A Time to be Crucified

Introduction

This week would mark the anniversary of the crucifixion of Christ. (Not the date per se, but in relation to the feast of the passover). Today we’re going to examine the Crucifixion of Christ and one aspect of it’s relation unto you and I today.

When I say one aspect, the obvious aspect of the Crucifixion of Jesus is of course the substitutionary atonement aspect.

In other words, He took the place of Judgment for you and I.

(Ill.) [Take 2 people - one a sinner, the other Jesus] God looks down upon Jesus - perfect in all aspects. Born without sin, lived a life suffering temptation, but never succumbing to it. Then you have you and I. Sinful & wicked. We’re liars, blasphemers, thieves, covetous, boasters, proud. One is perfect and clean, the other unclean. One is righteous, the other under the Judgment of God.

The Righteous Jesus looked upon sinful men and said “I’ll take their place!”. The innocent for the guilty. God’s Judgment upon Jesus SATISFIED His Just nature in the Crucifixion of Christ. He took our place of guilt, AND WE TOOK HIS PLACE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

This is the obvious aspect of the Crucifixion of Christ.

What I want to look at today is the illustrative aspect of Crucifixion, and how that applied to Paul, and to all Christians who will.

I want to expound upon the Crucifixion today, using our theme ‘Such a Time as This’. First I want to remind you of the message that we began this year with:

In that we spoke about ‘Time’

It’s Limited; Fleeting; Priceless; Irreplaceable & We’re called to Redeem it

‘THIS Time’

It’s One of Opportunity; Action

‘BeCAUSE’

There’s a people under Judgment

There’s an enemy on the loose

The Title of the Message today is ‘A Time to be Crucified’. Paul testified boldly ‘I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST!’. I wonder, can you say the same? Could you boldly stand today & say ‘I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST!’. If not church, it’s time. It’s time for God’s people who call themselves Christians to BE CRUCIFIED!

So first off, we’re going to look at ‘A Time to be Crucified’

I. A Time to be Crucified

As we begin this topic, I think there are a few principles found in the first few words that we should keep in mind.

Of His Person (v1 - ‘I’)

Paul is making clear who he is talking about. ‘I’. He’s not speaking about Peter or Silas or anyone else. He’s speaking for himself.

As we begin this topic today, it’s important to understand that being ‘Crucified with Christ’ is a personal decision. No one can make if for you, and no one can prevent you from making it yourself.

(Ill.) As pastor of this church, if I could impose my will upon you and force everyone of you to be crucified (spiritually, not physically of course). I study & pray that you will receive and apply the Biblical precepts that are presented, but all too often, they fall on deaf ears.

I can’t make the decision for you - you must do so yourself.

He speaks of his Person

Of the Present (v1 - ‘am’)

Paul is not talking about times past, nor is he speaking of a time in the future. He’s speaking of RIGHT NOW! I AM Crucified!

There’s a multitude of Christians if i were to present that question “Are you Crucified with Christ?” They would say “Well I WAS…” There’s been many who were on fire for God, that has allowed the things of this world to quench & dim their light for Christ. There WERE Crucified, but not right now.

Then there are others who didn’t use to be, and they certainly aren’t now - BUT THEY INTEND TO BE ONE DAY! They say ‘One day, when I’ve done this or that - I WILL BE THEN! To which I say this - no you won’t! If you will not choose to be Crucified today, you NEVER WILL! If there’s something that you’re waiting to do or see before you fully commit to Christ now, there ALWAYS WILL BE SOMETHING!

Not only must you and you alone make this decision, but you must make it today!

He speaks of the Present

Of a Position (v1 - ‘crucified’)

Paul says ‘I AM CRUCIFIED’

Now, he’s obviously not writing or dictating this message from a physical Cross, but He’s illustrating something about himself using the Cross as the image.

So what are a couple things that we could consider about this Cross that makes this image relevant?

It’s Fixed

‘Nailed to the Cross’

(Ill.) Over the years, we’ve seen products in the marketplace with greater adhesion properties than we used to have. Whether it was scotch tape or Elmer's glue, when I would use those as a kid, they didn’t take too well. But when you take a hammer and a nail, you are fixing something in strong fashion. When something is nailed in place, it’s not easily removed.

