MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 185

TITLE: THE KING ON A CROSS

TEXT: MATTHEW 27:35-44
 

INTRODUCTION: (1) WHERE DO YOU GO TO FIND KINGS TODAY?

* WELL, IT’S DIFFICULT TO FIND KINGS ANYWHERE, THE REASON BEING, WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC AGE AND MOST KINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY PRESIDENTS, PREMIERS AND PRIME MINISTERS.

** YET THERE ARE A FEW KINGS LEFT LIKE KING ABDULLAH THE SECOND OF JORDAN AND THE KING OF THAILAND.

*** AND WHEN YOU FIND A KING TODAY AS WELL AS IN PAST HISTORY, YOU WILL FIND THEM IN A KING’S HOUSE, IN A PALACE.

**** YOU DO NOT FIND THEM IN APARTMENTS OR COMMON HOMES OR SHACKS OR EVEN JUST WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

(2) BECAUSE OF THAT, THE LAST PLACE YOU WOULD EVER EXPECT TO FIND A KING IS ON A CROSS.

* YET HERE IN MATTHEW 27, WE FIND THE KING OF KINGS, THE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE, OCCUPYING THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PLACE THAT MEN IN THEIR BASENESS HAVE.

** JESUS IS HANGING ON A CROSS OF ROUGH WOOD, BEATEN, BLEEDING, MOCKED AND LEFT TO DIE.

*** YET IN THE PLAN OF GOD, THE CRUCIFIXION OF HIS SON WAS THE CLIMAX OF REDEMPTIVE HISTORY, THE FOCAL POINT OF GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION.

**** GOD’S REDEEMING WORK CULMINATED IN THE CROSS, WHERE THE LORD OF GLORY, THE KING OF KINGS, BORE THE SIN OF THOSE WHOM HE WOULD SAVE.

(3) BUT ALSO IN THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST, THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN REACHED IT’S APEX.

* THE MURDER OF JESUS WAS THE VILEST EXPRESSION OF EVIL IN HUMAN HISTORY, THE UTTER DEPTH OF MAN’S TOTAL DEPRAVITY.

** THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS THEREFORE THE SUPREME REVELATION OF THE GRACIOUS LOVE OF GOD WHILE ALSO BEING THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE SINFULNESS OF MAN.

*** THE CROSS OF CHRIST SHOWS THE LOVE OF GOD AND THE SINFULNESS OF MAN. IT IS A PLACE OF JOY IN WHAT IT WOULD ACCOMPLISH AND A PLACE OF SORROW IN HOW IT HAPPENED.

**** CHARLES SPURGEON SAID AND I QUOTE: “NO SCENE IN SACRED HISTORY EVER GLADDENS THE SOUL LIKE THE SCENE ON CALVARY.”

(4) “NOWHERE DOES THE SOUL FIND SUCH CONSOLATION AS ON THAT VERY SPOT WHERE MISERY REIGNED, WHERE WOE TRIUMPHED, WHERE AGONY REACHED IT’S CLIMAX.” (END QUOTE)

* AND BELOVED AS WE THINK OF OUR NEED FOR THE CROSS, WE ARE HAPPY AND SAD, AND AS WE THINK OF THE PURPOSE FOR IT, WE THINK OF OUR SIN THAT NEEDED IT, LOVE THAT ORDAINED IT, MALICE THAT WROUGHT IT AND PATIENCE THAT ENDURED IT.

** AND TRULY JESUS, THE GOD MAN, THE CREATOR AND KING OF THE UNIVERSE, “HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS” - PHILIPPIANS 2:8.

*** OH, BUT THAT A KING WOULD SUFFER THAT KIND OF DEATH FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BECOME HIS SUBJECTS IS AMAZING.

**** THAT A KING WOULD BE CRUCIFIED AND BECOME A CURSE FOR HIS PEOPLE’S SIN IS INCREDIBLE.

(5) THE THOUGHT OF A KING ON A CROSS IS MIND BOGGLING.

* YET THAT’S WHAT WE’LL SEE TODAY AS WE STUDY MATTHEW 27:35-44, “THE KING ON A CROSS” WHICH IS THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE TODAY.

** AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL SEE 3 THINGS, NO. 1 THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST AND TWO ROBBERS, VV. 35-38; NO. 2 THE CALLOUSNESS OF THE BYSTANDERS, VV. 39&40; AND NO. 3 THE CHIDING OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS, SCRIBES, ELDERS AND THE ROBBERS, VV. 41-44.

*** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE IN MIND, LET’S MOVE TO OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE CRUCIFIXION. LOOK AT MATTHEW 27:35 PLEASE.

I. THE CRUCIFIXION, (READ V. 35)

A. NOW THE PHRASE “WHEN THEY HAD CRUCIFIED HIM” DOES NOT REFER TO THE FINISHED EXECUTION, BUT TO RAISING JESUS UPRIGHT AND PLACING THE VERTICAL BEAM INTO THE HOLE PREPARED FOR IT, INTO WHICH THEY WOULD DROP IT IN THE HOLE.

* AND SOMETIMES THE VERY FORCE OF THAT WOULD RIP THE CROSS VICTIM OFF OF IT AND THEY WOULD REPEAT THE PROCEDURE OF NAILING THE VICTIM TO THE CROSS.

** AND OF COURSE IF THEY WERE NOT RIPPED FROM THE CROSS THE AGONY OF THE FORCE OF DROPPING INTO THE GROUND WOULD BE EXCRUCIATING.

*** NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT THE ACTUAL CRUCIFIXION BEGAN.

**** AND MATTHEW HERE DOES NOT FOCUS ON THE PHYSICAL PARTICULARS AND THE SUFFERING OF CRUCIFIXION, BUT RATHER ON THE CHARACTER OF THE CRUCIFIERS.

1. AND LAST SUNDAY, I GAVE YOU SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE EXTREME SUFFERING OF THE CROSS VICTIM AND HOW THEY DIED.

* AND I’M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THAT TODAY EXCEPT TO SAY TWO THINGS.

** NO. 1 NONE OF THE GOSPEL WRITERS DESCRIBES THE PROCEDURE FOR SECURING JESUS TO THE CROSS, HOW HE WAS PLACED ON IT.

*** AND IT IS ONLY FROM THOMAS’ COMMENTS SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE RESURRECTION THAT WE LEARN ABOUT JESUS BEING NAILED BY HIS HANDS AND FEET IN JOHN 20:25, RATHER THAN BEING TIED WITH CHORDS OR THONGS AS WAS OFTEN THE CASE.

**** FOR JOHN 20:25 SAYS: THE OTHER DISCIPLES THEREFORE WERE SAYING TO HIM, “WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” BUT HE SAID TO THEM, “UNLESS I SHALL SEE IN HIS HANDS THE IMPRINT OF THE NAILS, AND PUT MY FINGER INTO THE PLACE OF THE NAILS, AND PUT MY HAND INTO HIS SIDE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE.”

- SO WE SEE FROM THIS VERSE THAT THE PROCEDURE FOR SECURING JESUS TO THE CROSS WAS NAILING HIM TO IT.

2. NO. 2, THE 2’D DETAIL I WANT TO GIVE YOU ABOUT THE CRUCIFIXION COMES FROM A QUOTE FROM FREDERICK FARRAR IN HIS BOOK, “THE LIFE OF CHRIST.”

* HE SAID THIS – “ONE THING IS CLEAR. THE FIRST CENTURY EXECUTIONS WERE NOT LIKE THE MODERN ONES, FOR THEY DID NOT SEEK A QUICK, PAINLESS DEATH NOR THE PRESERVATION OF ANY MEASURE OF DIGNITY FOR THE CRIMINAL.”

** “ON THE CONTRARY, THEY SOUGHT AN AGONIZING TORTURE WHICH COMPLETELY HUMILIATED HIM. AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS, FOR IT HELPS US REALIZE THE AGONY OF CHRIST’S DEATH.” (END QUOTE)

*** AND BELOVED, THE AGONY OF THE CROSS IS BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY AS THE HOLY CHRIST BECAME SIN FOR THOSE WHOM HE WOULD SAVE.

**** THE COST OF THE CROSS, AND THE COST OF OUR SALVATION, BELIEVER, IS BEYOND UNDERSTANDING. BUT THANKS BE UNTO OUR GREAT GOD TODAY THAT HE PURCHASED OUR SALVATION AT THAT GREAT PRICE.

3. AND IN A QUICK APPLICATION, SET THE CROSS BEFORE YOU WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, DISCOURAGED, IN GRIEF AND SORROW.

