Calvary: A Day of Infamy Leading to Eternal Glory

In our nation’s history, there have been some dark days. On September 11, 2001, a group Hell-bound terrorists forever changed America as they crashed planes into the World Trade Center and into the Pentagon. On November 22, 1963, most Americans living at that time can tell you exactly what they were doing and where they were when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

On December 7, 1941 Japan, in a dastardly unprovoked attack, nearly destroyed the American navy which was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Of that attack, President Franklin Roosevelt said these words :

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941-a date which will live in infamy-the United States of America was deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”

December 7, 1941 was a day of infamy as almost 3,000 American servicemen lost their lives, but there is a day in history that is more infamous than these three historical events I have mentioned. It is the day that Jesus Christ died on a cruel cross on Calvary’s Hill in approximately 30 AD.

Pearl Harbor did not lead to eternal glory. JFK’s assassination did not lead to eternal glory. September 11 did not lead to eternal glory, but Calvary does lead to eternal glory. The death of the innocent Jesus paves the way to eternal glory.

That day is the darkest day in the history of the world. The innocent Jesus Christ dying for the sins of the world. The one who never tasted sin had to become sin so that you and I could have eternal glory.

The pain endured by Jesus Christ that day was horrific. The punishment for our sins was doled upon Jesus that day. Every lie that has ever been told was covered by the blood of Jesus as that blood splattered on the ground. Every harsh word. Every evil thought. Every sin imaginable was paid for that day, and the pain was unbearable. Jesus did not even look human as He hung there in shame and infamy.

Isaiah 52:14 “As many were astonied at thee; His visage was so marred more than any man, And his form more than the sons of men:”

Jesus Christ was unrecognizable. They had whipped Him with the scourge which ripped the skin off the body of Jesus. They pulled His beard out with their hands. They slapped Him, spit upon Him, mocked Him, and placed a crown of thorns on His head.

Then they made Him carry His cross to Calvary. He was so weak from the beatings He endured and the loss of blood that He could not take His cross all the way, so the Roman soldiers ordered a man named Simon to take the cross the rest of the way. When the cross arrived at Calvary, Roman soldiers tied Jesus to the Cross and drove giant spikes through the wrists and feet of Jesus Christ. With each strike of the hammer, the pain shot through the body of Jesus, but these Roman soldiers could not kill Jesus. No one could kill Jesus. It was Jesus who gave His life for you.

John 10:18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

Jesus Christ submitted to the Father and gave His life so that you and I could have eternal death. He received what you and I deserved. It was the only way.

Philippians 2:5–6 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”

Philippians 2:7–8 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Before Earth was even created, God knew what He had to do for His Creation.

Revelation 13:8 “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”

The death of Jesus paved the way to eternal glory. While He was hanging on the Cross, Jesus Christ made some incredible statements. We are going to look at 5 of those statements.

1. A Word of Testimony.

Luke 23 : 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Friends, Jesus practiced what He preached. Have you ever heard of a sermon Jesus preached called The Sermon on the Mount? Most people consider that sermon to be too idealistic to be realistic and practical. In that sermon, do you know what Jesus taught?

Matthew 5 : 43 – 44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

Jesus taught us to forgive our enemies, and Jesus practiced what He taught.

Imagine this scene. Clear your mind and see if you picture this.

The Roman executioner has his hammer poised above the open palms of Jesus’s hand. Even as another soldier positions the nail, twelve legions, 72,000 angels, drew their swords awaiting the call to action, but that call never came. The call to battle was never heard, but the angels heard Father forgive them. When the legions of angels heard that, they put away their swords and said, “That’s Jesus for you.” Praise God Almighty for that amnesty that Christ asked for 2,000 years ago.

That great amnesty is still being granted. That amnesty has stood for 2,000 years. Because of Christ’s plea from Calvary, the hammering soldiers were forgiven. The soldiers gambling for His clothes were forgiven. Those crowning His head with those thorns were forgiven. Those hitting, punching, slapping, pounding, kicking, laughing, and spitting were forgiven. Those who lied against Him were forgiven. Those shouting crucify Him were forgiven. Herod was forgiven. Pilate was forgiven. Those shouting for Barabbas were forgiven. I was forgiven. You were forgiven. All of humanity’s sin-stained race was forgiven.

