"The Crucifixion: Through The Eyes Of The Soldiers"

“CRUCIFIXION – From The Eyes Of A Soldier”

INTRODUCTION: There are many CHARACTERS involved in the crucifixion:

· 4 women at cross: Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary wife of Clopas, Salome (Mary’s sister) … John.

· Pilate, Herod … JUDAS who betrayed Jesus … PETER who denied Jesus … BARABBAS who was let go … THIEF who trusted Christ.

EVER NOTICE … How often the SOLDIERS are mentioned? They were just doing their job. Roman soldiers had CONTEMPT for the Jews. This was the worst post in Roman Empire … a hot bed of revolt.

1.- AT THE ARREST – Jn. 18:2-3 – TURN

“detachment” – 500 soldiers to arrest 1 man!

Jesus’ reaction – Lk. 22:52-53 – “Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

They knew Jesus could perform miracles. Must have THOUGHT Jesus couldn’t overpower so many armed soldiers!

18:4-6 – WHO is IN CHARGE here? Jesus! God! They couldn’t arrest Jesus without His permission!

NOTE:

· WHO did they come to see? 18:5 – “Jesus of Nazareth.”

· WHO did they ENCOUNTER? The Lord of Glory!

Another fulfillment of prophecy – Ps. 27:2 – “When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.”

They “saw” Jesus of Nazareth … BUT … they never “saw” Him as the “Lord of Glory”. Their eyes were still blinded as to who He really was. LIKE … so many TODAY … they “see” Jesus in Bible … at Church on Sun. … BUT … they never really “see” Him.

18:12

2.- AT ANNAS’ HOUSE – Jn. 18:12-13 – TURN

NOW – Lk. 22:63-65 – ALL TURN

The soldiers played game … “Hot Hand” – Would blindfold the criminal … form a circle around him … everyone but 1 would hit him . take blindfold off … tell him to guess who DIDN’T hit him. IF he guessed wrong, they would play it again … AND … EVEN IF he guessed right … he was still WRONG!

Isa. 52:14 – “So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men;” His face was a bloody mess!

3.- AT THE SANHEDRIN – The Jewish council of 70 … made up of High Priests, Elders, Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees. It was the Jewish court … but they had no power of the death penalty.

4.- SENT TO PILATE – Roman Gov. of Judea … where Jerusalem was located.

Pilate said “I find no fault in Him.”

5.- SENT TO HEROD ANTIPAS – Governed ¼ of Roman Empire … considered a “King” … he ruled over Galilee … where Jesus was from. Herod was disgusted w/ whole thing … SO …

6.- BACK TO PILATE – Pilate didn’t really want to execute Jesus. He tried to release Barabbas … he hoped the Jews would choose Jesus to be released … BUT … they cried “Let him be crucified!”

PILATE – “I am innocent of this man’s blood” … THEN … he washed his hands.

Mt. 27:26-31 – ALL TURN

7.- JESUS IS CRUCIFIED

Jn. 19:16 – “Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.”

This was the WORST form of execution the world has ever known … guillotine … hanging … firing squad … elec. Chair … den of lions … TORTURE!

Mt. 27:32 – “Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.”

THEN … the SOLDIERS pounded nails into hands & feet. THEN … the SOLDIERS gambled for His clothes.

Jn. 19:23-24 – ALL TURN

8.- JESUS DIES – Jn. 19:31-37 – ALL TURN

19:34 – “blood & water” – The spear was thrust into His chest cavity. WATER accumulated in His lungs and around heart … caused by the tremendous stress from the torture.

The curtain was torn in the Temple … access to Holy of Holies. An earthquake … graves opened … stones rolled away.

Centurion – in charge of 100 soldiers. Mt. 27:54 – “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

He came there that morning out of DUTY … “Another day at office.” Was probably anxious to get over with quickly … go home to wife & kids. BUT … he left a CHANGED MAN. WHY? BECAUSE … he had seen GOD … AND … KNEW IT!