John 19

“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.” Naming Jesus and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,” The line’s distinctive content terms include crown, head, platted. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.” Naming Hail and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find…” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!” Naming Jesus and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith…” Naming Crucify and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Naming Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that…” Naming Jesus and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art…” Naming Jews and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is…” Naming Gabbatha and Hebrew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!” Naming Jews and King keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:” Naming Golgotha and Hebrew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was…” Naming Greek and Hebrew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the…” Naming Jews and King keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.” Naming Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary…” Naming Mary and Cleophas keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman…” Naming Jesus and Woman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” The line’s distinctive content terms include disciple, home, hour. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it…” The line’s distinctive content terms include vinegar, filled, full. Its relationship to verses 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath…” Naming Jews and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brake, crucified, first. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.” The line’s distinctive content terms include record, true, bare. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate…” Naming Jesus and Pilate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes…” The number hundred makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” Naming Jesus and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man…” The line’s distinctive content terms include garden, crucified, laid. Its relationship to verses 40 and 42 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” Naming Jesus and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.