Symbols of God's Love (3)

His Cross, His Clothes, and His Compassion

It works out that we get to look at the cross on Communion Sunday.

So far in our series, we looked at Jesus’ suffering and shame

Suffering and Shame

The beating that Jesus endured for our Healing.

The leaders in the early church rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus.

Last week, Sarah gave a timely word. She shared a quote, “Followers of Jesus are asked to read, remember, and recite Scripture. If you don’t open your Bible how do you do that?”

She shared about hearing God, submitting and surrendering to His will.

Sarah also said that “suffering is not defeat...” Do we hear God in some of our most trying times?

Finally, Sarah capped it off by saying, “God wants everything to bring glory to His name.”

It’s great to hear what God has to say through others, we can be encouraged by how God has worked in their lives.

Let’s read our Scripture today,

John 19:16–27 NLT

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. Then the leading priests objected and said to Pilate, “Change it from ‘The King of the Jews’ to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate replied, “No, what I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did. Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

Let’s start by looking at

The Cross

What did Jesus do to deserve the cross?

In last week’s passage, Jesus said three words that stood out to the religious leaders as blasphemy...

I AM He

Jesus said,

I AM the bread of life, bread from heaven (Jn 6:35,41)

I AM the light of the world (Jn 8:12)

Before Abraham was, I AM (Jn 8:58)

I AM the gate (Jn 10:7,9)

I AM the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11)

I and the Father are one. (Jn 10:30)

I AM the Resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25)

I Am the way, the truth, and the life. (Jn 14:6)

I AM the vine (Jn 15:1,5)

I AM He (Jn 18:5)

By making these statements, Jesus was declaring He was God.

To a Jewish religious leader, This was blasphemy. How can this man proclaim to be God?

Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Exodus 20:2–3 NLT

“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me.

Isaiah 45:5–6 NIV

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other.

The soldiers didn’t just come to the garden with Judas and arrest Jesus. The religious leaders had been waiting their turn.

They were infuriated when Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath. It bothered them when He called them white washed tombs…but when Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, and people were shouting Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They wanted to crown Him king. This has gotten out of hand. I wonder if some muttered,“We’ve got to do something. He’s going to destroy what little we do have.”

To top it all off, Jesus turns over the tables in the temple court and chases out the merchants, money changers and animals.

Why all the commotion?

According to the Life Application commentary, God had instructed those coming to offer sacrifices to bring their own from their own flocks and herds, but the religious leaders had set up four markets on the Mount of Olives where animals could be purchased.

There was a large court yard known as the,

Court of the Gentiles

The High Priest allowed merchants and money changers to set up in the only place that Gentile converts were allowed to worship.

They raised the price of the animals, as well as charged exorbitant exchange rates for people buying their merchandise. They were exploiting travelers. Not only did this anger Jesus, but they had lost the plot, it was like the people were paying to have their sins forgiven by purchasing these animals. It was convenient.

Matthew 21:13 NLT

He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

This all happened a few short days before the cross.

John 19:16–17 NLT

Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away. Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).

The Cross

was

One of the the cruelest forms of punishment

Nails were hammered through the wrists and feet to hold the criminal on the cross. A foot rest could be there to help those being crucified to breath.

According to Mary Fairchild:

“The excruciating ordeal would lead to exhaustion, suffocation, brain death, and heart failure. At times, mercy was shown by breaking the victim's legs, causing death to come quickly. As a deterrent to crime, crucifixions were carried out in highly public places with the criminal charges posted on the cross above the victim's head. After death, the body was usually left hanging on the cross.” (Definition of crucifixion)

Jesus was lead out to the place of the Skull, Skull Hill, Golgotha in Hebrew, Calvaria in Latin, Hence we get the word Calvary.

Some think that it was named Skull Hill because of it was a stony hill shaped like as skull and others because there were bones still there from other criminals. It was a place of execution. There was no way of getting off the cross.

Isaiah 53:6–7 NLT

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

Two Criminals

John 19:18 NLT

There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

Often, you may see pictures or paintings with three crosses. You may hear the story of the other two criminals uttering threats and mocking Jesus while He is hanging on the cross.

Jesus took the mocking. He endured the scorn as He was dying and suffering just as they were. The difference was that He was carrying the sins of the whole world.

The Charge

Above the crucified victim would be placed the charge for their crime, on a wooden sign .

John 19:19–20 NIV

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.

The leaders complained and wanted it changed and yet Pilate said, “I have written what I have written.”

His Clothes...

As Jesus is hanging on the cross, most likely naked. A loin cloth looks a lot better for pictures.

There were four soldiers that divided His garments, but they came to His undergarment or robe.

John really doesn’t expound on this , but some think that it was made by Mary before Jesus started His earthly ministry. Others think that it represents Jesus being our High Priest. Being it was handmade, it would be costly. A lot of time was put into it.

Psalm 22:18 NLT

They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

Jesus was stripped naked, they totally humiliated Him, and yet He clothes us with His righteousness.

His Compassion...

As Jesus is hanging on the cross in agony, He looks at those that are standing around and He sees His mother.

John 19:26–27 NIV

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Not only was Jesus suffering with the agony of the cross… He was suffering from the agony of our sin, as well as feeling the rejection of the Father.

He takes time to make sure that His Mom, Mary, would be taken care of. He knew that John would take care of His mother. I’m not sure how many years that she had been a widow, but Jesus made sure that she would be taken care of the rest of her earthly life.

There’s another story of Jesus compassion while He hung on the cross.

Matthew said that both of the criminals mocked Jesus, but at some point one must have had a change of heart.

Luke 23:39–43 NLT

One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Even while Jesus was on the cross, He welcomed a sinner into the Kingdom of God.

The Cost...

John 19:28–30 NLT

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The cost of our salvation is the blood of Jesus. Jesus died on the cross so that we could be forgiven.

It’s somber to think of the price, an innocent man died for our sins. God, who was made flesh became obedient to death, even a criminal’s death on the cross.

As we’ve relived the story of the cross, we’re going to take time and share the Lord’s supper together.

Luke 22:15–20 NIV

And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Pray for the cup

Paul concludes by saying

1 Corinthians 11:26 NIV

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.