Matthew 27: 32-44 The way of the Cross.

Intro. (Reversed chronology) Have you seen a movie/play or even artwork where the first scene is the end… And then the movie jumps back and you find out what has happened before. If you were here last week or listened to the podcast/viewed online you know that Jesus will end up on the cross and died. But how did he get there, what happened before? What happened just before verses 45? We will take a look at that today. (Have psalm 22 in mind) Waite, Jesus was on the cross and died in last week’s sermon, yes that is true. But there was a mistake and skipped verses 32-44. Lets read.

Outline: 1.Simon from Cyrene, - verse 32. 2. Guards, the Crowed, Chief priests, scribes, elders. And the charges. 3. Jesus’ response? Or none response. To stay on the cross.

1 Simon from Cyrene North African cost– maps PPT X 3 – story of him Mark writes the father of Alexander and Rufus, Mk 15:21. There is some point to that, what the point may not be totally clear, other than the readers of Mark would know Alexander and Rufus, - it is guessed that Rufus could be the one Paul mentions in Romans 16:13. What seems reasonable is that the early Christians that Mark writes to people that knows Alexander and Rufus, and Simon. (Matthew is aimed at the Jews, trying to get them to be jealous of the Christians that found the messiah, they knew who Jesus was.) Simon did not have a choice, the romans could force anyone to carry things and walk with them… the example that Jesus Mt 5:41. Don’t complain but serve and give…

2 Matthew does not write a lot about the mode of crucifixion itself no nails or details, but he does mention the place, Golgotha, Jesus is offered, wine mixed with something bitter, he tastes and does not drink it. PPT and PPT about crucifixion Psalm 22: 16-18 cold be a later addition to Matthew but does fit Matthew.

The charge over Jesus’ head was true (titulus was often tied around the criminal’s neck as he marched to death. This sign announced the reason for his crucifixion. When Jesus arrived at Golgotha, the placard was nailed over his head.[1]): This is the king of the Jews” Jesus affirmed it to Pilate. The Titulus stated the truth.

The people passing by did not believe that was true, instead the ridiculed, mocked, slander blaspheme, stating what Jesus rightly had said: You who would destroy the temple and rebuild in in three days save yourself, - The great irony is that Jesus was doing just that, not saving himself as he was letting them destroy his body, and he would rebuild it after 3 days.

If you are the son of God come down from the cross. (This sounds like devil in the wilderness where the devil is tempting Jesus in Mt 4 -, prove yourself to us, don’t trust in God and what he has spoken over you 2 times (baptizem and transfiguration) this is my son in whom I am well pleased. No, prove to us who you are don’t trust God! Words form the devil. A personal note. Understanding Jesus, because logic would men that as Jesus said to Peter that Jesus was so powerful and he could ask the Father for 10.000 of angels then he would also be able to get down from the cross, no problem… So why did Jesus stay? I did not understand that but this is key to understanding who Jesus is and why Jesus came. Do you know?

We will get back to it. Not only the people that passed by the cross mocked Jesus, also the scribes, Elders, Chief Priests. Again, in full irony they state the truth about Jesus. Jesus, He saved others, blind, lame, lepers, raised the death, Jesus did all that, and the accusation is he cannot save himself… (He could but did not to save others). But that is insanity they know Jesus did not do wrong, and saved people so they get him charged and killed with rebels… How many of the other rebels raised the death? Next statement is also is true is He is the king of Israel, that is true. The next statement: “let him come down from the cross”, and we will believe in him… Again, the devil is speaking: prove who you are! And we will believe, lies lies lies… They have no intention of believing even if Jesus came down, they would get him put right back up there… (Some people have conditions before they will belief in Jesus, they will not believe before the give them up and trust in Jesus, repent of their sin and come to Jesus with empty hands).

In verse 43 that again echoes psalm 22:8 – and what some of you not so good friends would site for you, well see! Where is your God now? If God is real then why are you or I in this bad place? But again, they say the truth to Jesus giving him and us a reminder that our trust should be in God. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. (This is what God has confirmed 2 times). Then they state another truth Jesus said he was the son of God, and he is… As Jesus is mocked, he is reminded about all the truth of who he is, in a negative and mocking way, but it is true all of what they say. But also, the work of greed, self-righteousness, grasping for power, evil the shedding of innocent blood, the rejection of God, the rejection of the very one that came to save people from sin, wrath, devil’s lies, death. Jesus stayed on the cross, and did not reply because he won, in the garden, where Adam failed, in the pain, shame, slander, Jesus holds on to who he is and trusts in what God has said about him. Jesus’s clams come from the very mouth of God. And what God has said about him.

Jesus trusts the plan that God, Him and the Holy Spirt, had from the beginning, the plan of redemption of the fallen man. By the only one that could do it, Jesus, everything in the Old Testament, points to Jesus, the blood of animals can’t take away sin Hebr. Only Jesus could… that is why this happened, not because of sinful man planed it but because God had planned it this way. God kept his promise, so did Jesus, he told the disciples what would happen, in chapter 16:21, 17.22 and in 22: 17 Jesus reveals that the s, cp, e will condemn to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles romans, and he will be mocked and flogged and crucified… All of what Jesus have said has come true… There is not salvation if Jesus does not die on the cross.

Objections: But why I am a good person, do good things, I only just need a hero an example a motivational speaker, to fix a few things in my life not a God that shows how much I need saving, is it not cruel of God to send Jesus to the cross? Devine child abuse, I mean who would send their child to die that kind of death? Is God not old and out of touch? With our culture today? We don’t like blood and suffering, pain and safifice.

A few things what things? The lies, stealing, slandering, coveting, worshiping idol Gods and or your self or your children or your singleness? What other things need fixing? All the sin you have committed ageist others and the sin committed against you… You say you’re a good person, your debt in unpaybell.

God is not evil, not cruel, you are… NO. Jesus, is not a bystander, like Simon of Cyrene, no he is the main cracter, Jesus knows what will happened he predicted it at least 3times in Matthew plus the parables. No, Jesus is not a victim of child abuse, and he is also a grown man… (This is such a stupid and ignorant statement). No, Jesus is God, and Jesus and God the father and the Holy Spirt made this plan, this is no suppirse, no one takes my life I lay it down and I take it up again…. NO… Jesus did this for all who would come to him and trust and believe in him… If you don’t think you need Jesus safice, I would say your are honest about yourself. But it does show you that, We or I might ask back are you out of touch with how you rebelled against a holy God? And you don’t deserve anything good you have, breathing air, your body, everything good, is from God… What comes from you sin, death, sickness, evil, yes you desperately need Jesus… But now he is going to die… what then? We all need the cross of Jesus, but it can’t end there, that is why the cross is empty…

How does all the predictions of Jesus end….? After 3 days Jesus will rise again… Gospel.. resurrection… death, sin, devil defeated. Only in Jesus life, death, resurrection and ascension and coming back…

Other notes:

(What is the last part of the verse?)

Will not drink. Does not numb himself. 34. Does not fight back, all the charges are true, he is the king, the son of God, he could come down. But for love for God and people, he suffers for the sinners to bring them to God.

s, cp, e = scribes, Chief Priests, Elders

[1] Mark E. Dever, “Church Discipline,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1551.