The Cross of Christ
Jesus is put on trial, sentenced to death, crucified, and buried, taking upon himself the sins of the entire world!
Jesus is put on trial, sentenced to death, crucified, and buried, taking upon himself the sins of the entire world!
I. EVENTS PRECEDING THE CRUCIFIXION (15:1–21)
A. The conspiracy (15:1): The Sanhedrin binds Jesus and brings him before Pilate to be crucified.
B. The confusion (15:2)
1. Pilate (15:2a): “Are you the King of the Jews?”
2. Jesus (15:2b): “It is as you say.”
C. The charges (15:3–5)
1. The slander against Jesus (15:3–4): The Pharisees accuse him of many crimes.
2. The silence of Jesus (15:5): He makes no reply!
D. The custom (15:6): It is Pilate’s custom to release one Jewish prisoner each year at Passover.
E. The choice (15:7–14)
1. The crowd demands the deliverance of Barabbas the murderer (15:7–11).
2. The crowd demands the death of Jesus the Messiah (15:12–14).
F. The chastening (15:15): Pilate now orders Jesus flogged.
G. The contempt (15:16–20): Jesus is handed over to the Roman soldiers.
1. He is mocked (15:16–18): “Hail, King of the Jews!”
2. He is mistreated (15:19–20): They spit on him and strike him!
H. The crossbearer (15:21): Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service by the Romans to carry Jesus’ cross.
II. EVENTS DURING THE CRUCIFIXION (15:22–37)
A. The cup for the cross (15:22–23): Jesus refuses the cup of wine drugged with bitter herbs offered him.
B. The clothing below the cross (15:24–25)
1. What is done (15:24): The soldiers throw dice for his clothes.
2. When it is done (15:25): He is crucified at 9 A.M.
C. The citation on the cross (15:26): The sign reads, “The King of the Jews.”
D. The criminals alongside the cross (15:27–28): Jesus is crucified between two robbers.
E. The contempt toward the cross (15:29–32)
1. Where it comes from (15:29a, 31, 32b)
a. Those passing by (15:29a)
b. The Jewish religious leaders (15:31)
c. The two robbers (15:32b)
2. What it consists of (15:29b–30, 32a)
a. “You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you? Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!” (15:29b–30).
b. “He saved others, but he can’t save himself!” (15:32a).
F. The cloud covering the cross (15:33): Darkness covers the cross from noon till 3 P.M.
G. The cry from the cross (15:34): Jesus shouts, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)
H. The confusion around the cross (15:35–36): Some people who hear his cry think Jesus is calling for Elijah to help him.
I. The consummation of the cross (15:37): At 3 P.M. Jesus dies.
III. EVENTS FOLLOWING THE CRUCIFIXION (15:38–47)
A. Regarding the tearing of the veil (15:38): The Temple curtain is torn in two from top to bottom.
B. Regarding the tribute by the centurion (15:39): As he watches Jesus die, the Roman officer in charge cries out, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
C. Regarding the testimony of the women (15:40–41): A number of faithful women are at the cross when Jesus dies.
D. Regarding the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (15:42–47)
1. The mission of Joseph (15:42–45): He requests and receives from Pilate the lifeless body of Jesus.
2. The ministry of Joseph (15:46–47): He wraps the body of Jesus in a linen cloth and places it in his own personal tomb.