A little boy was not exactly happy about going to church on Easter Sunday morning. His new shoes hurt, his tie pinched his neck, and the weather outside was just too good to be cooped up inside. As he sulked in the back seat of the family car, he complained to his parents: “I don’t see why we have to go to church on Easter anyway. They keep telling the same old story, and it always comes out the same in the end.”
During this series we’re focusing on what to many of us is the same old story, and yet, how can we ever get tired of it? This morning we come to the cross itself. We’re going to look at four points: His suffering, His sacrifice, the supernatural events, and finally, the significance of it all.
His Suffering
Last week we focused on Jesus’ trial before Pilate and the suffering that He experienced during the scourging. As we come to Matthew 27:27, we see that this was just the beginning. By the way, I heard something this week that really jolted me. Many who have seen The Passion of the Christ have commented that they could barely watch what was done to Jesus. I understand. Listen to what this individual said: “Whatever else you may think about the movie, remember this. It’s just a movie. What actually happened to Jesus was much, much worse.”
Follow along as I read Matthew 27:27-31: “Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”
Notice that the “whole company of soldiers” gathers around Jesus to make sport of Him. It’s hard to imagine but a “company” of soldiers generally contained six hundred men. We don’t know if they all took part in the mockery but we do know that their abuse of Him involved seven different elements.
They stripped Him. This was done once before when he was scourged. How it must have hurt to have his clothing ripped off since it opened the sores again!
They put a scarlet robe on Him. This was probably a discarded robe and was designed to mock His royalty.
They crowned Him. This crown of thorns was forced on his head, which both mocked and tortured Him. Interestingly, thorns and thistles are mentioned in Genesis 3:18 in connection with Adam’s sin. Jesus is about to reverse the curse by wearing the crown.
They gave Him a staff. This stick was to serve as His scepter.
They knelt before Him. They bowed before Jesus in mock adoration saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” John 19:3 indicates that they “kept marching up” to Him, showing that this lasted for quite some time as they each took turns.
They spat on Him. As each soldier got up from his knees, he spat into the face of love and forgiveness, the spittle mingling with the blood flowing down. Jesus was also spit upon during his religious trial before the Sanhedrin.
They hit Him. After spitting, they start hitting the Holy One with His staff. The Bible says that they struck Him on the head again and again. John 19:3 says that they not only hit Him with a stick but they also slapped Him with their hands. Jesus was also struck in the face during his religious trials.
When they were finally finished, they removed the robe and led him away to crucify Him. Verse 32 says that as they were going out, “they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.” Jesus started to carry His own cross but because of the scourging and the mistreatment at the hands of the other soldiers He was physically unable to carry the load on his own. Gibson captures this profoundly as Jesus walks and then falls several times under the weight of the wood. Someone sent me an email this week that opened my eyes to another aspect of His suffering that I hadn’t thought of before.
“The other day while I was cutting some drywall, I accidentally took off a small slice of skin off of my thumb. Even though this was a small wound, you would not believe how much this little injury hurt. Warm water and peroxide made me jump up and down and howl like a monkey (much to the delight of my son Ben). That got me to thinking about how much Jesus must have hurt after the scourging. In a vain attempt to understand what he went through, I tried to imagine the pain of this little cut expanded over my entire body. I don’t think the human mind can comprehend that type of pain because I couldn’t do it. Maybe an arm or half a leg, but not the entire body. During the Passion of Christ movie, Jesus fell several times while carrying the cross. He would hit the ground with a thud and get back up. To me (at the time) it was just Jesus falling; no big deal. Now I realize, every time he hit the ground the pain of scourging had to have come back. Have you ever hit an open wound? It usually hurts worse than the original wound. I can’t imagine what Jesus felt every time he hit the ground. The rocks grinding into the cuts and reopening any that may have even been close to healing. I don’t think we can comprehend his pain, and I guess therein lies the beauty of his sacrifice.”
The Romans conducted processions as a warning to the public that they wouldn’t tolerate any trouble. As he watched Jesus stumble and fall, the Roman officer in charge forced a man named Simon to carry the 100-pound piece of timber the half mile or so to the execution site. This is very touching in the Passion as Simon links arms with Jesus, vividly portraying what the Savior meant in Matthew 16:24 when He said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This also brings to mind what Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 as Simon is “yoked” with the Savior as they carry the cross together: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…”
Evidently Simon was later saved because Mark 15:21 mentions his two sons, one of whom is singled out for his service to the Apostle Paul in Romans 16:13. Simon had set out to participate in Passover, making a long journey from what is now Libya. Even though he was probably initially reluctant to carry the cross with Christ, the man who came to Jerusalem to sacrifice his Passover lamb met the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for Him.
