His Death Gives Life

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, Our Passover Lamb, Gives Life Through His Death

The death of Jesus is not just a historical event but the very foundation of our spiritual life. Just as in nature, where new life springs from what has died, so too do we receive true life by feeding on the sacrifice of Christ. The crimson worm, referenced in Psalm 22, is a vivid picture of this truth: it climbs a tree, gives its life for its offspring, and through its death, provides nourishment and a royal dye. In the same way, Jesus willingly gave Himself, fulfilling ancient prophecies, so that by His death we might have eternal life. We are called to continually feed on Him, drawing our strength and hope from His sacrifice, just as He taught in the Gospel of John. [10:27]

John 6:53-57 (ESV)
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.”

Reflection: What does it mean for you, today, to “feed” on Jesus—how can you intentionally draw spiritual nourishment from His sacrifice in a practical way this week?

Day 2: Christ’s Body Was Broken, Yet Not a Bone Was Broken

Jesus’ body was broken for us, fulfilling the ancient requirements of the Passover lamb whose bones were never to be broken. This detail, prophesied centuries before, points to the depth of God’s plan and the perfection of Christ’s sacrifice. Just as broken soil brings forth crops and broken bread gives strength, it is through the brokenness of Jesus’ body that we receive life. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of this truth: His body, given for us, is the source of our spiritual sustenance and healing. [12:30]

Exodus 12:46 (ESV)
It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel most “broken,” and how might you invite Jesus to bring new life and healing into that place today?

Day 3: The Power of Christ’s Shed Blood

The blood of Jesus, poured out on the cross, is the means by which our sins are forgiven and we are made right with God. Just as the Passover lamb’s blood was applied to the doorposts for protection, so too must Christ’s blood be applied to our hearts by faith. His blood is not only shed but must be personally received and trusted for the forgiveness of sins. This is not about our good works, but about believing in what Jesus has done, so that when God sees the blood, He passes over us and welcomes us into His family. [23:40]

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV)
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Reflection: Is there an area of guilt or shame you have been holding onto? How can you trust and apply the forgiveness found in Jesus’ blood to that area today?

Day 4: Jesus Was Bound So We Could Be Free

Jesus allowed Himself to be bound—first in swaddling clothes as a baby, then as a servant, and finally in burial cloths—so that we might experience true freedom. He chose to take on human flesh, to serve others, and to submit His will to the Father, all out of love for us. The example of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who risked their reputations to care for Jesus’ body, shows how Christ’s sacrifice can free us from fear and tradition, empowering us to live boldly for Him. [30:51]

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV)
Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection: What is one area where you are still “bound” by fear, pride, or tradition? What step can you take today to walk in the freedom Christ has given you?

Day 5: Christ’s Burial Is Our Promise of New Life

The burial of Jesus is not the end, but the midpoint in God’s redemptive plan—He died, was buried, and rose again. His burial fulfilled prophecy, proved the reality of His death, and offers us the promise that, though we too will die, we shall also live. Just as Jesus was laid in a garden tomb and rose to new life, so we are invited to die to ourselves and rise with Him. The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, assuring us of resurrection and new life beyond the grave. [43:11]

Romans 8:11 (ESV)
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Reflection: How does the promise of resurrection shape the way you face your own mortality or the loss of loved ones? What hope can you hold onto and share with others today?

Sermon Summary

Today’s passage from John 19:31-42 draws us into the profound mystery of Christ’s death, burial, and the life that springs from it. The events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion are not just historical facts, but deeply symbolic acts that fulfill ancient prophecies and reveal God’s redemptive plan. The death of Jesus is not the end, but the beginning of new life—just as in nature, where death and decay provide the foundation for new growth, so too does Christ’s sacrifice become the source of our spiritual life.

The imagery of the crimson worm from Psalm 22:6 offers a striking parallel to Jesus’ sacrifice. This worm climbs a tree, gives its life for its offspring, and in its death, provides nourishment and a crimson dye used for royal and priestly garments. In the same way, Jesus attaches himself to the cross, pours out his life, and through his death, gives us life and covers us in righteousness. The fulfillment of prophecy is seen in the details: not one of his bones was broken, echoing the requirements for the Passover lamb, and his blood was shed and applied for our forgiveness.

Jesus’ body was broken, bled, bound, and buried for us. Each of these acts carries deep meaning. His body was broken, not in the sense of broken bones, but in the suffering and sacrifice he endured, fulfilling the pattern of the Passover lamb whose bones were never to be broken. His blood was poured out, not just as a symbol, but as the very means by which our sins are forgiven and God’s judgment passes over us. He was bound in linen and spices, a costly act of devotion by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who risked their reputations and religious standing to honor him. In his burial, Jesus models for us the full cycle of redemption: death, burial, and the promise of resurrection.

This pattern is not just for Jesus, but for us as well. We are called to die to ourselves, to be bound in service and obedience, and to trust in the promise that, just as Christ was raised, so too will we be raised to new life. The life of faith is a continual feeding on Christ—his death, his life, his example—so that we might truly live.