* AND ALLOW THE CROSS TO BE THE MOTIVATION, THE LOVE OF CHRIST OF NOT YIELDING TO TEMPTATION, IN NOT BEING SELFISH, AND IN COMFORTING YOU IN YOUR GRIEF AND SORROW, I GO BACK AGAIN TO HEBREWS 12:1-3. (READ THEM)

** NOW WITH THAT APPLICATION IN MIND, LET’S GO BACK TO V. 35 AND NOTICE IF YOU HAVE A KJV OR NKJV YOU WILL SEE THE ADDITIONAL WORDS AFTER THEY DIVIDED UP HIS GARMENTS AMONG THEMSELVES CASTING LOTS, “THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS”.

*** NOW THIS READING IS NOT IN THE NAS OR THE NIV BECAUSE THEY USED AN OLDER MANUSCRIPT FAMILY TO TRANSLATE FROM, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THIS PHRASE.

**** AND IN TEXTUAL CRITICISM THIS IS CALLED A VARIANT READING. AND I’M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ANY DETAIL ABOUT TEXTUAL CRITICISM TODAY EXCEPT TO SAY THAT IN ALL 4 TRANSLATIONS THIS PHRASE IS USED IN JOHN’S GOSPEL IN JOHN 19:24.

4. AND MY POINT IS WITHOUT GOING INTO ARGUMENTS, THIS PHRASE IS TRUTH CONFIRMED IN JOHN 19:24. SO THE TRUTH IS THERE IN THE WORD OF GOD.

* AND THAT TRUTH WAS PREDICTED IN PSALM 22:18 THAT CHRIST’S CLOTHES WOULD BE DIVIDED UP BY THE SOLDIERS AND THAT THEY WOULD CAST LOTS FOR HIS CLOTHING.

** PSALM 22:18 SAYS: “THEY DIVIDE MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND FOR MY CLOTHING THEY CAST LOTS.”

*** NOW THIS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED AT THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.

**** FOR THE ROMAN SOLDIERS DIVIDED UP THE CROSS VICTIM’S CLOTHES AS KIND OF A BOOTY FOR THEIR WORK.

5. AND THE PRACTICE OF CASTING LOTS WAS A FORM OF GAMBLING LIKE THROWING DICE OR DRAWING STRAWS.

* AND JEWISH MEN NORMALLY WORE 5 PIECES OF CLOTHING: SANDALS, AN INNER CLOAK, A HEADPIECE, A BELT AND AN OUTER CLOAK OR TUNIC.

** AND THERE WERE 4 SOLDIERS ACCORDING TO JOHN 19:23 AND THEY EACH TOOK A PIECE OF CLOTHING WHICH LEFT THE TUNIC.

*** AND THE TUNIC WAS SEAMLESS, WOVEN IN ONE PIECE SO THEY CAST LOTS FOR IT. PROPHECY WAS FULFILLED.

**** AND TO CRUCIFY VICTIMS TOTALLY NUDE WAS CUSTOMARY, AS JESUS HUNG IN OPEN NAKED SHAME ON THE CROSS.

6. NOW AFTER THE SOLDIERS DIVIDED UP JESUS’ CLOTHING THEY HAD A RESPONSIBILITY. AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TALKED ABOUT IN V. 36. LOOK AT V. 36 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 36. NOW THE 4 SOLDIER’S JOB WAS TO REMAIN WITH THE VICTIM UNTIL HIS DEATH WAS CERTAIN, MAKING SURE THAT FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS DID NOT RESCUE HIM OR SEEK TO REDUCE HIS SUFFERING BY PUTTING HIM TO DEATH BY A SWIFTER MEANS.

* SO THE SOLDIERS STOOD GUARD, KEEPING WATCH OVER JESUS. BUT THE SOLDIERS HAD ONE MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT IS FOUND IN V. 37. LOOK AT V. 37 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 37. NOW IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO PUBLICLY POST THE CRIMES OF THE ONE CRUCIFIED.

* D.A. CARSON POINTS OUT THAT THE STATEMENT OF THE CRIME WAS OFTEN WRITTEN ON A WHITE TABLET IN RED OR BLACK LETTERS AND DISPLAYED ON THE CROSS.