Matthew 27:33 says, “They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).” Jesus is marched outside of Jerusalem, just as a sin offering would be burned outside the camp of ancient Israel. This is captured by Hebrews 13:12: “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” Golgotha was called the place of the skull either because the hill looked like a skull, or because it was literally the place where skulls had gathered as a result of the execution. An early legend suggests that Adam was buried at the very spot that Jesus was crucified. Some paintings even depict Adam’s skull at the foot of the cross. I doubt whether this tale is true but it does show that the penalty for Adam’s sin is overcome by the death of God’s Son (see 1 Corinthians 15:22).
Verse 34 mentions that Jesus was offered something to drink that was bitter and yet would numb the pain. This fulfilled yet one more prophecy as Psalm 69:21 states: “They put gall in my food.” This was a common act of mercy often ministered by women who wanted to ease the agony of the man about to die. This was often because it says in Proverbs 31:6 to give strong drink to those who are ready to perish. Wanting to fully experience the excruciation of crucifixion, Jesus refused to be sedated. He won’t drink from this cup because He is determined to swallow the suffering and sin from the cup the Father has filled for Him.
Interestingly, in verse 35 Matthew shows marvelous restraint in describing the crucifixion: “When they had crucified him…” In the original only two words are used. This is a helpful reminder that Scripture does not focus entirely on the physical suffering that Jesus endured. What He experienced as our sin substitute was far worse as He endured the wrath and separation from God the Father. The Message paraphrases Isaiah 53:10 this way: “The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it…”
The crucifixion scene in the Passion movie is very graphic but we must remember that the Romans wanted it to be a terrible way to die. I think Gibson got this right, though there is some debate about whether the spikes went through the hands or wrists of Jesus. We do know that crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals and that it was very common. It is said that the Romans crucified 250,000 Jews. It was a sickening sight. Tacitus, an early historian said, “It was a despicable way to die.”
As Jesus looked down from the cross, He saw the soldiers dividing up his clothes. They had no idea that this fulfilled yet another prophecy, this one found in Psalm 22:18: “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Verse 37 indicates that a title was placed above his head. This indictment was also a statement of fact: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Pilate was responsible for this wording and made sure it was understandable in three languages: Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The religious leaders wanted him to change this but Pilate was sick and tired of being bullied and said in John 19:22: “What I have written, I have written.” Warren Wiersbe suggests that this was the first “Gospel tract” ever written. Two criminals are also crucified and hung next to Jesus. Verses 39-44 describe additional insults and more mocking that Jesus had to endure from passersby and from the priests.
The Sacrifice of the Savior
There’s more suffering that Jesus endured and we could certainly benefit from focusing on it, but I want to look now at the sacrifice of Jesus and briefly mention some reasons why Jesus suffered so much. More specifically, what was accomplished by His suffering and sacrifice? I’m going to mention 10 of the 50 reasons why the Redeemer died, drawing from a fabulous little book by John Piper called, “The Passion of Jesus Christ” (Crossway Books, 2004). I heartily recommend it to you.
To absorb the wrath of God (Galatians 3:13).
To show the wealth of God’s love and grace (Romans 5:8).
For the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7).
To take away our condemnation (Romans 8:1).
To give eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16).
To free us from the slavery of sin (Romans 6:14).
To create a band of crucified followers (Matthew 10:38).
To gain His joy and ours (Hebrews 12:2).
So that He would be crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9).
To show that the worst evil is meant by God for good (Genesis 50:20).
In our focus on the suffering and sacrifice of the Savior, it’s easy to miss the four supernatural events that happened that Friday afternoon.
The Supernatural Signs
1. Deep Darkness. Matthew 27:45: “From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.” From noon to 3:00 in the afternoon it was pitch black. At high noon, at a time when it was least expected, the world became dark. Or as Spurgeon said, “It was midnight at midday.” It was if all of creation sympathized with the Savior as the lights went out. Those who knew their Old Testaments would recognize that this was a symbol of divine judgment. There were three days of darkness in Egypt before the first Passover (Exodus 10:21-23), and now there are three hours of darkness before the Lamb of God dies for the sins of the world. Darkness is almost always connected with the judgment of God for sin. Joel 2:1-2: “…Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.” Amos 8:9 would have also come back to haunt them: “In that day,’ declares the Sovereign LORD, ‘I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.’”