Key Takeaways

1. Life Springs from Sacrificial Death In both nature and the spiritual realm, true life emerges from death. Just as decaying matter nourishes new growth, Christ’s death becomes the very foundation of our spiritual life. We are called to recognize that our growth often comes through surrender, loss, and the letting go of self, trusting that God brings resurrection out of what seems like an ending. [04:26]
2. The Crimson Worm: A Living Parable of Christ The crimson worm’s life cycle—climbing a tree, giving its life for its young, and providing a crimson covering—mirrors the sacrifice of Jesus. This vivid image from Psalm 22 points to the intentional design of God, who weaves the story of redemption even into creation itself. Christ’s death is not random or accidental, but a purposeful act that nourishes and covers his people. [08:26]
3. Brokenness as the Pathway to Life God works through broken things: broken soil yields crops, broken bread gives strength, and the broken body of Christ gives us life. The unbroken bones of Jesus fulfill prophecy, but his willingness to be broken in every other way opens the door for our healing and wholeness. Embracing our own brokenness, rather than hiding it, allows God’s grace to flow through us to others. [14:28]
4. The Power of Applied Blood and Costly Devotion It is not enough that Christ’s blood was shed; it must be applied by faith, just as the Passover blood was placed on the doorposts. Joseph and Nicodemus, once secret disciples, step forward in costly devotion, risking defilement and reputation to honor Jesus. True faith moves us from secrecy to boldness, from mere belief to sacrificial action that identifies us with Christ. [24:14]
5. Burial and the Promise of Resurrection Jesus’ burial is not a footnote, but a vital part of the redemptive story, marking the transition from death to resurrection. His burial fulfills prophecy, provides undeniable proof of his death, and models for us the hope that even in the grave, God’s promise stands. Our own mortality is not the end, but the threshold to new life, secured by the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead. [39:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Reading John 19:31-42
[03:37] - Prayer and Introduction
[04:26] - Life from Death: The Spiritual Cycle
[05:47] - Psalm 22 and the Crimson Worm
[08:26] - The Crimson Worm and Christ’s Sacrifice
[11:52] - Jesus’ Body Broken for Us
[14:28] - Brokenness and God’s Redemptive Work
[16:24] - The New Covenant and Passover Fulfilled
[19:09] - Jesus’ Blood Poured Out
[24:14] - The Power of Applied Blood
[26:12] - Jesus’ Body Bound and Costly Devotion
[30:14] - Christ’s Willingness to Be Bound
[38:07] - Jesus’ Burial and Its Meaning
[39:28] - Burial, Proof, and the Promise of Resurrection
[43:53] - Living Out the Pattern of Christ
[44:34] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 19:31-42 (ESV) — 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Observation Questions

What details in John 19:31-37 show that Jesus’ death fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah?
According to the passage, what actions did Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take after Jesus’ death, and what risks did they face in doing so?
The sermon described the “crimson worm” from Psalm 22:6. What is the connection between this image and Jesus’ sacrifice? [[08:26]]
What is the significance of the blood and water that flowed from Jesus’ side when he was pierced? [[21:45]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon compared the cycle of death and new life in nature to the spiritual life that comes from Jesus’ death. Why do you think God chose to use this pattern both in creation and in redemption? [[04:26]]
The crimson worm gives its life for its offspring, providing nourishment and a crimson covering. How does this deepen our understanding of what Jesus did for us on the cross? [[09:07]]
Joseph and Nicodemus moved from being “secret disciples” to openly honoring Jesus, even at great personal cost. What might have motivated this change in them? [[28:18]]
The burial of Jesus is often overlooked. Why is it important in the story of redemption, and what hope does it offer us about our own mortality? [[39:28]]

Application Questions

The sermon said, “God works through broken things: broken soil yields crops, broken bread gives strength, and the broken body of Christ gives us life.” Is there an area of brokenness in your life right now where you need to trust God to bring new life? What would it look like to surrender that to Him? [[14:28]]
The crimson worm’s sacrifice was described as a living parable of Christ. Are there “small” or hidden ways you can give of yourself for others this week, even if it goes unnoticed? [[09:07]]
Joseph and Nicodemus risked their reputations and religious standing to honor Jesus. Is there a situation where you feel called to step out in faith, even if it costs you something? What is holding you back? [[28:18]]
The sermon emphasized that it’s not enough for Christ’s blood to be shed; it must be applied by faith. How do you personally “apply” Jesus’ sacrifice to your life? Are there areas where you are still trying to earn God’s favor instead of trusting in what Jesus has done? [[24:14]]
Jesus was bound in service and obedience, even when it was hard. Is there a place in your life where you need to choose obedience, even if it feels like a sacrifice? [[33:23]]
The burial of Jesus points to the promise of resurrection. How does knowing that death is not the end change the way you face loss, grief, or fear about the future? [[39:28]]
The sermon said, “The life of faith is a continual feeding on Christ—his death, his life, his example—so that we might truly live.” What is one practical way you can “feed on Christ” this week (for example, through prayer, Scripture, serving, or remembering His sacrifice in communion)? [[11:05]]

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