What Do You See in the Sufferings of Jesus? - Luke 23:44-56

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until 3 in the afternoon for the sun. Stopped shining in the curtain of the temple was torn into Jesus called out with a loud voice. Father into your hands. I commit my spirit when he had said this, he breathed his last the century and seeing what it happened? Praise God instead, surely this was a righteous man and all the people who had gathered to witness this side. So what took place? They beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him including the women, who'd followed him From Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Now, there was a man named Joseph. A member of the council, a good and upright man, who would not consent to their decision and action. He came from the Judy in town of Arimathea and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God going to Pilot. He asked for Jesus's body, then he took it down wrapped in linen, cloth and placed it in the Tomb, cut in the Rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was preparation day. The Sabbath Sabbath was about to begin the women. Who'd come with Jesus From Galilee follow Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it, then they went home and their spices in perfumes, but they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the Commandments, the word of God, for the people of God. Thanks, be unto God. You may be seated.

we've lived here now in Crozet for about three and a half years, And it's safe to say that most every day that I've been in Crozet, I have come to the Church of building. Not a hundred percent, but almost close to that. Particularly, I've come to the education, which is spread across the Breezeway. Come there? Most every day. I've been in. Crozet. If you have ever been over there, you know, the layout of the of the building. So as soon as you walk in and there's a bathroom immediately to the right, then there's the kids nursery. And then there is the children's room and down the hall, and there's the secretary's office, and there's my study, and there's another bathroom. And then there's a little alcove over here, not rocket science. Some of y'all have seen that for a couple months ago. Darlene told me that the fire extinguisher guy needed to service the extinguishers on the property and just make sure they were up to code and all that kind of stuff. And I was the one who let him around the property, and open up the doors. And, and before he came, I was wondering. I thought to myself. Where are the fire extinguishers in this church? Probably be good thing to know. So, when we came to the education Wing, again, I was wondering where it, where is this thing at? And the thing is it it's hanging in a very bold, very noticeable way. Right between Darlene's office in my study right there in the middle and it's about eye level again right here. I've walked in that building 33 and a half years over hundreds of times and I've never seen that thing in my life. It's right there. It's just this guy I have no idea. This thing was right there all the places I go nobody ever sees these things. It can be as blatant. And now y'all are going to be looking for them around the church was a good thing. It's okay. If you it's good for us to know where they are, but I never saw it even though it came with in my line of sight, like technically I saw it, right? But in the same since I also did not see it. The brothers and sisters as you and I are barreling, towards the end of the Gospel of Luke. I remind you very simple message that Jesus is right here in front of us is plainly right in front of us. And of course we know not physically, but plainly through the text, through the word, he is right in front of us. Anybody can see that. A child and older person. A non-believer or Christian. Anybody can see that Jesus is right there in the text, particularly that Jesus is on the cross. People can see that your degree But just as a young child can walk in that building over there and see the fire extinguisher and their eyes to an unlearned child. They might just see a big shiny red object, they don't understand the significance of it. They don't understand how to use it. What the purpose of it is that you see something hanging on the wall. If you're not today, though, you might see Christ. I asked you, what do you see? When you see fryst, what do you look at specific. Question up there. What do you see in the sufferings of Jesus? What do you see in the cross? Why do I say that in the first place was? Worse is 47 to 49. You may have noticed. Look for repeated phrases repeated ideas for 6:47 to 49 three, different occasions. The phrase with the idea of seeing Jesus is repeated their three different times, describing three different people, the Centurian the crowd, and then the women from Galilee, you know, to send a text. So for example, the centurions seeing what had happened and then we're 48. When all the people who had gathered to witness this site saw what took place than verse 49. All those who knew him including the women. Who'd follow him From Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. I think there's an overwhelming emphasis in the text that the key is on seeing Christ. Clearly these final moments of his life. Supper United day. What do you see in the sufferings of Jesus? Or another words, what does his death mean? How does his death affect us? What do you see in the sufferings of Jesus? When you look at him, Well to help guide our thoughts to help us get a better answer than a walk through the text and ask and answer a few more specific questions so that we might see Jesus more clearly. A 44, the question is, do you see the creation groaning at his death? Set a 44, it was about noon and darkness came over the whole land until 3 in the afternoon for the sun stopped Shining. The three of the four gospels include this little details from Matthew, Mark. And Luke include that the land. The whole land went completely dark, or sometimes they say the Sun's light fail or the sun. Stopped shining. Why do they include this little detail in the gospel accounts. Multiple ways you can answer that, but I think one of the big ones I think there's kind of three ways to understand it. Number one, this is a powerful. Reminder. That Jesus's death is not just a merely human of. This isn't just something that happened to a man, a mere human being