Christ’s cry of forgiveness set the tone for the age of grace in which you and I live. It is an age during which God is sovereignly holding back His angry hand and maintaining His mysterious silence.

Dear friend, you wonder why God does not strike America and all sinners like He did Sodom and Gomorrah. Well, I will tell you why because Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” For over 2,000 years, God has withheld His wrath because His Son asked Him to do just that. AMEN!!!!

2. A Word of Transformation.

Luke 23 : 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

There were three crosses there on Calvary’s hill. The cross in the center was intended for Barabbas, and the other two were for those two criminals that were actually crucified for their crimes.

Barabbas that day on Calvary represents all humanity being set free as Christ went His cross as the substitute for all of humanity.

That center cross was built for you, me, and the rest of humanity, but Jesus took our place, the perfect Lamb of God.

Three people hanging there, two guilty and one innocent, but the innocent gave up His innocence and assumed the guilt of all humanity.

You are familiar with the scene. The two thieves, initially, were just like the others that were watching the scene unfold. They mocked and jeered as the mob mocked and jeered. “You saved others, save yourself” was their cry. “King of the Jews”, they laughed. Can you imagine these two jokers who are meeting the same fate as Christ mocking the Son of God?

Suddenly, one of the thieves fell silent. The scales from his eyes fell as he saw who Jesus really was. It suddenly dawned on him that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. He was being drawn to Christ. He turns his head and begins focusing on that placard above the head of Jesus that read Behold! The King of the Jews!

He started remembering what he heard about this man, what He had done. Then memories from his childhood came to life remembering what his grandparents had taught him about the coming Messiah. The complete darkness surrounding them reminded him of the stories he had others telling of what God did in Egypt as God plagued that sin-stained country with darkness.

As each moment passed, He started wondering if this Jesus was that Messiah; then it happened. Was Jesus the promised deliverer?

The Holy Spirit opened his eyes to the truth. What truth?

John 14 : 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The thief’s eyes were opened not just any truth but to the Truth. He started putting the pieces together. King? Son of God? Innocence? Jesus had not done anything. He is innocent. Why is He hanging here like a common criminal? I deserve to be here but not Jesus. Jesus had made the deaf hear. Jesus had made the blind see. Jesus had healed the sick. Jesus had expelled demons. Jesus had walked on the water. Jesus had brought Lazarus back to life. Why is He hanging here?

And as the thief pondered these things, the Holy Spirit quickened in that thief’s mind who Jesus was, and when he fully convinced by the Holy Spirit, the thief turned to Jesus.

Luke 23 : 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Never in redemption history has greater faith been confessed, and Jesus did not hesitate in responding. “You will be with me today in Paradise.” Today. Today is the day of salvation. It is the principle sprinkled on every page of God’s Holy Word. Today, was that thief’s day. If he had waited a few more hours, he would have been dead. The thief watched as Jesus died.

I can see him as he bows his head in sadness, but he looks at the Roman soldiers coming to break his legs to hurry the cold hands of death, and he tells them to hurry up because Jesus is waiting on me. That thief closed his eyes in death and opened them in Paradise to the smiling face of Jesus, and nail-scarred hand grabbed nail-scarred hand as Jesus led that thief through Glory.

3. A Word of Terror.

Matthew 27 : 46 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?”

Jesus knew this moment was coming. He had known it was coming from eternity past when the Holy Trinity devised redemption’s plan. There was no other way. Jesus had to die on the Cross. There was no other answer.

Jesus knew how and why God could forgive sin.

There must be a sinless substitute to pay the price, and that substitute had to be a man, and Jesus was that substitute. You must understand that. That Cross was for Barabbas.

That cross was for Jamie Watson. That cross was for Billy Binkley, but Jamie Watson could only die for Jamie Watson and Billy Binkley could only die for Billy Binkley.

The sinless substitute had to be a Man for mankind, and that Man was the Son of God. He was the only One who could fit the bill. He was the only sinless substitute.

Jesus was the only way God could forgive sin. Jesus not only died for you and me, but He also died as you and me. He died as each and every sinner. He died for and as every vile man and woman who has ever lived, and when He who knew no sin became sin, the Father turned His back on the Son because, in God’s holiness, He cannot look upon sin, and Jesus was hanging there not in His glory but in the darkness of man’s sin.

