This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled
John 19:17-27
The heart of the Christian faith
John’s sparse description of Jesus’ crucifixion, along with the other gospel accounts, is the lens through which Christians are to see themselves, the world, God’s plans and the character of God himself. It is the crucifixion that is the centre point or bullseye of the bible. Everything in the bible is either leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross or arises from it. Jesus’ coming crucifixion was laid out in the Old Testament for all to see but grossly misunderstood. The crucifixion enacts and demonstrates divine love, it is mercy unrivalled, it is beauty reinterpreted, it defines living and dying with purpose. It shows kingship in a way never grasped before although the law (Deuteronomy 17:14-17) made clear that humility was to be the hallmark of Godly kingship. The apostles and early church, many of whom were first hand witnesses of Jesus’ death made belief in his crucifixion the starting point of faith and new life in Christ. Peter declared as a first fundamental in his speech to the bemused crowd on the day the Holy Spirit was given to the gathered disciples, ‘Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ Acts 2:36 Adopting Christ’s death as one’s own spiritual experience in dying to self and living for Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit is to be the Christians’s daily experience. ‘Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.’ Galatians 5:24-25 This passage then in John’s gospel along with the other crucifixion accounts in the gospels ought to be well known and regularly visited by all of Jesus’ followers.