Sunday, November 25, 2012
am
The Life of Jesus (35)
Jesus on the Cross
Matthew 27:26-50
a.
Recorded in Matt.
27:26-50, Mark 15:15-40, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:17-30
b.
(Matt. 27:26-28) - After
Jesus was condemned to death, we are reminded that the soldiers stripped
Him of His garments, put a scarlet robe on Him, a crown of thorns on His
head and a reed in His right hand.
Then they bowed the knee before Him and mocked, “Hail, King of
the Jews!” They spat upon
Him, struck Him with the reed and abused Him.
Then they took off the robe (remember the scourging He had
received and the damage it had done), put His clothes back on and led
Him away to be crucified.
c.
On the way to the cross.
(Matt. 27:32) They find a man named Simon of Cyrene, whom they compelled
to help Jesus bear His cross.
Luke 23:27-31 tells us that a multitude was also following Him including
women who mourned and lamented.
Jesus told these women, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for
Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”
He proceeds to describe a time of great mourning when the people
would seek escape. Probably,
Jesus was speaking of the coming destruction of Jerusalem.
Luke also tells us the two criminals were also led along with Him to be
put to death. (23:32)
d.
At the cross.
(Matt. 27:33-34)
They come to Golgotha (An Aramaic
name for the place of the Skull
– Aramaic was a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew.
It is believed to be the common language in Palestine during the
first century). Luke 23:33
called the place, Calvary which was actually the word,
cranion (from which we derive
our word cranium). There
they offer Jesus sour wine mingled with gall (a mild pain killer) which
He refuses to drink. He is
then crucified with nails driven into His hands and feet and fastened to
the cross.
e.
Upon the cross:
(Matt. 27:35-50). The texts
simply say “they crucified Him”.
In a previous lesson we noticed the cruelty of this form of
crucifixion. Here we simply
state it was barbaric and all that had to be said was “they crucified
Him” for readers to understand what Jesus endured.
As Jesus is crucified HE says, “Father, forgive them for they do not
know what they do.” (Lk. 23:34)
At the foot of the cross, the soldiers divided His garments, but for His
cloak they cast lots (see John 19:24).
Matthew records this as fulfillment of prophecy (Psa. 22:18).
Then they sat down and watched Him.
Pilate had a sign made in Hebrew, Latin and Greek which said, “This is
Jesus the King of the Jews”.
John 19:19 -22 records the Jewish leaders objecting wanting it to read,
“He said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’”
Pilate said, “I have written what I have written.”
He was also crucified between 2 robbers (Matt. 27:38)
AT the foot of the cross there were many women there.
Jesus sees His mother and says to John (“the disciple”), “Woman
behold your son…Son, behold your mother.” (John 19:26-27)
As people passed by below, we are told they blasphemed Him saying things
like, “You who destroyed the temple and build it in three days, save
yourself!” “IF you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
(27:39-40) The soldiers
joined in (Lk. 23:36-37) The
chief priests also joined in saying, “He saved others, but He cannot
save himself. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from
the cross, and we will believe Him.
He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him;
For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Even the robbers on either side reviled Him (27:41-44)
Luke 23:38-43 records here the soldiers mocking Jesus. One said, “Save
yourself and us if you are the Christ.”
Finally, one rebukes the other telling him, “Do you not even
fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?”
He then notes how Jesus was innocent unlike them.
Finally he says to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into
Your kingdom.” Jesus
replies, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in
Paradise.”
f.
From the 6th
to the 9th hour
(that would be from noon to 3 pm) we are told there was darkness over
all the land. Then at the
ninth hour Jesus said, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means (in
Aramaic), “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (27:45-46)
This prompted some to think that Jesus was calling for Elijah.
Someone filled a sponge with sour wine and tried to give to Jesus
to drink. But they said to
leave Jesus alone and they would see if Elijah would come.
Jesus says, “I thirst” and He is given a sip on a hyssop sponge.
Finally the end draws near, and Jesus makes two more statements
g.
Then He died.
Matt. 27:50 says, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice,
and yielded up His spirit.”
Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46, John 19:30.
h.
At His death.
We read of a number of events happening, primarily in Matthew 27.
i.
The veil of the temple
was torn in two from top to bottom
ii.
The earth quaked and
rocks were split and graves were opened.
iii.
The body of many saints
were raised and came out of their graves they would go into the city and
appear to many, (we are told this happened after the resurrection)
iv.
The centurion when they
saw the events of that day greatly feared and he said, “Truly, this was
the Son of God!”
a.
We have recorded in the
gospels 7 sayings of Jesus.
They are a lesson within themselves and tell us many things about this
occasion. They demonstrate
various aspects of Jesus as He was dying on the cross.
b.
“Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”
Luke 23:34 Described as
words of intercession.
Jesus understood His purpose,
even as He was being nailed to that cross.
c.
“Woman behold your son!”
“Behold your mother.”
John 19:26-27 Described as words
of affection. Even in death, He demonstrated concerns for the living.
Man needs to make provisions for his family.
d.
“Assuredly,
I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:43
Described as words of mercy.
We still see the power and authority of Jesus, even on the cross.
Here He forgives the sins of this thief.
We know this to be a lesson within itself.
WE are reminded of the purpose
of the cross. More on this
in our next lesson.
e.
“I thirst” John
19:28. Said “that scripture
might be fulfilled.” A
demonstration of the humanity of Jesus.
It also reminds us that the suffering He endured was real, as
dryness of mouth is a symptom of the loss of blood, etc.
Heb. 2:14-17 describes how He became a partaker of flesh and
blood, etc.
f.
“My God, My God, Why
have You forsaken Me?”
Matt. 27:45-46 A demonstration
of atonement.
Exactly why God turned His back on Jesus at this time we do not know (or
even if He did). We do know
that sin separates man from God and that He has no part with sin.
Jesus was sent for reconciliation.
2 Cor. 5:21 says, “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be the righteousness
of God in Him.” Isa.
53:5-6 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities...And the Lord has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all.”
g.
“It is finished!”
John 19:30.
A demonstration of completion
and victory.
Earlier the day before Jesus had
prayed, “I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John
17:4) It was the reason
Jesus came to this earth (John 12:27)
h.
“Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”
Luke 23:46 A
demonstration of trust.
Even in death, Jesus gives us the ultimate example of faith.
May we, as we face death in this life have this attitude.
a.
In the accounts there
are a number of direct references to prophecies, as well as several
quotes taken directly from the Old Testament.
These statements demonstrate the ABSOLUTE control God had of the
timing of these events. There
are also other prophecies related to this occasion, but these are the
specific ones.
b.
Matt. 27:35, “They
divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots” –
Psa. 22:18
c.
Matt. 27:46, “My God, My
God. Why have You forsaken
Me?” – Psa. 22:1
d.
Mark. 15:24, “He was
numbered with the transgressors” – Isaiah 53:12
e.
John 19:28 - “I thirst –
Psalm 22:15
f.
Luke 23:46, “Into your
hands I commit My spirit.” – Psalm 31:5
And thus we see our Lord on the cross.
Let us again be reminded that Jesus was in control.
That is demonstrated by His demeanor and sayings upon the cross.
There is so much to discuss about this.
It is the central event of history and the culmination of the
life of our Lord. But what
about those who surrounded the cross? What was it’s purpose according to
scripture? What happened
next? What about His burial?
And His resurrection? The next few lessons will address some of these
things.