From The Desk Of
Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
www.trumpetoftruthonline.org
THE HALF HAS NOT BEEN TOLD
“The Cross”
I Kings 10:7, Matt 12:42
Intro: Our text tells of the time when the Queen of Sheba comes to Jerusalem to meet Solomon. She says that even with all the stories she was told of him, the half had not been told. Jesus tells us that he is like Solomon, the king of the Jews, but that he is a greater than Solomon. So, we know that this scripture about the Queen of the South has prophetic value as it concerns our Lord. Last week we began to look at that value as we preached on “THE HALF HAS NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT HIS CRADLE.”
Today I want to preach on “THE HALF HAS NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT HIS CROSS.” Notice:
I. THE SCHEME: Matt 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Luke 18:31-34 “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” Matt 26:3-4 “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.” The leaders in Jerusalem conspired against Christ to kill him! Why?
A. Priests Were Jealous: Jesus posed the end of their reign and their prosperity.
B. Apostles Were Confused: they understood none of the things Christ told them (Luke 18:34).
C. Judas Was Zealous: He was a political zealot who believed he could force Jesus to become the Messiah the way that he thought it should be done, but you will never get God to work your way.
D. Plan Of God Was At Work: While it appeared things were going poorly for our Lord, it was according to God’s plan.
II. THE SUFFERING: When considering the suffering of the cross, we can not know the half!
* He wept with strong crying and tears in Gethsemane’s Garden. (Heb 5:7)
* He saw those who were his friends sleep through his sorrow.
* His agony was so severe that his sweat became as great drops of blood (Luke 22:44).
* He was betrayed by a friend, forsaken by his followers, and denied three times by his favored Apostle.
* He was taken from the court of Caiaphas to the Pilate to Herod and back to Pilate again, but even after false accusation, no fault was found in him, still the mob cried, “Crucify Him!”
* They pulled a bag over his head and beat him indiscriminately. His teeth were beaten from their sockets. Is 52:14, “His visage was so marred more than any man.”
* Long thorns were platted to a crown of mockery and set upon his head, then beaten into his face with a reed.
* He faced Pilate’s whipping post. Smith’s Bible Dictionary said that it was common for a man to have his intestines hanging out of his body after this beating with the cat of nine tails!
* They laid an old rugged cross on his back, he walked a bloody mile up Calvary’s hill, and Every time he took a step he looked through time to see the people who could be saved from hell.
* He reached the apex of Calvary’s Hill, and tall Roman soldier took hold of his hand to fasten it to the cross with a long rusty Roman spike, and he drove it through his hands and his crossed feet. Every time the hammer would strike, our Lord would writhe in agony.
* The shadow of the cross was extended as they raised it up in the air. A thud echoed across the hillside as it landed in the hole prepared for it. * His body came completely out of joint. Death, it seemed, would have been a blessing.
* He pulled up for each breath only to feel ripping and tearing or flesh in his hands and feet.
* His mouth was as dry as dust, but not even a cup of water was afforded him.
* His body was broken and his spirit was heavy, and yet as a lamb before the slaughter, he opened not his mouth! The half has not been told of his suffering!
III. THE SHAME: The Son of God was made an open mockery and a public shame!
A. He was naked before all men! Matt 27:28, “they stripped him.”
B. Evil men spat in his face in Matt 26:67 and 27:30.
C. They mocked his sweet holy name: Matt 27:29, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon 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!” Luke 22:63 “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.” Matt 27:41-44 “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be 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. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.”
IV. THE SADNESS: How the hearts of those who loved him must have been broken!
A. Of His Family: His Mother and his aunt stood at the foot of the cross! John 19:25
B. Of His Friends: Mary Magdalene, out of whom our Lord cast seven devils, and John the Beloved stood with broken hearts and spirits at Calvary’s hill weeping for the suffering of their Lord.
C. Of His Father: How his soul must have been pained as he heard his Son Jesus say:
“I Thirst” John 19:28. He made the waters of the world, but none was given him!
“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
“Today, thou shalt be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43
“My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me!” Matt 27:46
“It is finished” John 19:30
“Father, into thy hands do I commend my spirit” Luke 23:46
V. THE SIN DEBT: We owed a debt we could not pay. He paid a debt he did not owe! Sin was for us a:
A. Death: Ezek 18:4, James 1:15, Romans 6:23
B. Debt: we had wronged God and owed him a payment we could not afford. I’m so glad he paid it all!
VI. THE SATISFACTION: II Cor 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” Is 53 (note 4-6, 10-11). The only thing that ever truly satisfied the Father was his Son. In him, he is “well pleased.”
Conclusion: If a thousand books were written, and a billion sermons preached on the cross of our Lord, the half would never be told. We take of the cup and the bread, and as often as we do, we do it in remembrance of our Lord and his sacrifice for us. Do you know this sweet Savior?
To hear sermon audio, see sermon video, or view study outlines go to www.trumpetoftruthonline.org
