WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.960 And if you would open up your Bible to Matthew chapter 27, 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:09.140 we're going to be looking at the crucifixion account of Jesus and what preceded it. 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:15.839 Kind of alluded this to in my prayer, but 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:23.620 maybe some of you came in this morning and you, when it comes to salvation, 00:00:23.859 --> 00:00:28.000 when it comes to Christ crucified, your thoughts are kind of like, 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.039 yeah, that happened, I'm so happy for it. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:34.980 But really, it doesn't make that much of a difference in your life. 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:41.179 May God stir your heart this morning through His Word. 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.900 Maybe some of you are in here this morning and you are, 00:00:46.900 --> 00:00:49.200 you've been trying to fight pride in your life. 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:54.100 You've been trying to live for others, or maybe you know you should be. 00:00:54.100 --> 00:01:02.400 But really, it's been a hard, hard thing to die in you, this desire to live for yourself. 00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:08.200 Well, this morning, we're going to see Jesus give Himself up. 00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:11.620 And it is such an example of humility. 00:01:14.299 --> 00:01:19.099 We're also going to see is what the Apostle Paul calls the matter of first importance. 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:23.339 That which makes a difference. 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:28.359 That which prioritizes, is in pole position in the life of a church. 00:01:28.479 --> 00:01:30.179 This is first things. 00:01:33.099 --> 00:01:34.599 That Christ was crucified. 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:40.439 The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:45.739 And the main thing, when it comes to biblical Christianity, 00:01:46.340 --> 00:01:48.079 can be summed up in two words. 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:51.019 Christ crucified. 00:01:52.900 --> 00:01:56.900 And so this morning, I'm going to read Matthew chapter 27. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.620 And we're going to start in verse 27. 00:02:01.979 --> 00:02:04.780 And I'm going to read through verse 61. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:08.740 And then we're going to walk through it. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.699 There are six scenes here. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:13.680 And we're going to walk through each scene. 00:02:13.920 --> 00:02:16.120 And I'm going to make a point and then bring it to bear. 00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:18.539 But let's just read God's Word together. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:25.579 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, 00:02:25.739 --> 00:02:26.939 known as the Praetorium. 00:02:28.459 --> 00:02:30.959 And they gathered the whole battalion before Him. 00:02:32.019 --> 00:02:34.759 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 00:02:34.859 --> 00:02:37.539 And twisting together a crown of thorns, 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:40.399 they put it on His head and put a reed in His right hand. 00:02:41.219 --> 00:02:44.000 And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:46.439 Hail, King of the Jews! 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:50.819 And they spit on Him and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:52.539 And when they had mocked Him, 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:55.759 they stripped Him of the robe and put His own clothes on Him 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:57.340 and led Him away to crucify Him. 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.939 As they went out, they found a man of serene, Simon by name. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:04.620 They compelled this man to carry His cross. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:07.439 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:09.180 which means place of a skull, 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:12.579 they offered Him wine to drink mixed with gall. 00:03:12.699 --> 00:03:14.699 But when He tasted it, He would not drink it. 00:03:14.699 --> 00:03:17.039 And when they had crucified Him, 00:03:17.079 --> 00:03:19.579 they divided His garments among them by casting lots. 00:03:20.839 --> 00:03:23.359 Then they sat down and kept watch over Him there. 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:25.899 And over His head they put the charge against Him, 00:03:25.959 --> 00:03:26.280 which read, 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:29.379 This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:32.579 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:34.139 one on the right and one on the left. 00:03:34.819 --> 00:03:36.759 And those who passed by derided Him, 00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:38.179 wagging their heads and saying, 00:03:38.519 --> 00:03:41.439 You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:42.759 Save yourself! 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:45.359 If you are the Son of God, 00:03:45.460 --> 00:03:47.000 come down from the cross. 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:52.599 So also the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked Him, 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:53.060 saying, 00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:54.259 He saved others. 00:03:54.359 --> 00:03:55.460 He cannot save Himself. 00:03:56.120 --> 00:03:57.099 He's the King of Israel. 00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:58.879 Let Him come down now from the cross, 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.240 and we will believe in Him. 00:04:01.379 --> 00:04:02.539 He trusts in God. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:03.939 Let God deliver Him now, 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:05.259 if He desires Him. 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:05.979 For He said, 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:07.199 I'm the Son of God. 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:10.699 And the robbers who were crucified with Him 00:04:10.699 --> 00:04:12.379 also reviled Him in the same way. 00:04:13.359 --> 00:04:14.119 Verse 45. 