Jesus's. Death was Cosmic in nature. It had ramifications that affected the whole universe, the whole earth because this wasn't just a man. This was the man who created the Earth was the man who created the song. This was the man who created the universe, and it's, as if as one commentator said, when the Sun's light is failing, it describes the sympathy of nature with the sufferings of the son of God. But in addition to that when you seen the text, it was about noon and darkness came over the whole land until 3 in the afternoon for the sun stopped Shining. That the Greek word there that use for darkness is the same word that's used in John 3:19 and that verse Jesus is speaking and he sang basically people love the darkness because they love being in there soon. Turn other words in that context, it's referring to the spiritual Darkness, the spiritual wickedness here, it's physical. Darkness of the physical. Darkness is representative of the spiritual depravity that is assaulting the very Son of God. And unless it was significant about about this. Typically in scripture, whenever you read about the Earth or the Sun, going black, or thing is becoming dark. What is that connected with? The Judgment of God. Think about the Exodus when everything went black and then soon thereafter, the angel of the Lord came and slaughtered, the firstborn of the Egyptians of the those who did not have the blood over their door post. Travel times in actually Jesus spoke of it earlier and Luke 21 when Jesus was speaking about the end. One of the signs of the end is the sun failing to shine the Stars falling. We also see that language use again in the Book of Revelation It's all so fascinating and Amos 8:9. Amos is a profit. He's declaring God's word it in. Basically, he's talking about how God's judgment is ripening. It's growing. It's getting to the boiling point and God is going to soon, pour it out. The fruit is going to be ready for Israel because God's people have become extremely Wicked. Listen to the specific prophecy. That's made here, that, I believe Jesus is fulfilling and fullness. In Luke 23, Amos 8, verse 9 in that day, declares The Sovereign Lord, I will make the sun go down at noon and dark and the Earth in broad daylight and that's clearly the language use their. It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until 3 in the afternoon. Two brothers and sisters. When you see Christ on the cross, do you see that the Judgment of God Came Upon him? Do you see that the creation had Gloom upon its face at the sufferings of the Messiah? Do you see that? The next question, we ask a 45, do you see that when Jesus died? He did. So to bring you to the father First 45, the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Matthew 27:51 provides a little more specific specificity for us. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Now what does that mean in the temple? Go back in Exodus chapter 26, the lord gave instructions to make and install a royal curtain that would serve as a barrier between the secular in the sacred between the common and between the holy For it was in the current it was within this Veil. The god resided with his presence. Resided. Because in the curtain resided, only one object. That was the Ark of the Covenant. You might be from the Arc of the Tabernacle to pay them and how you double, this is where God's presence, resided for God would commune with his people were, God would cleanse his people. And what's significant about it is the high priest. Could only go into that the holy of holies it was called they could only go past that curtain on one day the day of atonement Yom Kippur which if you know your Christian calendar, the Jewish calendar that is actually today. Believe it or not. The high priest, could only go in there once a year according to God's terms with the proper sacrifices. You cannot stroll into their willy-nilly. However you feel like it, whenever you feel like it, you have to go and commune with God on his terms on his timetable is very important to keep in mind. so, when Jesus dump The curtain was ripped apart was torn into like somebody would tear a piece of paper and it was divine because it was from top to bottom. and when you interpret scripture with scripture, particularly, when you look at Hebrews chapter 10 verses 19 to 20, the meaning of this can be understood, Jesus died to bring us to the father. Jesus died to bring us to the father, listen to Hebrews 10 verse 19 there for brothers and sisters. Since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. Because Jesus is at ultimate sacrifice, Jesus is that perfect Lamb of God, that innocent lamb, that was slain that cover over. That a tone over our sins. So now since we have confidence into this Most, Holy place by the blood of Jesus by a New and Living Way opened for us through the curtain that his body. And since we have a great high priest over the house of God, what should we do now? Let us draw near to God with a sincere. Heart with full assurance that Faith brings having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience. Having our bodies washed with pure water. Brothers and sisters when you see Christ on the cross and being battered. Do you see the truth? The first Peter 3:18 for Christ? Also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous to what You know, the rest of the papers to bring you to God Christ suffered on the cross to bring you to the father. Do you see that in his sufferings? You might be wondering. Well, what's so great about the father's presence. What's so important? So beneficial about that. I remind you of a beautiful verse psalm. 16 verse 11 in the father's presence. There's fullness of joy. And at his right hand are Pleasures forevermore. This is the god whom we serve. This is the god whom we long to be with. Do you see that he died to bring you to the father? Verse 46. Jesus called out with a loud voice. Father into your hands. I commit my spirit. When he said this, he breathed his last That one verse, do you see? Jesus is unshakeable trust in the father. Do you see Jesus is unshakeable trust in his father are you might see in your Bible and might be a little footnote and it says Jesus is quoting song 31:5 pretty much for Batum. Father into your hands. I commit my spirit though, I will mention I mean if you want to turn their feel, I should please turn their Psalm 31. What you see with your own eyes.

