Luke 23_33_49 The Crosses of Calvary

Luke 23:33-49 “The Crosses of Calvary”

When Lincoln’s body was brought from Washington to Illinois, it passed through Albany NY and it was carried through the street. They say a black woman stood upon the curb and lifted her little son as far as she could reach above the heads of the crowd and was heard to say to him, “Take a long look, honey. He died for you.”

Today I want to lift you high above the crowds so you can take a long look at the Cross where Jesus died for you.

The Cross is indeed the judgment of the World (John 12:31) and on that hill called Calvary all classes of humanity were represented. There were the indifferent (The people who stood beholding Luke 23:35), The religious (the rulers who derided Him Luke 23:35), the materialistic (the soldiers who divided His Garments and cast lots Luke 23:34), and the earnest seeker (“Lord, remember me Luke 23:42).

CPS: Today I want you to know that the sin of the world has been judged at the cross! Jesus’ death was one of substitution and by it no one has to die in their sinful state and undergo suffering the wrath the God.

If you look upon that hill far away, among the crowd of people, you will see three crosses, for on that day three men died, one a sinner, one a saint, and the other the Savior of the world. Today I want to look at each of these who died that day.

I. One Man Died in Sin (39)

The Cross was a Roman tool of torture, designed to give a slow, excruciating, and humiliating death. It was used to as a deterrent to criminal activity

A. He was a criminal (Malefactor)

B. He was blaspheming Jesus

Railed on (Imperfect) - blasphēmeō (Verb) = blaspheme, insult, slander, curse

** Suffering the most insulting of deaths, he hurled insults at the only one who could save him.

C. He was tempting Jesus

*** Surely this criminal deserved his fate, showing his character to the end.

II. One Man Died Without Sin (40-43)

A. He recognized he was a sinner

a. He rebuked his fried

b. He knew his death was just (Romans 6:23)

B. He recognized Jesus was sinless

Even hanging on the Cross Jesus carried Himself in complete perfectness and trust in the Lord. 1 Peter 2:23 “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

C. He recognized Jesus could save

What faith, a dying man trusting in a dying man! He looked at the charges placed above Jesus’ head “This is the King of the Jews and asked Jesus to remember him when He entered that kingdom!

a. This is proof that salvation is based on Grace!

b. This is proof that Salvation is immediate

c. This is proof that its never to late in life to be saved. However a deathbed confession is not advisable.

ILL: In 1961 Rev. John R. Richardson of the Westminster Presbyterian Church received a call from a doctor to make a hospital visit to man dying of cancer, his was name Ty Cobb. (1st HOF, .367 BAG, stole Home 54x, MEAN)…. “On that first visit, Ty wasn’t up to talking. He asked if we’d come back later. I quickly read a passage of Scripture and prayed for his welfare. Two days later I returned to find that the Holy Spirit had been working in his heart. I explained God’s plan of salvation and the need for repentance. He replied that he wished to put his complete trust in Christ. On subsequent visits Ty was eager to talk about Jesus Christ. Two days before his death, I paid my last call. “I feel the strong arms of God underneath me,” Ty said. “It is wonderful to be able to pray. Tell folks they should not wait as I did, I got saved in the ninth inning but wishing I had been saved in the first.

III. One Man Died For Sin (46)

Jesus hung on the cross for 6 hours, surely these are the most important 6 hours of all human history!

A. He suffered the wrath of man (1st 3 hours)

B. He suffered the Wrath of God (2nd 3 hours) as darkness fell on the earth

John 12:32 ““And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.””

That day the veil was torn and God departed the temple of the Jews and personal excess was given to God by anyone who would seek Him. The Roman Centurion declared Jesus the Son of God. The Jewish crowd went home in sorrow and 50 days later at the preaching of Peter many were saved.

3 men died, one in his sin, 1 without sin, and 1 for the sins of the world, a substitution for you and I, by this blood salvation was finished and the sacrificed was received and appeased the justice of God.

Conclusion: On that hill was three crosses, two on either side had been fought over by the disciples yet none were there save John. At the right and the left were two criminals, revolutionaries condemned by Rome for attempting to lead Israel out of the control of Rome. But I want you to look at the cross in the middle. That Cross in the middle where Jesus died, it was intended for someone else, Look at Verse 18. Release unto us Barabbas! The leader of the insurrectionist

Jesus was crucified as a substitute for Barabbas. Here is the illustration of what took place on the Cross, Substitutionary Atonement.

ILL: A well educated Bible teacher comes into town for Easter and is waxing eloquently as teaches to multitudes in a small fishing village on the east coast. His topic, substantiationary Atonement, he’s using large theological words as he explains. Then he asked the crowd, if anyone there can explain substitutionary atonement, a fisherman in the back stands up, the teacher somewhat sarcastically says, and you can explain substitutionary Atonement? Then simply said yes, “Jesus died in my place.”

Barabbas - Bar = “Son of,” Abbas = “Father.” Jesus died in the physical place of theSon of the Father, and died I the spiritual place for the sons of the Father…that is all of us!