Calvary - Preaching The Cross

Luke 23:33 - Matthew 27:33

INTRO: Good morning church!
The trials, such as they were, have been completed. Pilate has tried numerous times to find a way to release Jesus from His captivity, but political pressure was too strong.
He yielded to the demands of the enemies of Jesus knowing full well that Jesus was not guilty of any crime worthy of what they had planned. The words “wanting to gratify the crowd” (Mark 15:15) are some of the saddest words I know… yet they give great insight into the mind of Pilate. Furthermore and perhaps more importantly, they give us insight into the mind of human nature. Pilate released to the people the known criminal Barabbas and “… he delivered Jesus to their will” (Luke 23:25).
All of this is happening early on a Friday, and these events have been recorded for us by the Biblical writers.

They took Jesus to the place of execution ... Golgotha, or Calvary, meaning “skull”. Before the crucifixion there are some things we notice.

I. THERE WERE THE SCOURGING AND HUMILIATION

A. There was, for example, the scourging and the humiliation at the hands of Romans soldiers. In Matthew 27:26-31 – “26. Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified. 27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!'' 30. Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31. Then when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”[NKJV] “...and when he had scourged Jesus...”

1. As I said last week I will not go into the details of a Roman scourging.
2. There is no need for me to recount for you the awful details of this form of human torture.
3. Suffice it to say historians tell us there were those who actually died as a result of a Roman scourging. It was a horrible, horrible procedure. It came in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah (Isaiah 53:5). I suppose that Pilate did not know that every stripe laid upon our Lord was a fulfillment of the Word of God.

B. “Then the soldiers...”

1. The Bible says that they stripped Him of His own clothing and put on Him a scarlet robe. The robe of course symbolizing royalty, and they plaited a crown of thorns and pressed it on His head. They put a reed in His hand symbolizing a scepter.
2. Then bowing before Him in mockery they said: “Hail King of the Jews!”
3. As if that was not enough, in mockery, in contempt, they spat on Him. Then they put His own cloths back on Him and they led Him out to be crucified. The routine of crucifixion was always the same. When the cross was prepared the criminal himself had to carry it to the place of execution. (Scholars tell us it was likely the cross member portion). He was placed in the middle of four soldiers. In front a soldier marched carrying a board stating the crime for which the prisoner was found guilty. The board was afterwards affixed to the cross.

II. SIMON OF CYRENE COMPELLED TO BEAR JESUS’ CROSS

A. In the next verse we are introduced to another individual about whom we know very little—Simon of Cyrene. He was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus. The Bible says in: Matthew 27:32 – “Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.”

1. Obviously, Jesus is physically weakened. Not only has He been awake for a great many hours. He has been shuffled from place to place in all these mock hearings / trials, and He has been scourged. Doubtless from loss of blood, from physical pain, He is physically weakened, and help is needed.
2. This must have been a grim day for Simon. Palestine was an occupied country, and any man might be impressed into the Roman service for any task. The sign of impressment was a tap on the shoulder with the flat of a Roman spear.
3. Simon was from Cyrene, in Africa. I find it interesting that when a Roman soldier needed someone to help him, whatever the need, all he had to do was tap that person with his spear.

B. On this occasion, Simon of Cyrene, perhaps drawn to the situation by the tumult which is obvious, feels the touch of the Roman spear and he is compelled to bear the cross for Jesus. Who was this man we wonder?

1. According to Mark’s gospel he was a man that apparently in later days was known to the disciples. Mark 15:21 – “Now they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, (notice Mark adds here) the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.” That little notation suggests to us that in later days perhaps that Simon was a man well-known to the disciples and they knew his children, Alexander and Rufus.
2. On this occasion, on this day, he’s just an innocent traveler who has come out of the country possibly for the purpose of celebrating the Passover in keeping with the Jewish law. We might say that he is in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the moment Simon probably bitterly resented this happening to him.
3. If, indeed, this man did become the disciple of Christ, and I’m inclined in view by what is said in Mark to think that might have occurred… in later days he might have rejoice that he had been so favored.

III. THE CROSS, THE INSCRIPTION

A. Now I would like us to turn to the 19th chapter of John’s gospel. In John 19:17-18 – “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.” “...Golgotha: where they crucified him...”

