Betrayal and Crucifixion

GOLDEN TEXT: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” —John 12:32

JOHN 19:17-30

THE story of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus is familiar to all, but why the “Prince of life” should thus die is understood only by those who have learned something of the glorious divine plan of the ages which is based upon the redemptive work of Christ. Instructions provided for Sunday School superintendents and Bible Class teachers state, “Do not try to explain why it was necessary for the Son of God to die for our sins.”

However, the Bible itself does explain the matter. In Isaiah 53:6 we read, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The New Testament states that he “died for our sins.” (I Cor. 15:3) We—the entire human race—are dying because of sin; for the “wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) The scriptural philosophy of atonement through Jesus is that he took the sinner’s place in death.

The Apostle Paul refers to Jesus’ sacrifice as a “ransom,” that is—according to the Greek text—a price to correspond. The correspondency is between Adam and Jesus. Adam, the perfect man, sinned, and brought upon himself the sentence of death. Jesus, the perfect man, laid down his humanity as a substitute for the forfeited life of Adam. Paul expresses this complete thought, saying, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”—I Cor. 15:22

The last verse of our lesson says that Jesus “gave up the ghost.” The word “ghost” is a poor translation of the Greek text, but is used by the translators in an obvious attempt to establish the erroneous idea that Jesus had a life, a personality within himself, which was separate from his human organism—an “immortal soul” which did not die, but which escaped from Jesus’ body when he died on the cross.

Properly translated, the text would read that Jesus gave up his life, or ceased to live. Isaiah 53:12 speaks of it as pouring out his soul unto death—the soul simply meaning his being. Psalm 16:10—a prophecy of Jesus’ trust in God and his hope in the resurrection—reads, “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” Peter quotes this prophecy in his pentecostal sermon, applies it to Jesus, and uses the Greek word hades to translate the Hebrew word sheol, which is the one in the prophecy that is translated hell. It denotes the state, or condition, of death.

These many texts of Scripture clearly reveal that the plan of redemption and salvation through Jesus is one of substitution. He became our substitute in death. Naturally, of course, those who claim that “there is no death” must find it difficult to fit all these texts into an understandable pattern. They seem to find it easier to say that they don’t really understand the matter, and advise no attempt be made to explain it.

April 11 is so-called “Palm Sunday,” this name deriving from the occasion when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on an ass. Palm branches were strewn in the way, and he was acclaimed king by his friends and sympathizers. This popularity was short-lived, for just five days thereafter he was crucified. He went to Jerusalem in full knowledge of the fact that his enemies were lying in wait there for him, and that he would be arrested and put to death.

His triumphal entry into the city helped to point up more clearly his rejection as king by the Jewish religious rulers. They wanted Pilate to change the inscription over the cross to indicate that Jesus merely claimed to be a king, but was not actually one. However, Pilate would not agree to the challenge.

Our Golden Text is significant. In the verse following, John, the writer of the Gospel observes, “This he said, signifying what death he should die.” Another text reads, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” (John 3:14) Those who looked upon the serpent raised up by Moses had their lives spared, so those who “look” upon Jesus will likewise be saved. The poet has expressed the thought, saying, “There is life in a look at the crucified One.”

But only a handful saw Jesus while he was hanging on the cross. We look upon him now in the sense of understanding why he died for us. Even those who, historically speaking, may know that he was crucified, could hardly be said to look upon him when they admit that they do not know why his death was necessary. But our Golden Text assures us that the lifted up Christ will ultimately draw all men unto him. This will have its principal fulfillment during the Millennium, when all mankind will come to understand that Jesus died in order that they might live.

QUESTIONS

Why was it necessary for the Son of God to die?

What is the meaning of the expression, “gave up the ghost”?

Explain Psalm 16:10, which speaks of Jesus’ soul being in hell.

Is it proper to use the word “substitute” in defining the divine plan of salvation through Christ?

What is the significance of Palm Sunday?

When will Christ draw all men unto him, as stated in our Golden Text?

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