When Paul says ‘I Am Crucified’, one thing he’s eluding to is the fact that he’s fixed in his position - not easily swayed!

Time and again, we’re exhorted to ‘Stand Fast’!

1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

To be Crucified is a Fixed position - it’s not one way today & another tomorrow

It’s Fixed

As we consider a Time - NOW is the time for YOU to be FIXED in your Dedication to Christ

II. A Testimony of the Crucified

So now, let’s look at what the Crucified looks like - and we could have no other example than the example that Jesus gave on the Cross of Calvary.

That being said, if you are Crucified with Christ, you’ll Bear the Marks

You’ll Bear the Marks (Joh. 20:24-27)

The Bible says: John 19:16 “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.”

After the final Judgment of Pilate was ordered, they led Jesus up Golgotha. When they arrived at the top, they laid Jesus down, stretched His arms out and began nailing Him to the Cross. One hand, then the other, then the feet. After Jesus had hung there for 6 hours between Heaven & earth, He’d bowed His Head & gave up the Ghost.

Afterwards the Bible tells us: John 19:31–34 “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

Over in the next chapter, after the Resurrection of Jesus, we see one of His disciples - Thomas couldn’t believe the testimony that Jesus was alive - until He saw Jesus face to face! Then we’re told: John 20:24–27 “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

The one who was crucified bore the marks of that Crucifixion. He had the prints in his hands & side. That being said, IF you’re Crucified, you’ll bear marks that prove that too.

Too many people will be under this assumption that they are where they need to be with the LORD, but when you examine them - as Jesus was offering to Thomas - you will not see any marks of a crucified life.

It should be apparent to the world church that a Christian (that is to be ‘Christ-like’) bears the marks of being ‘Crucified with Christ’. But what are the marks?

Marks that distinguish you from the world

Marks that readily identify you with Christ

They are visible, not subtile

Marks of the hands speak of what we do

Marks in the feet speak of where we go

Mark in the side speak of where our affection lies

If your hands aren’t laboring for Christ

If your feet aren’t going where Christ leads

If your affections aren’t focused on Christ

THEN YOU’RE NOT BEARING THE MARKS OF BEING CRUCIFIED! Because the Testimony of one who is Crucified will Bear the Marks

You’ll Endure the Shame (Luk. 22:63; 23:11;36)

Time and again over the course of several hours, we see Jesus enduring vicious mocking by mankind. Some was from the religious bunch, some from the Heathen, some from those passing by… but continuously we see it mentioned:

Luke 22:63 “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.”

Luke 23:11 “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.”

Luke 23:36 “And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,”

Matthew 27:40–44 “And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.”

Let me ask you this… do you think that was easy? The Bible tells us: Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

He didn’t LIKE it, but He ENDURED it!

No one I know of like being belittled or made fun of. But I’ve got news for you church - if they did that to Jesus, then they’ll do it to you if you live like Jesus!

So what do you do when the make fun of you for being different?

For refusing to listen to filthy jokes?

For condemning sin in our communities & schools?

For being a ‘square’ or ‘Jesus freak’?

You endure - that’s what Jesus did! He didn’t enjoy it, but He endured it. He didn’t succumb to the pressure, He withstood - and if you’re Crucified with Christ, you will too!

You’ll Endure the Shame

You’ll Pray for Persecutors (Luk. 23:34)

As Jesus was hanging on the Cross between Heaven & earth, He looked down upon those who were railing on Him. Those who were gambling for His clothes at the foot of His Cross - and He prayed for them!

Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

That’s powerful church! How many of us have been praying for our enemies? Those who hate us? Those who we don’t like?

Hey Republicans, have you been praying for Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer & AOC lately?

He Democrats, have you been praying for Donald Trump lately?

We need to get past looking at people as caricatures and start seeing them as souls needing a Saviour! I don’t care who it is, I don’t want anyone to go to Hell - and neither should you! Jesus didn’t! 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Those that are Crucified with Christ will Pray for their Persecutors

You’re Testimony will be Blameless (Luk. 23:39-41)

Once they’d hung on the cross a while, one thief began having a change of heart (that’s what Jesus will do to you!). He went from railing on Jesus to defending Him.

Luke 23:39–41 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”

The Testimony of one who is Crucified with Christ will not be one where they are spoken ill of. They’ll not be continually defending accusations of misdeeds and mischief. If they are accused of anything it will be of being like Jesus!

