João 19

1 Nisso, pois, Pilatos tomou a Jesus, e mandou açoitá-lo.

2 E os soldados, tecendo uma coroa de espinhos, puseram-lha sobre a cabeça, e lhe vestiram um manto de púrpura;

3 e chegando-se a ele, diziam: Salve, rei dos judeus! e e davam-lhe bofetadas.

4 Então Pilatos saiu outra vez, e disse-lhes: Eis aqui vo-lo trago fora, para que saibais que não acho nele crime algum.

5 Saiu, pois, Jesus, trazendo a coroa de espinhos e o manto de púrpura. E disse-lhes Pilatos: Eis o homem!

6 Quando o viram os principais sacerdotes e os guardas, clamaram, dizendo: Crucifica-o! Crucifica-o! Disse-lhes Pilatos: Tomai-o vós, e crucificai-o; porque nenhum crime acho nele.

7 Responderam-lhe os judeus: Nós temos uma lei, e segundo esta lei ele deve morrer, porque se fez Filho de Deus.

8 Ora, Pilatos, quando ouviu esta palavra, mais atemorizado ficou;

9 e entrando outra vez no pretório, perguntou a Jesus: Donde és tu? Mas Jesus não lhe deu resposta.

10 Disse-lhe, então, Pilatos: Não me respondes? não sabes que tenho autoridade para te soltar, e autoridade para te crucificar?

11 Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Nenhuma autoridade terias sobre mim, se de cima não te fora dado; por isso aquele que me entregou a ti, maior pecado tem.

12 Daí em diante Pilatos procurava soltá-lo; mas os judeus clamaram: Se soltares a este, não és amigo de César; todo aquele que se faz rei é contra César.

13 Pilatos, pois, quando ouviu isto, trouxe Jesus para fora e sentou-se no tribunal, no lugar chamado Pavimento, e em hebraico Gabatá.

14 Ora, era a preparação da páscoa, e cerca da hora sexta. E disse aos judeus: Eis o vosso rei.

15 Mas eles clamaram: Tira-o! tira-o! crucifica-o! Disse-lhes Pilatos: Hei de crucificar o vosso rei? responderam, os principais sacerdotes: Não temos rei, senão César.

16 Então lho entregou para ser crucificado.

17 Tomaram, pois, a Jesus; e ele, carregando a sua própria cruz, saiu para o lugar chamado Caveira, que em hebraico se chama Gólgota,

18 onde o crucificaram, e com ele outros dois, um de cada lado, e Jesus no meio.

19 E Pilatos escreveu também um título, e o colocou sobre a cruz; e nele estava escrito: JESUS O NAZARENO, O REI DOS JUDEUS.

20 Muitos dos judeus, pois, leram este título; porque o lugar onde Jesus foi crucificado era próximo da cidade; e estava escrito em hebraico, latim e grego.

21 Diziam então a Pilatos os principais sacerdotes dos judeus: Não escrevas: O rei dos judeus; mas que ele disse: Sou rei dos judeus.

22 Respondeu Pilatos: O que escrevi, escrevi.

23 Tendo, pois, os soldados crucificado a Jesus, tomaram as suas vestes, e fizeram delas quatro partes, para cada soldado uma parte. Tomaram também a túnica; ora a túnica não tinha costura, sendo toda tecida de alto a baixo.

24 Pelo que disseram uns aos outros: Não a rasguemos, mas lancemos sortes sobre ela, para ver de quem será (para que se cumprisse a escritura que diz: Repartiram entre si as minhas vestes, e lançaram sortes). E, de fato, os soldados assim fizeram.

25 Estavam em pé, junto � cruz de Jesus, sua mãe, e a irmã de sua mãe, e Maria, mulher de Clôpas, e Maria Madalena.

26 Ora, Jesus, vendo ali sua mãe, e ao lado dela o discípulo a quem ele amava, disse a sua mãe: Mulher, eis aí o teu filho.

27 Então disse ao discípulo: Eis aí tua mãe. E desde aquela hora o discípulo a recebeu em sua casa.

28 Depois, sabendo Jesus que todas as coisas já estavam consumadas, para que se cumprisse a Escritura, disse: Tenho sede.

29 Estava ali um vaso cheio de vinagre. Puseram, pois, numa cana de hissopo uma esponja ensopada de vinagre, e lha chegaram � boca.

30 Então Jesus, depois de ter tomado o vinagre, disse: está consumado. E, inclinando a cabeça, entregou o espírito.

31 Ora, os judeus, como era a preparação, e para que no sábado não ficassem os corpos na cruz, pois era grande aquele dia de sábado, rogaram a Pilatos que se lhes quebrassem as pernas, e fossem tirados dali.

32 Foram então os soldados e, na verdade, quebraram as pernas ao primeiro e ao outro que com ele fora crucificado;

33 mas vindo a Jesus, e vendo que já estava morto, não lhe quebraram as pernas;

34 contudo um dos soldados lhe furou o lado com uma lança, e logo saiu sangue e água.

35 E é quem viu isso que dá testemunho, e o seu testemunho é verdadeiro; e sabe que diz a verdade, para que também vós creiais.

36 Porque isto aconteceu para que se cumprisse a escritura: Nenhum dos seus ossos será quebrado.

37 Também há outra escritura que diz: Olharão para aquele que traspassaram.

38 Depois disto, José de Arimatéia, que era discípulo de Jesus, embora oculto por medo dos judeus, rogou a Pilatos que lhe permitisse tirar o corpo de Jesus; e Pilatos lho permitiu. Então foi e o tirou.

