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Sunday School Special : Lesson 153

Text: John 19:31-42
23 April 2023

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 23 APRIL 2023 

Text: John 19:31-42 

Subject: The Death and Burial of the Lord Jesus Christ 

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” 

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. 

John 19:31-42 

1. Sabbath Day Preparation

a) That would mean Friday
b) No one should be left out in the open (crucified)
c) The Sabbath begins when the sun sets on Friday evening (Effectively, Saturday)

2. The Breaking of Legs

a) This would hasten Death
b) The pain from the breaking of the legs could cause heart failure
c) Death would be hastened
d) The legs of the two thieves were broken

3. Coming to the Lord Jesus

a) The soldiers saw that He was already dead
b) His legs were not broken
c) One of the soldiers pierced His side
d) Blood and water issued forth
e) This was proof that He had died

4. Scriptures fulfilled

a) “Not one of His bones shall be broken”   John 19:36  (Psalm 34:20)
b)  “They shall look on Him whom they pierced” John 19:37 (Zechariah 12:10)

5. The Burial of the Lord Jesus

a) This has to be dignified
b) This was done by Joseph of Arimathea (a secret disciple)
c) Nicodemus was also there to assist in His burial
d) They obtained permission from Pontius Pilate
e) The Lord Jesus was wrapped with linen cloths
f) A hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes were brought in
g) The Lord Jesus was placed in a Garden Tomb near the Crucifixion site

CONCLUSION  

1. The Lord Jesus 

a) He had anticipated His suffering  
b) His Death  
c) His Resurrection 

2. The Disciples of the Lord Jesus

a) His suffering and death were hard to accept 
b) His resurrection was not something they fully believed in 
c) His death seemed to be the end of all things 

3. The Fulfilment of the Scriptures

a) John noted the fulfilment of the Scriptures 
b) The Disciples struggled hard to understand the Scriptures let alone believing in their fulfilment 
c) Faith was so badly lacking