 |  |
No.19.
Chapter 19:
pp. 146 - 149
The title of these articles indicates that no attempt is made to give an exposition in
depth that the Gospel deserves. Rather the author seeks to extract what to him seems the
main burden of each chapter. Much has been written on the gross irregularities of the
trial of the Lord Jesus, both in past years but also continuing up to the present time.
There have been books and U.K. television seeking to remove some of the guilt from the
Jewish race and to discredit the accuracy of the Biblical record. Accordingly one comes
to realize how important are the Scriptures to present us today God's own miraculously
preserved account of all that has happened in the world from the day He created it. When
we say this we acknowledge that this historical account is strictly selective, touching only
on events relative to God's eternal purpose.
Paul found it necessary to take the major part of the O.T. ("the law of Moses and the
prophets") to do justice to the message of salvation in the Lord Jesus.
The first words recorded of Christ are "How is it that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that
I must be about My Father's business"? (Luke 2: 49). Our Lord's last recorded words
before He died were "It is finished" (John 19: 30). Thus it seems these words form the
focus of this chapter.
When we studied chapter 17: we saw that this work of the Father was conceived
and started before the foundation or overthrow of the world in Gen. 1: 1. The vital
central act of the Son of God takes place in this chapter before us. The earthly life of the
Lord Jesus led up to this point:
"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish
His work" (John 4: 34).
"But I have a greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath
given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent
Me" (John 5: 36).
"I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me
to do" (John 17: 4).
Our Lord with His complete knowledge of the O.T. could see in His life one prophecy
after another being fulfilled, and now as He hung on the cross, suffering, He saw them
offering Him vinegar, the final prophecy concerning Him (while He was alive on earth)
fulfilled:
". . . . . And in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink" (Psa. 69: 21).
Tasting, He did not drink, but said "It is finished".
To recapitulate, we see God using His written Word and His prophecies literally
fulfilled, to bear witness before mankind of His existence, works, will and purpose. All