THE BLESSING FROM THE TRAGEDY ON CALVARY
Luke 23:23-35, John 19:25-30
23 But with loud shouts, they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.
Luke 23:32-35
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, \”Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.\” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
John 19:25-30
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother\’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, \”Dear woman, here is your son,\” 27 and to the disciple, \”Here is your mother.\” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, \”I am thirsty.\” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus\’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, \”It is finished.\” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The weight of the cross was 165 to 300 pounds
The crossbar was 70 to 90 pounds. Some believe Jesus only carried the
Crossbar.
The average height of a man was 5 feet 7 inches. Jesus may have weighed 160 to
170 pounds. The length of the cross was over 7 feet
The Tragedy
On the Road to Calvary, you will find many bystanders.
There will be nonbelievers, liars, thieves, deceitful people,
Greedy people, proud people, lovers of selves, prostitutes,
And would be churchgoers. As Believers, are to separate ourselves
From the world. Every believer came from this lot.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God\’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Jesus came to save the world from sin. He was rejected by His
Own people. The Israelites, God’s chosen nation rejected Him
And delivered Him to be crucified.
The sick were healed, the lame walked, the blind receive their
Sight, the dead were brought to life, and demons were cast out.
On one occasion, Jesus fed five thousand, and another time, He fed
4000 not counting women and children.
These same people stood in the crowd on Friday morning and yelled crucify Him.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
To get out of the crowd, you must get on the road to Calvary.
What is the biblical definition of Calvary?
Golgotha, (Aramaic: “Skull”) also called Calvary, (from Latin calva: “bald head” or “skull”), the skull-shaped hill in ancient Jerusalem, the site of Jesus\’ crucifixion. It is referred to in all four Gospels
The road to calvary is paved with 5 characteristics
Submission to the Will of the Father
Personal Sacrifice
Study of God’s Word
Redemption
VICTORY
SUBMISSION
Jesus, before entering the judgment hall was in prayer
At the Mount of Olives while His disciples slept.
Luke 22:42-43
\”Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.\”
The road to Calvary cannot successfully be traveled without submission
To the commands of God. We must submit ourselves to the guidance
And the direction of the Holy Spirit.
God has given us His divine Word in the 66 Books of the Bible.
The love of God is evidenced in keeping His commandments.
Throughout Jesus’s 3 ½ years on earth, it was the words of the
Father that He spoke.
John 12:48-50
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life
When we are disobedient to the Commands of God, we add trouble
To our lives on the road to Calvary. Adam, the first man, did well until
He disobeyed God’s command. From that point on the world became
in need of salvation.
The trials and tribulations and the rough spots in life are smooth out
By our submission to the commands of the Father.
Submission brings fruit to Jesus\’s promise that I will never leave you or
Forsake you.
On the road to Calvary, we will experience
Pain and sorrow, Deceit, Scorn, Guilt,
Cruelty, Grief
None of this is outside the will of the Father.
The Word says that the Life of a man is but a few days, but
Filled with sorrow. We should not be surprised when trouble
Comes our way.
The road to calvary is paved with submission
SACRIFICE
One Friday evening, Jesus died on a hill called Calvary on an old rugged cross for
Our salvation. He paid the price for our sins with the shedding of
His blood. He paid the ransom to His Father for us.
Our walk on Calvary’s road is paved with sacrifice. Each step
We make, must be a sacrifice.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Christ set the example for us to follow,
Hebrews 13:15-16
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
You cannot walk this road to Calvary without sacrifice. It cost you something
To be on Calvary’s road.
Matthew 10:37-40
\”Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
The road to calvary is paved with submission, sacrifice, and the Word
The road to Calvary is paved with The Word Of God.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
God gave us an excellent example of putting His Word into practice.
It’s in the text.
Luke 23:26-27
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Simon was a family man, the father of Alexander and Rufus.
God does not tell us, but perhaps he came from Africa to celebrate the
Passover.
He was a black man. I bet you never paid attention to his presence.
Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry to the cross of Jesus.
He was called out of a crowd of darkness
All of us have been called out of darkness into the marvelous Light.
Jesus was beaten and bruised with open wombs and was bleeding.