39 E Nicodemos, aquele que anteriormente viera ter com Jesus de noite, foi também, levando cerca de cem libras duma mistura de mirra e aloés.

40 Tomaram, pois, o corpo de Jesus, e o envolveram em panos de linho com as especiarias, como os judeus costumavam fazer na preparação para a sepultura.

41 No lugar onde Jesus foi crucificado havia um jardim, e nesse jardim um sepulcro novo, em que ninguém ainda havia sido posto.

42 Ali, pois, por ser a vespera do sábado dos judeus, e por estar perto aquele sepulcro, puseram a Jesus.

João 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Christ condemned and crucified. (1-18) Christ on the cross. (19-30) His side pierced. (31-37) The burial of Jesus. (38-42)

Verses 1-18 Little did Pilate think with what holy regard these sufferings of Christ would, in after-ages, be thought upon and spoken of by the best and greatest of men. Our Lord Jesus came forth, willing to be exposed to their scorn. It is good for every one with faith, to behold Christ Jesus in his sufferings. Behold him, and love him; be still looking unto Jesus. Did their hatred sharpen their endeavours against him? and shall not our love for him quicken our endeavours for him and his kingdom? Pilate seems to have thought that Jesus might be some person above the common order. Even natural conscience makes men afraid of being found fighting against God. As our Lord suffered for the sins both of Jews and Gentiles, it was a special part of the counsel of Divine Wisdom, that the Jews should first purpose his death, and the Gentiles carry that purpose into effect. Had not Christ been thus rejected of men, we had been for ever rejected of God. Now was the Son of man delivered into the hands of wicked and unreasonable men. He was led forth for us, that we might escape. He was nailed to the cross, as a Sacrifice bound to the altar. The Scripture was fulfilled; he did not die at the altar among the sacrifices, but among criminals sacrificed to public justice. And now let us pause, and with faith look upon Jesus. Was ever sorrow like unto his sorrow? See him bleeding, see him dying, see him and love him! love him, and live to him!

Verses 19-30 Here are some remarkable circumstances of Jesus' death, more fully related than before. Pilate would not gratify the chief priests by allowing the writing to be altered; which was doubtless owing to a secret power of God upon his heart, that this statement of our Lord's character and authority might continue. Many things done by the Roman soldiers were fulfilments of the prophecies of the Old Testament. All things therein written shall be fulfilled. Christ tenderly provided for his mother at his death. Sometimes, when God removes one comfort from us, he raises up another for us, where we looked not for it. Christ's example teaches all men to honour their parents in life and death; to provide for their wants, and to promote their comfort by every means in their power. Especially observe the dying word wherewith Jesus breathed out his soul. It is finished; that is, the counsels of the Father concerning his sufferings were now fulfilled. It is finished; all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, which pointed at the sufferings of the Messiah, were accomplished. It is finished; the ceremonial law is abolished; the substance is now come, and all the shadows are done away. It is finished; an end is made of transgression by bringing in an everlasting righteousness. His sufferings were now finished, both those of his soul, and those of his body. It is finished; the work of man's redemption and salvation is now completed. His life was not taken from him by force, but freely given up.

Verses 31-37 A trial was made whether Jesus was dead. He died in less time than persons crucified commonly did. It showed that he had laid down his life of himself. The spear broke up the very fountains of life; no human body could survive such a wound. But its being so solemnly attested, shows there was something peculiar in it. The blood and water that flowed out, signified those two great benefits which all believers partake of through Christ, justification and sanctification; blood for atonement, water for purification. They both flow from the pierced side of our Redeemer. To Christ crucified we owe merit for our justification, and Spirit and grace for our sanctification. Let this silence the fears of weak Christians, and encourage their hopes; there came both water and blood out of Jesus' pierced side, both to justify and sanctify them. The Scripture was fulfilled, in Pilate's not allowing his legs to be broken, Ps. 34:20 . There was a type of this in the paschal lamb, Ex. 12:46 . May we ever look to Him, whom, by our sins, we have ignorantly and heedlessly pierced, nay, sometimes against convictions and mercies; and who shed from his wounded side both water and blood, that we might be justified and sanctified in his name.

Verses 38-42 Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Christ in secret. Disciples should openly own themselves; yet some, who in lesser trials have been fearful, in greater have been courageous. When God has work to do, he can find out such as are proper to do it. The embalming was done by Nicodemus, a secret friend to Christ, though not his constant follower. That grace which at first is like a bruised reed, may afterward resemble a strong cedar. Hereby these two rich men showed the value they had for Christ's person and doctrine, and that it was not lessened by the reproach of the cross. We must do our duty as the present day and opportunity are, and leave it to God to fulfil his promises in his own way and his own time. The grave of Jesus was appointed with the wicked, as was the case of those who suffered as criminals; but he was with the rich in his death, as prophesied, ( Isaiah 53:9 ) ; these two circumstances it was very unlikely should ever be united in the same person. He was buried in a new sepulchre; therefore it could not be said that it was not he, but some other that rose. We also are here taught not to be particular as to the place of our burial. He was buried in the sepulchre next at hand. Here is the Sun of Righteousness set for a while, to rise again in greater glory, and then to set no more.