John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?

There are three major themes, among other major themes, that I am going to highlight. Let us remember the purpose of John's writing. He is writing that the reader may believe. He is writing that the believer would be reinforced in their belief. With that, these three key elements truly stand out.

To being, the first major theme is that Jesus freely gives up His own life. Jesus speaks with Pilate who, in this instance, is seemingly the last person who can make a verdict to free Jesus. Jesus does not contend for Himself at all and instead humbles Pilate. He corrects Pilate's claim to have the power to crucify and release. Jesus states clearly that Pilate's power came from above. He continued forward into His own death. After having been scourged and crucified, we see Him on the cross giving up His spirit. He relinquished His own life. And this He did freely.

The second major theme is that the Scriptures were fulfilled. The things happening to Jesus were not just happenstance. They were not simply the results of wicked men hating a righteous man. They were prophesied in the word of God and fulfilled in the man of Jesus. There are also more Scriptures than simply what is listen here in John, but some of those are key references. Jesus moved in accordance with the Scriptures and fulfilled one after another leaving none unfulfilled. Even after His death, where the fulfillment was out of His control, it still was fulfilled. The evidence is that this is the coming Messiah that had long been awaited.

This leads to the last theme I want to highlight. "It is finished!" This is a powerful testimony, but what exactly was finished? Let's look at some other places in Scripture to draw this conclusion.

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
-John 4:34

4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
-John 17:4

His death acted as the crown for the work that was accomplished. Just as the Father finished His creative work and then rests, we see the allusion to this in the work of Jesus which creates the New Creation. Just after Jesus declares that it is finished, John notes that it was the Sabbath right after. Hebrews agrees with reality that the labor of man unto righteousness has ceased. It is found in Jesus. The work that was set out to be accomplished has been accomplished. Men trapped in their flesh can now die to their flesh. But the story isn't over yet...

What lessons are you seeing for the original audience?