Four People Crucified At Calvary – An Easter Message (For Good Friday Maybe) Series

FOUR PEOPLE CRUCIFIED AT CALVARY – AN EASTER MESSAGE (for Good Friday Maybe)

Throughout the world, in nearly every Easter message, you will hear the words Calvary and crucified. You will probably also hear the words “cross, Jesus of Nazareth, thieves, Pilate, resurrection,” and several others. I will be using some of those terms today.

[1]. ONE VERY EVIL MAN

{{Esther 7:9-10 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, “Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king,” and the king said, “Hang him on it,” so they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.}}

Haman schemed to destroy all the Jews. He was a man inspired by Satan, for the destruction of the Jews meant the Redeemer would not be born. However Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for the one he made his enemy. In the Old Testament there were no crucifixions for it was a Roman form of execution. However there were a number of references to “hanged”.

Crucifixion was a cruel method of execution. Here is a quote taken from the BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY [[“Death by crucifixion was the result of the manner in which the condemned man hung from the cross and not the traumatic injury caused by nailing. Hanging from the cross resulted in a painful process of asphyxiation, in which the two sets of muscles used for breathing, the intercostal [chest] muscles and the diaphragm, became progressively weakened. In time, the condemned man expired, due to the inability to continue breathing properly.”]]

[2]. THAT DAY AT CALVARY

[A]. Now and again we hear from certain sections of Christianity that Jesus was powerless to stop the crucifixion but that is so wrong. This one verse puts that lie to rest forever – {{John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I HAVE AUTHORITY TO LAY IT DOWN, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”}}

[B]. How could you not believe? There is something very ghoulish in the unconverted man that delights to view the suffering in others. Why do you think the spectators in the Roman arenas gathered in large numbers to see death and torture with people killing one another, and others burnt alive and others mauled and eaten by wild animals? It is because the dead nature of sinners loves to feast on death and cheer death on.

I dare say some of those at the cross that day were there for that very reason, just like people gathered at the guillotine in Paris in the French Revolution and cheered as people’s heads were severed. Death embraces death. Death can not know life. Those who are dead to God live in a world of death. The question was asked why they could not believe considering what was happening. Those at the cross, for whatever reason, were confronted with many “supernatural signs” such as the three hours of unexplained darkness, and the earthquake. That was not natural. Neither was the Lord. They should have repented and cried out for their sins but their black hearts would not allow it. They watched, left, and death walked out into the darkness of death.

[C]. One was there though, (maybe more), whose honest appraisal I believe made him a believer. It is recorded this way – {{Matthew 27:54 Now the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”}} This man saw and believed, but what does God say about those who have not seen but still believe - {{John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”}}

[3]. NOW WHO WERE THE FOUR CRUCIFIED AT CALVARY?

[1]. THE UNREPENTANT THIEF

On either side of Jesus at Calvary, a criminal was crucified also. Matthew records this – {{Matthew 27:38 “At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left.”}} These two men stole and it must have been fairly serious for them to be crucified. Today there is a term, “Robbery with violence,” and perhaps it was that sort of thing.

Matthew says one other thing in this matter – {{Matthew 27:44 “The robbers also who had been crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him.”}} This “same insult” is described in the verses preceding; “if He is truly King, let Him come down from the cross” and “let God deliver Him.”