2. Temple Curtain Torn. Mark 15:37 says that Jesus shouted loudly right before He died. We get the word “megaphone” from the two Greek words that are used here. It was like a victory chant because the sacrifice had been made. If His hands were not nailed to the cross, He would have thrust a triumphant fist into the air. John 19:30 records that Jesus said, “It is finished.” His work was done. The debt has been paid. He then took His last breath. Interestingly, in the Passion movie, Satan looks victorious at this point, but little did he know that Christ’s death would ultimately lead to his defeat.
Matthew 27:51 then tells us “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Jesus was mocked as one who would destroy the Temple and rebuild. The tearing of the curtain indicates that He was doing just that. The meeting place of God would now be Christ, not a building. The temple is where people used to go to pray and offer animal sacrifices to God. In fact, some commentators suggest that at this precise moment, the priests were offering sacrifices in the Temple.
There were different parts to the temple. The most holy place was called the holy of holies. A thick curtain separated this inner sanctuary from the outer area. This curtain was not an ordinary curtain: it was 60 feet long and 30 feet high and about two inches thick. It was said that it took 300 priests just to install it. Only one person, the high priest, was allowed to even go into this area of the temple, and then only one time a year to offer a major sacrifice for his people. The whole structure emphasized the remoteness of God and the impossibility of gaining access to Him.
When Jesus died, this big barrier was torn in two, from top to bottom, signifying that it was God Himself who tore it in half. Now, instead of just one person having access to God once a year, the way to God stands wide open to everyone, on every day of the year. Hebrews 10:19-20 in the New Living Translation says this: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.”
3. An Eerie Earthquake. Right after Jesus took His last breath, we read in verse 51 that “the earth shook and the rocks split.” Gibson does a good job of depicting this in the movie. Wiersbe believes that the earthquake reminds us of what happened at Mount Sinai when God gave the Law to Moses; the earthquake at Calvary signified that the demands of the Law had been met and the curse of the Law forever abolished. The temple was revered by Israel and now their land, which was another sacred symbol, was shaken by the death of Christ.
4. The Righteous are Raised. I bet you haven’t heard many sermons on verses 52-53: “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” This mysterious event has confounded commentators, so let me mention two things that we know to be true. First, this was a real resurrection. Second, this event is prophetic for it shows that the death of Christ guarantees our own resurrection into eternal life.
Let me summarize what these supernatural signs point to:
The darkness shows that justice is satisfied.
The torn curtain symbolizes that sin is conquered.
The earthquake communicates that the Law is fulfilled.
The resurrections remind us that death is defeated.
The Significance For Us
Why is the cross so significant? A recent survey of over 100 Christians from several churches asked the question: “Would it have made any difference in your life, as you are living it now, if Jesus had not died on the cross?” Remember, these responses are from “Christians.” (Jeff Strite, www.sermoncentral.com).
· 45% said they did not think so
· 25% said they thought so, but now sure how
· 20% said it made all the difference in the world (only 1 out of 5!)
· 10% said they had no idea
I see at least four groups of people gathered around the cross that afternoon. Each group exhibited a certain response.
1. Anger. There were a number of people who expressed their anger at Christ. Luke 23:35 records that they said things like, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” They “sneered,” which literally means that they “turned up their noses at him.” According to Luke 23:39, one of the criminals on the cross next to Jesus “hurled insults at him.”
2. Apathy. Another group was drawn to the execution but they were indifferent to what was going on; at least when they first came on the scene. The Bible says that as they watched, they began to drift away, one by one. Luke 23:48: “When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and walked away.” When someone beat their chest in the first century, it was a sign of guilt and remorse. Their apathy had been replaced with feelings of guilt. As they watched what Jesus went through, maybe they began to realize their role in putting Him on the cross. They came to witness a show, but they left with feelings of woe.
3. Attraction. There weren’t many people in this group. One was a thief who was nailed to the cross next to Jesus and the other was the captain of the soldiers. He witnessed the scourging, the mocking, the spitting, the crucifixion, the darkness, and the earthquake. He saw both the anger and the apathy, and yet somehow he was attracted to the one in the middle. He heard everything that Jesus said on the Cross, shuddered at His last cry, and watched Him die. He was deeply impressed. He had never seen anything like this before! He was moved and drawn to the Savior.
