Matthew 27: 26 - 44 THEY WATCHED HIM THERE v. 35 - 36 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there. The Soldiers Saw :- I. THE WONDER OF THE CROSS Isaiah 53: 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter. They saw His Commitment God has chosen to reveal Himself to man in many different ways through the creation of the world He reveals His power, through the flood He revealed His wrath, through His life He revealed His character( I find no fault), through the cross He reveals His love for mankind "There was no crown for Him of Silver or of Gold" If He was just a man He was murdered, if He was God in the flesh He was an offering He was martyred, if he was God He was sacrificed They took His life, if He was God He laid it down He deserves our admiration, if He was God He deserves our adoration We should stand up and pay our respect, if He is God we should fall down and worship and give Him our hearts They saw His Courage – Matthew 27:34 "They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink." it was a Jewish custom to offer victims, who were about to be crucified, a potion of medicated wine this potion would deaden their senses and lessen their agony when it touched His lips and He realized what it was, They saw His Compassion Luke 23:34 " Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." He never opened his lips, until he spoke the words of forgiveness - They saw His Conquest (triumph) Luke 23:46 " And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." Over Self - Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Over Satan - 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Over Sin - (Man's sin, not His own) 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save.
II. THE WOUNDS OF THE CROSS Isaiah 52: 14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. Isaiah 53: 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. III. THE WITNESS OF THE CROSS They witnessed 1. The voice of the Critics v39-40 " And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." 2. The voice of the Crowd v41-43 " Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 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.43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God." 3. The voice of the Criminals v 44 " The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth." 4. The voice of the Curious v48-49 " And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him." 5. The voice of the Centurian v54 " Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God." IV. THE WISDOM OF THE CROSS The Father unfolds Redemption's Plan John 3: 14 - 17 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (a) The Illustration " As Moses" (b) The Explanation Even So- the rise of sin, the result of sin, the remedy for sin.(c) The Invitation v 16 " For God " (d) The Declaration v 17 " For God " V. THE WEALTH OF THE CROSS A. This Death was Supernatural. 1. The Supernatural Darkness v 45 " Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." 2. The Supernatural Death v 50 "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost."
3. The Supernatural Display v51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" B. This Death was Sacrificial. JOHN 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. HEB 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. C. This Death was Substitutional. HEB 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord,Oh my soul.” VI. THE WELCOME OF THE CROSS Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. VII. THE WARNING OF THE CROSS v. 36 And sitting down they watched him there. Zechariah 12: 10 … they shall look upon me whom they have pierced. Revelation 19: 11 - 13 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
