John 19

Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;

And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

What does John 19:38 mean?

Explanation

John 19:38 describes a key moment following the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, wherein Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus, approaches the Roman governor Pilate to request the body of Jesus for burial.

Despite being a disciple, Joseph's fear of the local Jewish authorities caused him to be discreet in his following of Jesus.

Pilate's consent for Joseph to take Jesus's body is significant as it allowed for Jesus to be buried according to Jewish customs.

This act demonstrated not only Joseph's courage in coming forward after Jesus's death but also his reverence and respect for Jesus, as he wished to ensure a proper burial.

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Historical Context

The account of Joseph of Arimathea requesting Jesus's body occurs in all four Gospels (Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:42-46, Luke 23:50-53, and John 19:38).

The historical context is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ under the prefect Pontius Pilate in Judea, a province of the Roman Empire during the 1st century.

At this time, it was common for crucified individuals to be left on the cross as a display and warning.

However, Jewish law required that a body be buried before sundown, especially on the eve of the Sabbath or a holy day such as Passover, which further presses the urgency of Joseph's request (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).

Theological Insights

The actions of Joseph of Arimathea carry theological significance in several ways.

From a Christian perspective, the honor and respect given to the body of Jesus in death are seen as fulfilling Scripture (Isaiah 53:9, which speaks of the suffering servant being with a rich man in his death).

Joseph's actions set the stage for the eventual discovery of the empty tomb, which is central to the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus.

The secret discipleship of Joseph highlights the theme of fear and the cost of following Jesus openly, resonating with the challenges many early Christians faced.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse advises believers on several moral and spiritual actions:

It encourages discretion in faith practice when necessary, understanding that external pressures might make overt expressions of faith difficult.

The verse prompts believers to step forward for what is right, even under threat, much like Joseph of Arimathea did. 3.

It underscores the importance of treating others, including the deceased, with dignity and respect. 4.

The passage exemplifies the virtue of courage in times of adversity and the willingness to stand alone if needed.

Cross-References

Matthew 27:57-60 – provides an account of Joseph of Arimathea, describing his wealth and his role in Jesus's burial.
Mark 15:42-46 – Mark's account emphasizes Joseph's boldness in approaching Pilate.
Luke 23:50-53 – Luke describes Joseph as a righteous man waiting for the kingdom of God, providing more detail on the burial process.
Isaiah 53:9 – a prophecy that many Christians interpret as being fulfilled by Jesus's burial in the tomb of a rich man (Joseph of Arimathea).

Language Study

Several key terms are found in the original Greek text of John 19:38:

"Disciple" (Greek: mathētēs) - implies a follower or student of a teacher. 2.

"Secretly" (Greek: kryptō) - signifies keeping something hidden or concealed. 3.

"Feared" (Greek: ephobeito) - describes being afraid or terrified. 4.

"Jews" (Greek: Ioudaiōn) – typically refers to the religious leaders or Judeans in John's Gospel. 5.

"Pilate" (Greek: Pilatos) – the Latin name of the Roman prefect governing Judea. 6.

"Besought" (Greek: ērōtaō) - means to ask or request earnestly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In antiquity, burial practices varied greatly, depending on cultural and religious beliefs.

The Egyptians famously mummified their dead as part of their beliefs in the afterlife.

Greek and Roman customs often involved cremation and constructing elaborate tombs.

Within Judaism, burial usually occurred on the day of death, involving cleansing, anointing, and wrapping the body, which Joseph likely observed for Jesus' burial.

The honor given to Jesus' body aligns with these traditions of showing respect for the deceased.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the practices around death and burial during the time of Jesus have been studied through archaeology. Excavations of tombs and burial practices provide context to biblical accounts like that of Joseph of Arimathea.

Additionally, forensic anthropology can give insights into the effects of crucifixion on a body, supporting the historical accounts of Jesus’s death and subsequent handling by Joseph.

commentaries

Various biblical experts have commented on John 19:38:

Some scholars suggest that Joseph's request for Jesus’ body emphasizes the reality of Jesus’ death; it was not a swoon or a coma. 2.

Joseph of Arimathea's actions are often seen as an embodiment of discipleship in that while he was secret in his following, he performed a critical service for Jesus after his death. 3.

Theologians reflect on the fulfillment of the prophetic message found in Isaiah and the importance of burial in establishing the proof of Christ's resurrection. 4.

Commentators like Matthew Henry have highlighted Joseph’s wealth and influence, implying that God used Joseph's position to ensure Jesus' proper burial. 5.

Others focus on the mixture of political intrigue and religious belief in this verse, noting how Joseph navigated the dangerous dynamics following Jesus' death.

John 19

John 19

What does John 19:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 19:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?