** AND AS A FINAL MOCKERY OF JESUS AND AN AFFRONT TO THE JEWISH LEADERS, PILATE INSTRUCTED THE SOLDIERS ACCORDING TO JOHN 19:19 TO PUT UP ABOVE JESUS’ HEAD THE CHARGE WHICH READ, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

*** NOW MATTHEW RECORDED AN ABBREVIATED VERSION OF THE FULL INSCRIPTION FROM JOHN 19:19 WHICH READ, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

**** AND THIS INSCRIPTION WAS WRITTEN IN HEBREW, LATIN AND IN GREEK ACCORDING TO JOHN 19:19.

1. AND BY THOSE 3 LANGUAGES, PILATE MADE CERTAIN THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSON WHO PASSED BY COULD READ THE INSCRIPTION.

* NOW, JOHN NOTES IN JOHN 19:21&22 THAT THE JEWISH LEADERS DID NOT LIKE THE INSCRIPTION AND WANTED IT CHANGED TO “HE SAID, I AM THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

** BUT PILATE REFUSED TO CHANGE IT, NOT THAT HE BELIEVED JESUS WAS A KING, BUT MOST LIKELY TO TORMENT THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHICH HE DIDN’T LIKE.

*** AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 38 PLEASE.

D. READ V. 38. NOW JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO ROBBERS, WHICH FULFILLS THE PROPHECY OF ISAIAH 53:9&12 WHICH SAYS: (READ IT).

* NOW JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED WITH THE WICKED, WITH ROBBERS, WHO POSSIBLY WERE ASSOCIATES OF BARABBAS, WHO HAD PROBABLY BEEN DESTINED FOR THE MIDDLE CROSS BETWEEN THEM BEFORE HE WAS RELEASED AND JESUS TOOK HIS PLACE.

** SO THE SINLESS ONE WAS CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO WICKED SINNERS WHO MOST LIKELY WERE MURDERERS, FOR THEY RECEIVED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. AND WE’LL GET BACK TO THESE TWO ROBBERS IN V. 44.

*** BUT NOW WE NEED TO MOVE FROM THE CRUCIFIXION TO THE CALLOUSNESS OF THE BYSTANDERS AND THOSE WHO PASSED BY, OUR 2’D POINT TODAY. LOOK AT V. 39 PLEASE TO BEING WITH.

II. THE CALLOUSNESS, (READ V. 39)

A. NOW CRUCIFIXION WAS ALWAYS CARRIED OUT PUBLICLY AS A WARNING TO OTHERS.

* AND HERE AT PASSOVER TIME THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF PEOPLE CAMPING OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM WITH NO PLACE TO STAY IN THE CITY FOR CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER.

** CONSEQUENTLY, THERE WAS MUCH HEAVIER TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF JERUSALEM THAN USUAL. AND JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AT GOLGOTHA, CALVARY, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, SO A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE WITNESSED HIS SUFFERING.

*** AND RATHER THAN SYMPATHY AND HORROR LOOKING AT THE CONDITION OF THE BEAT UP JESUS, THEY ARE HARD AND CALLOUSED.

**** FOR AS THEY PASSED BY BENEATH THE CROSS THEY WERE HURLING ABUSE AT JESUS, WAGGING THEIR HEADS.

1. AND THE VERB BEHIND HURLING ABUSE IS IN THE IMPERFECT TENSE IN THE GREEK, INDICATING REPEATED CONTINUOUS DEFAMATION.

* AND THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED ABUSE IN THE NAS, REVILED IN THE KJV, INSULTS IN THE NIV AND BLASPHEMED IN THE NKJV IS THE GREEK WORD BLAS-FAY-MEH-O WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.

** AND IT COMES FROM OUR WORD BLASPHEME WHICH LIT. MEANS TO SPEAK EVIL, TO SPEAK SLANDEROUSLY, TO SPEAK REPROACHFULLY, TO RAIL AT.

*** AND HERE THEY ARE BLASPHEMING JESUS WHILE HE IS SUFFERING AND IN PAIN.

**** THEY HAVE SO MUCH VENOM AND HATRED IN THEIR HEARTS THAT THEY BLASPHEME THE PERFECT DYING SON OF GOD.

2. AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, TO EMPHASIZE THEIR DISDAIN, THEY WERE ALSO WAGGING THEIR HEADS IN MOCKERY.

