John must have been there to hear everything Jesus said, and those words must have sunk deep into John’s soul. Over the centuries, these words were gathered lovingly by the church to become the Seven Sayings of the Cross.
Gospel of John: King of the Judeans
John and James had asked for the place of honor, on Jesus' right and left, when he came into his glory. Now, as John stood at the foot of the cross, he understood why they had been denied.
Gospel of John: A Street Called Straight
After John's chiasm come seven vignettes that describe the crucifixion of Christ. This is the segue.
Gospel of John: We Have No King
Justice was the bedrock upon which Pax Romana was built. Pilate felt had done all he could to free this righteous and just man, standing on Gabbatha waiting with tranquil dignity for his judgement. Pilate could do no more.
Gospel of John: Son of God
The inward movement of John's chiasm reached its climax in this shedding of the Lamb’s blood. Now would come the process by which the innocent Lamb of God would be offered up to die and become accursed, hanging on a “tree.”
Gospel of John: Emergency Council Meeting
Faced with the same evidence, some were moved to belief, and some were hardened in unbelief. And yet God’s purpose for Messiah still advanced. Even with free will, no person can alter God’s divine plan. As one commentator put it, Nothing people can do will thwart or alter the sovereign will of God, and nothing God does ever sets aside the free choice of people.
Gospel of John: Pressure of Persecution
If something is deemed implausible, the likelihood of you or me coming to believe it is vanishingly small. In fact, we will not find or even see what is right in front of us.