a sponge to be placed in it, not as large as the 6 stone water pots of Cana but its standing there has all the echoes of scripture being fulfilled.
Why was Jesus able to speak out the finished work after having said I thirst and after having drunk the sour wine? And how is that linked to his mother and John? In that it follows after.
The order must be noted: first words on the Cross: Women, behold your son and then the sour wine.
John Ch 2 v3: When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine’.
And Jesus said to her, ‘Women, what does this have to do with me? ‘My hour has not yet come.’
His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you’.
Now there were six stone jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. So they took it.
After tasting this wine the master of the feast called the bridegroom and , ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.
After this he went with his mother, brothers and sisters and disciples to Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.
Jesus turned the water into wine within 6 stone water pots without even speaking a word to do so!!! Jesus did not command the water to turn into wine.
Jesus instructed the servants to ‘Fill the jars with water’, and they filled them up to the brim.
‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast’. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine!
The days stop being referred to after John Ch 2 v1: The apostle John wanted this event to be directly associated with the third day spiritually – the wedding!
And after this event is the Passover and Jesus cleanses the temple and makes reference to his resurrection after three days.
John Ch 2 v12 is linked to John Ch 19 v26-27
And the passover is followed by Pentecost where new wine is taken into the marketplace and men and women hear of the ‘Finished work of God’ for the first time.
His mother and Jesus with his disciples are at the wedding separately invited.
When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine’.
And Jesus said to her, ‘Women, what does this have to do with me’? My hour has not come.
Jesus had not performed any of the miracles at this time. And so his mothers defaulting to him is a default of practical help that he always was. But this is different as he is at the wedding as part of a prophetic timeframe, on the third day, as part of his ministry with his disciples. This time it is different to his normal hands on help at home for his mum, as he is moment by moment fulfilling all scripture in respect now to his anointing for ministry: To bring good news to the poor, liberty to the captive and oppressed and recovery of sight.
Mary then instructs the servants to do whatever he tells them. She was not affronted by the words spoken to her by her Son, nor did she assume that he would not help with the practical issue at hand. Mary, despite his words still took it as a given that he would resolved the issue of having run out of wine at this wedding they were both attending! Yes he was their as a guest to honor and bless those gathered and those being wed.
This contains something of new wine in and of itself. This contains the love for one another that the new covenant and the finish work of Calvary intends.
“Leave the matter in my hands,” He replied; “the time for me to act has not yet come.”
The servants do what Jesus instructs them to do. But he does not speak the water into wine. The miracle happens due to obeying his instructions to fill the jars with water and then to serve the master of the feast. Obedient service transforms the old covenant into new wine and life.
When Jesus thirsted he did not do or say anything more, nor when he drunk the sour wine.
But what he had finished was then spoken out! ‘It is finished’. His hour was fulfilled.
And when they pierced him out came water and blood – from his side.
What miracle was done when Jesus fulfilled all scripture and thirsted and drank the very last of the wine, the very very poorest of the wedding wine: Sour wine.
Yes, the 6 water jars of stone – the number of man and the covenant given on stone. The need for perpetual cleanings in water.
Rejected by his own people, Jesus drunk from the dregs of the lowest barrel the religious system had stooped too. He drank it to to finish it, the whole system and covenant and to transform it into the best vine man and women had ever known.
BUT – the great BUT of the BIBLE: But you have kept the good wine until now: IT IS FINISHED
Three words that convey the greatest miracle of all: Raised from the tomb, the stone rolled away: his disciples believed the scriptures and the word that Jesus had spoken after his was raised – but Jesus knows the depths of all are water jars and he knows that it is only after he is lifted up that men can see again, a spiritual new birth into Gods family: Not something a religious teacher can teach you when he himself knows he will struggle to go inside his mothers womb again!!!
‘Women, behold your Son’ – she knew very well to whom she had given birth the first time. But these were words spoken from HIM on the Cross, especially recorded by her new son as his first words spoken on the Cross!
The disciples whom Jesus loved and his mother both knew that whatever he tells you do it.
John did it immediately.
From that HOUR – His hour had come, but so had Johns, to become as him whom he behold. A baton is passed at the Cross, just as it is at Pentecost and Mary and John both went with Jesus to Capernaum after the wedding.
The Jar was stood there and the apostle John was standing there. Jesus knew one knew that he loved him and hence he knew his death would not be in vain. Love one another in service is the new covenant, it is the first and greatest miracle and it is the work of calvary and it is the purpose of union and communion, the bread and the wine: weddings are a celebration of love not law – but love according to Gods divine order of family.
Jesus never commanded the water to be turned into wine, this is linked to a mystery of him knowing that all was finished, his perfect sacrifice for sin, and his duty as a son to care for his mother. But his thirst, while it fulfilled scripture could it be for the Church, the bride of Christ.
Did the bridegroom consume the poorest of all wine, to grant his Church the best wine to take into the marketplace when it has all run out!!!