* THEY WERE SHAKING THEIR HEADS IN CONTEMPT OF JESUS. AND WHAT THEY SAID IS RECORDED IN V. 40. LOOK AT V. 40 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 40. NOW THE CALLOUSNESS, THE HARDNESS OF THESE PEOPLE’S HEARTS CONTINUES TO BE REVEALED, FOR THE STATEMENT, “YOU ARE GOING TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE AND REBUILD IT IN 3 DAYS” REFERRED TO THE TESTIMONY OF THE FALSE WITNESSES DURING THE HEARING BEFORE CAIAPHAS.

* AND OF COURSE WHAT THEY DID AT THAT TRIAL WAS MISUSE A STATEMENT JESUS HAD MADE ALMOST 3 YEARS EARLIER REFERRING TO HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

** THE TEMPLE BEING HIS BODY, WHICH AT THIS TIME WAS BEING DESTROYED WHICH WOULD LEAD TO HIS GLORIOUS VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION IN 3 DAYS.

*** AND OF COURSE, DURING HIS TRIAL THEY APPLIED THAT STATEMENT IN MEANING THAT JESUS COULD REBUILD THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE IN 3 DAYS. BUT AGAIN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE TEMPLE OF HIS BODY.

**** AND THE POINT OF THOSE BLASPHEMING JESUS AT THAT TIME WAS, IF YOU COULD DO SUCH A MIRACULOUS EVENT AS REBUILDING THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE IN 3 DAYS, SURELY YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF FROM DEATH NOW.

1. IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS!

* AND THE IRONY HERE IS, COMING DOWN OFF THE CROSS WOULD NOT HAVE PROVEN THAT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD; RATHER, STAYING WHEN HE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE COME DOWN WAS THE GREATER PROOF.

** I MEAN HIS HOLY RESTRAINT AND HIS PURPOSE IN COMING DOWN TO EARTH DROVE HIM TO STAY ON THE CROSS.

*** IT WAS LOVE THAT KEPT CHRIST THERE AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS FATHER. FOR REMEMBER JESUS IS THE CREATOR. HE COULD HAVE VAPORIZED THESE PEOPLE AND SENT THEM TO HELL AT THAT VERY MOMENT.

**** AND THINK OF IT WITH ME FOR A MINUTE. IF YOU HAD THAT KIND OF POWER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

2. WELL, IF IT WERE ME THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN TOAST! AND MAYBE WITH SOME OF YOU, I MEAN WE HAVE A HARD ENOUGH TIME DRIVING AND APPLYING RESTRAINT WITH ALL THE CRAZY SELFISH DRIVERS OUT THERE.

* BUT THE SON OF GOD HERE HAS HOLY RESTRAINT, TO FULFILL HIS FATHER’S WILL AND SAVE HIS PEOPLE, WE THAT HAVE BEEN REDEEMED AND THOSE THAT WILL BE REDEEMED. PRAISE GOD TODAY! (WHAT A MODEL JESUS IS FOR US, READ PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8.

** BUT THIS CALLOUSNESS PORTRAYED BY THOSE PASSING BY LEADS TO CHIDING BY THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS. LOOK AT V. 41 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR 3’D AND LAST POINT TODAY, THE CHIDING.

III. THE CHIDING, (READ V. 41)

A. NOW THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS JOINED IN THE HECKLING, CHIDING JESUS.

* AND ALL 3 GROUPS OF THE SANHEDRIN ARE NAMED, THE CHIEF PRIESTS, THE SCRIBES AND THE ELDERS.

** AND THEY ARE MOCKING OR MORE SPECIFICALLY MAKING FUN OF JESUS, RIDICULING HIM. AND THEIR FIRST ACCUSATION IS RECORDED IN V. 42. LOOK AT V. 42 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 42. NOW THE TWO WORDS “SAVED OTHERS” PROBABLY REFERRED TO CHRIST’S HEALING MINISTRY.

* AND THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS DID NOT DENY THAT JESUS HAD THE POWER TO HEAL OTHERS, THEY JUST BELIEVED THAT HE RECEIVED HIS POWER FROM SATAN.

** SO NOW THEY SAY, IF HE IS THE KING OF ISRAEL, LET HIM NOW COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND WE WILL BELIEVE HIM.

*** NOW OF COURSE THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS THE KING OF ISRAEL, AND IF HE HAD COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS, THEY STILL WOULD NOT HAVE BELIEVED HIM.

**** FOR ONE MORE MIRACLE, OR A DOZEN MORE, WOULD NOT HAVE PERSUADED THEM TO BELIEVE, THEY WOULD HAVE JUST ATTRIBUTED WHAT HE DID AS A WORK OF SATAN AGAIN.

