“The Suffering Savior”

Series: The Gospel Truth (subseries “8 Days that Changed the World”)

Text: Matt 27:11-55

Introduction: (What?)

The charade of trials moved from the house of Caiaphas to the palace of Pilate, the Roman-appointed governor of Judaea. It is now the early hours of Friday morning. There followed a series of events that, like a runaway freight train, culminated in the crucifixion of Jesus. Each of us can find ourselves in the crowds that followed these events.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Swayed by Popular Opinion

Mt 27:11-26 “11 Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus answered, “You say so.” 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed. 15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. The governor asked them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ ‘Barabbas!’ They answered. Pilate asked them ‘What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?’ The all answered, ‘Crucify him!’ Then he said, ‘Why? What has he done wrong?’ But they kept shouting all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.”

Many politicians believe that they were put in office with a mandate from the people to accomplish certain things. The problem is that once in office they can be swayed by their colleagues and go along with the prevailing party leaders who may have a totally different agenda. Pilate served at the pleasure of the reigning Caesar. His “mandate” was to keep the peace in Judea. Consequently, even though he found nothing that Jesus had done that would merit capital punishment, the threat of a riot swayed him to acquiesce to “mob-think’. He tried to appeal to them, but was unsuccessful in quieting the blood-lust of the mob. Even though Jesus didn’t answer Pilate’s question regarding the charges against him, Pilate seemed to be reluctant to convict him to death. Finally the mandate from Rome to keep the peace overruled his personal thoughts about Jesus and he caved to the crowd. Although he sought to divest himself of any blame for what follows, it still remains that the scourging of Jesus, which almost killed him, and the crucifixion which did kill him came at the command (or at least permission) of Pilate.

Before we get too judgmental of Pilate, we must recognize the times that we have stayed quiet about Christ and Christianity because the person or group around us had a different view. Many find it difficult to discuss the Christian view of abortion, transgender-ism or the LGBTQ+ movement because the prevailing view of society is in favor of them. We don’t share the gospel because we are afraid of offending someone. We never give thought to how offensive such behavior is to God. Churches and denominations have caved to the pressures of society and politics and totally ignored the mandates of scripture. In truth, many Christians identify more closely with Pilate than with Jesus. We compromise rather than stand. In 1 Cor 10:12 Paul warned, “12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.”

2. Mocked and Crucified

Mt 27:27-44 “27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company around him. 28 They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe. 29 They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. 31 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 As they were going out, they found a Cyrenian man named Simon. They forced him to carry his cross. 33 When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skull), 34 they gave him wine mixed with gall to drink. But when he tasted it, he refused to drink it. 35 After crucifying him, they divided his clothes by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and were guarding him there. 37 Above his head they put up the charge against him in writing: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Then two criminals were crucified with him, one on the right hand and one on the left. Those who passed by were yelling insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him and said, ‘He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God rescue him now---if He takes pleasure in him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God’.” In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.”

The soldiers who served under Pilate made up a “cohort” which was about 600. Evidently when a person was convicted of a crime, they considered their “sport” with the victim to be a break from the monotony of their daily grind. What they did not know was that they were fulfilling the prophecy of Isa 50:6 “6 I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard. I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting.”

Crucifixion was devised to be humiliating to the victims. This was just another part of the humiliation of Jesus on our behalf. The crown of thorns was to mock the fact that Jesus was called “The King of the Jews” which they put on the sign above his cross. The scarlet robe depicted royalty. Again, their sport was actually fulfilling prophecy. Jesus had said in Mt 20:19 “19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and on the third day he will be raised.””

The combination of scourging, beating and the sweating of blood in the garden took its toll on Jesus so that he fell under the 200+ lb weight of the crossbeam he was forced to carry over the 1/2 mile trek to Golgotha. A man from a city in North Africa was then forced to shoulder the crossbeam for the rest of the trek.

Once they reached the place of crucifixion, the ordeal intensified. Josh McDowell gave details. “Finally reaching the crucifixion site, Jesus had to endure even more agonizing pain as long metal nails were driven into His wrists (considered part of the hand in the language of Jesus’ day) in order to hold Him to the cross. The nails, most assuredly, came into contact with the median nerve. For His feet to be pierced with nails, the guards twisted Jesus’ legs into an unnatural and painful position.

The Romans knew that once the victim was finally hanging from the cross, it could take hours for Him to die. As He fought off suffocation, He was forced to take the next breath by laboriously pulling himself up by His wounded hands and feet. “The pain was absolutely unbearable,” observes Dr. Alexander Metherell, PhD. “In fact, it was literally beyond words to describe; they had to invent a new word: excruciating. Literally, excruciating means out of the cross.”” Even in the midst of the pain Jesus refused to take the gall (sour vinegar) which was meant to deaden the pain. He still had redeeming work to do and needed his faculties about him. (the thief on the cross)

3. DEATH!

Mt 27:45-55 “45 From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink. 49 But the rest said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him were there, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”

Death by crucifixion could take hours and in some instances even days. Since this was on Friday and nearing the Jewish Sabbath (started at 6 p.m.) the process was pushed (breaking of legs) to insure the death before the 6 o’clock hour. However when they got to Jesus, he was already dead because his work on earth was done… “Tetelestai” “It is finished!” The literal translation means “paid in full” “it is completed”. Jesus work on earth was done. All that was and is needed for the salvation of everyone who surrenders to Christ has been completed. The only thing left is the response of the sinner.

The moment of death was certified by ripping of the 30 foot high and 18-24 inches thick veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Since it was ripped from top to bottom, it was the work of God, not of man. From that moment on believers have had access to the throne of God. A second wonder was the temporary resurrection of saints, who would be recognized by the people in town, who appeared to many. This was a foretaste to the resurrection.

Application: (How I will respond to this message)

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. The only thing left for you to have eternal life is for you to surrender to Christ.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus. If you have surrendered to Him…say so. Take a public stand for Christ. Speak His name boldly.