00:04:15.119 --> 00:04:16.920 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness 00:04:16.920 --> 00:04:19.300 over all the land until the ninth hour. 00:04:19.719 --> 00:04:20.959 And about the ninth hour, 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:22.839 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:23.199 saying, 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:24.699 Eli, Eli, 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:26.180 Leme Sabachthani. 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:27.279 That is, 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.240 My God, my God, 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:29.719 why have you forsaken me? 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.480 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, 00:04:33.539 --> 00:04:34.860 This man is calling Elijah. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:34.939 Elijah. 00:04:35.740 --> 00:04:38.000 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:39.080 filled it with sour wine, 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:39.960 and put it on a reed, 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:41.020 and gave it to him to drink. 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:42.560 But the other said, 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:45.900 Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:48.960 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:50.120 and yielded up His spirit. 00:04:51.060 --> 00:04:51.600 And behold, 00:04:52.580 --> 00:04:55.600 the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:57.740 And the earth shook, 00:04:57.860 --> 00:04:58.900 and the rocks were split, 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:00.540 the tombs also were opened, 00:05:00.840 --> 00:05:02.400 and many bodies of the saints 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:04.460 who had fallen asleep were raised, 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.779 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.099 They went into the holy city and appeared to many. 00:05:10.259 --> 00:05:12.560 When the centurion and those who were with Him, 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:13.719 keeping watch over Jesus, 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:14.819 saw the earthquake, 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:16.339 and what took place, 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:17.819 they were filled with awe, 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:18.620 and said, 00:05:19.099 --> 00:05:19.639 Truly, 00:05:20.159 --> 00:05:23.000 this was the Son of God. 00:05:24.199 --> 00:05:26.039 There were also many women there, 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:27.639 looking from a distance, 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:29.359 who had followed Jesus from Galilee, 00:05:29.539 --> 00:05:30.379 ministering to Him, 00:05:30.379 --> 00:05:32.379 among whom were Mary Magdalene, 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:33.879 and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:36.120 and this mother of the sons of Zebedee. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:37.839 When it was evening, 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:39.600 there came a rich man from Arimathea, 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:40.339 named Joseph, 00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:43.980 who also was a disciple of Jesus. 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:45.639 And he went to Pilate, 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:47.159 and asked for the body of Jesus. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:49.100 Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 00:05:49.159 --> 00:05:50.759 And Joseph took the body, 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:52.779 wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, 00:05:53.100 --> 00:05:55.060 and laid it in his own new tomb, 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:57.019 which he had cut in the rock. 00:05:57.019 --> 00:05:58.979 And he rolled a great stone 00:05:58.979 --> 00:06:00.159 to the entrance of the tomb, 00:06:00.219 --> 00:06:00.759 and went away. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:04.159 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, 00:06:04.299 --> 00:06:06.219 sitting opposite the tomb. 00:06:09.399 --> 00:06:11.859 The main thing is to keep the main thing, 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:12.579 the main thing. 00:06:13.799 --> 00:06:15.319 And here before us, 00:06:15.719 --> 00:06:17.139 is the main thing. 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:20.219 Christ crucified. 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:22.939 So let's walk through these six scenes, 00:06:22.939 --> 00:06:28.100 and let us see what God would have for us this morning. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:31.939 Let's look at verses 27-31. 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:34.899 Jesus is mocked in the praetorium. 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.420 I'm not sure if you noticed this 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:41.060 when we read through it just moments ago, 00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:44.100 but the way in which 00:06:44.100 --> 00:06:47.220 these Roman soldiers were mocking Jesus. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:48.699 Do you remember last week, 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:51.939 we talked about Jesus was before Pilate. 00:06:51.939 --> 00:06:54.459 He was up on the charge of treason. 00:06:54.639 --> 00:06:55.980 He's claiming to be a king. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:06:58.600 Pilate tries to get him off. 00:06:58.660 --> 00:06:59.779 He doesn't think he's guilty, 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:02.279 but the Jewish crowds are yelling, 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.360 crucify him, crucify him. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:06.899 And Pilate washes his hands and says, 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:09.379 hey, this is your responsibility. 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:11.600 They say, his blood is on our heads. 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:14.339 And so Pilate gives in, 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.939 hands him over to the Roman soldiers. 00:07:17.779 --> 00:07:18.540 They bring him, 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:19.800 they scourge him, 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.860 which is a brutal whipping. 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:24.600 And then in verse 27, 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:25.300 these soldiers, 00:07:25.460 --> 00:07:26.900 they bring him into the praetorium 00:07:26.900 --> 00:07:28.199 before the battalion, 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.040 which would have been about 600 soldiers, 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:30.639 a cohort. 