1. AND BELOVED THE ISSUE HERE WAS NOT THAT JESUS COULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF, BUT THAT HE WOULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF.

* I MEAN HAD HE SELFISHLY RESCUED HIMSELF FROM THIS DEATH, THEN THERE WOULD BE NO SALVATION FOR ANY HUMAN BEING.

** SO JESUS COULD HAVE SAVED HIMSELF, BUT HE COULD NOT HAVE SAVED HIMSELF IF HE WAS TO SAVE OTHERS. THUS HE CHOSE NOT TO SAVE HIMSELF.

*** IT WAS THE POWER OF LOVE, NOT THE NAILS THAT KEPT HIM THERE.

**** BUT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS DON’T STOP WITH THOSE WORDS, THERE IS MORE CHIDING. LOOK AT V. 43 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 43. NOW V. 43 MAKES A PARAPHRASED REFERENCE TO PSALM 22:8 WHICH SAYS, “ COMMIT THYSELF TO THE LORD; LET HIM DELIVER HIM; LET HIM RESCUE HIM, BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN HIM.”

* NOW HOW IRONIC THAT THESE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WOULD QUOTE PART OF A PSALM, PROBABLY UNKNOWINGLY.

** BUT THEIR WORDS ARE WORDS TO CHIDE JESUS. FOR THEY DID NOT BELIEVE JESUS TRULY TRUSTED IN GOD, BUT THAT HE WAS AN UNGODLY FRAUD.

*** AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT THINK GOD WOULD DELIVER HIM OR THAT GOD TOOK PLEASURE IN HIM, BECAUSE THEY CONSIDERED JESUS A BLASPHEMER.

**** BUT JESUS INDEED WAS THE SON OF GOD AND WOULD SHOW IT CLEARLY IN 3 DAYS AS HE AROSE FROM THE DEAD, FOR ROMANS 1:4 SAYS: (READ IT).

1. NOW OF COURSE, THESE JEWISH RELIGIOUS HYPOCRITES DID NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS WOULD RISE, NOR AGAIN THAT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD.

* THEY ARE JUST MOCKING, JUST INSULTING, CHIDING JESUS. AND THE TWO THIEVES CRUCIFIED ON EACH SIDE OF JESUS JUMP ON THIS BANDWAGON, LOOK AT V. 44 PLEASE.

D. READ V. 44. NOW MATTHEW AGAIN MENTIONS THE TWO ROBBERS WHO HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH HIM.

* AND THEY START HECKLING JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THEIR OWN CRUCIFIXION. THEY JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON FOR A WHILE AND INSULT JESUS.

** BUT I SAY ONLY FOR A WHILE, FOR ONE OF THEM WILL HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART AND COME TO SAVING FAITH.

*** FOR LUKE 23:39-43 SAYS: (READ THEM).

**** NOW LUKE COMMUNICATES THAT AT SOME POINT AFTER THEY BOTH INSULTED AND REVILED JESUS, ONE OF THEM TURNED.

1. AND WHAT MADE HIM DO IT? WELL, IS IT NOT PROBABLE THAT THE CALM AND MAJESTIC BEHAVIOR OF OUR LORD, COUPLED WITH THE PRAYER, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING”, JUST 5 VERSES EARLIER IN LUKE 23:34, MUST HAVE MELTED THE ONE THIEF'S HEART.

* I MEAN AS HE SAW JESUS AND HOW HE RESPONDED TO ALL THESE THINGS, GOD USED THAT AND BROUGHT HIM TO REPENTANCE AND FAITH.

** AND WHILE JESUS IS SUFFERING FOR SINS, HE SAVES A MURDERER NEXT TO HIM, WHO HAD EARLIER INSULTED AND REVILED HIM.

*** AMAZING LOVE, HOW CAN IT BE, THAT THOU MY GOD, SHOULD DIE FOR ME.

IN CLOSING: (1) TWO APPLICATIONS:

* NO. 1 JESUS SAVES PEOPLE FROM THE UTTERMOST TO THE GUTTERMOST. HE SAVED A ROBBER, A MURDERER, BEFORE HE DIED, AND IF YOU WILL TURN TO HIM TODAY, TURNING FROM YOUR SIN TO RECEIVE HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, HE WILL SAVE YOU, FORGIVE YOU.