1. I will not elaborate on the process, the procedure, of Roman crucifixion. We will simply say it was a horrible way to die.
2. Today we would call it cruel and unusual punishment and it would likely be illegal in many parts of the world. Back then it was a form of punishment for runaway slaves or insurgents or the worst of criminals. A Roman citizen could never be crucified it was that horrible, and the Romans had developed crucifixion into an art. The Romans were so adept at this that we are told that there were some victims who took as long as a week to die.
3. Then I recall in Galatians 3:13 it tells us; “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''),” That last part is from a passage in Deuteronomy 12:22-23 which says: “"If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.”
4. I’m realizing that Jesus took upon Himself, in being crucified, this curse. What this Hebrew curse meant was to be cut off from God, cut off from the land.

B. Then we go on and read in John chapter 19: John 19:19-22 –‘ ‘ “19. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews. 20. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, "I am the King of the Jews.'' ‘ 22. Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written.”

1. This was an inscription which was written and usually affixed to the cross to identify the reason that the person was being crucified. It was written in three languages, the languages then current among the people.
2. It has been observed that these three languages stand for the contributions of those nations to the world. Greece taught the world beauty of form and of thought; Rome taught the world law and government; the Hebrews taught the world religion and the worship of the true God.
3. One wrote that the consummation of all these things is seen in Jesus. In Him were the supreme beauty and the highest thought of God. In Him was the law of God and the kingdom of God. In Him was the very image of God. All the world's seeking and striving found their consummation in Christ. It is symbolic that the three great languages of the world should be used to call Him king.
4. I want you to notice here that the leaders of the Jews didn’t like the inscription, and they came to Pilate and said: “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’
5. Pilate says: “What I have written, I have written.” I don’t know the mind of Pilate, but I cannot help but feel that this was done to irritate and annoy the Jews for placing him in a position were he caved in to their demand that a man he knew was innocent should be crucified.

IV. PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE

A. I want us to also look at those people who are around the cross. This could be an entire study in itself. We won’t do that, but we’ll look at some.

1. There were the Roman soldiers of whom we read in verses 23 and 24 of John 19:23-24 – “23. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,'' that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.'' Therefore the soldiers did these things.”
2. The custom of that day was that the clothing of the person being crucified was given to the contingent of soldiers who carried out the execution. On this occasion there were four soldiers and they parted his garments among them, but here was this outer garment, this robe, woven without a seam we’re told. They decided: Let’s not cut it in four parts. Let’s cast lots for it.
3. Notice that John makes mention of Prophesy—Psalms chapter 22, verse 18: “They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

B. In Luke’s gospel in chapter 23 we discover, as all of us know, that there were two others crucified on that occasion. Luke 23:32 – “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.” We continue reading at verse 39: Luke 23:39-43 – “39. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.'' 40. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41. "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.'' 42. Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.'' 43. And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.''”

1. Legend has been busy with this robber. He is called by various names. One legend makes him a Judean Robin Hood who robbed the rich to give to the poor. There are many writings and speculations concerning this incident.
2. They were, according to one of them, guilty of transgressions and were receiving the punishment that they deserved. Then there are those remarkable words of Jesus: "today you will be with Me in Paradise."
3. That has given rise to an amazing remark by many people who come face to face in scripture with the necessity of being baptized, but for whatever reason want to say baptism is not necessary. “I want to be saved like the thief on the cross.” If you study the Bible with people for very long you’ve heard that. That’s a statement which reflects a misunderstanding of the covenant arrangement of history. This thief, as did Jesus, lived and died under the Mosaic covenant.
4. Another thing people do is equate this word Paradise with Heaven. Scripture says here “today you will be with me in Paradise”. It has been noted by scholars that "In some elements of first-century Judaism, (this word for paradise) described the spiritual abode of the soul between death and the resurrection." I suspect, this is the meaning here.
5. Now scripture says that on the first day of the week when Mary met the risen Jesus and supposed He was the gardener, He said to her “Mary” and she turned to Him and said “rabboni”, then in John 20:17 – “Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, `I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' ''” After Jesus rose from the dead, He stated that He had not yet ascended to the Father; therefore, Paradise is not identified as the final abode of the blessed.
6. A second thing I note is that scripture does not say whether or not this man was baptized by John the baptizer for whatever that may be worth. Scripture does indicate however, that many people were being baptized by John.
7. The most significant thing to me is found in Matthew 9:2-6 – “2. And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.'' 3. And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!'' 4. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5. "For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, `Arise and walk'? 6. "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'' then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.''”

i. Here Jesus tells of a man who is paralytic: to take up his bed and walk. Before He tells the man to take up his bed, He tells him: Your sins are forgiven you. The scribes are incensed at this and they say only God can forgive sins.
ii. Jesus would respond to that: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'' then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
iii. There’s the issue. Jesus the Son of God on earth had that prerogative. He could forgive sins.

