THE CRIMES OF THE CROSS
Introduction:
The gruesome death on the cross was Roman punishment mitigated on the hardcore criminals, slaves, pirates and enemies of the state (anyone who waged a rebellion against the Roman empire). Slow and painful death and created a public display to warn others.
We will see the event of Jesus Before Pilate read in the scripture.
Remember Jesus was absolutely sinless and didn’t commit any crime that warranted him the crucifixion. Jesus was the one who healed people, raised people from death, fed multitude of people, taught the Scriptures. So why Jesus was given the punishment of dying on the cross? Isaiah tells us that it was Father's will to place the sins of mankind on Jesus. The crimes of other people were responsible for the painful death of the Lord Jesus on the cross.
Mark 15:14- When Jesus was presented before Pilate, he also questioned the crowd, “Why? What crime has he committed?”Crimes of the cross are:
1. The Crime of Envy:
Mark 15:10- Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of sin of envy
According to Greek scholar W.E. Vine envy is "the felling of displeasure produced by witnessing or hearing of the advantage or prosperity of others"
Galatians 5:19-21- Envy is one of the works of the flesh. Envy is one of the 7 deadly sins mentioned in the Bible. Though the sins have fluctuated over time, the currently recognized list includes pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth.
a. Envy rejects the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ:
John 11:47-53- Only few weeks ago Jesus raised Lazarus from death and His Deity was revealed as only God can raise a dead person to life.
Jesus performed many miracles- healing, walking on water, turning water in to wine, feeding thousands, calming storms, drove demons out. These signs couldn't be performed if Jesus was not God himself.
The Jews and the chief priests didn't want to acknowledge the fact that Jesus was equal to God.
John 19:7- The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
To reject the Deity of Jesus is to be proud and envious. The hatred, jealousy and envy evident in the world in all spheres (personal, social, national life) are the direct results of rejecting Deity of Jesus Christ as equal to God.
b. Envy is Rejection of the Sovereignty of Jesus Christ:
Mark 15:9- “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. When Pilate presented Jesus as the king of the Jews, the chief priests were upset and challenged because they were not willing to accept the sovereignty of Jesus as their king.
Mathew 21:9 -On the Palm Sunday, when same people shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mathew 21:15- But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
They rejected the sovereignty of Jesus on Palm Sunday too.
Thus envy is the direct result of rejecting the Deity and sovereignty of Jesus Christ. Today many people are hesitant to accept the lordship and authority of the Lord Jesus on their lives.
2. End Products of Envy:
Mark 15:10-14- knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted. “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
The sin of envy is inflammable. It can burn like a fire and quickly spread like a wild fire and get out of control. The envy of chief priests was quickly transferred to the crowd.
a. It distorts the sense of true values:
Instead of asking the giver and healer Jesus to be released, the crowd asked for releasing Barabbas. Envy leads to distortion of true values. Envy is present in all people- saved or unsaved and we have to be careful with envy as it can lead to greater sins.
b. It destroys the source of true values:
Mark 15:15- Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Everyone in the crowd knew of the virtuous life of Christ and in Him God's character was totalized.
Luke 23:4 - Even Pilate declared "I find no fault in this man Jesus"
Yet, the sin of envy of the priests and people shouted "crucify him". It was the murder of justice and it was the murder of the source of true values. This is the true face of envy in the world today and it does the same thing.
3. Conquering the Sin of Envy:
Mark 15:21-In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!"
Even though motivated by envy they could never have spoken the truth. Yes Jesus didn’t want to save himself from the cross because he wanted to accomplish salvation for all.
John 12:24-25- Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
In the mocking words of the chief priests we see the very conquest of the sin of envy.
a. Saving Work of Christ:
Luke 19:21- Jesus came to seek and save the lost
I Timothy 1:15- Christ came into the world to save sinners.
2 Corinthians 5:21- He was made sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness to God.
The saving work of Christ requires and restores the concept of Deity of Christ
b. The Saving Word of Christ:
Because of the saving work of Christ, we have a saving word.
The saving word of Christ requires and restores the concept of sovereignty of Christ, because when Jesus is the Lord/ king, his word is the law.
I Peter 1:25- 2:3- Desire the pure milk (Word) putting aside the sin of envy.
As we apply the saving word to our lives, day by day, we are given power to lay aside all malice, envying, and evil speaking, so that we grow, like new born babes, to a full maturity in Christ.
5. The Crime of Compromise:
Mark 15: 15 -Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Pilate's biggest crime was that even though he knew Jesus was innocent (his wife sent a note about the dream of Jesus), even though he could save Jesus, he didn’t stand on the side of the truth (John 18:38- Pilate asked Jesus-what is truth?). To satisfy the envious crowd he did what the majority wanted. It was the crime of compromise on Pilate's part.
6. The Crime of Covetousness:
Mark 14:10-11- Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
It was the greed of Judas that prompted him to hand over Jesus to the chief priests.
a. Consequences of Covetousness:
I Timothy 6:6-10- Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
b. Cure of Covetousness is Contentment:
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
7. Our Countless Crimes:
Let us not just blame the chief priests, Judas and the deserted disciples
Isaiah 53:5-6- But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Our countless crimes are responsible for the death of the innocent Jesus on the cross. To forgive our sins he came and gave his life as a sacrifice.
8. The Cross as Cure of all the Crimes:
The cross of Christ is the ultimate cure for all the crimes of the past, present and future. It has turned into a throne of grace where we sinners can find forgiveness and cleansing. The crime of all ages has become the cure of all ages.
I John 1:7-9- The blood of Christ cleanse us from all sin. But we must come with repentance, genuine faith and obedience, as He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