Psalm 31 5, Jesus does change it slightly.

Is the inserts one extra word.

Somebody see it.

What's the difference between Psalm 31 5 in Psalm or in Luke 23? Verse 46.

Father Goose. Jesus inserts, the word father there because in his most intimate moment, he called out to his own personal father. It's fascinating that when Jesus, if you will, is being squeezed out like an orange when he is being put under pressure on the cross and just in life, in general, through his life, what comes out of his mouth, Scripture the word of God. He made her call another occasion, which this happened was from Luke chapter 4, when Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, when he was crushed, when he was being beaten by Satan in the wilderness being tempted, what speed out of his mouth Scripture the word of God for take away. He was quoting the storm's quite often. That was one of the books Jesus quoted most often. Do in Psalm 31, though. I want you to look at it for a moment. You see in versus 125. The hole opening versus David begins this with David is the author, the original author. He begins with a prayer of Deliverance. So several times, David otters deliver me. God, save me. Come to my rescue. In versus 9213 David describes, the desolate state that he is in. And listen to this and listen to how this foreshadows Jesus on the cross. To David otters, Psalm 31, verse 9 be merciful to me. Lord for, I'm in distress. My eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by English, in my ears, by groaning my strength fails because of my fliction in my bones. Grow weak because of all my enemies. I'm the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends. Don't you see me on the street flee from me is that not describe our savior in his final moments of his life? I'm forgotten as though I were dead. I've become like broken pottery for. I hear mini Whispering Terror. On every side, they conspire against me and plot to take my life.

To use the verbiage of another song, David himself, walked through the valley of the shadow of death. In a much more, exponential way. This describes our Lord and savior. For Jesus, is the only one in the world who experienced gutter god-forsaken. This the terror of godforsaken this because you were call from the other gospels. Matthew, Mark, what does Jesus outer? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Which Jesus is yet, again, quoting The Book of Psalms, I want to point out to you. If it though Jesus was crushed. Keep still trusted in his father.

Into your hands. I commit, my spirit is what the text says. Into your father into your hands. I commit my spirit though, Jesus himself was bludgeoned to death with the club of hell. He still trusted in his father. Though, Jesus is the one who drinks, the poisonous bittercup of Darkness. He's still trusted in his father. Though, Jesus was brutally assaulted unjustly, he still trusted in his father. This reminds me of that, beautiful quote. I believe Spurgeon said it, I could be wrong, but you may have heard it. It's when you cannot see the father's hand, you can trust his heart. This is undoubtedly the truth that is just flooding the soul of Christ, he doesn't see the mercy of the father. He doesn't see the love of the father here. He sees the Wrath of the animosity that God has towards us and he sees all of that being pummeled upon him though. He did not see his father's hand. What did he do? He trusted in his father's heart. This is both good news for you and I because this is Jesus's faithfulness on our behalf. Yet at the same time is First Peter, two talks about Christ suffered as an example for us. So, yes, he is. Substitutionary atonement. Yes. He is a sacrifice in our place, he lived a perfect life on our behalf. He was perfect where we failed yet, at the same time. Jesus didn't live this perfect life so that you, and I could emulate him. So that when you and I faced dark valleys, we likewise can trust in our father. That we may not see the goodness immediately right around us. Do you see that in our savior? You see that Christ trusted in his father.