00:07:31.340 --> 00:07:32.300 They stripped him, 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:33.920 and they put a scarlet robe on him. 00:07:35.100 --> 00:07:37.120 A scarlet robe would have been 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:41.139 akin to the royal robe of a king. 00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:43.719 It was mockery. 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:46.079 It would have been one of the short, 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:49.839 scarlet capes of one of the Roman troopers. 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:51.099 It would have been obvious 00:07:51.099 --> 00:07:52.159 that they're making fun of him. 00:07:54.159 --> 00:07:55.519 But they don't stop there. 00:07:56.919 --> 00:07:59.240 They put a crown of thorns together 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:00.039 on his head. 00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:03.459 It was to imitate the laurel crown, 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:05.639 the laurel wreath that went around Caesar. 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:05.759 Caesar, 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:08.939 you're the king. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:10.479 Here's your crown. 00:08:11.659 --> 00:08:13.399 And they pressed it on his head. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:14.740 Verse 29. 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:17.079 But it didn't stop there. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:21.259 They put a scepter in his hand. 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:24.019 It was a reed. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:26.319 You know what cattails are? 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:29.439 We see cattails in swamps. 00:08:30.719 --> 00:08:32.439 That's akin to what we're talking about. 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.640 It was complete mockery. 00:08:37.520 --> 00:08:39.080 And then they kneeled down. 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:40.680 Job 29 and 00:08:40.680 --> 00:08:44.000 paid a mock homage. 00:08:44.360 --> 00:08:45.640 Hail, king of the Jews. 00:08:45.800 --> 00:08:46.060 It would, 00:08:46.500 --> 00:08:48.080 a ring of hail Caesar. 00:08:49.780 --> 00:08:51.660 So these Roman soldiers, 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:53.600 they couldn't resist the opportunity 00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.820 of this guy who's claiming to be a king. 00:08:56.140 --> 00:08:57.580 Now they have the opportunity 00:08:57.580 --> 00:08:59.700 to get him ready for crucifixion. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:00.680 And they're brutal. 00:09:03.400 --> 00:09:05.100 Their mocking is awful. 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:06.100 They spit on him. 00:09:06.340 --> 00:09:07.720 And they start beating his head 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:08.720 with that reed, 00:09:09.020 --> 00:09:11.360 with his crown of thorns on him. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:16.240 All the while, 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:17.700 we know what's going on. 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:20.960 For those of us 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.440 who've been studying Matthew together, 00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:24.160 we know that Jesus, 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:25.980 he was born of a virgin, 00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:27.640 conceived by the Holy Spirit. 00:09:27.640 --> 00:09:30.000 His other name is Emmanuel, 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:31.080 God with us. 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.500 We know who these soldiers 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.600 are mocking. 00:09:36.280 --> 00:09:37.460 They have no idea. 00:09:39.900 --> 00:09:42.180 We know that he's a descendant of David. 00:09:43.300 --> 00:09:44.360 That he's in fact 00:09:44.360 --> 00:09:45.879 David's greater son, 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:46.860 Psalm 110. 00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:51.259 That he is the true king of Israel. 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:52.720 We know that. 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:54.139 They don't. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:56.740 And so they mock the one 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:59.140 who truly is the king. 00:09:59.139 --> 00:10:06.519 What is striking here 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:08.779 is how Jesus responds. 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:11.360 He doesn't. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:14.279 He's silent. 00:10:16.100 --> 00:10:17.500 He's letting it happen. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.000 He's not doing anything to stop it. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:25.159 These Roman soldiers 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:27.080 don't see him for who he is. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:27.960 And we, 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:30.179 almost 2,000 years later, 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:30.779 we do. 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.600 But this mockery 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:38.759 by these Roman soldiers, 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:40.100 this wasn't the worst thing 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:40.659 that happened 00:10:40.659 --> 00:10:41.899 on this Friday. 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:45.379 This is before 9 a.m. 00:10:45.379 --> 00:10:46.240 The trial itself 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:46.940 before Pilate 00:10:46.940 --> 00:10:47.940 would have been at daybreak. 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:49.200 Mark tells us 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:50.200 that Jesus was actually 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:51.540 crucified at 9 a.m. 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:53.260 So this has happened somewhere 00:10:53.260 --> 00:10:54.320 maybe 8 a.m. 00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:55.860 that Friday morning. 00:10:56.900 --> 00:10:58.380 So they get the deed done. 00:10:58.640 --> 00:10:59.520 They mock him 00:10:59.520 --> 00:11:01.560 behind praetorian closed doors. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:03.440 And then they redress him 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:04.500 and then they bring him out 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:05.780 in order to crucify him. 00:11:06.060 --> 00:11:06.840 And that moves us 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:07.660 to our next scene 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:09.300 in verses 32 through 38. 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:14.700 They bring him to Golgotha. 00:11:15.900 --> 00:11:16.500 Verse 32, 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.299 as they went out, 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:18.700 they found a man of Cyrene 00:11:18.700 --> 00:11:19.659 named Simon. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:21.279 Now, 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:23.480 they compelled this man 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:24.360 to carry his cross. 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.279 What's going on here? 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.460 Why would they do that? 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:27.639 What's happening? 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:29.500 Why would they take 00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.620 this guy named Simon 00:11:30.620 --> 00:11:32.120 and force him 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:33.980 to carry Jesus' cross? 00:11:34.179 --> 00:11:34.940 It wouldn't have been 00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:35.720 the whole cross. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:36.259 It would have been 00:11:36.259 --> 00:11:37.120 the cross member. 00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:38.259 The pentibulum 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:39.179 is what it was called. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:39.899 And it weighed somewhere 00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:41.440 between 75 and 100 pounds. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:42.799 And so if Jesus, 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:44.000 who had been scourged, 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:44.940 had already lost 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:46.179 a huge amount of blood, 00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:48.179 he is struggling. 00:11:48.359 --> 00:11:49.899 His body is failing him. 00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:50.719 And so they're going 00:11:50.719 --> 00:11:51.620 to bring him out 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:52.439 of the city 00:11:52.439 --> 00:11:53.539 of Jerusalem proper. 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.019 And they're going 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.199 to crucify him outside. 00:11:55.319 --> 00:11:56.159 And so he's having 00:11:56.159 --> 00:11:57.159 to carry this cross. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.819 His body fails him. 00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:00.259 And so the Roman guards, 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:00.859 which would have been 00:12:00.859 --> 00:12:01.699 four of them, 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:03.000 they're not going 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.139 to carry his cross. 00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:05.339 And so they're within 00:12:05.339 --> 00:12:06.120 their legal bounds 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:06.519 to say, 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:08.879 you take up his cross 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:10.620 to Simon of Cyrene. 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:12.799 And he does. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:14.979 He's got no other option. 00:12:16.479 --> 00:12:17.559 But as soon as you hear 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:18.359 that name Simon, 00:12:18.479 --> 00:12:19.019 what should be going 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:19.539 through your head? 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:21.699 Where's the rock? 00:12:23.699 --> 00:12:25.179 And it reminds us 00:12:25.179 --> 00:12:26.519 that Jesus has been 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.059 abandoned by his own. 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.579 Verse 33, 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:32.740 they come to this place 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:34.099 called Golgotha, 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:35.740 the place of a skull. 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.399 It had a reputation 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:38.559 for death. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:40.339 And just as a side note, 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:41.439 when we use the word 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:42.199 Calvary, 00:12:43.359 --> 00:12:44.259 Calvary comes from 00:12:44.259 --> 00:12:45.000 a Latin word, 00:12:45.339 --> 00:12:45.819 Calva, 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.939 which means skull. 00:12:47.699 --> 00:12:48.679 And so when we talk 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.419 about Calva, 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.279 we're talking about 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:51.019 Golgotha, 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.559 the place of a skull, 00:12:53.579 --> 00:12:54.419 the place known 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:55.099 for death. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.479 In verse 34, 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:01.379 the soldiers offer 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:03.099 Jesus wine mixed 00:13:03.099 --> 00:13:03.739 with gall. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.479 Now you see that 00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:06.039 in your Bible 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:06.699 and you're kind of like, 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:07.599 well that was really nice 00:13:07.599 --> 00:13:07.839 of them. 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:08.500 What changed? 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:10.159 They're just being 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:10.819 to be sweet. 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:13.439 It wasn't. 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:14.699 Has anybody in the room 00:13:14.699 --> 00:13:16.059 innocently 00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:18.399 kind of grabbed 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.479 a glass of water 00:13:19.479 --> 00:13:20.679 and you start drinking it 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:21.819 and then you realize 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:23.179 someone spiked it 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:23.759 with salt? 