The Death of Jesus

The Death of Jesus

Matthew 27:45-50

Today I’m excited to continue our series, “The Life of Jesus”. And we continue the series with a message titled, “The Death of Jesus”

And as you are probably starting to see, I try and open my messages with something funny. Try to get some laughter going.

I figure if I can get you to laugh at the very beginning I have less chance of putting you to sleep later. Doesn’t always work though.LOL

But today is different. Today we’re looking into God’s word and re-visiting the events surrounding the death of Jesus.

For me, It’s no laughing matter.

Were talking about my Savior. Were talking about my God. Were talking about how He took my place.

And honestly, it’s not something I really want to think or talk about.

His suffering,

His Anguish,

His Pain

His Bleeding,

His Death

Maybe this will help with a better picture and understanding of what I’m trying to say about this.

Here is a picture of my Grandson Elisha

Would I sit and watch a video of my grandson Elisha being tortured? NO WAY,

Would I talk about it? NO WAY

As a police officer, I saw things no human being should have to ever see

Things I would go home and try to never think about again.

But then, right when you’ve forgotten about it, you would receive a subpoena. And you would have to relive it while doing trial prep. Reading and studying your report.

**And although it was difficult to relive those scenes, there was a purpose for reliving them

The purpose was to put a dangerous person in prison so they could no longer hurt anyone else.

Today there’s a purpose of telling the story of Jesus’ death

Although painful to study or re-visit, it reveals to us a love story of how a Holy God would leave His rightful place and come to earth, fully God and fully Man, to take our place as a living sacrifice for our sins.

Matthew 27:45-50

So Why, Why would He (Jesus) do this?

No one made Him do this.

No one forced Him to do this.

As a matter of fact, He could have stopped it at any time

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#1

The reason He did it,

First, because He loves us! “God is Love”

But the reason I want to focus on today is, Jesus went to the cross because we’re a sinful people

Were a sinful people in need of a Holy God.

and the only way to a Holy God is through the Blood of Jesus

And for this reason, God sent His only begotten Son to be the living, Holy Sacrifice that man could never be.

Simply put, He did it because of our sin and His love for us.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Now it wouldn’t be fair if I only showed one of my grandchildren today.

So here’s a picture of them all. PICTURE

Yes, their beautiful, their sweet and kind and they melt my heart when I’m with them.

Example of Ellie when she gets in trouble

And if someone hurts one of them I’m starting a prison ministry, Why, because I’m going to prison for what I will do to that person.

But you know what, as innocent as they are, Their still SINNERS!

It’s one of the most difficult things to do as a Minister, is speak to a child who wants to surrender their life to Jesus.

Because to surrender your life to Jesus, you must understand you’re a sinner. If your not, you have no need for Jesus

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

1 John 1:8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

When I was about 6 years old I was playing a game with some kids in the neighborhood.

4 or 5 of us were standing on 2 sides of the road while one of our friends would ride his bike down the middle of the street.

We each took turns rolling the skate board toward him.

After a couple of passes, it was my turn to roll the skate board.

The skate board and the front tire happen to meet at the perfect time sending the kid over the handle bars.

Although I didn’t mean to, what I did hurt someone else

And that’s how it is with Jesus, because of my sin and at times sin I don’t even realize, He suffered!!

You know, it always perplexes me that the people wanted to free a murderer named Barabbas more than they did Jesus.

Pilate asked the crowd, who do you want me to release, Barabbas, or Jesus?

And they answered Barabbas

Then Pilate asked the people, what shall I do then with Jesus?

THEY ALL SHOUTED, Crucify Him! Crucify Him!

And for this reason, the Jews get the blame for Jesus being crucified

But don’t be deceived, it’s because of our sin, and all Sin that Jesus was crucified.

We are responsible for Jesus’ pain and suffering

And for that reason, it should have been us on that cross, it should have been us who was CRUSHED.

BUT INSTEAD OF US BEING CRUSHED, HE WAS CRUSHED.

