The Road to Golgotha
Notes
Transcript
April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday
FBC Baxley
am service
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Sermon: The Road to Golgotha
Text: Luke 23:26–38
26 And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him.
28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’
31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.
33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”
36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine
37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
38 There was also an inscription over him,“This is the King of the Jews.”
PRAY-
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Four Points:
The Weight of the Cross vv 26
2. The Weeping of the Daughters vv 27-31
3. The Wickedness of Men vv 32-33
4. The Wonder of Grace vv 34-38
Opening Story: “The Stranger’s Cross”
Several years ago, a missionary in Africa told the story of a young man named Daniel who came to faith in Jesus.
One day, rebels raided his village.
Daniel was captured and told to renounce his faith.
He refused. The soldiers, angry and amused, gave him a heavy wooden beam and said, "If your Jesus carried a cross, so will you."
For miles he was forced to carry that timber until he collapsed.
Later, a Christian rescue team found him—bloody, but alive.
He had scrawled a note into the dirt with his finger: "For Jesus, this is a small price."
"Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day,
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street..."
Just like Simon of Cyrene, caught in the crowd, many didn’t realize that history was turning on its hinges at that moment.
What looked like just another Roman execution was in fact God’s plan to redeem the world.
That’s the essence of Luke 23:26–38—a journey of unjust pain, sacrificial love, and eternal purpose.
This is the road to Golgotha—
The road to Golgotha reveals the heart of redemption—its weight, its warnings, and its wonder.
I. The Weight of the Cross (v. 26)
“As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.”
A. The Seizing of Simon
The Greek word epilambanomai (ἐπιλαμβάνομαι) means “to lay hold of forcibly.”
This wasn't voluntary—Simon was drafted into the drama of redemption.
Sometimes God interrupts our journey to put us on His.
B. The Symbolism of the Cross
Luke is the only Gospel that says Simon carried the cross “behind Jesus.”
This is a lesson in discipleship.
In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily.”
To follow Jesus is to follow Him in suffering, surrender, and submission.
"He was bleeding from the beating, there were stripes upon His back..."
Simon may have seen the bloodied body of Jesus, whipped and scourged, and realized—this isn't just a man, this is a sacrifice.
II. The Weeping of the Daughters (vv. 27–31)
“And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him…”
A. A Sorrowful Procession (v. 27–28)
The women lamented (kopto, κόπτομαι – “to beat the breast in grief”), but Jesus wasn’t looking for sympathy—He was offering salvation.
These ladies wept as the song says… “The crowd pressed in to see the man condemned to die on Calvary…”
B. A Severe Prophecy (vv. 29–30)
Jesus speaks of a coming judgment: “Blessed are the barren…”
a shocking reversal in a culture that prized motherhood.
He quotes Hosea 10:8—“Fall on us.”
This is apocalyptic terror.
C. A Sobering Principle (v. 31)
“If they do these things when the wood is green…”
Green wood = Jesus: innocent, righteous, full of life.
Dry wood = Jerusalem: guilty, rebellious, soon to burn.
Application: If judgment came upon the sinless Son, how much more will it come upon a sinful world?
"But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me..."
Even in judgment, Jesus' steps were love-driven.
III. The Wickedness of Men (vv. 32–33)
“Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him…”
A. The Company of Criminals (v. 32)
The word kakourgos (κακοῦργος) literally means “evil-doer.”
Jesus is surrounded by wicked men—fulfilling Isaiah 53:12: “He was numbered with the transgressors.”
“Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King…”
He walked among the guilty, yet remained holy.
B. The Crucifixion Site (v. 33)
Golgotha means “the Skull.”
A place of death, shame, and execution.
But it would become the place of life, grace, and resurrection.
The “place of the skull” became the place where death was defeated.
"The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men
Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem..."
The blood spilled on Golgotha flowed like a river of grace through time to reach you and me.
IV. The Wonder of Grace (vv. 34–38)
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do…”
A. A Prayer for the Persecutors (v. 34)
This is the only time in Scripture where Jesus prays for His enemies at the point of death.
The verb aphiemi (ἀφίημι) means “release, send away.”
He asked the Father to release the debt of their sin.
Jesus, broken and bleeding, uses His final strength to pray for mercy.
“He could have called ten thousand angels, but He died alone…”
He didn’t save Himself, because He came to save us.
B. A Portrait of Prophecy (vv. 35–37)
They mocked Him:
“He saved others…” (v. 35)
“Let Him save Himself…” (v. 37)
The mockery, the insults, the sarcasm—everything was part of the plan.
They said: “Let Him save Himself”—but love held Him there.
They didn’t realize He couldn't save Himself and save us too.
C. A Placard of Truth (v. 38)
The inscription: “This is the King of the Jews.”
Meant as mockery, but it declared truth: He is the King—not just of Jews, but of all.
The unintended confession of Pilate became an eternal proclamation.
The cross wasn't a throne, but it was where the King was crowned—with thorns.
Conclusion:
Golgotha is not just a place—it’s a path.
The Via Dolorosa—the Way of Suffering—was more than a road; it was a bridge from sin to salvation.
“Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King
And He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me…”
A road of redemption that Jesus walked so we could live.
Will you walk it with Him?
Three Real-Life Applications
1. Carry Someone’s Cross This Week
– Just as Simon helped Jesus, ask, “Whose burden can I bear?”
It may be a prayer, a meal, or just showing up.
Be available for divine interruptions.
Someone near you is under the weight—will you help carry it?
2. Choose Grace Over Grudges
– Jesus prayed for His executioners.
Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
This week, forgive someone you’ve been avoiding.
That’s the road to Golgotha.
This week, instead of reacting in anger, respond in prayer—even when wronged.
3. Live Like the King Is Watching
Follow the King in Suffering and Surrender
The crown of thorns preceded the crown of glory.
Endure the pain, knowing resurrection is on the other side.
– That sign over Jesus’ head may have been sarcastic, but it's still true.
Jesus is King. Live like His royal ambassador.
Closing Thought:
The road to Golgotha was paved with pain, but it led to paradise.
Will you walk the road with Jesus—not just to the cross, but through it, to resurrection?
The road to Golgotha hurt, but it healed.
It was bloody, but it brought beauty.
It looked like defeat, but it secured our victory.
Have you taken that road with Jesus?
-Pray
-Invitation
