Don't Make A Grave Mistake

Rome had built into their system (the Pax Romana) the right for any subject people to appeal their case to the Emperor. So, when Pilate refused to remove the shields, the Jews sent a message to the Emperor. Tiberius sent a message back and told Pilate that he was to comply with their request. Once again, Pilate was beaten. The Jews had Pilate right where they wanted him. They could turn him into Rome and he would lose his job!

Pilate’s wife even warned him:

Matthew 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

But Pilate was a coward! He was afraid he would lose his job. He knew that Jesus was innocent, so he made a show before the people in:

Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

Consider the SOLDIERS. They scourged Him, scorned Him, struck Him, spit upon Him, shamed Him, and then speared Him. But they made a grave mistake. The centurion at the cross somehow recognized that:

Matthew 27:54 So 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!”

The CROWDS, the CHIEF PRIESTS, JUDAS, PILATE, and the SOLDIERS all thought it was over! Jesus Himself had cried out with a loud voice, “IT IS FINISHED!” They thought it was over, but they had made a grave mistake.

I don’t want any of you to make a grave mistake! Don’t mistake:

1. THE STORY FOR FICTION

It’s Not Just a Story. This is not just something that was made up by some Jewish tax collector. This was real! Jesus was a real person, come from God to pay the sin debt of everyone in the world.

Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that:

2. THE SUFFERING WAS FUTILE

The suffering Jesus endured was not in vain. His death on the cross accomplished the satisfaction of God’s Law in that someone had to pay for sin! Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrificial Lamb who once and for all paid your sin debt and mine!

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

3. THE SEPULCHRE WAS FINAL

Don’t make the grave mistake that it’s over here! The chief priests and the Pharisees were worried. Why? Because they saw some things they did NOT expect to see. They heard Jesus’ 7 sayings from the cross:

1) Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do