He was intrigued by what He saw. You see, he started out viewing Jesus as an ordinary criminal. But, he watched and listened. He investigated. His closed mind was starting to open. He began to seek, to question, to wonder. And, as he processed everything, he changed his mind on the basis of some new evidence. Jesus was no ordinary criminal because He died as a triumphant hero. Actually, Matthew 27:54 records that when the centurion and some of the other soldiers “saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’”
Instead of being angry scoffers who walked away unchanged or apathetic spectators who turned away because of some guilt, these soldiers were attracted to Jesus. And they hung around long enough to reach a conclusion about who He was and they stated it boldly: He was the Son of God!
4. Adoration. There were some others around the cross that afternoon: the friends and followers of Jesus who already adored Him. The apostle John is the only named disciple who was there but he was joined by at least three women of faith (John 19:35; Matthew 27:55). They were probably scared when they first got there so they most likely kept their distance. Perhaps Simon of Cyrene was among that group. As they understood more of what was happening, I’m sure some of them realized that this was exactly what Jesus had predicted would take place. He had to die in order for them to be acquitted from their sins. He had to give His life so they could have access to God the Father.
You Were There
There’s a church on the west coast that has an unusual mural of the scene at Golgotha. You can see the soldiers, the religious leaders, the crowd milling around, and His frightened followers. But there’s something that makes this painting very personal. If you look closely you’ll see that the members of the church posed for the faces of those congregated around the cross. The song asks, “Where you there when they crucified my Lord?” You better believe you were there. And I was right there beside you. It was Martin Luther who said, “We carry the nails in our pockets.”
What group are you in today?
· Are you an angry scoffer? Have you been launching a volley of attacks at the Savior? Do you have something against Him?
· Or, are you an apathetic spectator? Are you just kind of hanging around? Does this whole Christianity thing bore you? Is it just the same old story to you? Here’s a question. When you feel some guilt, will you just walk away or will you give your sins to the Savior?
· Are you an attracted seeker? Are you fascinated by Jesus? Do you find yourself drawn to Him?
· Or, are you in the camp of those who adore Jesus? Maybe you’re a believer but you’ve grown distant from Him. What will it take to move you closer to Christ?
Friend, you can’t be passive about this one. There’s something about the Crucifixion of Christ that made every witness either step toward the cross or move away from it. It compelled some and repelled others. The scoffers and spectators walked away and those who were attracted and adored Christ took a step closer. The cross is the crux of Christianity and its power still changes lives today.
Action Steps
I can think of at least four action steps this morning.
1. Read the story again. Whether you watch the Passion movie or not, take some time before Easter to read the Gospel accounts. One man I talked to a couple days ago told me that he’s read the Gospel of Matthew in its entirety three different times since seeing the movie.
2. Allow Jesus to rewrite your story. Perhaps you’re ready to surrender your life to the Savior right now. I’m going to help you do that in just a minute. I read something on Friday that was stunning to me. A man from Texas went to the see the Passion and when it was over, he was so overcome with his guilt and the gift of forgiveness, that he turned himself into the authorities and confessed to them that he had murdered someone. After viewing what Jesus did for him, he was compelled to do whatever it took to make things right (for more information on this story, see www.heraldsun.com).
3. Tell His story to others. This is a great time of the year to tell others about what Jesus did for them, and why He did it. By the way, a great opener is to simply ask the question, “Have you seen the movie yet?” Whether someone has seen it or not, it will give you an opportunity to talk about Jesus. I also encourage you to utilize our Easter Cantata called, “The Eyes of Faith” as a tool to help your family members, friends, and coworkers understand all that Jesus did for them.
4. Tell your story. People want to know what Jesus went through and they also want to know your story. Look for ways to share how He has impacted your life. After seeing the movie, one person wrote this: “I feel blessed that He loved me that much. It is real to me.” Simply share your story as God gives you opportunity.
Friends, the story is the same…but you don’t have to come out the same in the end!
If you’re ready to apply what Jesus did for you in order to activate your acquittal and gain access to the Father, please pray this prayer with me: “Lord Jesus, thank you for what you suffered on my behalf. I know you did it for me. I confess that I am a sinner and I repent of the way I’ve been living. Forgive me for my anger and also for my apathy. I now know that I am attracted to what only you can give me and so I want to adore you for the rest of my life. By faith I believe that you died as my substitute and I receive you into my life. Please forgive me for my sins and give me eternal life. And please rewrite my story so that my life reflects your story to those around me. In your name I pray, amen.”
