At the Cross

Crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals in the roman empire, but only those who were not Roman citizens. It was usually a long, slow process. The criminal was attached to the cross in such a way that as his strength weakened, he could no longer push up with his feet to breathe and would eventually suffocate.

It angers me and breaks my heart to hear of women and children, or even animals who are beaten and abused for no reason at all. There is no reason to ever hit someone in anger or pleasure. Maybe you know of someone who has been physically abused. Jesus was abused. He did nothing to deserve punishment. He lived a perfectly just life. Never told a lie, never stole, never sinned in His thoughts or deeds. The criminals on either side of Him, they deserved their punishment. For them, it was not abuse, it was justice according to Roman law. Not only that but it was those who were abusing Jesus who deserved to be punished for criminal actions against Him. We are criminals too. Our sin is a crime against God. We deserve our punishment as it says in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, Christ's death on the cross is a visual of the death that we deserved and more. It should have been you and I between those two criminals at the place of the skull.

B. He Responded Compassionately

Luke 23:34 NASB95

34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

The abuse that Jesus endured in our place is an amazing thing in itself, but almost as amazing is The Lord's response to His abusers. As I mentioned, it sickens me to hear of the abuse of those who are defenseless. There is a fear and a sense of helplessness that those who are physically abused are made to endure that no one should have to experience. Sometimes that fear can paralyze them from taking action to get free from the abuse even when they have the power to do so.

Jesus on the other hand went willingly to the cross. He was not helpless, He was in complete control. He had the power to call thousands of angels to rescue Him if He wished. Instead of using His breath to call for the angels, He used it to pray for His abusers. It was not paralyzing fear that kept The Son of Man on the cross, but a deep love for lost humans who don't even understand how low they have sunk. As He prayed for them, He was praying for us as well. He prayed for our salvation. His intent was that we should repent, and believe the gospel that the Son of Man was the Son of God and the lamb who takes away the sin of the world. There is no forgiveness on any other terms than those. Have you repented and believed in Jesus? He prayed that you would, and you can this very moment.

II. Snapshot #2

A. He was Abused Verbally

Luke 23:35–37 NASB95

35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”

Sneer = ‘to turn up the nose at,’ not occurring in the NT) to ridicule in a sneering and contemptuous way—‘to ridicule, to sneer at, to show contempt for.’[1]

Mock = to make fun of someone by pretending that he is not what he is or by imitating him in a distorted manner—‘to mock, to ridicule.’[2]to play, to sport with or against someone.

The “people” were guilty by association. People only mock someone when they have an audience that thinks it's funny.

They mocked Him because He claimed to be the Messiah.

Don't you hate being made fun of? We will do just about anything to not be mocked.

[smelly feet from canvas shoes with no socks in H.S] We hide things that we have done because we are afraid people will laugh at or ridicule us. We will even make fun of innocent people just so that we don't look bad.

Our sinful hearts do the same to Jesus. We live as if we are the chosen ones, gods in our own minds, who don't believe in the God of the Bible or His silly book of fairy tales about a man named Jesus who we doubt even existed. We are masters of our own destiny with power to do as we will. But if perchance God does exist we would demand that He save us because if He didn't He wouldn't be much of a God in our minds anyway.

God could rightly say of us, “So you think your gods, then get yourselves out of your own mess. Come down off your own cross. Solve the most simple problems of your own life and society if you think your so smart.” God would never say that would He?

Psalm 2:1–5 NASB95

1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying,

How ironic that these rulers and soldiers were mocking the true Messiah sent by God when it is we who deserve to be mocked for our foolish rants against God.

B. He Responded Silently

Luke 23:38 NASB95

38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

What would you have said if you were Jesus at the cross?

Defend yourself?

Deflect with humor?

Verbally abuse back at them?

Not Jesus. Our marvelous Savior, whom my soul admires said nothing in His defense for the sign nailed to the cross along with Him said it all.

Stewart wrote:

We cannot miss the significance of the fact that the inscription was written in three languages, Greek and Latin and Hebrew. No doubt that was done in order to make sure that everyone in the crowd might read it; For these were the three great world languages, each of them the servant of one dominant idea. Greek was the language of culture and knowledge; in that realm, said the inscription, Jesus was king! Latin was the language of law and government; Jesus was king there! Hebrew was the language of revealed religion; Jesus was King there! Hence even as he hung dying, it was true that “on his head were many crowns” (Rev. 19:12). [3]

What a Savior!

III. Snapshot #3

A. He was Addressed Penitently

Luke 23:39–42 NASB95

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”

Notice this criminal confesses his sin and repents by turning to Jesus for salvation. He does not ask the Lord to prefer him, only to remember him. He is humble and penitent.

As Matthew Henry says, “This is the prayer of a dying sinner to a dying Savior.

B. He Responded Expectantly

Luke 23:43 NASB95

43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Look how quickly the Father answers the prayers of the Son of Man. His last words were, “Father forgive them.”

Jesus is in tortuous pain and yet His concern is not for His own condition or circumstances (whole other sermon there!). His concern is to give hope to a retched death deserving criminal that the world was throwing away like rancid meat. The Son of Man cares for the lost. He never lost sight of the fact that He was dying on that cross for the likes of that unnamed criminal.

Note:

Salvation is independent of sacraments

Never took communion, was baptized, washed the saints feet, got married, lit a candle, danced a jig, went forward, signed a commitment card, never put money in the offering plate, or spoke in tongues.

Salvation is independent of good works

Salvation is independent of purgatory

Salvation is dependent on repentance (not universal: 2 criminals)

Have you repented?

Today – What speed!

With Me – What company!

In Paradise – What happiness!

IV. Snapshot #4

A. Jesus Died Willingly

The cross was not an afterthought for Jesus. This was not an accident, Jesus was a martyr, He was not a helpless bystander in in some out of control political move, The cross was the plan! It was His plan!

Luke 23:44–46 NASB95

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.

12pm-3pm – darkness. In the presence of Jesus they the holy of holies was opened and access to the mercy seat was made available to all. As in the holy of holies, the smoke of incense protected the priest from looking upon the holy presence of God. In that obscured light the blood was applied and the mysterious transaction took place.

B. They Responded Soberly

Luke 23:47 NASB95

47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

What else did he say? “Hallelujah!, this Jesus is no mere man, he must be God.”

Luke 23:48 NASB95

48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts.

Luke 23:49 NASB95

49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Mary probably was standing there too. Do you remember what was said of her by Simon?

Luke 2:34–35 NASB95

34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Even knowing what Jesus was to accomplish for her people and for the world, it must have been gut wrenching for Mary to see her son die.

As you look at these snap shots in the picture album of salvation, take the time to remember and relish the Son of Man, who is God in the flesh and the salvation we have in Him.

[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (434). New York: United Bible societies. [2]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (434). New York: United Bible societies. [3]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Lk 23:35–38). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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