The Victory Of A Messiah Series

a. This man knew nothing of the God of the Hebrews. As a Roman he served many idols, but he did not know the real God.

b. The events of Jesus' crucifixion made the Roman officer realize that this was no ordinary crucifixion.

c. He had seen hundreds of these executions, but never one like this.

d. These events led them to believe that Jesus must have been who he said he was. the Son of God.

e. What happened to this man after this is unknown, but certainly if the thief on the cross could find salvations it is not beyond the realm of possibility that this Roman officer could too.

B. Enduring Evidence

1. Illustration: Dr. George Wood in his book Living In the Spirit wrote, "Something is wrong with our experience if the only evidence of Spirit baptism is speaking in tongues. It is the initial physical evidence, but that initial is meant to be followed by a whole train of other evidences" (54).

2. What affect has the cross had in your life?

a. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

b. What difference has the cross made in your life?

c. Has it changed the way you act, the way you talk, or the things you deem as important?

d. Do people look at you and say there is something different about you?

e. Or do they look at you and say you're just like everybody else?

3. What affect has the cross had on the way you treat others?

a. John 13:34-35 (NLT)

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

b. The cross should change our past as well as our future.

c. It should change what we do.

d. It should change our priorities.

e. Above it should change how we treat people.

f. Jesus showed the ultimate act of love on the cross, and he expects us to follow his example.

Transition: The crucifixion affects nature, the witnesses, and...

III. The Crucifixion Affected Courage (57-61).

A. Joseph...Went to Pilate

1. The cross causes people to do extraordinary acts of courage.

2. We can see in the actions of Joseph of Arimathea. Matthew tells us, "As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him."

a. Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus. He was a religious leader, an honored member of the high council.

b. Arimathea was only about twenty miles from Jerusalem. Joseph is said to have been wealthy; he must have been prominent to have secured an audience with Pilate after his official public hours.

c. When buried, crucifixion victims were normally thrown into common graves; they did not receive an honorable burial in their family tomb.

d. Exceptions were often made when relatives asked for the body, but in the case of treason (as claiming to be the Jewish king would be) an exception would not be made unless the deceased had a prominent advocate (Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).