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:25.099 Has anybody 00:13:25.099 --> 00:13:26.079 experienced that before? 00:13:26.839 --> 00:13:28.000 You put it to your lips 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.379 and you're like, 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:28.819 ah! 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.159 And then you hear 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.019 the chuckles, right? 00:13:33.359 --> 00:13:34.219 That's what's happening. 00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:38.300 The soldiers spiked 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:40.019 this wine with gall. 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:43.120 It was very distasteful. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:44.600 As soon as Jesus 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:45.660 puts it on his lips, 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:46.879 it's gross. 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:47.820 He's not going to drink it. 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.840 Then the Roman soldiers 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.180 are like, 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:49.920 gotcha! 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.960 It's more of the same. 00:13:55.820 --> 00:13:56.800 More mockery. 00:13:58.440 --> 00:13:59.080 Verse 35, 00:13:59.080 --> 00:14:00.920 this is striking. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.400 It's so understated. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.300 And when they had 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:05.259 crucified him, 00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:09.400 they divided his garments 00:14:09.400 --> 00:14:10.700 among them 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:11.620 by casting lots. 00:14:12.160 --> 00:14:12.860 Matthew's just 00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:13.540 matter of fact. 00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.139 It doesn't go into 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.060 big detail. 00:14:15.940 --> 00:14:16.840 And the reason why 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.800 is if you're living 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:18.660 in the first century 00:14:18.660 --> 00:14:19.400 and you were the 00:14:19.400 --> 00:14:20.300 recipients of this 00:14:20.300 --> 00:14:21.700 gospel originally, 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:22.540 you would be very 00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.220 familiar with 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.900 crucifixion. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.100 It was estimated 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.459 that Rome would 00:14:26.459 --> 00:14:28.279 crucify upwards 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.799 to 10,000 people 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.539 every year. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.279 And so you would 00:14:32.279 --> 00:14:33.059 have been used 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.659 to seeing crucifixions 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:35.659 even though they're 00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:36.139 horrific. 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:37.079 They're an awful 00:14:37.079 --> 00:14:37.799 way to die. 00:14:40.059 --> 00:14:40.919 Crucifixion was 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:41.699 reserved for the 00:14:41.699 --> 00:14:42.519 worst of criminals 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.179 and the lowest 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:43.939 of society. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.679 It was designed 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:47.699 to inflict the 00:14:47.699 --> 00:14:48.600 maximum amount 00:14:48.600 --> 00:14:49.100 of pain 00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:50.199 for the longest 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:51.120 amount of time 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.659 in the most 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.019 humiliating of ways. 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:54.720 And just to give 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.699 you a sample of it, 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.799 we have an English 00:14:56.799 --> 00:14:57.559 word, it's called 00:14:57.559 --> 00:14:58.799 excruciate. 00:14:59.039 --> 00:14:59.480 Have you heard 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:00.179 that word before? 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.299 It's one of our 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.240 words to try to get 00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.059 at the worst kind 00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:04.259 of pain we experience. 00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:05.659 And literally, 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:06.959 what excruciate means, 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:08.079 it means out of 00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:08.860 the cross. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:11.019 X out of cru, 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.000 C-R-U-C, 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:12.819 that's short for 00:15:12.819 --> 00:15:14.079 crux, cross, 00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.179 out of the cross. 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.659 Our English word 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:18.039 for worst possible 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.840 pain has its root 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:20.699 in the cross. 00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:25.919 And he was 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.899 crucified naked. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:28.419 That was the Roman 00:15:28.419 --> 00:15:29.539 way of doing things. 00:15:29.959 --> 00:15:30.620 Probably would have 00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.879 had a loincloth on 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.179 to be respectful 00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.959 to the Jews, 00:15:34.079 --> 00:15:34.840 but it would have 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:36.159 been humiliating. 