Crucifixion

Sometimes we look into scripture and see ourselves. Sometimes it allows us a perspective on world around us. This week we’ll see Jesus. And what we see when we look at Him on the cross is, while difficult to look at, absolutely beautiful.

I have never felt like I deserved the grace and love Jesus offers. I dont. But I’ve also never doubted that He does love me. That He does pour grace upon grace on me. Wanna know what makes the difference for me? The difference between wondering if He loves me and KNOWING He does? The cross. So dont you ever doubt that He loves you. That He offers forgiveness.

I know. If you’re a doubter, that’s easier said than done. So let today be a reminder to you. Come back to the cross. Come back over and over again. Look at Jesus on the cross and remember: He did that for you!

John 19:17–42 ESV

17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

This is the least descriptive version of the crucifixion story we have in scripture. Perspectives are different. (Dont get it? Ask a husband and a wife to tell the same story. You’ll get two versions!)Matthew and Mark record the derision of those viewing the crucifixion and the darkness which covered the earth. Luke records Simon carrying the cross and the repentant thief. He also states, after Jesus breathed His last,

Luke 23:48 ESV

And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.

Throughout the events of crucifixion day, Jesus was delivered again and again. From Judas to the temple guard. To Annas then Caiaphas to be accused. To Pilate to be tried. To the soldiers both to be flogged and crucified. When He died, He delivered His own Spirit. More than the Jews or Romans killing Jesus, He laid down His own life () in the perfect timing of God’s plan. The crucifixion account in John well portrays Jesus as Shepherd-King, laying down His life for His sheep.

Throughout the events of crucifixion day, Jesus was delivered again and again. From Judas to the temple guard. To Annas then Caiaphas to be accused. To Pilate to be tried. To the soldiers both to be flogged and crucified. When He died, He delivered His own Spirit. More that the Jews or Romans killing Jesus, He laid down His own life () in the perfect timing of God’s plan.

On the Cross

He refused the wine. He took the vinegar. But know this: He was thirsty.

Matthew 27:34 NKJV

they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.

But He fulfilled David’s Messianic prophecy from

Psalm 69:21 NKJV

They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

It was hyssop used to present the sponge. More than a nod to ? Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood… The lambs were being sacrificed in the temple THAT DAY!

The great thirst would have resulted from the physical exhaustion and open wounds. Remember He had been flogged with a scourge. Wooden handle, leather straps with bone, metal and glass embedded. It was designed to tear open. Loss of blood would have made it even worse. After the flogging, robe. When they ripped the robe off, it would have re-opened the wounds.

He was, in every way, the suffering messiah. Look at the description of Him in the first 3 verses of Isa. 53.

Isaiah 53 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Crucifixion day was physically brutal. More than most men could stand.

The spiritual suffering would have been more difficult to bear. He became sin. It was on this day, at this place that the great grace exchange happened. Just like He had taken off the robes of heaven and became a flesh and blood human baby, He now took off the righteousness of God and became sin.

I have a beautiful imagination of God stepping on His front porch and whistling for all the animals come get on the ark. How else can we explain all those creatures being on there? My imagination of Jesus becoming sin is similar. God giving the word for the demon of every sin to be allowed to attack Jesus. And Him having no choice but to accept them. Absorb them. And all of them being mine. The secret, hidden sin that I think no one will find out. The blatant, public sin that I dont care if everyone knows. The sin we would castrate people for. The sin we would execute someone for. He became all them. And been fully aware when His Father ‘turned His back’. When the fullness of the cup of wrath was poured on Him. That was my cup. Wrath meant for me. He drank it to the dregs.

Father forgive them...

Father forgive them...

Today you will be with me in paradise...

Woman, your son...

My God, My God, why have you forsake me?

I thirst

It is finished - a permanent statement. The once-for-all sacrifice for sin had now been completed.

Into your hands I commit my spirit

He didnt do all this so He could reject you. Or so He would have the right to give up on you. He did it so He would never have to be separated from those who believe on His name. He did it out of obedience to the Father. He did it to provide the only way to salvation for the most loved of all creation.