At the Cross

Introduction

-{John 19}

-A missionary in Laos was outside of his shack building a cage for a new animal he received, when a man walked by, looked at the cage, and started crying. When the missionary asked the man what was going on, the man said the cage was a grim reminder of something that changed his whole world. He was Chinese, and he and his family were stuck in a communist commune working the rice fields many years prior. The communist government would not let the workers take one grain of rice, for if they did, they would suffer consequences.

~His wife, however, became very malnourished, so his son took a small portion of rice to take to his starving mother. Somehow, he was caught by the authorities and was made an example of.

~They imprisoned the boy in a cage (like the one being built by the missionary) that was placed in the center of the city, a cage so small he could not move or sit straight. The parents were forced to watch, the mother on one side of the city square, the father on the other, and not able to get anywhere near him.

~Day after day they watched their son die slowly, under the broiling sun with nothing to eat or drink, covered with filth and flies. And eventually the boy died.

~The man told the missionary that he would never forget what he had seen nor take for granted the sacrifice of his son.

-I fear that being 2000 years removed from the events of Christ’s life and His death that we too soon forget the gravity of it all. Pastor and author R. Kent Hughes wrote something I think is profound and convicting; he said:

It is easy to discuss the cross of Christ in a disinterested way…to think about it—and then to forget about it. The trouble is, we are desensitized by daily scenes of real violence [such that] bloodshed and murder no longer have the power to move us. So also, the death of Christ on the cross has become so much a part of our religious upbringing that we no longer really notice it, much less are we moved by it.

-We come to church and hear about the cross, and then we normally leave, have our Sunday dinner, and go about our day and week like nothing happened. The cross has no impact on our daily lives. It very rarely crosses our mind and even rarer influences our behavior. And yet it is one of the cornerstones upon which our entire faith stands.

-Today is just a day to reflect and remember. And my prayer is that reflection on Christ’s death brings greater appreciation for His work which then leads to deeper desires for conformity to His word. Let’s look at the events at the cross today.

1) The Fateful Event

-READ JOHN 19:16b-18

John 19:16b–18 ESV

So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.

-John is very minimalistic in his description surrounding Jesus’ death. He is more concerned about the theological significance of what occurred rather than giving all the minute details.

~But, as we have seen in the previous passages, the Jews trump up charges to have Rome put Jesus to death. Even though Roman governor Pilate knows he was innocent, he is blackmailed and railroaded into giving in to their demands.

-Jesus, after receiving a scourging that already brought Him near to death, is forced to carry His own cross. Most scholars believe that Roman prisoners only carried the horizontal beam of the cross which would later be attached to a vertical beam that stays in place in the ground.

~The other gospels tell us that Jesus is so weak from the flogging that the soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to carry the beam the rest of the way.

-Jesus is brought to the place of execution, a place known as SKULL—so named either because that’s where people died or because the natural rock formation there looked like a skull.

~They laid the cross beam on the ground and then Jesus upon the beam. Soldiers nailed spikes through both of His wrists through a nerve that would shoot severe pain all through His body, then hoisted the crossbeam up to secure it to the vertical beam, taking his shoulders out of joint while doing so. They would then nail the feet through the ankles onto some sort of small ledge.

-Naked and exposed to the elements, it would become difficult for the victim to breathe; so, to catch a breath the person would have to push with his nailed hands and feet to breathe, shooting pain throughout his body. The person would eventually die of asphyxiation—sometimes to hurry the process the soldiers would break their legs so they could no longer push up to breathe.

-In taking all the gospel accounts into consideration, Jesus was on the cross for six hours, from approximately 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The first three hours He spent in physical pain and agony, sharing the same fate as common criminals. He received jeers and snide remarks from the crowd, being utterly humiliated.

~But then, according to the other gospels, at noon a supernatural darkness took over the land. This is when Jesus began to endure the spiritual pain as His relationship with the Father was changed and He became the focus of God’s wrath for the sins of humanity. What would take an eternity for us took three hours for Jesus, when He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God.

