Luke 23:33-39

Substitutionary Atonement

When Lincoln’s body was brought from Washington to Illinois, it passed through Albany NY and it was carried through the street. They say a black woman stood upon the curb and lifted her little son as far as she could reach above the heads of the crowd and was heard to say to him, “Take a long look, honey. He died for you.”

Today I want to lift you high above the crowds so you can take a long look at at the Cross where Jesus died for you.

The Cross is indeed the judgement of the World (John 12:31) and on that hill called Calvary all classes of humanity were represented. There were the indifferent (The people who stood beholding Luke 23:35), The religious (the rulers who derided Him Luke 23:35), the materialistic (the soldiers who divided His Garments and cast lots Luke 23:34), and the earnest seeker (“Lord, remember me Luke 23:42).

Today I want you to know that the sin of the world has been judged at the cross! Jesus’ death was one of substitution and by it no one has to die in their sinful state suffering the wrath the God.

If you look upon that hill far away among the crowd of people you will see three crosses, for on that day three men died, one a sinner, one a saint, and the other the Savior of the world. Today I want to look at each of these who died that day.

I. One Man Died in Sin (39)

The Cross was a Roman tool of torture, designed to give a slow, excruciating, and humiliating death. It was used to as a deterrent to criminal activity

A. He was a criminal (Malefactor)

B. He was blaspheming Jesus

Railed on (Imperfect) - blasphēmeō (Verb) = blaspheme, insult, slander, curse

** Suffering the most insulting of deaths, he hurled insults at the only one who could save him.

C. He was tempting Jesus

He is asking for a Jail break and aiding Satan as he continues to tempt Jesus. (Satan wanted Jesus to die, but not at this time because this was God’s appointed time. EXPLAIN)

*** Surely this criminal deserved his fate, showing his character to the end.

II. One Man Died Without Sin (40-43)

A. He recognized he was a sinner

a. He rebuked his fried

b. He knew his death was just (Romans 6:23)

B. He recognized Jesus was sinless

Even hanging on the Cross Jesus carried Himself in complete perfectness and trust in the Lord. 1 Peter 2:23 “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

C. He recognized Jesus could save

What faith, a dying man trusting in a dying man! He looked at the charges placed above Jesus’ head “This is the King of the Jews and asked Jesus to remember him when He entered that kingdom!

a. This is proof that salvation is based on Grace!

no works

no hope for works

no baptism

purification

b. This is proof that Salvation is immediate

c. This is proof that its never to late in life to be saved. However a deathbed confession is not advisable.

ILL: Ty Cob was a arguably the greatest player to to play the game of Baseball. a lifetime batting average of 367 over a 24 year career. He holds the record for stealing home the times with 54. He was arguably the meanest player to play the game. The first person inducted into the hall of fame yet only 3 people attended his funeral. He sharpened his cleats to draw blood and slid into bases, he got into fights with fans in the stadiums, a story is told of him getting in to a fight with two men who had knives. He had a gun but when it wouldn't fire and even though he was stabbed in the back didn't stop fighting until he had beaten one the men to death with the gun in his hand. but in 1961, Cobb dying from Cancer laid in a hospital bed heard the Gospel from a doctor while making rounds. The doctor would could by and and read the Bible to him. One day the Rev. John R. Richardson of the Westminister Presbyterian Church was called to visit the dying hall of famer.

“On that first visit, Ty wasn’t up to talking. He asked if we’d come back later. I quickly read a passage of Scripture and prayed for his welfare.

Two days later I returned to find that the Holy Spirit had been working in his heart. I explained God’s plan of salvation and the need for repentance. He replied that he wished to put his complete trust in Christ. On subsequent visits Ty was eager to talk about Jesus Christ.

Two days before his death, I paid my last call. “I feel the strong arms of God underneath me,” Ty said. “It is wonderful to be able to pray. Tell folks they should not wait as I did, I got saved in the ninth inning but wishing I had been saved in the first.

III. One Man Died For Sin (46)

Jesus hung on the cross for 6 hours, surely these are the most important 6 hours of all human history!

A. He suffered the wrath of man (1st 3 hours)

a. nailed to the cross

b. mocked by rulers, crowd, and malefactor (Save yourself, rebuild the temple in three days)

B. He suffered the Wrath of God (2nd 3 hours) as darkness fell on the earth

John 12:32 ““And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.””

That day the veil was torn and God departed the temple of the Jews and personally excess was given to God by anyone who would seek Him. The Roman Centurion declared Jesus the Son of God. The Jewish crowd went home in sorrow and 50 days later at the preaching of Peter 3,000 were saved.

One man died for the sins of the world, a substitution for you and I, by this blood salvation was finished and sacrificed was recieved in order to satisfy the righteousness of God.

Conclusion: On that hill was three crosses the two on either side had been fought over by the disciples yet none were there save John. At the right and the left were two criminals, revolutionaries condemned by Rome for attempting to lead Israel out of the control of Rome. But I want you to look at the the cross in the middle. That Cross in the middle where Jesus died was intended for someone else, Look at Verse 18. Release unto us Barabbas!

Jesus was crucified as a substitute for Barabbas. Here is the illustration of what took place on the Cross, Substitutionary Atonement

ILL: A well educated Bible teacher comes into town for Easter and is waxing eloquently as teaches to multitudes in a small fishing village on the east coast. His topic, substantiationary Atonement, he’s using large theological words as he explains. Then he asked the crowd, if anyone there can explain substitutionary atonement, a fisherman in the back stands up, the teacher somewhat sarcastically says, and you can explain substitutionary Atonement? The simply said yes. Jesus died in my place.”

Barabbas - Bar = “Son of,” Abbas = “Father.” Jesus died in the place of Son of the Father, that is all of you!

Don’t die in your sin, die without sin by accepting Jesus as your substitute!