Cross Eyed

Opening:

story

An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home.

When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything.

Both the doctor and the lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness and avaricious behavior that made them squirm in their seats.

Finally, the doctor said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?" The old preacher mustered up his strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves ... and that’s how I want to go."

2. Recap/Intro

The Torture of the Cross (vv. 1-21)

Verse 1 is the fourth statement Jesus made on the cross (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

Up to a point, all of Jesus' statements on the way to His execution and while hanging on the cross concerned other people

People who suffer have a hard time thinking about anyone else

Statements concerning others

To the weeping women (see Luke 23:28-29)

Foresaw the fall of Jerusalem

Knew the anguish that would befall the city

Asked for forgiveness for the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross (see Luke 23:34)

To the repentant, dying thief (see Luke 23:43)

To John regarding His mother, Mary (see John 19:26-27)

Deserted by God (2-5)

Darkness covered the land in the middle of the day

Jesus was silent during this time

He broke the silence with the words Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)

"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Psalm 22:1)

First and only time recorded that Jesus referred to God as My God and not My Father

He was experiencing the rift in His relationship with God as the sin of the world came upon His shoulders

Separation from God

Not a lapse of faith; a cry of disorientation

He had never experienced the feeling of being separated from the Father (see John 11:41-42; 16:32)

He experienced the full effects of sin for all humanity (see Isaiah 53:6)

The pain, anguish, and separation were needed because God is holy (see Psalm 22:3)

The reason for the cross

God's perfection can't mingle with our imperfection

Jesus, the perfect One, became the substitution for the imperfect ones—all people throughout history (see 2 Corinthians 5:21)

We have an imputed righteousness, not an intrinsic one

Despised by People (vv. 6-8)

The chief priests and scribes mocked Jesus as He died on the cross, quoting this psalm almost verbatim (see Matthew 27:41-43)

"I am a worm, and no man" (Psalm 22:6)

Jesus made several I am statements (see John 6:35; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7, 11-14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1)

This is one of the forgotten I am statements of Jesus Christ

A worm is one of the lowest creatures in the world

He was not treated like a human while He was on trial

He was denied human and legal rights

He was tortured (see Isaiah 52:14)

Tola

Sometimes translated worm; sometimes translated scarlet

Crimson worm

In ancient times, they would extract the fluid from this worm to make scarlet dyes

The only way to get the dye is to crush the worm

Jesus was the scarlet worm, lowly and ugly to look upon

When His life was crushed, His blood was the source to change our eternity

Life cycle of the crimson worm

When the female is ready to give birth, she embeds herself into the wood of a tree or branch

After giving birth, she dies

The crimson dye explodes onto the wood, staining it

In giving His life, Jesus brought life

After three days, the crimson dye turns flaky white and falls to the ground (see Isaiah 1:18)

Distressed by Physical Pain (vv. 14-18)

Physical effects of crucifixion

Excruciating comes from a Latin word that means out of the cross

Excruciating pain

Profuse sweating that dehydrates the body

Jesus began that process in the garden of Gethsemane when He sweat drops of blood (see Luke 22:44)

Hematidrosis: the tiny capillaries burst into the sweat glands

Bones out of joint

The body slumps and causes the joints to move out of place

This causes suffocation of the vital organs

Crucifixion victims die of asphyxiation

Heart like wax

When Jesus was dead, a soldier pierced His side, causing blood and water to come out (see John 19:34)

Evidence that the pericardium had engorged, crushing the heart

Intense thirst

One of Jesus' sayings on the cross was "I thirst!" (John 19:28)

Strength dried up

Pierced hands and feet

Divided garments

John quoted this verse in his gospel (see John 19:24)

The soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments

The Triumph of the Cross (vv. 22-31)

Resurrection

The second half of Psalm 22 is completely different from the first half

Death is over (see vv. 22-25)

Now there is life

Something happened between verses 21 and 22: the resurrection

Expansion

The New Testament quotes verse 22, speaking of the expansion of the gospel (see Hebrews 2:11-12)

Started small and expanded outward

"My brethren" (v. 22)

"Descendants of Jacob…offspring of Israel" (v. 23)

"Great assembly" (v. 25)

"All the ends of the world…all the families of the nations" (v. 27)

"The next generation" (v. 30)

"A people who will be born" (v. 31)

Jesus instructed His disciples to take the message to the entire world (see Acts 1:8)

You were never an afterthought for God

We were chosen and He had us in mind all along

Jesus endured the cross for us (see Hebrews 12:2)

Closing:

Story

Prayer