“My God! Why have you abandoned me?” Christ was alone. God could not look upon Him because of the sin that He was now bearing. Between Christ and God there was a great gulf fixed. A fellowship that had been perfect for countless eternities was now broken. “My God!” was the cry that rang out across the ages of eternity; He tasted what every lost soul will experience, the ultimate horror of being abandoned by God, and God’s answer was silence.

4. A Word of Truth.

John 19 : 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Christ, as He was hanging there, searched the Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi. He searched every one of the 1,089 chapters and 593,439 words. He reviewed the types and shadows of Himself, the direct prophecies and the more subtle prophecies concerning Him; He looked back over the 33 ½ years of His life, and then He made a pronouncement.

“IT IS FINISHED!”

Christ waited to the last prophecy was fulfilled which was the giving of vinegar to Him to drink. After that, He said, “It is finished!” Nothing else was to be done. He had finished the work His Father had given Him to do.

It is finished proclaimed to God that He could turn around and look upon His Son again. It is finished restored that perfect relationship. It was finished.

In Genesis, Jesus pronounced the Creation was finished. On Calvary, Jesus pronounced the work of redemption was finished.

The Greek word is tetelestai. It means far more than the completion of something. It means that whatever is finished has been completed to perfection. No more can be added to it. The work of redemption was completed perfectly in Jesus Christ.

“Tetelestai!”

Jesus, as He hung there, with only a few minutes of life remaining, surveyed all of the Scripture and from the very depths of His soul, He proclaimed, “Tetelestai!” Jimmy, he did not whisper and whimper tetelestai. It was a shout of victory that echoed down through eternity. The Rock of Ages had given Himself for the ages.

The plan hatched in eternity past had been perfectly executed on the Cross. Because of the perfect execution, you and I can rest in a finished work.

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.”

There is nothing that has to be added. You add things to something that is not perfect. Jesus’s execution of God’s plan was perfectly completed, so nothing needs to be added to it. Tetelestai!

5. A Word of Triumph.

Luke 23 : 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Do you see it? Jesus says, “Father.”

Father! The relationship had been restored with the plan executed. Jesus was no longer alone. God was satisfied.

The soldiers were astonished that Jesus died so quickly on the Cross. Crucifixion was not a swift death, and usually, in one last act of brutality, Roman soldiers would break the legs of the victims to hasten death, but Jesus, when the soldiers came around to do that, was already dead.

He had declared this would be the case.

John 10 : 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

How could anyone take His life? He was the Creator of the universe and the author and sustainer of life. Jesus, when His mission was complete, deliberately, and sovereignly dismissed His Spirit into the care and keeping of the Father awaiting the Resurrection of His glorified body three days later.

With a mighty shout, He gave up His Spirit. It was a shout of victory! Christ did not give up His Spirit feebly. It was a shout so mighty that the veil of the Temple was torn in half. It was a shout so might that tombs split wide open. It was a shout so mighty that the dead walked the streets. He departed this life on His own terms and of His own will. No one could take His life.

He left this life of His own will, and three days later, He was back from the dead with the keys of death and Hell in His hands. AMEN!!!!

Conclusion:

Jesus completed the plan of redemption devised in eternity past. He perfectly executed that plan. There is nothing that needs to be or can be added. Jesus Christ died for you and as you. You can trust Him completely for your salvation. Will you do that today?

All you have to do is believe what Jesus did at Calvary perfectly completed the plan of redemption. The Bible tells you about it.

2 Corinthians 5 : 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Christ took your sin to Calvary so that you could have righteousness through Him. All you have to do is believe and ask Him to forgive you. When you do that, you need to turn from your sin, and confess your faith in Him.

The Bible tells you what you need to do.

Romans 10:9–10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Dear friend, let me close by saying this. Jesus gave His life for you. If you think you are going to Heaven any other way than through Jesus and what He did for you, you are badly mistaken. If you could get to Heaven any other way, do you think God would have put His Son through the agony of the Cross?

The path to eternal glory is paved with the blood of Jesus spilled at Calvary’s Cross. As we