John 19

"It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging [on the crosses] the next day, which was the Sabbath ... So the....."

"And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and..."

"Then Pilate tried to release [Jesus], but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release this man, you are no 'friend of Caesar.' Anyone who declares..."

"Then Pilate turned Jesus over to [the Jewish leaders] to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the..."

"Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing..."

"Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty." A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a..."

"The Jewish leaders replied [to Pilate after he said Jesus was not guilty], "By our law [Jesus] ought to die because he called himself the Son of God."..."

"[After Jesus' death,] Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission..."

"(This report [of Jesus' crucifixion] is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.)...."

How can so much be caught up in one word? Phil Ware continues his seven sayings of Jesus on the Cross and talks about how the words "I thirst" make Jesus' incarnation real.

If we are willing to get our hands dirty to show loving respect, God will use us to be his touch of grace in times of horror. Phil Ware shares a Holy Spirit given insight into the horrific deaths of Jonath, Saul, and Jesus, and how good people did kind things to mitigate the pain and evil of those deaths.

"The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on [Jesus'] head, and they put a purple robe on him. "Hail! King of the Jews!" they mocked, as they..."

"Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, "Look, here is the man!" When they saw him, the leading..."

"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's..."

"The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the..."

"When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one..."

""Why don't you talk to me?" Pilate demanded [of Jesus]. "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?" Then Jesus said,...."

Inspirational illustration of John 19:38-39 -- Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was acc

How can we do it when it is often so hard? Phil Ware continues his SHIFT series by talking about Nicodemus and how he was moved to minister selflessly to Jesus after he really understood God's love and Jesus' sacrifice at the cross.

What do these words mean and whose words do we trust? Phil Ware weaves in the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross with the sense of forgiveness and mission that should be ours in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

"It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn't want the bodies hanging [on the crosses] the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very...."

"After he took the wine, Jesus said, "It's done ... complete." Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit."

"[After the people called for Barabbas to be released,] Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip."

"[After Jesus' death,] Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission..."

"Pilate went outside again and said to the people, "I am going to bring [Jesus] out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.""

"The Jewish leaders replied [to Pilate after he said Jesus was not guilty], "By our law [Jesus] ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.""

"He had been all night in agony, he had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, he had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to..."

"If there be one place where our Lord Jesus most fully becomes the joy and comfort of his people, it is where he plunged deepest into the depths of..."

"Then Pilate tried to release [Jesus], but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release this man, you are no 'friend of Caesar.' Anyone who declares..."

Have you wondered how long Mary remembered the aroma of myrrh? Stacy Voss is trying to prepare our hearts for advent and the coming of Jesus by asking us to gather in pungent and hard to smell things.

"Dear Follower and Friend, Let there be light. And light flashed into being. (Genesis 1:3)Yes, I was there the very first time light drove away the..."

Most of our earth-bound explanations are shallow and trite in the face of life's harshest realities. Phil Ware pauses and looks at the pain of grieving parents at the loss of a child and reminds us to forgo easy answers and cling to the stories and promises of Jesus.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

Give thanks for this? Phil Ware finishes his November series of giving thanks and focuses on our mission or call from God.

How can the younger brother of Jesus help us find our way to hope? Phil Ware lets us journey with James, the half brother of Jesus, through the cross and resurrection to find our way to hope and confidence about our future.

How can anyone say they have done all that they set out to do? Jesus finished his work, accomplished his mission, completed his task, passed his test, and when his life was over he was victorious.

Can you ever think of when giving up is ever good? Jesus gave up his spirit, but he did not give up his mission, his mercy, his grace.

How can two rich guys save Easter? Phil Ware continues his series called unpredictable on Jesus in the Gospel of John and focuses on Jesus' death and burial through the eyes of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.

As long as there is life, we have a mission and purpose to complete. Phil Ware reminds us that we are called to accomplish the mission God has called us to do so that when our days on earth are over we can say we have finished the work he has given us to do.

Will you ever get it all done? Phil Ware reflects on Jesus' statement, "It is finished" and how he can ever be finished in his life.

If we are honest, so much of what we choose to do is based on our self-interest, while Jesus invites us to live life centered in God's purpose for us! This post continues Phil Ware's look at the man with leprosy in Mark 1:35-45 and Jesus' loving interaction with the man after he had committed to live out the Father's purpose in his life.

Are you ready to have your life changed? Many events in our lives change us forever, our lives will never be the same as a result, and Jesus is one of those life-changing events.

Jesus refused the route of popularity and chose to live for God's purpose. This post continues Phil Ware's look at the man with leprosy in Mark 1:35-45 and Jesus' loving interaction with the man after he had committed to live out the Father's purpose in his life.

What would Mary have thought in such painful times? Phil Ware writes a meditation on what Mary may have thought as she stood at the foot of Jesus' cross as he died, using the theme of wood in his life to connect the story.

What's a mom supposed to do in a time like this? Sarah Stirman shares insight stirred by her son's second injury to his ankle and it reminds her of Mary's sacrifice at the cross.

The real question is whether or not we will choose to follow Jesus from the cross, to the tomb, and into the new life that Jesus' resurrection brings? Phil Ware reminds us that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were indisputable eye witnesses to the death of Jesus so the resurrection could be assured!

How do we deal with unfairness? Jesus was unfairly tried by Pilate.

How important are our differences? Phil Ware continues his series on Outside the Walls, looking at Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well and reminding us that they are more alike than they are different: both need Jesus and his truth, life, and love.