“The Man Who Saw It”

The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
John 19:35 (NIV)

I have observed along my journey that certain historical events become so ubiquitous, that the actual events are lost or muddled in the pervasive contemporary and cultural understanding. The symbol of the cross, and the related crucifix, are great examples. We think nothing of the symbol of a cross on a piece of jewelry, a headstone, or a business logo. Most people associate it with the Christian religion, but I would venture to guess that if Jay Leno went “Jaywalking” on the street and asked the average person about the event that gave us the symbol, few would know much about it. They wouldn’t know that the cross was arguably among the most heinous and tortuous devices for executing a human being in history. I remember one commentator musing that if Jesus had been beheaded, women would be wearing little guillotines around their necks (granted, the guillotine wasn’t invented until centuries later, but you get the point).

Likewise, having read and studied the story of Jesus’ crucifixion for over 40 years, I confess that it is easy for me to gloss over the details that I know so well.

At the very beginning of John’s account, he tells us that “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The reason for John writing this account is to present to his first-century readers his primary source memories. He subtly, but importantly, reminds us of this in these final chapters.

One of the stylistic conventions that John uses multiple times is to humbly refuse to identify himself in the narrative. He refers to himself as simply “a disciple” or “the disciple Jesus loved.” I consider John telling me “I’m not the important one. This is not about me. This is all about Jesus.”

In yesterday’s chapter, the unnamed John assists Peter in getting into the courtyard of the High Priest’s house where Jesus was being illegally tried. Peter denies Jesus, but John at that point chooses not to reveal what happens to either him or Peter. In today’s chapter, John reveals that he was at the cross with Jesus’ mother, aunt, and two other female disciples.

At the time John was writing his account, the Jesus Movement was exploding, and the astonishing claim that Jesus died and rose again was driving both faith and doubt. For the doubters, the two most plausible explanations were that 1) Jesus never died in the first place or 2) Jesus’ body was stolen by His followers and made up the resurrection story.

In today’s chapter, John is addressing the first argument of the doubters.

First, John lets me know that he was standing at the cross with Jesus’ mother and Jesus addressed him from the cross. In other words, “I was there. I saw this.”

Second, John explains that the Jews appealed to Pilate to break the legs of the three crucified men to speed up their deaths so that they could be taken down and buried before nightfall. In Jewish tradition, the new day begins at sundown, and with it being Friday afternoon, the Sabbath day of rest would begin in a few hours and no one was allowed to work, even taking a body off a cross and burying it. Crucified victims could languish for hours or days. The cause of death was typically asphyxiation from hanging on the nails in the wrists which made it hard to breathe. The only way to do so was to push up on the nails through the feet to take a breath. By breaking the legs, this was impossible, and the crucified asphyxiated much faster. John records that the Romans found Jesus dead and didn’t break his legs and they speared the dead body to ensure Jesus was dead.

Third, John reiterates that he witnessed this: “The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.“

In the quiet this morning, I tried to approach John’s account of Jesus’ trials and execution with fresh eyes, even as I allowed my knowledge of history to help me visualize the horrific details lost on most contemporary readers. I also thought about John as the eyewitness, trying to place myself in his sandals as he described the events.

In two weeks, Jesus’ followers around the world will observe Good Friday, the commemoration of Jesus’ trials and execution. I find myself grateful that our chapter-a-day journey is allowing me to contemplate and meditate on the events as that commemoration draws near. I find that heart preparation makes the difference between an observance like Good Friday being a rote religious ritual and the Spirit event it’s intended to be.

I’m back on Facebook for those who liked to read my chapter-a-day posts there! Facebook refuses to give me access to my old, hacked account, but I have started a new account. Please feel free to search for me on Facebook and friend me. If Facebook won’t let you friend me, please go to my Facebook profile and “Message” me on Facebook Messenger, which should then allow me to friend you. Cheers! -Tom