** FOLKS, JESUS CHRIST SHEDS HIS MERCY ON ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE. AND MY WARNING IS DON’T BE LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO PASSED BY JESUS ON THE DAY HE DIED, WHO MOST LIKELY SOME OF THEM WERE A PART OF THE CROWD SAYING “HOSANNA TO THE HIGHEST” ON PALM SUNDAY 5 DAYS BEFORE THAT.

*** AND MANY PEOPLE TODAY ARE LIKE THEM. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN RAISED IN THE CHURCH, HEARD THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL MANY TIMES, AND KNOW THAT JESUS CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD.

**** THEY MAY HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED, MADE A PROFESSION OF FAITH, AND ATTENDED CHURCH REGULARLY FOR A WHILE.

(2) BUT JESUS DOES NOT FULFILL THEIR WORLDLY SELFISH EXPECTATIONS, THEY LOSE INTEREST IN THE THINGS OF GOD.

* AND THEY MAY BE QUITE WILLING TO HAVE THE CHURCH ATTACK EVILS IN SOCIETY, BUT ARE QUITE UNWILLING TO BE CONFRONTED WITH THEIR OWN SIN AND NEED FOR REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS.

** IN EFFECT, THEY MOCK AND SNEER AT JESUS AS THEY TURN THEIR BACKS ON HIS TRUTH, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS LORDSHIP.

*** THE WORLD IS FULL OF PASSERS-BY WHO ONCE PRAISED JESUS, BUT NOW RIDICULE HIM. IT IS NOT A PAST PROFESSION THAT GIVES EVIDENCE OF SALVATION, BUT A PRESENT RIGHTEOUSNESS OR AT LEAST A DESIRE FOR IT.

**** DON’T BE A PASSER-BY TODAY, TURN TO JESUS LIKE THE THIEF AND BE SAVED.

3. NO. 2 AND LAST OF ALL, TO TRUE BELIEVERS TODAY. SURELY GOD’S WISDOM IN THE CROSS IS BEYOND OUR UNDERSTANDING.

* WE WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT UP A GOSPEL LIKE THIS, BUT THIS IS TRUE CHRISTIANITY, A KING ON A CROSS!

** PAUL SAID IN I COR. 1:18: (READ IT).

*** AND THE REALITY IS, THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS IS THE POWER OF GOD, THE DYNAMIC OF GOD.

*** AND MAY WE ONLY GLORY IN THE CROSS AND TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW CHRIST, READ GAL. 6:14 AND MATTHEW 16:24.

**** BELOVED, MAY WE LIVE A CRUCIFIED LIFE AND FOLLOW OUR SAVIOR SACRIFICIALLY. MAY THE COST OF THE CROSS BE OUR MOTIVATION TO DIE TO SELF AND LIVE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

(4) I CLOSE WITH A QUOTE FROM J. C. RYLE: “WAS HE SCOURGED? IT WAS THAT “THROUGH HIS STRIPES WE MIGHT BE HEALED.” WAS HE CONDEMNED, THOUGH INNOCENT? IT WAS THAT WE MIGHT BE ACQUITTED, THOUGH GUILTY. DID HE WEAR A CROWN OF THORNS? IT WAS THAT WE MIGHT WEAR THE CROWN OF GLORY.

* WAS HE STRIPPED OF HIS RAIMENT? IT WAS THAT WE MIGHT BE CLOTHED IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS. WAS HE MOCKED AND REVILED? IT WAS THAT WE MIGHT BE HONORED AND BLESSED. WAS HE RECKONED A MALEFACTOR, AND NUMBERED AMONG TRANSGRESSORS? IT WAS THAT WE MIGHT BE RECKONED INNOCENT, AND JUSTIFIED FROM ALL SIN.

** WAS HE DECLARED UNABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF? IT WAS THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SAVE OTHERS TO THE UTTERMOST. DID HE DIE AT LAST, AND THAT THE MOST PAINFUL AND DISGRACEFUL OF DEATHS? IT WAS THAT WE MIGHT LIVE FOR EVERMORE, AND BE EXALTED TO THE HIGHEST GLORY.”

(5) BELOVED, LET US REMEMBER THESE THINGS AND NEVER FORGET THEM. MAY THEY BE A HOLY REMINDER TO BE LIVING SACRIFICES FOR HIM WHO PURCHASED OUR SALVATION WITH HIS BLOOD. (LET’S PRAY)

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