Punished for Me

Introduction

I) Military: Often asked to do something with seemingly no common sense

a. WP unit and have to PMCS a ROWPU

2) When you look at our world today or when you look at your life, do you see everything making sense, or do you wonder why?

3) I wonder why God would invest a large sum of money, time and resources into our church when there are so many more efficient ways He could do things. Yet, I realize God has a plan, He has a purpose and I realize that His ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55:9)

4) Today we are going to continue to look at God’s plan to save the world. God took the greatest resource of all, His one and only Son, and put Him in our place. Jesus was forsaken by His father in our place, He was accused of blasphemy and being full of sin in our place so that we can be declared righteous and now we will see that He was punished in our place.

5) Isa. 53:4-5

6) The theme of Easter Jesus. In. My. Place.

7) Many things in life do not make sense. In some respects, Easter does not make sense. Why would God create all of this and create people who would soon turn their backs on Him and become His enemy only to have to become part of His creation IOT redeem us back to Himself? Then, why would He allow this world to continue down a path of pain, suffering and destruction for now over 2k years?

8) We looked at the fact that every one of us has betrayed Jesus. We also looked at the fact that Jesus was forsaken by His father so that we don’t have to be forsaken by God. Then last week we looked at the fact that Jesus was accused in our place so that we can be forgiven. Even when all of our sins where upon Jesus at the Cross, God pointed His finger and said, “guilty.” He who knew no sin became sin for us. Today, we will continue to look at the cross and how Jesus was punished for us. We will answer the question I asked at the beginning when things don’t make sense, “Why.”

9) Let’s begin by reading Matt. 27:27-54

Punished for Me

A) Jesus mocked (vv. 27-31)

Explanation

Battalion - cohort, a tenth of a Roman legion (600 Soldiers)

Governor’s HQ - Pretorium

Stripped: laid bare and humiliated - exposed for me

Scarlet/ purple: cf. Mk 15:17; John 19:2 - A Roman guard’s military cloak - sign of royalty

Reed - scepter (flimsy)

John 19:3 Hit him with their fists as well as the reed

Spit on Him (Isa. 50:6 1k years later)

Illustration -

Jean de Brébeuf was a French Jesuit missionary who travelled to New France (Canada) in 1625. There he worked primarily with the Huron (Wyandot people) for the rest of his life, except for a few years in France from 1629 to 1633. He learned their language and culture, writing extensively about each to aid other missionaries.[1]

In 1649, Brébeuf and another missionary were captured when an Iroquois raid took over a Huron village (referred to in French as St. Louis). Together with Huron captives, the missionaries were ritually tortured and killed on 16 March 1649.

Mocked baptism by pouring boiling water on their heads

Application

The mockery and torture by Christians do not compare to the mockery given to Jesus because He is God

Imagine the restraint Jesus had to have had, yet He endured this torture for you and me

Jesus was asking His Father in the Garden to take this from Him

This should cause us to love Jesus more, to want to get to know Him more, and to do His will, no matter the cost.

Jesus was not only mocked for us, He was crucified in our place

B) Jesus Crucified

Explanation

Accepted the full experience of the Cross

See MacArthur's notes on 27:31

“gall” - something bitter (v. 34)

Mark 15:23 - myrrh, a narcotic

Jewish custom (based on Prov. 31:6) to administer a pain-deadening medication mixed with wine at a crucifixion IOT deaden the pain

Jesus refused. Why?

to minister to the dying thief (Luke 23:43)

so that He could willingly give up His life (v. 50)

Jesus was again willing to be mocked (vv 39-44)

passing by: (39-40) cf. 2 Kings 2:23-24 (Elijah)

Chief Priests: (vv. 41-43)

Thieves: (44)

To what degree would you be willing to be mocked and tortured for Christ?

Illustration - old stuff worth thousands (antique road show)

Julia Child's 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' $2k and up

KS quarters “In God We Rust” - $100

Application

Jesus’ crucifixion for many looked just like an old rusty antique, not worth much at all. Just a criminal dying on the cross

Yet, his death was worth more than anything money can buy. Cannot place a dollar value on it

How does the fact that Jesus went through the full experience of the cross affect how you live? Your faith in God?

If Jesus loves you that much, then we can rest assured that He will fulfill all of His promises in our lives - He will take care of us

Jesus was mocked, He was crucified, and he died … for us

C) Jesus Died

Explanation

a. Sixth to ninth hour: noon to three pm (darkness v 45)

b. Eli: Hebrew Rest: Aramaic Fulfillment of Psalm 22:1

c. Abandonment by his Father due to the sin that was upon Him

d. “Yielded up His spirit” - The Romans may have crucified Him, but Jesus was the one to decide when He was to die

e. Curtain torn in two - SHOW VIDEO four-in thick curtain probably 60 ft. high split from top to bottom - About twice as high as our building fashioned from blue, purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen

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f. Significance: We can now enter the holy of holies once reserved only for the high priest once a year

g. As soon as Jesus died, the price had been paid. People had IMMEDIATE access to God.

h. The only thing left for Jesus to do was rise from the dead

Application

a. What does that mean for us as believers?

That this Jesus who was forsaken by His Father will never leave or forsake us

That we can go to God with our problems, worries, fears, requests, etc., whenever we want

We have a high priest that can sympathize with our weakenss Heb. 4:15

We can share Jesus to others without fear

That we have power to accomplish His will for our lives and our church

Conclusion

From JD Greear: Three types of people from our story. Who are you?

* Criminals (Matt. 27:38, 44) Angry

* Authorities: (v. 37 - 38)

Outsiders who adored Him (27:54)

For those who do not know Christ (3-circles)

three groups

* Criminals (Matt. 27:38, 44) Angry

How could a good God allow all of this to happen and send people to hell?

* Authorities: (v. 37 - 38) Misunderstood Jesus - mocked _eval by what Jesus did on earth - God is much bigger

My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Ps. 21:1 - written 1k years prior to Jesus

“It is finished” (Matt. 27:51) - 4in barrier ripped - made a way to God

Outsiders who adored Him (27:54) - God can change anyone’s heart - don’t give up on people - God can save you no matter your sins