The Crucifixion

Matthew 27:27-61

Matthew 27:27–61 NIV

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. 57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The death of Jesus looked like a victory to the kingdoms of earth. Last week we discussed the clash of Kingdoms that Matthew portrays throughout the end of his Gospel. Thankfully the Kingdom of Heaven is not bound by the terms set forth by the kingdoms of the earth. 

Matthew gives us many proofs as to who Jesus is and why we can believe that this event is ordained by God for a purpose. For instance, why would Matthew include details like the temple curtain being torn in two, an earthquake, and the resurrection of many holy people if they did not happen? Wouldn’t that give fuel to nay-sayers? UNLESS, there were witnesses to these events that could confirm their reality.

Many struggle to believe the various aspects of the passion narrative. The crucifixion being one of them…Maybe Jesus didn’t really die…even though the professional killers were very good at their job, and it would cost them their own lives if they failed to carry out this crucifixion. 

Probably the biggest issue people have with the crucifixion itself is the fact that God would be willing to allow it to happen! Many of our Jewish and Muslim friends find this as the stumbling block of faith. As Paul refers to it in 1 Corinthians 1, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. It’s a HUGE hurdle to faith.

This can be seen in the words of the mockers that Matthew tells us of. 

“…save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

“Let him come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.”

Notice the clash of Kingdoms again! The kingdom of earth wants the Kingdom of Heaven to operate on THEIR terms. IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD You have to show us you are able to come down from the cross for us to believe! What the mockers didn’t understand is that because Jesus is the Son of God he could not come down from the cross! 

Jesus was here, not for self preservation, but for selfless giving. The kingdom of the world says you look out for #1! Take care of yourself above all else! The Kingdom of Heaven says Love God and Love Your Neighbor above yourself. If Jesus was about self preservation he would have come down from that cross, but do you think these mockers would really believe him then? After all it would mean the failure of the Son of God to take away our sin.

The fact that Jesus placed his Father, and you and I, his brothers and sisters, above himself confirms the words of the centurion… “Surely he was the Son of God!” 

This giving of himself is the perfect picture of LOVE. And Christ calls us to be like him. To give up ourselves for the sake of our God and our Neighbor. The question is, what kingdom will we choose? Self preservation, or selfless giving? Will we live for ourselves, or will we give ourselves - heart, soul, mind, and strength - to serving Him?