Last thing I'll say is versus 47. The last question. Does a time, do you see the Lord working in the outsider? You see the Lord working in the outsider verse 47. The centurions seeing what it happened? Phrase, God and said, surely, this was a righteous man. Other versions. My say, surely this man was innocent of any phone your translation. Matthew 27 verse 54 record the century in the saying, surely this man was the son of God. We have to back up a little bit. What is the Centurian? Well, thanks for the word just briefly. since you're in was in charge of 100 soldiers, since Warren was a commander in the Roman army, a principal officer Again, in charge of a hundred soldiers Underneath Him. Lets me forget it, since you're in, was a gentile with a pagan. Or the state in our vernacular, perhaps this man did not grow up in the church. He did not hear the Bible as a teenager was a child. His religion with to advance, in the grow in the gain, in the ranks of the Roman army, this is what he devoted his life to They use the language found in a fusions chapter to this century and this man was a foreigner to the covenants of the promise this man was without hope and without God in the world. And some commentators and Scholars think that this century and perhaps was the very one who is in charge of putting Jesus to death. He was the one commanding the 100 soldiers for overseeing this whole crucifixion. But yeah, as this man observe what was taking place? His heart. Softened, the Lord was doing the work in him, his heart soften his mind was open and his eyes could clearly see that this was not a guilty Criminal. This was an innocent, man. This was a righteous man, but more than that. As Matthew recorded, as he also ordered their Jesus is the son of God. He is the one who came from God. Jesus Is God himself. And Luke's inclusion of this insurance. Declaration hear this man's faith in God cuz he praised God and declared with his mouth. The truth, right? Jesus is Lord. He is the righteous, man. He is the son of God. This is a reminder to you and I in Jesus's final dying breath. God's heart goes out to The Outsider, God's heart goes out to the Gentile was a gentile, it's anybody who's not a Jew. So it's you and me, anybody who is not a Jew. This is a total recurring theme in the Gospel of Luke. As we wrap up and going to try to do some little refresher is put you back to things, we've gone over to tie this whole book together, but I'm Luke 2:32, you may recall that there are two individuals, send me an an Ana, their older individuals and Bible describes them. As having this Earnest, desire to see the Messiah at something. Equally long to see, they were anticipating the sea, the Messiah with their own eyes The two verse 32 Simeon, sees him meets him Jesus as an infant and he says, my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared the side of all Nations, a light for Revelation to the Gentiles. And the glory of your People, Israel. Luke chapter 7, we read about another Century in another Roman soldier. Another Godless man who had faith in Christ in Jesus uses this man. Highlights this man as a model of faith yet again, because where Jesus was ministering, the Jewish people, he was ministering to, they were ejected him, they didn't believe in him, but Jesus was saying, I found more faith in this Pagan. If you will, then my own people have trusted in me. Pretty much every time a Centurian is mentioned in. The Bible are done so in the high manner as a model of faith in our savior, Brothers and sisters as Jesus. Breathed his last breath. Did you see if he cares for the least of these did he cares for the outsider for the Godless the Pagan? The Gentile, those who did not have a good upbringing? He cares for all of us. And as you see in the text clearly, I could ask you several more questions verse 48. Do you see this man? And does your heart filled with sorrow as well as the crowd verse 49? Do you see his sufferings and follow him? Anyway, as the women of Galilee did they didn't just follow Jesus in the good times, I followed him to the end. What does 52-54 do you see the what Came Upon Jesus was Injustice as Joseph of Arimathea did? Right, verse 51 have not consented to their decision and action. Do you see in verses 55 to 56 that in Jesus's burial? This was a strong confirmation. This was a real man who had a real body. This wasn't just a Spirits or some force or some goes. This was a real man who physically lived and physically died. Do you see that in the text? Church, I ask you yet again. What do you see in the sufferings of Jesus. Anybody can see Jesus on the cross. What do you see? Is that? You see what that means for your life. We sing about it. Overwhelmingly this morning, it's going back and forth with Chris Irwin about the songs for the day because this is all about the cross. You see what the cross means for you. I hope that you do. I hope that you see that in his death, the creation groaned. In his death access to the father was opened up in his death of our Lord and savior had an unshakable faith. In the father, in his death, his heart reached out to the Lost into the lowly, the undeserving in the Unworthy. This is the Christ whom we serve. Let us rejoice in him and be glad in him.

Father, we thank you for your word that you've spoken to us. We thank you that though. We are weak. You were strong. Though, we are blind. You give a site. Though, we are hopeless. You give us hope?

That we scramble around in the dark, you shine light on our path.

the, we are filled with hatred and anger, you meet us in your love and grace Do we are Rebels? Constantly run away from you. You continue to pursue us. With your love, with your mercy. Father, we thank you that all of this is possible and all of this was demonstrated through the coming of your son. To the perfect life that he lived in which we Rejoice over. To the gruesome death, that he died on our behalf. Father, as we look towards next week, then dissipation. We can have fellowship with you because of his resurrection from the dead.

Please help us to understand what this means. Give us the right knowledge. More than that, help us to have the right actions in our lives. Help us to live out the Truth live in such a way in which we cherish your grace. Your father, passing most importantly, do a work inside of our hearts. Change our affections. Change our heart, change your mind. Hope is to not only know you help us to love you. Then by the power of your spirit. Help us to live for your glory, for the good of others. And for the glory of your son, it's in his precious name that we pray that these things to you. Amen.