LOVE TRIUMPHS

John, you’ve taken Jesus’ mother home and now hurried back to watch your Master die.  Last night’s supper is just a memory as Jesus’ lifeless body hangs from the nails - the Lamb of God slain on Passover day!... while everybody rushes around after this morning’s drama to prepare for the big ‘holy convocation’ tomorrow: the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (John 19:31-42)                                           

The apostle Paul explains it for us: “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast... neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Is there malice and wickedness in this feast?                   
To uphold the Law, the Jews want those shameful bodies out of sight so here come the soldiers to smash their legs and hasten death. Imagine the agonies.       

Now don’t forget – Jesus has been bleeding ALL DAY!

Such is the hatred, they feel cheated that Jesus has died first so... ‘one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water’ ...from Christ’s dead body!  

It’s no wonder John insists... “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.” 
They’ve unwittingly fulfilled yet more prophecies!...

• “When I see the blood I will pass over you”
• “neither shall ye break a bone thereof”
• ‘He keepeth all His bones, not one of them is broken’
• “they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced”
• ‘with the rich in His death’  ... as Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, now in disregard for their reputations, lovingly place the body of Jesus in a new tomb nearby.

 God’s love triumphs over Man’s hatred!