The Crucifixion: The Seperation Of Sin

THE CRUCIFIXION: THE SEPERATION OF SIN

MATTHEW 27: 45-56

MARCH 28, 2004

INTRODUCTION: If you were to look at Rembrandt’s painting of The Three Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus died. Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you’d be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your eyes would drift to the edge of the painting and catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.

Source Unknown.

TRANSITION THOUGHT: We too should be painted into Rembrandt’s painting of The Three Crosses. I just wonder if we really get this. Jesus would not have been crucified if not for our sin. Today we are going to continue to look at the Crucifixion. To often we breeze by this horrible death of our Lord and do not take the time we should to appreciate His great gift of Salvation that came through the cross alone. Let us hear once more His cry from the Cross and realize anew the separation Jesus felt from the Father as He paid for the sin of the world!

THESIS SENTENCE: SIN SEPERATED JESUS FROM HIS FATHER, BUT BROUGHT US BACK TO THE FATHER!

I. THE SEPERATION OF SIN IS PROPHECY FULFILLED ISAIAH 53: 3-10

A. Prophecy fulfilled is the “Suffering Servant”!

1. Isaiah foretold of one who is to come who would suffer immensely!

2. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not (53:3).”

3. Isaiah will go on to say, “Surely he took up or infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted (verse 4).”

5. Isaiah is making something very clear here, God was sending His Servant to rescue us, but it would not be a pretty picture. This would not be the king on a white stallion.

6. What seems so interesting to me was that the Jews knew what was to come, but when He came that knew Him not.

B. Prophecy fulfilled is the sacrifice to come!

1. Things aren’t looking good for this “Suffering Servant” as it is and they aren’t going to get any better!

2. BUT why all this suffering, what is the cause of this sacrifice that must come.

3. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (53:5-6).”

4. Our sin caused His punishment. Bottom line, He suffered because we sinned. Sin must be paid for!

ILLUSTRATION: He came to pay a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay. Anonymous.

POEM: In evil long I took delight,

Unawed by shame or fear,

Till a new object struck my sight,

And stopp’d my wild career:

I saw One hanging on a Tree

In agonies and blood,

Who fix’d His languid eyes on me.

As near His Cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,

Can I forget that look:

It seem’d to charge me with His death,

Though not a word He spoke:

My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,

And plunged me in despair:

I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,

And help’d to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did!

But now my tears are vain:

Where shall my trembling soul be hid?

For I the Lord have slain!

A second look He gave, which said,

"I freely all forgive;

This blood is for thy ransom paid;

I die that thou may’st live."

Thus, while His death my sin displays

In all its blackest hue,

Such is the mystery of grace,

It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,

My spirit now if fill’d,

That I should such a life destroy,

Yet live by Him I kill’d!

John Newton, 1725-1807.

TRUTH: Prophecy taught that sin would be atoned for by the death of God’s servant.

QUESTION: Can we see the price of our sin that took Jesus to the cross?

II. THE SEPERATION OF SIN IS THE PSALMIST CRY PSALM 22: 1FF

A. The Psalmist cry is one of Faith

1. We don’t know why David wrote Psalm 22. We do know that David had seen many struggles in his life.