What Everyone Needs Series

Jesus, the God-man: Gospel of John

“What Everyone Needs”

John 19:17-30

Introduction: “I need a million dollars!” “I need an ice cream cone.” “I need a new car.” Many times in our lives we have trouble distinguishing the difference between our wants and our needs. It is one thing to say you need to pay your bills and your desire to have a lot of money.

In reality we actually have many more wants than needs. But what is it that everyone really needs. In our text we will discover three of those needs being met by Jesus’ death on the cross. As Jesus gives His life as a ransom for many He also will provide “what everyone needs.”

1. We need a king we can serve. (vv. 17-24)

Jesus carried His own cross to Calvary (Greek word) or Golgotha (Hebrew word). It was called the place of the skull because it looked like a skull. This also is the same as Mt. Moriah in the O.T. where Abraham went to offer his son Isaac in obedience to God. The same place where Abe told Isaac that God will provide Himself a sacrifice!

You will remember that Jesus told His disciples that they need to take up their cross daily and follow Him if they are going to be His disciples. In other words we need to wear the cross less and bear it more!

v. 18 - He was nailed through his feet perhaps in a sitting position and his wrists with spikes.

Crucified between two thieves symbolizing that He is the center, He stands between the saved and lost. He is the focal point of history and Scripture. Is He the center of your life?

v. 19 - The title is the charge against Him. He is crucified because He is the King of the Jews. This shows that God can even speak through the ungodly the truth of His word.

v. 20 - He was crucified outside the city. The Lamb was sacrificed outside of the city. Leviticus 16:27 tells us that is where the sacrifices were to be made.

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Hebrews 13:12

The title was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Hebrew for Jews, Greek for the educated, and Latin for the Romans.

Why? So that all could recognize the King, not just of the Jews BUT KING OF ALL! HE IS KING OF KINGS!

A day will soon come when the despised Nazarene who hung on the cross, shall take to Himself His great power and reign, and put down every enemy under His feet. The kingdoms of this world, as Daniel foretold, shall be swept aside, and become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ. And at last every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. –J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), Expository Thoughts on John

Since His birth Jesus has been called King. (Luke 1:32, 33, Matthew 2:2, and John 12:13)

v. 21- The chief priests do not like this and complain.

v.22- Pilate: “Tough, I wrote what I wrote.” NOW he gets a spine and stands up to them! Too late, Pilate!

vv. 23-24- The soldiers divide his clothes among themselves and gamble for his tunic which fulfilled scripture.

They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. Psalm 22:18

The tunic was similar to that of the High Priest. It was made out of one piece of cloth with no seams. This symbolizes that Jesus is our High Priest.

All of this reminds us that Jesus is our promised King. You must choose who will be your King. Who will you serve?

…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

Many years ago Bob Dylan wrote, “You gotta serve somebody.” If not Jesus, then who? Don’t walk away from your only way to Heaven.

2. We need relationships with others. (vv. 25-27)

At the cross is Jesus’ mother, her sister in law, Mary, and Mary Magdalene, and John.

v.26 - Jesus is in excruciating pain and suffering and yet He is thinking of others. He thinks of his mother. Joseph is apparently dead at this point. He sees John standing near His mother and says, “Woman, John is now your son and John Mary is your Mom.”

The use of the word “Woman” is not rude or derogatory. The natural bond is now broken. He is the Son of God.

John gets the message and takes Mary to his own home immediately to care for her as he would his own mother.