John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. I. WHEN. Not till all was perfected. 1. Why? (1) Love to His Father (John 18:11). (2) Love to the Church (Ephesians 5:25, 26; Revelation 1:5, 6; Ephesians 5:27). (3) Respect to the glory set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). 2. The lessons this teaches. (1) Confidence in the benefit purchased. (a) The wrath of God is appeased (Romans 5:9). (b) The law is satisfied (Galatians 4:4, 5). (c) Satan is vanquished (John 12:31). (d) Guilt is removed (Ephesians 1:7). (e) Sin is subdued (Romans 6:6). (f) Death is unstinged (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). (g) The curse is removed (Galatians 3:13). (2) Perseverance in duty that when we come to die we may be able to say John 17:4; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8. (3) Comfort in death. It finishes all our labours and sorrows, as Christ shows when He gave up the ghost (Isaiah 57:2). II. How? 1. Freely and willingly. He first bowed His head in resignation, or as beckoning death to come and do its office, and then yielded up the ghost. Wicked men, because they die against their wills, their souls may be said to be taken away (Luke 12:20; Job 27:8). In Christ's death, while there was much of violence, there was no coercion. 2. Why Christ was so willing to die. (1) Out of obedience to the Father (Luke 22:37; Luke 24:46; John 10:18). (2) Out of love to us (Matthew 20:28). (3) To finish His labours. Death was Christ's last enemy. (4) To complete His triumph (Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 2:15). (5) To enter into His glory. III. THEIR USES. 1. To commend the love of Christ to us. 2. To comfort humbled sinners. Take Christ as freely as He offers Himself. He resigned Himself to death, and will you not resign yourselves by faith? 3. Learn to imitate Christ. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. |
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