Places of the Passion: Golgotha: R-rated Sermon based on Matthew 27:45-56

I. R-rated sermon: bloodshed, violence, and nudity.

II. Place of the Passion is Golgotha.

III. A whip, a crown of thorns, a hammer, and nails: indecent exposure.

IV. Jesus stripped of his garments.

V. Romans nailed around 350,000 Jews to crosses around AD 70.

VI. At Golgotha Jesus suffered in the extreme.

VII. R-rated for bloodshed, violence, and nudity. But these R-rated events lead to R-rated gifts. On Good Friday, R-rated events turn into R-rated Gospel gifts for us.

Redeemed. “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matthew 27:45–46)

VIII. Reconciled. Bloodshed, violence, and nudity also means Reconciled. “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:51)

IX. Renewed and Matthew 27:54. We are renewed. “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” (Matthew 27:54)

X. Resurrected and Matthew 27:52-53. We will be resurrected. “The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52–53)

XI. Radical love.

XII. Conclusion. On this Good Friday, these R-rated events and gifts of God are freely given to us from the loving heart of our God. Amen.