Jesus Died for You

Many years ago a man named Siddhartha, left the palace that he grew up in in order to see the world. When he left the palace, he didn’t like what he saw. He saw a world that was full of poverty. He saw a world where people were hurting. He decided that he wanted to end suffering. The first place that he searched was in religion. He tried to find peace in Hinduism and then he looked in ascetism. He couldn’t find it so he decided to sit under a tree cross-legged and search for enlightenment. It is said that he stayed there so long that he reached the state of nirvana. It is at this point that he changed his name to Buddha.

In Buddhism, people look for an end to suffering. They want to reach enlightenment. The truth is suffering will always exist until God comes and establishes a new Eden. One of the first steps that God did to accomplish this was to sent His son Jesus to earth to die for all the earth. God shown His love for His people by sending the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus. Today we look at that story in Luke chapter 22, beginning at verse 63.

Luke 22:63–65 NIV

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

After Peter disowns Jesus, the next moment we read about the guards mocking and beating Him. I think it is important to understand that these Roman guards viewed Jesus just like they would view any other prisoner.

According to Matthew and Mark, these guards were only following the example of the religious leaders themselves who had already beaten and insulted Jesus.

Luke 22:66–23:25 NIV

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” 70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.” 1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. 13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 17 18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Neither Herod nor Pilate could find anything wrong with Jesus. This proved that according to law Jesus was an innocent man. However, Roman law said they could ask for a release of a prisoner in exchange for another so they asked for Barabbas, a man that was in prison for inciting a riot and for murder.

Think about this, before Jesus ever went to the cross, He was dying for someone’s sins.

Luke 23:26–43 NIV

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Even as Jesus is hanging on the cross in agony, He is giving up His life for others.

We are building to the climatic moment of the story.

Luke 23:44–49 NIV

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

When Jesus gave up His life, the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place tore from the top to the bottom. This signified that a way was not open into the presence of God. That curtain represented the sin that separated humanity from God. However, when Jesus died and committed His spirit to God, that curtain tore and now we have access to the throne room of God and now I can boldly take my petitions to God. I now have full access to God the Father. And if you have surrendered your life to Him then you have full access too.

Hebrews 10:19–22 NIV

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Jesus did that for you and me. You and I have access to God the father and He wants you to come to Him.

I don’t know that the disciples understood that back then like we understand it now. All they knew was their savior had died. They thought it was over. They thought all of their hopes and dreams had been crushed.

Have you ever felt like your dreams had been crushed.

They did know that Sunday was going to bring a new day. All they knew was that Jesus was dead. We close out this chapter by them placing Jesus in the tomb.

Luke 23:50–56 NIV

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

When that stone was rolled in front of that tomb, they felt the finality of the moment.

I’m a big football fan. Football is a sport that is driven by the clock. As long as there is time on the clock there is always a chance. I have seen so many games where a team was down by double digits and came back to win the game with very little time on the clock. I believe that the disciples of Jesus knew that as long as Jesus was alive, even when on the cross, they felt like there was still a chance.

They had seen Him do miracle after miracle, so they felt like there was a chance.

This morning I want to tell you, there is hope out there. There is hope because the story doesn’t end here. We will read about it next week, but I want you to know that Jesus doesn’t stay in the tomb. You and I know this because we have read the story. The disciples didn’t know it. They had to wait till the Sabbath was over to find out.

So, I stand before you today to let you know that Jesus is alive and well and He has made a way for us to go to God the father. The Holy Spirit is here with us today to help us navigate this life. And some day God will come and establish a new Eden for us to spend all of eternity with God in this new Eden.

If you are looking for hope this morning, God has hope for you. I can’t tell this story this morning with asking you this question.

If you were to die today do you know where you would spend eternity?

The Bible tells us that if we have sin in our life, the thing that separates us from God, we will spend eternity in hell. However, Jesus came to give us life and that is the story that I have told you today. Jesus dying on the cross so you can have life.

If you can’t say for sure where you will spend eternity, will you say a prayer with me and get right with God.

Say…

Dear Jesus,

I admit that I am a sinner.

I admit that I do not know where I will spend eternity.

I admit that I need a savior.

Jesus I want that savior to be you.

Come into my life and free me of my sin.

I want to serve you.

Amen.

If you said that prayer this morning, congratulations, you will spend your life in eternity with God. And this is just the beginning. We want to help you in this journey. Let us walk with you as you begin this path to a life of living for Jesus.

When you came this morning, you should have received a communion cup.

Last Sunday we read about the last supper Jesus had with His disciples in Luke 22:14-20

Luke 22:14–20 NIV

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.