John 19:28-37

1. Let us mark the frequent fulfilments of prophetic Scripture in every part of Christ’s crucifixion.
2. We should mark the particularly solemn saying which came from our Lord’s lips just before He died.
3. We should mark the reality and truth of Christ’s death.

"It really requires more unreasoning faith to be an unbeliever than to be a Christian. The one who regards the repeated fulfilments of minute prophecies about Christ’s death, such as the prophecies about His dress, His thirst, His pierced side and His bones, as the result of chance and not of design must indeed be willing to believe anything."

"We need not fear that either sin, Satan or law shall condemn us at the last day. We may lean on the thought that we have a Saviour who has done all, paid all, accomplished all, performed all that is necessary for our salvation."

"Whatever view we take of the blood and water, let us make sure that we are among those who “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). It will matter nothing at the last day that we held during life the most exalted view of the sacraments if we never came to Christ by faith and never had personal dealings with Him."

Questions:

1. We see numerous Scriptures fulfilled in Christ's death. Ryle points out that the only rational explanation of so many prophecies being fulfilled so many years later can only point us to God. How well verses are we with these prophecies, and do they have the effect of strengthening our faith?
2. Jesus's last words on the cross were, "it is finished." Ryle says that we cannot fully comprehend all that this statement contains, though it obviously points to no less than Christ as our substitute, the fulfilling of many prophecies and so forth. One great truth we certainly pull from this is that we need not fear that sin, Satan, or law shall condemn us on the final day, because we lean on a Savior who has done all, paid all, and accomplished all. Stop and praise God for his glorious grace and the firm foundation you stand on in him.
3. We see the reality of Christ's death as the soldier pierces his side and blood and water come out. Ryle says that there are many interpretations of this, but what matters most is that we have washed our robes white in the blood of the Lamb by faith and had dealings with him. Have we done so? Have we seen that our robes are indeed dirty and that nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash them clean? May it be so, and may it increase thanksgiving to Him as we consider it!