When the cross of Jesus was put on Simon, this black man
Was covered with the blood of Jesus.
You and I have been called out of the crowd of a sinful world
To be covered with the blood of Jesus.
This indicates that salvation is for everybody regardless of
Race creed or color
The Lord could have called 12 legions of angels to carry His cross.
He placed Simon in the crowd to be called out.
Simon was just coming into the city, so he was not part of the
The crowd who yelled crucify Jesus.
It is the divine will of God to place us where He gets the glory.
There were 12 gates into the city of Jerusalem. Outside the Sheep Gate
Was Golgotha, about 150 feet. Simon was guided by God to enter this
Gate at the time Jesus was being brought out of the judgment hall.
According to the text, Simon was compelled to follow Jesus
Carrying the cross behind Him. Simon was given the opportunity to
Study the Word by following Jesus.
I supposed that the first thing Simon noticed was that there was power in
The blood. The cross weighed between 160 to 300 pounds, and may
Have been 7 feet in length. It is one thing to carry weight downhill,
But another to carry it uphill.
There is no mention of Simon struggling to carry the cross uphill to
Calvary mount.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The second thing Simon learned from the Word was Jesus did not
Complain.
Sometimes God places us in situations to teach us to trust Him.
Complaining never solves a problem. Leaning on the Lord is the
The solution to all our problems.
Be anxious for nothing, but everything by prayer and supplication with
Thanksgiving let you request be known to the Lord
Third Simon learned the comfort of the Lord.
As Jesus was walking by women were crying for Him. Jesus said don’t
Weep for me. Weeping may endure for a night, but there will be joy
In the morning.
As Simon followed Jesus, He learned the mercy of the Lord.
Roman soldiers were dividing up His garments. Jesus said, Father
Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
There are sins of omissions and sins of commissions.
Each of us is still ignorant of the Word of God. We
Sin out of habit and under the pressures of Life. Sometimes
We sin unknowingly. It is the mercy of God that continues
Cover us with the blood of Jesus.
Psalms 86:16
Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.
Walking behind Jesus, Simon learned the compassion of the Lord.
On the way to Calvary, Jesus saw His mother and John standing
Together.
John 19:25-27
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, \”Dear woman, here is your son,\” 27 and to the disciple, \”Here is your mother.\” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Jesus reminds us that we are our brother’s keeper. We are made responsible
For the welfare of others.
I asked myself why did Jesus choose John to take care of His Mother?
He had four brothers and several sisters. (James, Joses, Simon, Judas (not Iscariot))
Where were James and Jude, they became disciples after Jesus\’ death.
God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
On a hill called Calvary, Simon of Cyrene a black man from Africa
learned the job of discipleship.
Luke 23:40-43
But the other criminal rebuked him. \”Don\’t you fear God,\” he said, \”since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.\”
42 Then he said, \”Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.\”
Salvation comes after confession of sins and faith in Jesus.
Discipleship begins upon our confession of faith.
The road to Calvary is paved with submission, sacrifice, the study of God’s word
REDEMPTION
43 Jesus answered him, \”I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.\”
Simon learned the power of confession to bring people to Jesus.
Simon witnessed Redemption.
Confession of our sins and faith in Jesus is automatic redemption.
If you haven’t accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, while you got
Breath in your body do it now.
The criminal on his bed of affection accepted Jesus as his last act.
Salvation is not based on works but faith in Jesus by His mercy.
The road to Calvary is paved with Submission, Sacrifice, the Study of God’s
Word and Redemption and victory.
VICTORY
Finally, Simon witnessed the completion of God’s plan of redemption
Luke 23:44-46
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, \”Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.\” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
Oh death, Oh death where is your sting.
In Jesus, we have victory over life’s problems
We are victorious in Jesus.
Simon from Africa was given the opportunity to serve God in the
Most humbling way. He followed after Jesus with the cross.
Simon a family man from Africa, witness the fulfillment of the Law
And the beginning of the age of Grace.
Are you willing to carry the cross of Jesus?
In Summary on the Road to Calvary, we learn five Christian Characteristics
SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER
PERSONAL SACRIFICE
THE STUDY OF GOD’S WORD
REDEMPTION
VICTORY
Rev. M. Mitchell