#2). SO HOW WAS HE CRUSHED?

The Bible tells us it started with a FLOGGING

This was accomplished by tie Jesus’ hands to a poll above his head.

The whip was made of leather straps with 2 small pieces of broken bone attached to the end of each strap.

The Roman custom was that a prisoner be lashed until he was near death.

But that wasn’t all

Matthew 27:27-31

SO, After the lashing, soldiers (possibly Praetorium Guards) took Jesus into what is called a praetorium (Room or hall of the palace) and mocked him and continued to torture him.

Crown of Thorns

Spit on Him

Continually struck Him with a staff on the head

THEN, they made Jesus carry His own cross.

Jesus was so weak from all he had endured, He was unable to carry the cross all the way to Golgotha.

So a man named Simon was made to carry the cross

Jesus had obviously lost a lot of blood and had gone without food or sleep for many hours

Can I go on a sidebar here for a minute?

When Jesus was speaking to His Disciples and predicting His death to them in Luke 9:23-24, he said,

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

The very last word’s of Matthew’s Gospel tells us, “to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Now, how many Christians do you think while witnessing to someone pulls out Luke 9:23-24 to share with them????

I’m thinking not to many. Better yet, NONE!!!!!!

When we take up the cross of Christ, It’s not easy!

Story of Young Missionaries Davy & Natalie Lloyd who were killed in Haiti on May 23rd

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————— Back to the story————

When they reached Golgotha, they crucified Jesus there.

Explain crucifixion

The Ancient Writer, Tacitus, called crucifixion, “A Despicable Death”

Cicero (Identified as One of Rome’s greatest Orators) called it, The most cruel and horrifying death”

The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah prophesied about this event

Isaiah 53:5 Known as the OT Gospel tells us, “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

In Jesus’ Death on the cross we see so much Brutality, but there’s also so much Beauty that comes from His suffering.

#3

You See, “Because He was Crushed, We are Healed”

1 Peter 2:24 “He Himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed

At what was once Westshore Christian Church and now New Beginnings Christian church there was a woman who came forward just about every week to ask for prayer for her son who was in prison.

She asked for prayer because her son was innocent of the charge of Murder

His life was spared when attempts to have him executed turned to a life sentence.

You see, In 1983 Robert Duboise was convicted of killing a Tampa woman outside of a dental office.

He spent the next 37 years in Florida State Prison

Robert Duboise always claimed his innocence

In 2020 the non-prophet group, Innocence Project took up his case

New DNA technology cleared him of the murder and he was released from prison after 37 years

You see, Robert took the place of the real killer.

Now, he didn’t do it by his own choice, but none the less, he paid the killers debt for him.

And because Robert stayed in jail 37 years, the real killer didn’t have too.

Can I tell you something, it should have been you and I on that cross.

Yet, because of His GREAT love Jesus took our place

Philippians 2:8-11 “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.”

Have you ever stopped and really thought about it.

Thought about where your life would be if you weren’t a Christian?

For me, I have no doubt what so ever that I would be dead right now.

And more than that, I would be in Hell right now

You know, my mom (who cooks those great mash potatoes) gave me a very complete and detailed photo album of my life a few years ago. It takes up 2 giant books.

There are certain years of that book that are very difficult for me to look at.

Because when I look at those years I know I wasn’t a Christian and I’m ashamed of that part of my life

But there was a beautiful day in August of 1997 that took place.

Can I share one last thing with you about Jesus and His death on the cross??

DEATH WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD HIM!!!

3 DAYS LATER, JESUS WAS ALIVE

AND BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION, THOSE IN CHRIST “WILL” STAND IN FRONT OF A HOLY GOD AND RECEIVE THE REWARD OF SPENDING ETERNITY WITH HIM.

BECAUSE OF OUR SIN, HE WAS CRUSHED

AND, BECAUSE HE WAS CRUSHED, WE HAVE THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

PRAY

INVITATION