8. What we must never forget, is that the situation of the criminal on the cross is completely different from our situation, and covenant under which we live is the covenant of Christ. He sent His disciples out into the world to make disciples and to baptize them into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

C. Here at the cross there were the soldiers, the two malefactors and then there was another soldier mentioned. This soldier is identified as a centurion in: Matthew 27:54 – “Now when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!''”

1. From what history tells us, this makes sense that the group of four soldiers in charge of executing a person was commanded by a centurion.
2. A Roman centurion was an experienced soldier. Because he is quartered in Jerusalem I have every reason to believe that he has watched numerous others die by crucifixion, but he had never seen one die as did Jesus.
3. Of course, there was the earthquake and the eclipse and other physical things that surrounded the death of Jesus, but he comes to this conclusion: “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” Mark15:39.

D. There was another group of people we should notice, the women present at the cross. In John’s gospel, John 19:25-27 – “25. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!'' 27. Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!'' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

1. All four gospels record that these women were present. His mother’s sister … Salome, the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of James and John, thus making James and John cousins of Jesus.
2. One of the interesting things Jesus said from the cross was to the disciple whom He loved. Apparently that’s John: “Behold your mother!” To her: “Woman, behold your son!”
3. The eldest son in that day had the responsibility of caring for his mother and if her son died she could be in a very sad and tenuous situation. Yes, there were other brothers but it is to John, a first cousin that He says: Behold your mother, and to His mother: Behold your son. From that hour John took her into his house. Women were weeping around the cross, likely not understanding what all this means, but they were there.

V. THE WORDS OF JESUS FROM THE CROSS

A. Let me hurriedly mention some of the other words from the cross. We are told of seven things Jesus said. Some are better known than others.
What were the sayings? What did they mean? We have already looked at two.
B. Of them...

1. Perhaps the best known is the saying from Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” This forgiveness is to me an amazing thing, that Jesus in the agony that He was experiencing, could think of forgiving those who are His tormentors.
2. In Matthew 27:46 we see the feeling of Jesus as He experiences a separation from the Father: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” That separation was so necessary for us. As it says in 2nd Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” Sin does not abide in the presence of God.
3. In Luke’s gospel again, verse 23:46 – and here is this amazing confidence Jesus has about the ultimate destiny of His spirit. “Father, `into Your hands I commend My spirit.'” This word for “commend” is the same word we studied in 1st Peter 4:19, urging faithful disciples to commit their spirit to the faithful creator as Dale pointed out in class.
4. David said in Psalm 31:5 – “Into Your hand I commit my spirit;” Now David commended his spirit to God that he might live and not die, and Jesus used the same words to mean that He would die, but He would continue to live after the resurrection!
5. In John 19:28 – “Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!''”
6. The last one I’ll mention is found in John 19:30 - “It is finished” - the redeeming work of Jesus was complete - the atoning sacrifice had been offered - salvation could be proclaimed

CLOSE: It was on a Friday, not forgotten by Biblical writers and scholars, perhaps the best known Friday in all of human history—the Friday that the Son of God was killed.
We are sad because of the cross… yet we are glad because of the cross.

Something that we need to remember, and to remember well, is found in Romans 6:3f. There begins an incredible section of scripture in which the subject of baptism is an integral part. That passage tells us clearly that we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. We are baptized into the sacrifice, for it is there that the blood of Christ washes away, cleanses us, of our sins.

There are those who will hear this message that have never been baptized for the remission of their sins, never entered into the death of Christ… and because they have never entered into that death, their sins are still with them. They’ve never been remitted. If you are one, you remain in that state and that is so fatal. I urge you to listen to God’s word; believe in Jesus; repent of your sins; then confess your belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and make the decision to be baptized into His death.

If you are one who is here this morning I would urge as we sing the song of invitation that you step into the aisle and come to the front let us know: I’d like to be baptized this morning. Leave this place with your sins forgiven. Forgiven because of the cross, not because of anything you’ve done to claim, or to earn, but because of the cross and what Jesus did. Come and be forgiven.

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Adopted from Sermon by: Cecil A. Hutson