BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Jesus stands bruised and bloodied before Pilate, a crown of thorns puncturing his head. After enduring relentless mockery—“He thinks he’s the king of the Jews!”—Jesus then hears his death sentence. “Crucify him! Crucify him!” This coronation of the world’s true king is the ugliest ceremony ever. Jesus said he would be “glorified,” but this can’t be what he meant, right? How can anyone believe this humiliated, defeated man is any kind of king?

Hyperlinks to the Hebrew Bible permeate John’s crucifixion scene, stressing that Jesus is not defeated here. From the division of Jesus’ clothes (Ps. 22:18), to the offer of sour wine (Ps. 69:21), the use of a hyssop branch (Exod. 12:22-23, Lev. 14:49-53), and the piercing of Jesus’ side (Zech. 12:10), John’s literary connections throughout this dark scene suggest that the Scriptures have always been anticipating this moment.

The big idea here is that Jesus does not die as an unwilling victim. He enters into his fate out of love for all people, including his enemies—this is what an upside-down kingdom looks like. That kind of love rises victorious over death itself, which leads to the most unbelievable moment of all: The king resurrects and returns!

Jesus finds Mary Magdalene in a garden. In a callback to Eden, here, God is walking beside humanity in a garden once again. When Jesus utters her name, Mary believes the unbelievable and runs to tell the others. Having just doubted, denied, and deserted Jesus, Peter now believes what his eyes see. He rushes to Jesus and declares his sincere love for him. It’s a moment of forgiveness and restoration that, as you’ll see in today’s video, represents everything the Kingdom of Heaven is all about.

Concluding his gospel, so upside-down and shocking that it’s hard to believe, John confirms that he’s written all of these stories down for one purpose: “so that by believing, you may have life in his name.” John invites us to come and see and believe in Jesus so that we might have true life.

Reflection Questions

• When the soldiers pierce Jesus’ side, blood and water flow out from him. Where else have you seen water in John or in the Hebrew Bible? How does this moment connect to other key mentions of water?
• When Jesus shows himself to the gathered disciples after the resurrection (John 20:19-23), his first words are, “peace be with you.” Why do you think he begins this way? What does this tell us about forgiveness?