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.959 That's why they 00:15:38.959 --> 00:15:40.360 were dividing 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.399 his garments up 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.100 among them 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.259 and casting lots 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:43.699 for them. 00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:45.059 It actually fulfills 00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:46.340 Psalm 22, 18. 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:46.879 And what you're 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.319 going to see is 00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:48.579 Psalm 22 is 00:15:48.579 --> 00:15:49.480 backlaid against 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:49.679 this. 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.919 Matthew helps us 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:51.659 see that this is 00:15:51.659 --> 00:15:52.819 fulfillment all over 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.360 the place. 00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:56.340 One other thing 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:56.940 you need to know 00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:57.700 is that Jews 00:15:57.700 --> 00:15:58.760 considered someone 00:15:58.760 --> 00:15:59.680 who was crucified 00:15:59.680 --> 00:16:00.980 as being cursed 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:01.800 by God. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.660 Paul says, 00:16:05.780 --> 00:16:06.680 quoting Deuteronomy, 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.820 cursed is everyone 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.700 who is hanged on a 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:08.960 tree. 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.900 And what you need 00:16:11.900 --> 00:16:13.120 to know is that 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.500 Jesus is coming 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:15.460 under the curse 00:16:15.460 --> 00:16:16.640 of God at these 00:16:16.640 --> 00:16:17.140 moments. 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.260 But the question 00:16:18.260 --> 00:16:19.020 we need to start 00:16:19.020 --> 00:16:19.800 asking is, 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.880 I thought Jesus 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.500 was innocent. 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.480 Why is he being 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.939 accursed by God? 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.779 For who is he 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.500 being accursed? 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:32.779 Verse 36, 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:33.840 the guards sit 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.639 down and keep 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.600 watch over Jesus. 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.320 They're protecting 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:36.600 him. 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:37.399 There's the possibility 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.120 someone would try 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.779 to steal someone 00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.580 off a cross. 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.080 But Matthew's 00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:42.039 really set this up 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.759 because these 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:44.740 Roman guards, 00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.720 there's four of them 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.559 with a centurion, 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.360 they are watching 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.879 what is about 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.480 to happen. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.879 And we know 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.379 what they're about 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:52.820 to see. 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:54.019 They have no idea 00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:54.539 what they're about 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:54.899 to see. 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.740 And what they are 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.899 about to witness 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.740 is going to change 00:16:59.740 --> 00:17:00.080 them. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.279 They're going to be 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.340 those who say, 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:03.740 hail, king of the 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.980 Jews, mockingly, 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:06.759 to one saying, 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.940 truly, this was 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:08.940 the son of God. 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.539 They're going to see 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.000 something. 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.599 But they don't know 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.400 what's happening yet. 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.740 verse 37, we learn 00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:20.660 about what was 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.560 tacked above Jesus' 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:21.980 head. 00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.380 Criminals would 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:25.900 have had this sign 00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.540 put above them 00:17:26.540 --> 00:17:27.460 that would say 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.060 who they are. 00:17:28.160 --> 00:17:28.920 This is Jesus of 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.080 Nazareth and what 00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:30.960 they're charged with. 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:31.780 He's charged with 00:17:31.780 --> 00:17:32.560 being king of the 00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:34.100 Jews, tongue in 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:34.360 cheek. 00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:36.320 It was mocking 00:17:36.320 --> 00:17:37.940 Jesus and thumbing 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:39.240 their noses at the 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:39.560 Jews. 00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:41.080 Here's your king. 