We Believe: Crucifixion, Death, And Burial Series

WE BELIEVE: JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED

Text: John 19: 18-20, 28-37, 40-42

Introduction

1. “In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.” (Thomas `a Kempis).

2. The Cross is the center of everything we believe as Christians, for without it we are still lost in our sin.

3. It was pointed out to me years ago that we take one day to celebrate Christ’ birth, but we take a week to celebrate His death and resurrection.

4. Today we are going to take a look at what we believe about the crucifixion, death, and burial of Christ.

5. Read John 19:18-20; 28-37; 40-42.

Transition: Let’s journey up Calvary’s hill along with our Lord.

I. Jesus Crucified, Dead, and Buried

A. Roman crucifixion was a form of execution that was reserved for the worst of criminals.

1. Its purpose was not only to kill the prisoner, but to humiliate them beyond comprehension.

2. This was part of the reason that Jews rejected Jesus as messiah, for they couldn’t accept a crucified messiah.

3. The Romans considered it the most cruel and extreme form of capital punishment.

4. It was considered impolite to mention it in Roman society. This is probably the reason the Emperor Constantine abolished it in the fourth century.

B. However, for us the cross is the crucial point of history.

1. In fact, the word comes from the Latin word crux, and it is the central point of our faith.

2. Just as the Cross is the central point of our faith, the central point of any discussion in English is called the crux of the conversation.

C. There are three aspects of Jesus’ crucifixion we need to understand.

1. First, in hanging on the cross, Jesus became a curse for us. “If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and hung on a tree, 23 the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God.” (Deut. 21:22-23).

2. Jesus took the curse of our sin upon Himself, and therefore, redeemed us from it.

3. Second, He canceled our debt before God because of our sin. “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Col. 2:13-14).

4. Third, He gave us victory over sin. “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.” (Gal. 6:14).

D. The climax of the crucifixion scene is Jesus surrendering His spirit to God the Father.

1. Jesus viewed His death as an act of obedience. Jesus had multiple chances to back away, but He chose to do the Father’s will.

2. “But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” (Jn. 18:11).

3. The first Adam disobeyed God; the second Adam obeyed Him completely.

4. Another purpose behind Jesus’ death was to appear in time to put away sin by sacrificing Himself.

5. “If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:26-28).

6. Finally, by His death, Jesus will be remembered for all eternity.

7. “No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 22:3-5).