The internet!! Film catalogues at the press of a button. Food in the west abundant. Powerful computers in are pockets and more information in it than great leaders and men could ever dream of.
But despite the technological breakthroughs and snaps of deeper space, is there not a growing thirst for the wine that is from the true vine: Serve one another in love.
Wait in Jerusalem until clothed with power from on high. In a prayer meeting, the obedience of love together in one accord. They simply did what they had been instructed to do.
Jesus never spoke the water into wine, as it was reserved for this hour at calvary: It is finished.
His first recorded words in all Scripture are affirming that his Fathers business is that he is the passover lamb! This was affirmed to his dear mother who was accusing him of sin for having caused them great distress and loss of face. Jesus with his first recorded words in all scripture as a man spoke a word of ‘No condemnation’, as he assured his mother that he was indeed the Passover lamb.
And at the Cross his mother is there to be informed that now she was about to start to understand all that treasure she had stored up in her heart was the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh the spices that Nicodemus now understood remove religion with a non condemning love. Jesus knew the depths of mans corruption, but he has never forgotten the first spoken Word of GOD: Let there be light and there was light. And so Nicodemus knew that he did not have to hide his heart in the darkness of the night.
And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Johns obedience to the whatever he says to you do it, synchronized with Jesus knowing that all was finished – his own hour.
This is the baton of Sonship, of ministry – the anointing is found in the service of love.
And that is the teaching ministry of Johns gospel, it is the reason why it ends as it started, the Alpha & Omega does not change – his weddings are unalterable, love can only be a reflection of Gods image: Male and female – outside that image it is an unnatural order to creation.
And does not the final revelation of the bridegroom uphold these sacred truths: Come out of her my people.
John understood the significant of being with Jesus at that Wedding and how his mother instigated his first miracle by having an absolute confidence, reinforced by the treasure deeper pressed into her pondering heart when he said: My business is to be the perfect sacrifice for my Father: The PASSOVER LAMB – the firstborn lamb that takes away the first born sin of Adams disobedience.
YES, YES, YES: Behold the Lamb of God.
John heard his Rabbi and mentor cry it as Jesus came to be baptized: And it was this attraction to the Lamb that made him come and see
The passover lamb – that Nicodemus, that all the sons of the deepest night might be born again.
Confused Catholics, messed up Protestants, a western world that barely has the character to call evil evil and good good.
There is power in the blood of Lamb, to touch and cleansed and transformed the vilest offenders who truly believe.
The Cross is the truth that sets men free, it is the miracle that specializes in saving any religious man or women: It is finished: The Word of God that died and went into the ground to reproduce after his own kindness: Behold your Son, who knows how to love and obey: the hour is at hand: love one another as I have loved you.
The last recorded words of Jesus in Johns gospel are ‘It is Finished’ at 33 years old at Passover.
The 33rd time God is stated in scripture is in the 33rd verse of the Bible on the sabbath day when God finished and rested from his work of creation – Gen Ch2 v2 – John Ch 2 the water (Gen Ch 1 v2) turned into wine.
Gen Ch 1 – MAN is clearly placed as the pinnacle of creation. The plants, and fruit food for him, and the animals, the fish and birds placed under him.
The sabbath is the only day God does not speak on in creation.
At 33 years old at the Cross, the Word of God – and the son of MAN cried out: It is Finished – his time to be offered as a perfect sacrifice complete.
During the Sabbath Passover, the Light of this World Spoke as a MAN unto his Father in heaven: ‘It is Finished’. Genesis ch 1 v2: The Word of God could not return void, the darkness overcome through the life from GOD.
John Ch 2 & John Ch 19 – He is the new covenant (In my blood). The water pot turned to wine is done/finished in him & thats why he cry’s out it is finished. He speaks it after it has incorporated John & Marys obedient love. As this has always been the truth of God that he has shared all of himself with us. In a sense John & Mary were sealed into that tomb with Christ & raised in him too! Doctrine while linear is also ‘Finished’ from before the foundation of the World – the slain lamb.
The Passover is the baton – Pass over. Jesus giving Mary to Johns care.
John heard the pass over baton of discipleship: the bridegroom followed after the cry of the bridegrooms friend ‘Behold the Lamb’ – & the bridegroom finished the work: ‘It is Finished’.
‘Women behold your son’ – the one who followed the lamb. Another seed, the 2nd man – the son of Sonship that follows on from that blood that speaks of better things than the blood of Abel. Abel honored his parents by offering a lamb and thus his offering was true Worship of God: sonship belongs to those who follow the lamb. John was a member of his family.
Jesus did not ‘Hail Mary’ at the Cross. He spoke to her as a ‘Women’, a women who like John had been born into Gods family by receiving and believing the Word of God.
If ever the respect and special status of Mary as uniquely his earthly mother is displayed it is here at the Cross, where she is placed naturally into the heart of the Church, to be an example to all women of obedience to the Word of God – but praying to Mary is heresy of biblical truth according to Peter & Paul: Depart from me for I am a sinful man – ALL born in sin and need the salvation through faith through the second man: Jesus Christ.
