This photograph is almost certainly the most disturbing image I have used in this series on John's Gospel. It was taken in 1944 in Warsaw, Poland, and used as German propaganda to show how they had put down an uprising of Polish resistance forces during August and September of 1944. The implication from the Germans was that the foolish Poles,whether Jewish people fighting against Christians, or Christians, clinging to their Christian religion, were not saved by their faith. Like the other rebels, the crucified Christ was lying in the street, not victorious at all. Desecration of Christian sites has been common for almost two thousand years. The message of the Scripture and historic Christianity, though, is that though in Christ, God died on a cross, he rose from the dead and is able to bring all who believe to eternal life, because Jesus himself is the resurrection and the life.
Notice in the Bible we refer to the following:
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 19. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. In John 19:1-5 Pilate has Jesus flogged and then presents him back to the crowd. Why would he have done this, then said that he didn't think Jesus was guilty? What is he trying to accomplish?
2. Verses 6-11 present Pilate with a problem. Why does it trouble him that the priests say Jesus has presented himself as the "son of God"? When Pilate questions Jesus again, what does he learn about Jesus?
3. In verses 12-15 what is Pilate trying to accomplish? What is surprising about the situation?
4. What kind of king is Jesus showing himself to be? Is he your king?
5. In verses 16-22 what is disturbing about the message Pilate has posted above Jesus? Notice that the message is often abbreviated in artwork, usually in Latin, INRI
6. Verses 23-30 describe the death of Jesus. What are the important (and surprising) features?
7. Verses 31-42 describe several different actions - the soldier verifying that Jesus is dead, the criminals being put to death, and Jesus being taken down and entombed. What are the significant elements of the different actions?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 19. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. In John 19:1-5 Pilate has Jesus flogged and then presents him back to the crowd. Why would he have done this, then said that he didn't think Jesus was guilty? What is he trying to accomplish?
2. Verses 6-11 present Pilate with a problem. Why does it trouble him that the priests say Jesus has presented himself as the "son of God"? When Pilate questions Jesus again, what does he learn about Jesus?
3. In verses 12-15 what is Pilate trying to accomplish? What is surprising about the situation?
4. What kind of king is Jesus showing himself to be? Is he your king?
5. In verses 16-22 what is disturbing about the message Pilate has posted above Jesus? Notice that the message is often abbreviated in artwork, usually in Latin, INRI
6. Verses 23-30 describe the death of Jesus. What are the important (and surprising) features?
7. Verses 31-42 describe several different actions - the soldier verifying that Jesus is dead, the criminals being put to death, and Jesus being taken down and entombed. What are the significant elements of the different actions?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
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