John 19 Verses 23-24 

John 19:23 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.” 

In Matt. 5 the Lord said: 17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  Fulfilling the law and the prophets to the most minute detail included fulfilling all the prophecies concerning him.  In Psalms 22:18 “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”  In the above passage we see this prophecy fulfilled. 

John 19 Verses 25-30 

John 19:25 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”   

Among the many collection of threes that occurred in the events leading up to the trial, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, we see that there were three women at the cross named Mary.   

Also, in this passage we have recorded a couple of the sayings of Jesus while he was on the cross.  Below we set forth an essay concerning the words that Jesus spoke while on the cross:

Words of Jesus while on the cross 

When we survey all four gospels we come up with a compilation of things that Jesus said while he hung on the cross.   

The first thing that Jesus said while he was on the cross is recorded for us in the book of Luke: Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”  Among those who were gathered together at the cross of Jesus included the priests, rulers, Pharisees, three women named Mary, the apostle John and many of those who had cried out “Crucify him, crucify him.”  While there is no reason to think that all those who cried out “crucify him” were of the elect family of God, yet some of them, no doubt, were.  It was to those of his children who had been deceived by the priests, rulers of the people, and Pharisees that Jesus made this prayer to the Father.  No doubt they were forgiven, because Jesus asked the Father to forgive them.  This illustrates the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God towards his people.

The next things that Jesus said while on the cross are recorded for us in John: John 19:26 “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”  “Woman behold thy son” speaks to us that Jesus was the promised son of God that would take away the sins of his people.  Also, we see this connected to the prophesy that Simeon made concerning Christ after his birth: Luke 2:34 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  No doubt at this time, Mary must have felt that a sword had pierced through her own soul as Simeon prophesied.   

What Jesus said unto John, “Behold thy mother,” speaks to us of the providential care that Jesus had for both Mary and for John.  Mary had other sons, but it was needful and a blessing to both Mary and John for John to take her into his own home.  No doubt they had many conversations about Jesus and the things he said and did, while he walked the earth.  No doubt these conversations lifted one another up.   

In the book of Luke we have recorded a conversation between Christ and one of the thieves who was hanged with him on the cross: Luke 23:39 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”  Earlier, we read where at one time both thieves were railing on the Lord.  However, a change came over one of the thieves.  I suggest that change was the spiritual birth.  This thief rebuked the other thief and then turned to the Lord and said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into they kingdom.”  To which the Lord responded, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.”  What a tremendous blessing to this man while he was in horrible pain that the Lord gave him assurance that his soul would be with Jesus in Paradise on that very day.   

Next, we read in Matthew when darkness came upon the earth about the ninth hour these words of Jesus: Matt. 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  God has promised to never forsake his people, yet he forsake the man Jesus for the punishment of the sins of the elect.  What a horrible punishment this time on the cross must have been for Jesus as he suffered the wrath of God poured out without measure upon him as he suffered the sins of his elect children.  While this was an hour of great darkness for Jesus, yet, it illustrates the great love Jesus had for his in that he was willing to suffer this hour for us in order to deliver us from eternal punishment.  

Next, we read in John 19:28 “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” This was said in order to fulfill the prophesy stated in Ps. 69:21 “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”   

Again in John 19:23 we read: “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”  Those glorious words “it is finished” ring out with the glorious truth that Christ had completed the work of justifying his people before a just and holy God.  There is nothing left for them to do to be justified before God’s throne of judgment.   

Finally in Luke we read: Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”  Thus, having finished the work of justifying his children, Jesus commended his spirit into the hands of the Father.