Curtain-Tearing, Rock-Splitting, Life-Giving Death

We have the privilege today of observing the two ordinances that our Lord left for us on this earth as His church.

In the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded of the death that he died for us on the cross at Galgatha. We proclaim that death, and its meaning, every time we take the bread and cup together as a body.

We show his body, and his blood, poured out for our sins and salvation.

In baptism, we see multiple pictures. We see the picture of washing, we see the picture of death and burial with Christ in his death, and we see the picture of new life and resurrection in Him.

While neither of these ordinances do the work of saving or washing or redeeming, they are a public testimony to the Lord’s work of those things.

Today, as we prepare to see both of those ordinances, we have come to the very part of the scripture that brings them to life before our eyes.

And ironically, or rather, providentially and in Divine wisdom and planning, the very thing that brings our faith to life is a death.

The very event that thrusts us into vibrant and vivacious spiritual newness is a solemn account of an innocent man’s execution.

In fact, to the naked eye and the unknowing observer, there is much irony in the text before us.

For instance, the mockery and derision of the Lord which was meant to humiliate and belittle him was, in fact, part of the very evidence of the fulfillment of his mission.

The parody of a sign above his head that read “King of the Jews,” which was meant to instill a kind of coffin-nail finality into the claims of his kingship, actually portrayed him perfectly, for he was in fact the king who came to lay down his life.

The cries for him to “save himself” were meant to laugh at his predictions of divine power actually point to his mission on that despicable tree, he was there not to save himself, but others.

Yes, the whole thing could be seen as irony, but rather, we should see it as glory. For just what was planned, just what was promised, just what was foretold was happening on that day. Just what was prescribed, just what was needed, the only thing sufficient and efficient for both our cleansing and our regeneration, our washing and our new life, was taking place within that filthy scene.

What is this account of gruesome death in your eyes? What is it to you? Is it just a story that you’ve heard from a child, a heart-tugging tale of a good man doing a heroic deed? What is this story to you? Is it just that, a story, and nothing else?

What does this vivid picture display to you? Does it display just a tragedy of historic nature, a losing tale of a winning figure?

What does it say in your hearing? I hope, I pray, that it says to you what it is meant to say. It is meant to say, for all who will believe, from the God of all the universe to your humble ear, I have paid the price. I have erased the debt. I have done the work. I have secured the means. I love you.

Mocked, beaten, bleeding, and dying; the bitter cup that Jesus drank is the loudest and clearest message of God’s love and redemption.

Merciless Derision - Vs. 32-44

Man of Cyrene

Usually the criminal was to carry his own crossbeam.

The all night, the garden prayers, the arrest, the laughable trials, the beatings and crowning

Total giving, showing his sacrifice, his servanthood, brought to nothing.

Philippians 2:8 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Wine mixed with Gall

Myrhh, as Mark tells us

Meant to ease suffering, perhaps even make unconscious

Interestingly, rather than drinking this bitter cup and easing his sorrow, he chose rather to drink the bitter cup that the Father had passed to him.

He drank it, not in a small sip of abandon, but rather he drank it to its deepest dregs.

Crucified - one word, no drama.

The Gospel of Matthew: The Triumph of the King, (Matthew 18–28), Volume 2: An Expositional Commentary The Offense of the Cross

The cross was so offensive to the Romans that they refused to allow their own citizens to be crucified, no matter what they had done. Cicero (106–43 B.C.) called crucifixion “a most cruel and disgusting punishment.” He said, “It is a crime to put a Roman citizen in chains, it is an enormity to flog one, sheer murder to slay one; what, then, shall I say of crucifixion? It is impossible to find the word for such an abomination.”2 Indeed, writes Pastor Philip Ryken, “There was no word for it. No polite word, at any rate, for the word for ‘cross’ was taboo in Roman society.” That is why Cicero also said, “Let the very mention of the cross be far removed not only from a Roman citizen’s body, but from his mind, his eyes, his ears.”4

If mention of the cross was offensive to the Romans, it was even more abhorrent to the Jews, for they saw it in the light of Deuteronomy 21:22–23, which reads, “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse.” They understood this to mean that a crucified person was abandoned by God. This explains why Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem. The act was so offensive to the Jews that they would not allow it to take place within the sacred precincts of their city.

Casting lots, they went on with business as usual. Keeping watch, unless someone should try to rescue him.

The sign, over the head.

John 19:20–22 ESV

Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Irony of all ironies, that correctly interpreted, that sign meant to deride was the sign that they should have agreed with.

39-44

Every class of person derided him. From the common passerby, to the ruling elite, to the other criminals hanging next to him.

Psalm 22:7 ESV

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Do you deride Him, or do you esteem him?

Solemn Crucifixion - Vs. 45-50

Matthew makes no attempt to dramatize the events, just telling the story as it is - a fact.

He does give us shocking details, even if in muted tones.

Supernatural darkness

12-3

Jesus’ cry

Psalm 22:1 ESV

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

What is recorded is a mystery beyond mysteries, so deep that we cannot even fathom it or try to parse it fully.

What we have is a claim of separation within those who are eternally one and co-existent.

A picture of the curse. Cursed is every one

A picture of the chasmic separation

A picture of darkness

A picture of judgment

Isaiah 53:10 ESV

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

The misunderstanding

Elijah, a prophet who himself saw no death. Was he calling for saving?

Pity

One rushed in a moment, perhaps not wanting to be seen as an instigator but a helper

But they missed it all in their misunderstanding, even in their pity.

Do we miss it in our misunderstanding, in our human eyes?

Yielded up His spirit

John 10:11 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:14–15 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:17–18 (ESV)

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Life, laid down. Not taken, given. Not robbed, offered.

the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but the one who has power of life gives his life. What the devil would have loved to take, he couldn’t take.

A divine comedy, really - for in the very act in which the enemy saw an opportunity for victory, it was actually defeat.

Divine Manifestation - Vs. 51-54

The Curtain

Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV)

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Ephesians 2:14–15 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

The Rocks

Luke 19:40 ESV

He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

The Bodies

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

The Confession

Matthew 8:10–12 ESV

When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Purposeful Mention - Vs. 55-56

The mention of these women was not without purpose.

All other disciples had fled

Only john is mentioned as being at the cross

These stayed faithful and kept vigil, and would be the first to witness his resurrection also.

This, along with the testimony of the centurion, and the tearing of the vail, give us a wonderful picture of access and reconciliation.

Access, because women were not highly regarded, yet the scripture goes to great lengths to tell of their faithfulness and service.

The centruian, because he was hated by the Jews, yet He himself, even while fulfilling his duty in the act, saw the truth.

The vail opened makes a new way.

Galatians 3:23–25 (ESV)

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

Galatians 3:26–27 ESV

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:28–29 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

What is our attitude toward outsiders?

What is our attitude toward Christ?

What is our attitude toward our new life?