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.360 And what we see 00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:45.580 going on here is 00:17:45.579 --> 00:17:47.199 very subtle, but 00:17:47.199 --> 00:17:48.119 very important to 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:48.399 see. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:50.599 Though they think 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.059 that it's mockery, 00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:53.960 we know it to be 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.460 true. 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:56.399 This is Jesus. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.079 Do you remember 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.639 what his name 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.039 means? 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.659 The Lord saves, 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.779 Matthew 1.21. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.279 And it's, he's the 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.539 king of the Jews. 00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:06.359 It's true. 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.659 And he's hanging 00:18:07.659 --> 00:18:08.720 on a cross. 00:18:11.199 --> 00:18:12.419 To Jews, this would 00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:13.079 have been a 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:13.939 stumbling block. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:17.240 To Greeks, it would 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:19.299 have been just a 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:19.860 fool's errand. 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.720 But this is the 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.700 second time now we've 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.420 seen king of the 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.320 Jews show up in our 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:27.680 section. 00:18:27.840 --> 00:18:28.900 The first one was a 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:30.100 mocking hail king of 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:31.240 the Jews, but it's 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:31.539 true. 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:33.660 And now it's, it's 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:34.840 written on the sign 00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:36.080 above Jesus' head on 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.660 the cross. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.980 It's true. 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:41.680 verse 38, there's 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:43.360 two robbers crucified, 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:45.059 one on the other, 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.819 each side of him, and 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.819 they're called robbers, 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:49.059 but there's, there is 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.400 a reasonable belief to 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.339 believe that these were 00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:52.819 more than robbers, that 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:54.360 these were actually other 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:55.660 freedom fighters, other 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.839 insurrectionists. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.480 And the idea behind it is 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.279 Barabbas was their leader. 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.120 And he would have been 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:03.259 crucified in the middle of 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.460 them. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:05.279 And so what's happened is, 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.299 if that's true, Jesus 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:08.359 gotten swapped out for 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.859 their insurrectionist 00:19:09.859 --> 00:19:10.240 leader. 00:19:11.919 --> 00:19:13.419 But what we see come the 00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:14.960 end of verse 38 is the 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.019 stage has now been set. 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.919 Jesus is hanging on a 00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:22.460 cross with these 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:24.059 insurrectionists on 00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:25.000 either side. 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.519 There's the Roman guard 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.700 watching him. 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.460 And now we move to the 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:30.019 third scene. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:34.299 The passerbys, the 00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:36.139 leaders, the criminals, 00:19:36.140 --> 00:19:36.800 themselves. 00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:39.520 And what Matthew does, he 00:19:39.520 --> 00:19:41.660 moves us from this 00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:42.920 activity of these Roman 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:45.200 soldiers now to the 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.759 reviling of the Jews. 00:19:48.320 --> 00:19:50.259 In verses 39, we read 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:50.680 this. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:54.460 And those who passed by 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.560 derided him, wagging 00:19:55.560 --> 00:19:56.040 their heads. 00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:57.240 These were, these were 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:59.460 Jewish passerbys, 00:19:59.780 --> 00:20:01.060 sojourners coming into 00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:01.580 the city. 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.680 This is just everyday 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:03.860 activity that they've been 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.240 doing. 