The Sinless Sacrifice
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Introduction
Introduction
Art is a powerful medium for communicating feelings and evoking emotions.
Throughout history, church art has been used to depict the crucifixion, often times with the purpose of drawing out emotions and leaving a powerful mental image to go with the powerful words of Scripture
For example, in Rembrandt’s painting, Raising of the Cross, the artist portrays himself as responsible for crucifying Jesus. Rembrandt does this by adding himself to the painting…possibly twice.
Looking at a painting like this, we should be reminded that our faces could go into the painting as well, because we too are sinners and ultimately responsible for Jesus death.
Luke does something similar with his portrayal of the death of Christ. He encourages us to enter into the story and experience humanity’s darkest day.
In doing this he has some timeless truths he wants us to know about Jesus.
Body: Luke 23:44-56
Body: Luke 23:44-56
Verses 44-45: Two miraculous results of the crucifixion.
Darkness...
The tearing of the curtain...
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Verse 46: Jesus final breath
Righteous Suffer Psalm: Psalm 31
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
It is important to note that Jesus remains in control.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Verse 47: Jesus Innocence
One of the unifying concepts throughout chapter 23 of Luke’s Gospel is that Jesus was innocent:
Pilate knows it
Herod knows it
In the passage before this, even one of the criminals knows it:
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
And now a harden Roman soldier even recognizes this fact.
Understand, Roman soldiers didn’t live in a time of a politically correct and socially sensitive military like we do today. They were hardened men who specialized in two things: following orders and killing their enemies.
So, coming to the recognition that he had just been part of killing an innocent man is a big deal to say the least.
But, it doesn’t end there:
Verse 48: The crowds realize Jesus innocence
This doesn’t mean that they were converted…though, some of these may have been converted with Peter’s sermon in Act 2.
Why does Jesus innocence matter? Paul and Peter explain it much better than I could:
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Jesus was the sinless sacrifice for sinners.
Verse 49: The devoted few watch
Likely the women and John…but, since it says “all his acquaintances” it could be suggesting that the disciples all saw from a distance, they just weren’t together.
Verses 50-53: Joseph honors Jesus body
We know nothing else about Joseph than what is here...
By the way, Joseph is a strong witness to the location of the tomb…I’ll talk more about this next week when I talk about the evidences of the Resurrection.
Verses 54-56: The women prepare for the Sabbath
They knew where the tomb was…they planned on finishing the job after the Sabbath (showing they didn’t understand that He would rise from the dead).
Timeless Truths
Timeless Truths
Jesus innocence is beyond dispute.
Jesus innocence is beyond dispute.
By the end of chapter 23, only one group believes that Jesus is guilt: the religious leaders (and, frankly, they weren’t even all in agreement).
Luke wants his readers (which includes us) to realize that Jesus is the sinless sacrifice for sinners.
What does that mean for us?
Either Jesus has paid your sin debt, or you will pay your sin debt yourself.
If you are planning on paying for it yourself, then you can reject Jesus as your Lord and Savior. But, the Bible makes it very clear that we cannot possibly pay our own sin debt.
A crude illustration:
$5000 of credit card debt, 18.9% interest rate.
$600 per month = 42 months (3 1/2 years)
$400 per month = 63 months (5 1/4 years)
$200 per month = 137 months (11 1/2 years)
$100 per month = 30 years!
Here’s the challenge, a lot of people have a lot more credit card debt than $5000!
For many, they will never be able to pay it off.
Which is 100% true of our sin debt. We can’t possibly pay it off ourselves.
It’s like the national debt, which currently stands at $30 trillion dollars (that’s $91,266 for every single citizen!)
That’s our sin debt.
Christians understand something important: we can never pay our sin debt, but Jesus did it on the cross. What do I have to do to receive this debt forgiveness?
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Jesus sacrifice is beyond compare.
Jesus sacrifice is beyond compare.
Luke goes to great length to show us that Jesus death was not common place or normal.
The miraculous darkness;
The tearing of the curtain;
The changing of so many people’s hearts;
What does that mean for us?
We must live like the Gospel of Jesus Christ is beyond compare.
Too many professed Christians today approach the message of Jesus as simply news instead of being the Good News…in fact the greatest news ever!
Here’s the thing about the Gospel: the Gospel is the message of the church. It not only tells us what Jesus did to save us, but when we truly receive the Gospel then it becomes the driving force of everything else in our lives.
It teaches me how to love God daily, love others correctly, and how to honor God with my life.
Nothing else in life has such power. The Gospel is beyond compare!
Jesus death is beyond denial.
Jesus death is beyond denial.
Again, Luke does away with any foolish notions that Jesus didn’t actually die (the swoon theory).
A centurion oversees His death;
The crowds can attest to His death;
A “good and righteous” member of the Sanhedrin buried Jesus in his own tomb;
The women saw where the body was placed.
What does that matter for us?
We have a message to share to share with others.
Today, for many the major hindrance to belief in Christ Jesus is because it’s not “scientific.” We have a society that worships at the altar of supposed scientific proof.
But, if the last few years has taught us nothing else it’s that the “science” isn’t always based on the scientific method, it’s prone to manipulation, and the supposed “authorities” are not above lying to people to push a narrative.
So, without really meaning to, many of those “authorities” have actually helped the Gospel message more than they realize. What do you mean? See, “the science” is a call to blind faith.
How so? Take viruses. How many people who have an opinion about viruses today have actually ever read a medical journal about virology? Ever been in a real virology lab? Ever actually studied virus mutations? Very few. So, we are asked to believe the experts. That’s blind faith that the experts aren’t lying to us.
Here’s my point: the Bible isn’t actually a call to blind faith as many say. God has given us ample evidence throughout His Word. And, here’s the great part, you don’t have to take my word for it. Read it yourself. Pray about it. Ask questions of it. In my experience, God will more than answer your questions.
And, he will answer the questions others ask as well.
The greatest evangelistic tool we have is the Bible. In fact, I believe Christians should have an extra Bible in their car at all times, read to give it to someone.
I’ve seen more people turned to Christ through the reading of God’s Word themselves than every sermon I’ve ever preached or ever will preach. That shouldn’t surprise us:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The point is, share this Word with others because His death (and as we will see next week, His Resurrection) is beyond denial!