Making Sense of the Cross 4 | What Christ Heard

Cries of Commotion (Matthew 27:24)

Tumult - a state of commotion and noise and confusion; especially implying the potential for riotous activities. loud and persistent outcry from many people.

If these people don’t get their way, they are going to go nuts and start a riot.

Cries of Contesting (Matthew 27:29-31,41-43)

Mocked - to be made sport — verb. to be or become subject to laughter or ridicule for another’s pleasure.

Cries of the Criminals (Luke 23:39-43)

Cry of Railing (Luke 23:39)

Railed -  to speak of in an irreverent or impious manner. To charge falsely or with malicious intent; attack the good name and reputation of someone.

Luke 22:65 “And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.”

There’s no name better than Jesus!

1 Peter 2:21–23 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

Matthew 27:11-14 (didn’t say a word)

If you are Christ, why are you hanging here like this?

If you are Christ, why are you dying a miserable death?

If you are Christ, why don’t you hop off this cross and save us?

If you are Christ, why don’t you stop all of this?

Cry of Reverence (Dost thou not fear God?)

Romans 3:10-18

This man is blinded to the fact that he is deserving of this judgment, he is going to die, and the only help he can get is from the man on the middle cross.

If you have no fear of God, you’ll have no faith in God.

Having no fear of God means you don’t fear:

His holiness

His power

His righteousness

His judgment

His wrath

Our generation has declared God as a God of love without wrath.

God is lenient, and not strict.

God is a buddy, and not the Creator.

God is a spare tire, not one to be sought after.

God is whatever you want him to be, but there is only one God.

God love’s you so much, he doesn’t care what you do. But he says, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

There is no fear of God.

Cry of Realization (and we indeed justly, we receive the due reward of our deeds)

This man on the middle cross has done nothing wrong. We are getting what we rightly deserve.

I deserve hell. I deserve pain. I deserve to be hurt. I deserve payment for the crimes I have done. I am worthy to hang on a cross and die in agony.

Cry for Redemption (Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom)

This criminal was just agreeing with the other criminal hanging on the other side of Jesus (Matthew 27:44 “The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” )

Something evidently changed this criminal’s mind.

Did someone come into the jail cell and tell him about Jesus?

Was it Jesus not opening His mouth?

Was it Jesus willingly laying down His life?

Was it that the criminal knew he was near death.

If it was, he’s on a cross.

He can’t get off the cross and be baptized, become a member of the church, take communion, pray the roseary, go to a priest, hand out a Watchtower, go door knocking, pay his tithes, offer an animal sacrifice, become a monk, pay for his crimes, come up with a sermon, teach a Sunday school class. The only thing he could do was say, “LORD.”

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

This criminal also believed that Christ was bigger than death. “Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”

This criminal looks over and sees a mutilated man that is very near death. This criminal believed that Jesus could defeat death!

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.”