-Jesus endured physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering that words cannot even begin to do justice. They had to create a word to describe the physical suffering of crucifixion alone—excruciating. Our Lord experienced all of that, and we hardly blink an eye at it anymore. We might pause for a second, but then we just go on our merry little way, living our life like it never even happened.

~How self-centered humanity is. I’m able to say it because I’m one of them. I’m not even sure what to do to burn into our minds the significance of this event that changes the fate of humanity. But we can pray that the Holy Spirit will bring it to mind constantly, and we then choose to honor Him with every breath. But let’s continue…

2) The Factual Inscription

-READ JOHN 19:19-22

John 19:19–22 ESV

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 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. 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.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

-The Romans would hang a placard or inscription stating the crime around the neck of the condemned as they carried their cross. That placard would then be attached to the cross during the crucifixion so that all would see why that person was being put to death.

-Pilate had ordered the death of many people. In fact, it seems he was known for being ferocious. Ancient historian Philo recorded that Pilate was violent, thieving, abusive, and would often execute untried prisoners. Through his actions he antagonized the Jews and was even reprimanded by Rome for being too cruel.

~He was used to having the crimes of criminals emblazoned for all to see, given as a warning that if you would do the same actions you will receive the same fate.

-But what was Pilate to do with Jesus? He had constantly testified to Jesus’ innocence. What crime would Pilate accuse Jesus of? The Jews wanted Him dead, charging Jesus with trying to be a King to replace Caesar. Pilate would use the Jews words against them.

-Pilate had inscribed: JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS. Jesus’ crime is that He was king.

~Pilate did this as a jab at the Jews. In modern language, we might say that Pilate was trolling the Jews. He wanted to get a rise out of them. At the same time, Pilate wanted to send a clear message that the Jews were powerless against Rome such that even their supposed king could not stand up to their might.

-The Jews took the bait and complained—He’s not actually their king but just claimed to be. But Pilate snidely replied that he wrote what he wrote, and he wasn’t about to change it.

-Yet, ironically, their mocking indictment of Jesus actually spoke the truth. The Jews didn’t believe it and Rome didn’t believe it, and yet here is Jesus, King of the Jews, and not just that, He is King of the world, and He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

-Even though all of them scoffed at Jesus’ authority, little did they know that their mocking would come back to bite them. Because the One that they judged and mocked would one day judge them.

-And all of humanity will meet the King’s authority in one way or another. And you will either bow to His sovereignty now and fall under it for eternity, or you will bow to His sovereignty later and be condemned under it for all of eternity.

-It was a very factual inscription: Jesus is King of the Jews, as well as the King of all. As the gruesome scene continues, we also see:

3) The Fulfilled Prophecies

-READ JOHN 19:23-24

John 19:23–24 ESV

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, 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,

-The criminals were hung naked on the cross, and since they were going to die, the soldiers would take their personal belongings to themselves. The soldiers would take the garments and sandals and head coverings and belts and the like. Jesus even had a nice seamless tunic that was worth casting lots over.

-But John makes a point (as he often does in his gospel) to point out that what was happening to Jesus was according to prophecies from hundreds of years earlier. Everything that happened to Jesus was always part of God’s plan, and God revealed bits and pieces throughout the centuries so that at the moment of fulfillment, and then those who came thereafter, can know Jesus’ identity—that He truly is the promised Messiah.

-Here, the particular prophecy that he cites as fulfilled comes from Psalm 22. Psalm 22 was written by King David roughly 1000 years before the events of Jesus’ death, and many hundreds of years before the concept of crucifixion ever came into being. When you read the Psalm, you notice that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David (who was poetically describing his own struggles) actually graphically depicts Jesus’ crucifixion (long before there was such a thing).

