THE BLESSING OF THE CRUCIFIXION
Matthew 26:38-54
JESUS WAS IN CHARGE OF HIS DEATH
Jesus\’s death on the cross was no surprise to Him. He planned all the details. His grace and mercy began to flow the moment He created man and placed Adam on earth. The moment Adam sinned was the first prophecy of His incarnation to become God-Man and to be victorious over Satan in the battle for our salvation (Genesis 3:15). Jesus knew the battle wouldn\’t be easy because He created an angel, Lucifer, and equipped him with power over darkness. He called Satan the Ruler Of Air (Ephesian 2:2), The Father of Lies (John 8:44) and the Prince of the World (John 12:31)
The Lord picked the time (Daniel 9:24:27), the place, the people involved, and the method of His death.
In the beginning, whenever that was, the decision for Jesus to be our Lord and Savior had been made (Ephesian 1:4)
On Easter Sunday, focus on the cross, the empty tomb, and the resurrection of Jesus. But also focus on the work, He did before the cross and the work He is now doing for our salvation to keep us in perfect peace with Him.
It is not about just the celebration of His death and resurrection. It is about celebrating the life with Jesus that his death and resurrection made available. As long as we see Easter as just a day we will never see Easter every day.
This morning\’s text is just some of the details Jesus Himself planned for our salvation.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE
Matthew 27:38-54
38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, \”You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!\”
The text begins with the common people and the worst criminals insulting Jesus because of their ignorance. They were influenced by the agents of Satan. Let me suggest that most the people had been blessed by Jesus with His teaching and with the healing of them and/or their family members. Some had rushed Jesus to try to make Him their King. They put palm branches on the street while He rode by on a donkey and yelled;
John 12:13
\”Hosanna!\”
\”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!\”
\”Blessed is the King of Israel!\”
They had been trained in the Old Testament in their Synagogues. They visited Jerusalem
every year for the Passover celebration. Verse 40 tells us they had heard His recent teachings. They insulted Him with His teaching. Since you are so powerful and creative to tear the temple down and rebuild it in three days, come down from the cross If you are the Son of God save yourself. They change from saying He was the Son of God to “If”.
It is evident from the text, they had the Word, and they could recite the Word, but they didn’t understand the Word. What happens from glorifying Him to cursing Him?
The world showed up to stamp out the seed that had been planted on rocky ground.
You have to study, meditate and know the Word for yourself. Your ground has to be plowed up with Holy Spirit so it can take root and grow.
Ignorance is the result of neglecting the study of the Word. How many times have you read the Word, but when life shows up, you turn to a friend for answers? How many times is trusting God, not your answer?
Israel had the Word, they had the evidence of the power of the word and they had the
evidence of the truth of the Word. Yet they rejected the Word. I want the Word when it makes me feel good. But I ignore it when it makes no sense to me. I want the Word when everyone agrees with it. But I want to agree with the crowd when they reject it. How do you get that mindset?
Rejecting the Word because you don’t understand it, is a lack of faith. The Lord said my
ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts. You were not designed
to understand every Word of God immediately. Faith, patience, and dedication will
bring you the understanding you desire.
DON’T ENVY WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW AND CAN’T UNDERSTAND.
V:41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders mocked him. 42 \”He saved others,\” they said, \”but he can\’t save himself! He\’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, \’I am the Son of God.\’\” 44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The teachers of the Law, Elders, and Chief Priest envied Jesus. Pilot recognized it and said so.
Matthew 27:15-18
Now it was the governor\’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, \”Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?\” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
It Was the religious folk in high places that demanded Jesus\’ death. They were amazed that He taught with power and authority. They envied Jesus because of His love for the righteousness of the Father.
They stirred up the mob to reject Jesus and accept a criminal.
The church has the power to draw sinners to God or push them away.
Matthew 7:28-29
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
You should not be envious of someone’s gift. It was the gift that He offered that would bless them. You and I never know who will bless us with what God has blessed them with. It may be a song, a word of encouragement, it may be an insight into something we are dealing with.
We need to be careful that we know the story of why people do what they do before we judged them. The religious leaders despised Jesus because He taught the truth that exposed the deceptions of their traditions. They despised Jesus because He drew large crowds and exercised the power of God which was void in their lives. They witnessed His miracles but rejected Him. They blinded themselves to Jesus. We cannot let our pride get in the way of the Gospel.
Look at the Chief priest\’s response to Jesus\’ raising of Lazarus from the dead.
John 12:10-11
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
It was their pride and their desire for the praise of men that blocked them from seeing Jesus as Lord and Savior. They could not see Jesus because they were stuck on themselves.
Each of us has been given gifts to use to bring God glory. Each gift is different. Each gift
is important. Each gift is given for God\’s purpose. Everyone was not designed to do the
same thing. No one has any reason to be envious. My nose is for breathing, my eyes are
for seeing and my mind is for thinking. Which is more important? All are required and
useful for God’s glory.
THE PASSOVER INTO NEW LIFE
V:45 From the sixth hour until the ninth-hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, \”Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?\”-which means, \”My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\”
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, \”He\’s calling Elijah.\”
The three hours of darkness remind us of the 3 days of darkness in Egypt during
the first Passover. All Israel was saved and the firstborn of all Egyptians perished. It marked the release of Israel from slavery.
The three hours of darkness marked the time of darkness for unbelievers and the time
of a new life for believers. Unbelievers live in the darkness of Sin and believers live in
the newness of life and have died with Jesus.
Jesus repeated Psalms 22:1. My God, My God why has thou forsaken me? The question was for all believers to consider. It was a dark 3 hours because Jesus was made sin for us(2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was made a curse for us ( Galatians 3:13). After the 3 hours, the light returned.
DON’T REJECT THE BLESSING OF ETERNAL LIFE
V:48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, \”Now leave him alone. Let\’s see if Elijah comes to save him.\”
Those who hate you will add injury to their insults. It was not helpful to give a dying man vinegar to drink. The vinegar may represent the bitterness of sin. Some rejecting but Jesus hoped to see a miracle. They would see miracles but not the ones they expected. God\’s miracles are in abundance around us. Those who look will see.
THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS
V:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice (IT IS FINISHED, John 19:30).
He released His Spirit back to the Father. Breathed His last breath on earth and died in
the flesh.
Jesus was in total command of His death. He gave His life up voluntarily. He had previously said no one takes my life. I have the power to lay it down and the power to pick it back up again. Jesus proclaimed to the World that His work on earth was complete (John 19:30).
He had satisfied all the requirements of the Father for the atonement of our sins. He gave
His spirit by to the Father.
THE EVIDENCE OF THE FINISHED WORK
V:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus\’ resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
To mark the completion of Jesus’s Work on earth three miracles happened;
1) The curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom.
The tearing of the veil that separated the Holy place from the Holy
of Holiness represents our ability to go directly to Father without a high priest.
Jesus is our High Priest.
2). The localized earthquake reminds us of Mount Sinai when the Law was given.
The earthquake at Calvary represented the abolished law forever.
There is no need for any ritual sacrifices for sin. Jesus is the final sacrifice for
all sin at all times. We are now under grace.
3). The dead saints who were resurrected and walked the streets of Jerusalem
represent our resurrection from the dead through Jesus Christ and our final
destination in the New Jerusalem.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
V:54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, \”Surely he was the Son of God!\”
Non-Jews, Roman Soldiers, witnessing the events of the day, concluded that Jesus was the SON OF GOD. You would expect that every God-fearing Jew in Jerusalem would have confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. When your mind is closed, nothing can cause you to believe in Jesus. Rev. M. Mi
