Footnotes:
John 19:24 Psalm 22:18
John 19:26 The Greek for Woman does not denote any disrespect.
John 19:36 Exodus 12:46; Num. 9:12; Psalm 34:20
John 19:37 Zech. 12:10
John 19:39 Or about 34 kilograms
Jesus has been arrested and tried before Annas & Caiphas, then before Pilate, then quickly crucified. The gospel writer then records events at the cross.
The ending is quick and dramatic; Jesus drinks a little bit of wine vinegar, announces that all has been done and dies. John records this as a deliberate act of Jesus, bowing his head and "giving up" his spirit, with the knowledge that he has completed his task. In this light, the statement, "It is over" represents triumph, not despair.
In his death, Jesus avoids having his bones broken; this is a prohibition in the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.
John 19: 36-37, Fulfilling prophecy
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”
37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”
Breaking the legs apparently hastened death because it made it difficult for the condemned man to push up and breathe. It also was a traumatic injury more likely to help bring on shock.
The quote in verse 36, "Not one of his bones shall be broken" reflects instructions about sacrificing the passover lamb (see Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12) and is a phrase which also appears in Psalm 34:20. The second quote, verse 37, is from Zechariah 12:10.
John 19: 38-42, Burial
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are Jewish leaders who have been following Jesus and now take some risks by making sure that he has a proper burial. The Sabbath sunset is approaching, so these things must be done quickly.
The mixture of spices provided by Nicodemus was considerable, a hundred litrai, about 34 kilograms (say the NIV footnotes.) Like the earlier anointing by Mary, it is a touching sign of grief.
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