~In v. 1 he cries out MY GOD MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME, which Jesus Himself cries from the cross

~v. 6-7, 12-13 he is scorned and despised and mocked by the people

~v. 8 those mocking him say, “He trusted in the LORD, let him deliver him” just as the gospels record some in the crowd saying to Jesus

~v. 14 speaks of his bones being out of joint (like Jesus’ shoulders) and his heart melting (and Jesus’ heart probably did literally rupture)

~v. 16 speak of those who pierced his hands and feet

~v. 17 speaks of him being able to count his bones (which may have been exposed due to the flogging)

~v. 18 is about his clothes as quoted by John

-It goes on, but this lets us know that this was God’s plan—all of history had been leading to this point. The cross of Christ is the central event of all of history. Would we dare forget it?

4) The Family Support

-READ JOHN 19:25-27

John 19:25–27 ESV

but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

-John makes note of four women who are watching nearby: Mary, Jesus’ mother; Mary’s sister (who quite possibly is Salome, James’ and John’s mother, making Jesus and James and John cousins); Mary, the wife of Clopas (that we don’t know much about); and Mary Magdalene.

~Women had always been an important part of Jesus’ ministry, and were great supporters of Him and His work. And here they are to be with Him in His final hours, while all but one disciple has abandoned Him.

-But here we get a glimpse of Jesus’ humanity. Mary was a widow by this time, and widows who were left on there own would not be able to survive—they couldn’t make enough money to support themselves. The oldest child had the duty to take care of His widowed mother.

~But here is Jesus, the oldest—dying. While Jesus had brothers and sisters, He would not commit her to their care because they would not believe in Him. At this time, Jesus’ brothers and sisters thought He was a religious weirdo. Jesus would not hand His mother over to unbelievers.

-The disciple that Jesus loved, who was John himself, was there with them, and Jesus gives Mary over to John—he was family and he was a strong believer. Jesus knew He could entrust John with His mother—John did not abandon Jesus like the others, so He knew John wouldn’t abandon Mary either. So, John took her into his house.

-Jesus made provision for His mother in her earthly care. And yet, right at the same time, being on the cross, He made provision for her spiritual care as well.

-This reminds us that God is Jehovah-Jireh—he is the God who provides. He provides for our earthly care, and here we see provision for our spiritual care. Jesus provided everything we need, which leads to our final section:

5) The Final Triumph

-READ JOHN 19:28-30

John 19:28–30 ESV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 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. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

-John records that Jesus knew that all was now finished—the word means to be completed. Jesus had completed everything that the Father had sent Him to accomplish. He soaked up every ounce of wrath that was laid on Him. He was going to die the perfect sacrifice for sins. Everything that needed to be done and could be done was done.

-And so, with one final shout of triumph, Jesus proclaims IT IS FINISHED—THE DEBT IS PAID IN FULL.

-Hear what Jesus was saying. There is nothing ever that can be added to what Jesus accomplished on the cross, and nothing can be taken away from what He accomplished on the cross. The work of salvation is completely done and over with. Jesus finished it. Jesus completed it. All the sin of believers has been paid for.

-There are some false teachers who say that Jesus had to go to hell to pay the debt. But if that were the case, then the Bible lies because Jesus clearly says IT IS FINISHED. Jesus won the victory over death and hell and Satan on the cross—nowhere else.

~That means we can’t add works to what Jesus accomplished... That means we can’t add religion to what Jesus accomplished... That means we can’t add tradition or rituals to what Jesus accomplished...

-At the cross Jesus accomplished our ultimate triumph. How in the world could we take that for granted and just forget about it?

Conclusion

-So, this leaves us with a call

a) A call to remembrance

~Jesus actually suffered as a human, but also as God—only God could withstand what was placed upon Him. Remember His suffering.

b) A call to recognition

~Jesus, having suffered, understands and cares about our sufferings. He recognizes our frailty, and yet was willing to die so that we would not suffer eternally.

c) A call to rejoice

~God’s enemies thought they had triumphed over Jesus, only to learn that God’s divine plan had come to completion. We rejoice in the fact that we are His forever.

d) A call to repentance

~Christian, repent of your apathy toward these events. Repent of your lukewarmness. Repent of your selfishness. Come to the altar and praise and rejoice and pray for Holy Spirit power to live out what Jesus accomplished for us.

~But it is a time to repent for those who have never trusted in Christ….