Remember the admonition of Scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

We should be cautious that we’re not giving the heathen cause to blaspheme, but have a spotless testimony that draws them unto Jesus!

You’re Testimony will be Blameless

You’ll Care for Others more than Self (Joh. 19:25-27)

Another aspect of the Crucified one is their Focus.

John 19:25–27 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Consider this for a moment: Jesus is suspended in the air. All His weight is bearing down on the nails holding Him to the Cross. He must push down on them to raise up to breath. And with His labored breathing He looks upon his mother & disciple in the crowd and says these words. He didn’t say:

“Help me!”

“Appeal to Caesar for me”

“Pray for me”

Do you know why? Because He wasn’t concerned about Himself, but his mother. (It’s the same reason He prayed for His persecutors as well).

The Testimony of one who is Crucified is that they are more concerned about others than they are themselves.

This is such a simple, but foreign concept in our self-centered world today - but Jesus didn’t go to the Cross for Himself, He went for YOU! We must commit to be Crucified not for ourselves, BUT FOR OTHERS!

You’ll Care for Others more than Self

You’ll have Good Company (Gal. 2:20a)

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ…”

Now I want to focus on the later half of this statement. Paul says “I am Crucified WITH Christ” boy, I’ll tell you what - that’s good company!

There’s a few different considerations concerning this statement, but one that I want to shine the light on is that if you choose to live a crucified life, take comfort in that you’re not alone.

You neighbor may not be

The one sitting on the pew beside you may not be

Your spouse, parent or child may not be

The pastor may not even be

BUT JESUS IS! And no greater company you could ever have!

You’ll have good company

You’ll have Good Reason (Gal. 2:20a)

Secondly, I want to look at that statement in a different light: Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ…”

When you change the inflection, it takes on a whole new meaning

Now it’s not speaking of “with” as in ‘company’, but “with” as in the ‘means’.

All of a sudden, it’s not nails that fix you to your Cross, but it’s Christ Himself!

In other words, Jesus - Who He is and What He’s done for you - is the reason you’re fixed to your Cross!

Paul said in Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

It’s ‘reasonable service’ because of what Jesus has done for us! No one has ever been fixed to their Cross without a good reason to be so - and what Jesus did for you and I is as good a reason as you’ll ever need!

You’ll have Good Reason

You’ll be Victorious (Joh. 19:30)

At the close of the Crucifixion we see Jesus in John 19:30 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

This was not a whimper. Although they don’t record the words, in Mat. 27:50, Mar. 15:37 & Luk. 23:46 all record the manner in which this was said. They said He ‘cried with a loud voice’.

This was a Triumphant shout! He said ‘IT IS FINISHED!’ That’s a shout of victory! For the history of humanity, man has been condemned by sin - now the atonement has finally been made! Jesus has endured the horror of the Cross and made a way for man to be united unto God!

Church, a victorious life is a Crucified life! This world seems to think the opposite, but Jesus was Crucified and He was victorious.

Compare Judas & Jesus and you tell me who had victory in life?

What about Peter & Pilate?

What about Caiaphas & Stephen?

Listen, there’s the life that we live, then there’s a victorious life to be had! I want to live victorious! Whether that life ends after 34 years 50 years or 80 years, I want it to be victorious - and the only way that can happen is to be Crucified with Christ!

You’ll be Victorious

You’ll do it Voluntarily

Lastly, here’s the thing. You don’t HAVE to be Crucified.

Jesus didn’t HAVE to suffer the Crucifixion - He chose to.

You don’t HAVE to be Crucified with Christ, but if you do it’ll be by choice.

Jesus was still Jesus whether He was Crucified or not.

“Preacher, you mean that I can be saved and not suffer persecution?” Yes - but here’s the thing: Had Jesus not been crucified, we’d be lost today. AND IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE CRUCIFIED, OTHERS WILL MOST CERTAINLY DIE LOST AS WELL.

If you are to live a Crucified life with Christ, you’ll do so Voluntarily

Conclusion

The Title of the message today is ‘A Time to be Crucified’. Church, that time is now. It’s time. It’s time for us to choose to give up our thoughts, and aspirations and commit ourselves to the Will and Aspirations that God has for our life.

It’s time to be Crucified, but it’s your choice. What do you choose?