Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Silent Reflection
Nailing of the Criminal Titulus
[Pastors ascend the platform.]
Call to Worship
Thomas Cramner, “The Passover Lamb,” Book of Common Prayer, 1662
It is truly right and good, always and everywhere,
with our whole heart and mind and voice,
to praise you, the invisible, almighty, and eternal God,
and your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;
for he is the true Paschal Lamb,
who at the feast of the Passover
paid for us the debt of Adam's sin,
and by his blood delivered your faithful people.
This is night, when you brought our fathers,
the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt,
and led them through the Red Sea on dry land . . .
How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God
is your mercy and loving-kindness to us,
that to redeem a slave, you gave a Son.
How holy is this night, when wickedness is put to flight,
and sin is washed away.
It restores innocence to the fallen,
and joy to those who mourn.
It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord.
How blessed is this night,
when earth and heaven are joined
and man is reconciled to God.
Introduction
Illust - famous last words.
Expected:
Joseph Wright was a linguist who edited the English Dialect Dictionary.
His last word?
“Dictionary.”
Composer Gustav Mahler died in bed, conducting an imaginary orchestra.
His last word was, “Mozart!”
Nostradamus predicted, “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.”
He was right.
, 37-38
32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name.
They compelled this man to carry his cross. . . . .
37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”
38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .
Luke 23:34
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Drama – Simon of Cyrene
We had spent two weeks sailing from the north coast of Africa just to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem.
My sons were small boys, but old enough to feel the excitement as we approached the city.
Though my family had lived in Cyrene for generations, Jerusalem was for us, as for every Jew, our heart’s home.
When we arrived, we joined our cousins in Bethany for the Passover Seder.
We ended that meal, as we did every year, praying for the coming of the Messiah.
The next morning Rufus, Alexander, and I left early to spend the day in Jerusalem.
As we approached the city we saw what looked like a parade coming our way.
But soon we could see that this was no parade.
There were Roman soldiers driving three criminals down the road.
Each of them was carrying a heavy beam across his shoulders.
One clearly had been badly beaten and he could barely walk.
I took the boys by the hand and pulled them away from the road.
I did not want them to see this terrible thing.
Just then the wounded man, stumbled and fell at my feet.
I saw that a crown of thorns had been wrapped around his head and suddenly I realized who he was.
This was Jesus of Nazareth, whom some had claimed was the Messiah.
He had been critical of the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem.
I could not believe it—they had actually sentenced him to death.
Everything happened so quickly.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard one of the soldiers say, “You there!
You carry his cross!”
There was nothing I could do.
I told my boys, “Stay close.”
I picked up the beam, far heavier than I had imagined, and pitched it over my shoulder.
Then I reached out a hand to Jesus to help him up.
He was clearly in pain.
But there was still, in his face, a strength and determination.
He looked me in the eyes, as if to thank me, and then he set his face toward Calvary.
It was only a five-minute walk to the hill where the Romans crucified their victims.
Dropping the beam before the executioners, I stepped back, searching for my boys.
And then we stood and watched as they laid Jesus on top of the beams.
They stretched his arms to the sides before they drove the spikes into his wrists as he shouted in pain.
Then they nailed his ankles into the side of the cross, one on the right and one on the left.
Finally, they hoisted up his cross and he let out another shout of pain.
I had never been so close to a crucifixion.
I wish I hadn’t been.
Even more, I wish my boys hadn’t been there to see it with me.
The Romans shouted to the crowd, “Take a look at your king now!”
The soldiers began to throw dice for his clothing.
Some in the crowd wept.
Others hurled insults at him.
The religious leaders stood with their arms crossed, a strange expression of satisfaction upon their faces.
And then Jesus took a deep breath.
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
I would never forget these words.
A dying man, tortured and crucified, praying that God would forgive his tormentors.
What kind of man would do such a thing?
Word 1: Father, forgive them. . .
Forgive THEM? for THEY? do not know what they are doing.
Who are the ‘they?’
Jesus is referring to?
The Romans who nailed him to the cross?
The Jews who shouted for his blood?
Pilate who allowed the cruelty to happen?
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