Sermon Tone Analysis

Song: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story

Opening Prayer

Dr. Ray Hughes writing in his book: The Cross: Love’s Necessity says:

No scene in human history has had such a dark background, and yet has such a bright foreground, as that of the Cross.

• Against the background of hate, there was a fore-gleam of love.

• Against the background of tragedy, a forecast of triumph.

• Against the background of sin, the promise of forgiveness.

• Against the background of cursing, the brightness of blessing.

• Against the background of fading hopes for sorrowing disciples, a prediction of the kingdom to come.

As one beholds the skull-shaped hill called Calvary, with its three crosses outlined against the … sky, he or she is made aware of the contrasts in this event.

There, a rose is between thorns,

a lily stands amid the muck and mire,

a lone star shines in earth’s darkest night,

love radiates against a backdrop of sharpest hate,

peace is in the middle of turmoil

and hope in the midst of hopelessness.

Isaiah 53:3–6 (NASB95) He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging [by His stripes] we are healed.

6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Song: He Was Wounded (The Healer)

Prayer for Needs!

Jesus Brought Before Pilate

Matthew 27:1–2; John 18:28–38; Mark 15:3–5; Luke 23:2, 5–7

And when it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people consulted together against Jesus to put him to death.

And they bound him and led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

It was early in the morning, and the chief priests and elders did not enter the Praetorium, so that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

Pilate therefore went out to them and said, “What charge do you bring against this man?”

“If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.”

“You take him and judge him according to your law,” said Pilate.

“We are not allowed to put anyone to death,” said the Jews.

Thus the word of Jesus was to be fulfilled which he spoke concerning the manner of death he was to die.

Then they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation and forbidding people to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.”

Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

“Are you saying this of your own accord,” replied Jesus, “or did others say this to you about me?”

“Am I a Jew?” answered Pilate.

“Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me.

What have you done?”

“My kingdom is not of this world,” replied Jesus.

“If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.

But my authority as king is not of earthly origin.”

“Are you indeed a king?” said Pilate.

“You are right in saying that I am a king,” replied Jesus.

“For this purpose I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.

Everyone who loves the truth listens to my voice.”

“What is ‘truth’?” said Pilate.

And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and said, “I do not find this man guilty of any crime.”

Song: You Are My King

... the chief priests began to accuse Jesus of many things.

“Have you no answer to offer?” Pilate asked Jesus.

“See how many charges they are bringing against you!”

But Jesus made no reply, to Pilate’s astonishment.

Then the chief priests grew more insistent, saying, “He is stirring up the people, teaching throughout all Judea—all the way from Galilee, where he started, even to here.”

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean; and when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who happened to be in Jerusalem at that time.

Jesus Appears Before Herod

Luke 23:8–12

When Herod saw Jesus, he was delighted; for he had long wanted to see him, because he had heard about him and hoped to see him perform some miracle.

And he questioned him at length, but Jesus gave him no reply.

Then the chief priests and scribes, who had been standing by, began shouting accusations at Jesus.

And after Herod, along with his soldiers, had mocked Jesus and shown his contempt for him, he dressed him in a gorgeous cloak and sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that same day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.

Before Pilate Again

Matthew 23:13–16; Mark 15:6–7; Matthew 27:17–26

Then Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them,

“You brought this man to me as one who is misleading the people.

After examining him before you, I have not found this man guilty of your charges against him.

Nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.

He has done nothing deserving of death.

I will therefore give him a flogging and release him.”

Now it was the custom of Pilate at the time of the festival to release to them one prisoner, whomever they asked.

And there was a man named Barabbas in custody along with some others who had taken part in a riot, and who had committed murder during their insurrection.

Pilate therefore said to the crowd, “Whom do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Messiah?”

For Pilate knew that it was because of envy that they had delivered up Jesus.

Besides, while he was conducting the hearing, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much today in a dream about him.”

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the mob to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.

But the governor responded by saying to them again, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

“Barabbas!”

they said.

Song: I Should Have Been Crucified

“… what shall I do with Jesus, who is called Messiah?” asked Pilate.

“Let him be crucified!”

they all shouted.

“Just what has he done that is wrong?”

asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but a riot was developing instead, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this man.

The responsibility is yours.”

“His blood be on us and on our children!”

all the people answered.

Then Pilate released Barabbas to them, and after flogging Jesus, handed him over to be crucified.

Song: The Cross of Calvary

Jesus Mocked

Matthew 27:27–30

The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and assembled the whole regiment before him.

And they stripped off his garments and put a scarlet robe on him, and braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand.

And kneeling before him, they mocked him, shouting, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on him and took the reed and hit him on the head.

Jesus Led to Calvary

Matthew 27:31–32; John 19:17; Luke 23:27–32

And after they had mocked Jesus, the soldiers stripped the robe from him and put his own garments on him, and led him away to crucify him.

And he went out bearing his cross.

And as they went their way, they came upon a man of Cyrene named Simon, and they compelled him to carry Jesus’ cross.