The last recorded words of Jesus in Johns gospel are ‘It is Finished’ at 33 years old at Passover.
The first recorded words of Jesus in Johns gospel after the resurrection are: ‘Women, why are you weeping?’
‘Women’ his last words before the tomb.
Then ‘It is finished’.
No bone in his body broken – but his side opened up and out came water and blood.
The full structure of his body intact: the vessel that turns the water into wine.
‘Women’ his first words in the garden of new horizons.
The immaculate conception is clearly shown only to extend to Jesus himself being sinless. As Jesus shows the redemption through his blood, unto one brought into the temple to be stoned by those men who also ‘ALL’ had innate sin – but now as her kinsmen redeemer he speaks to her: Mary! And her response, ‘Rabboni’, which means teacher.
He certainly did not teach her to pray to Mary. No God forbid, he wanted direct fellowship with her as he alone was going before his Fathers throne to intercede on her behalf: One perfect sacrifice – Jesus who alone save from sin.
Rabboni teacher: You are cleansed, you are redeemed, you are white in my sight, and just like his earthly mother and John, you are ever so much as much a part of Gods divine order of family: Women, why are you weeping – Jesus had redeemed his bride.
‘My Father and your Father, to my God and your God’.
His image on earth redeemed: my Father and your father – the masculine headship of Christ, having never abdicated his position as the custodian of GODS WORD of LIFE.
He alone is good, he alone is not evil & he alone is worthy.
Five wounds received at Calvary
Nicodemus 5 times named in the gospel of John only.
A man who had come to him during the night.
And first to meet him risen from the tomb, a women caught in transgression during the darkness of the night.
God redeeming his image on the earth.
1 John Ch 1 v1
‘I have seen the Lord’ – ‘Put out your hand and place it in my side’.
Fellowship with us
And indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
This is the message: God is light and in him is no darkness at all.
No wonder it was pitch darkness when Jesus had the sins of the whole world laid upon him. The darkness could not engulf the Word of life and light as light has overcome the darkness for us: Let there be light and there was light.
In him is no darkness at all.
Out of his side came water and blood: baptism and redemption
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
No wonder he said: I am the Menorah of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
(Bearing witness)
John witnessed the transforming affect walking in his light had on her who had been brought to him in the night. He had been in a place he was at home – the mount of Olives. The place the oil for the menorah that gave light in the temple came from.
Water, blood and Spirit bear witness – these three are one.
The oil that fueled the 7 candle wicks is representative of the Spirit and its endless supply – she needed its supply during the night. And he knew that she did not have this supply.
Water and blood bear witness! You cannot have sin and fellowship with his life.
Water is bearing witness to baptism and repentance from sin. And the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is Christ? This is antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
We note how John is bearing witness/testimony to his apostleship and one who followed the Lamb.
John had been a disciple of John the baptizer in water.
John we must assume witnessed the dove and the Fathers voice speaking from an ‘Open heaven’.
John knew that Jesus’s ministry started after his baptism in water, on are behalf!
And John knew that which Peter said that was blessed by Jesus. And he knew what the voice from heaven said when Moses and Elijah were talking with Jesus.
John knew the Father had bore witness concerning his only begotten SON.
The ability to love one another: The Lords Prayer, is answered when we ask it in sincerity. 1 John Ch 3 v18-24.
We love because he first loved us.
This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith: In Him who died a lost world to redeem.
John is meticulous to highlight the central truth of are faith: That GOD has borne testimony to his Son. And that if we believe we have eternal life.
Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. The Word of God abiding within, the life of the Son.
‘I have seen the Lord’ – and he told me to tell you; the testimony from within is about to be fulfilled: My Father and your father, My God and your God – God isn’t a linear theologian – this is pre Pentecost – but when the Spirit has come they would bear witness to Him.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.
Father & Son at Baptism – and he is anointing by Spirit for ministry.
Father & Son at Calvary – his blood shed for the sins of the world – opening the door of heaven by covering the earth which was left specifically for his blood when the first passover was decreed.
Father & Son together in heaven and the Spirit being poured out due to Jesus being glorified.
5 wounds at Calvary – Grace – the 5th his side from whence we can see the testimony within: Loved with everlasting love: before the foundations of the world. In HIM, found in him not having mine own righteousness – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The 5th wound occurred after Jesus had died!! To bear witness to the mystery hidden in Christ since before the foundation of the world: By grace are ye saved – when the day of Pentecost had fully come.
Genesis Church 1 v1-3.
The Word of God, the light of this World.
NB.
Water and blood are at new birth. John bore witness – John who Mary confided in about her own personal sins as Mary was a women of truth and she would not lie concerning needing HIM as her saviour.
She came to so clearly understand that what she had carried within, had actually always held her within the palms of his hands.
Genesis Ch 2 v7
eternalrays 