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:07.099 They're wagging their 00:20:07.099 --> 00:20:09.059 heads is a fulfillment of 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:11.619 Psalm 22, 7, where we 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:13.179 read, all who see me, 00:20:13.679 --> 00:20:14.339 mock me. 00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:16.759 They make mouths at me. 00:20:16.879 --> 00:20:18.459 They wag their heads. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:23.360 And so these are ordinary 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.740 Jews walking by. 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:25.620 Jesus would have been 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:27.019 crucified in a place that 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.620 was very prominent and 00:20:28.620 --> 00:20:29.180 public. 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:31.120 And so people just coming 00:20:31.120 --> 00:20:31.960 in and out of the city, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:32.740 they'd have to see it. 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.319 It was Rome's way of 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:35.180 saying, don't mess with 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.480 us. 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.900 And these passerbys are 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:42.240 saying in verse 40, you 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.340 who would destroy the 00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.519 temple and rebuild it in 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.960 three days, save yourself. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:49.960 This is what was accused 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.960 of Jesus and the hearing 00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:55.380 in Caiaphas' house in 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.880 chapter 26, 61. 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:58.160 And they're referring to 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.360 something Jesus said back 00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:01.079 in John chapter 2, 19, 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.900 records for us, where Jesus 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:04.259 wasn't actually speaking 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:06.160 about the temple proper in 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:06.680 Jerusalem. 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.039 He was talking about his 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.640 own body. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:13.579 He was saying, hey, destroy 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:15.319 this body of mine and in 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:16.860 three days later it will be 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.159 raised. 00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:21.319 And the great irony of 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:23.979 this all is that he is 00:21:23.979 --> 00:21:26.939 going to give himself in 00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:28.419 order to save others. 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:33.259 And then they go on to 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:35.419 say in verse 40, if you are 00:21:35.419 --> 00:21:37.639 the Son of God, come down 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:39.219 from the cross. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:42.259 These passerbys, these 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:44.500 Jewish passerbys, they 00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:45.700 obviously don't understand 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.279 why the Son of God had 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:47.680 come. 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:50.880 They're thinking, hey, if 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.460 you come down from the 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:54.140 cross, that will prove 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.100 you're the Son of God. 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:58.880 But we all know that it's 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.279 because he stayed on the 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:02.559 cross, it proved he was the 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.120 Son of God. 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.819 And that's exactly what 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.440 you're going to see the 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.299 centurion say. 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.100 He's going to witness 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:10.580 everything in verse 54. 00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:11.940 He's going to say, truly, 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:14.039 this was the Son of God. 00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.700 He saw the way he died. 00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.779 He stayed on the cross. 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.519 He'll be in his very dying 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.600 that his identity is 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:24.000 confirmed to those who 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:24.400 believe. 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:28.220 Well, these Jewish 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.860 passerbys persist in their 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:30.299 blindness. 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.440 righteousness. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.579 And Jesus has no 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.200 response. 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:35.200 He doesn't say anything 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.879 from the cross to them. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.440 And then in verse 41, we 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.980 start seeing the Jewish 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:43.819 leaders get in on the 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:44.039 play. 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.519 And it's very subtle. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.500 There's a very subtle 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.159 shift here. 00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:52.220 If you look in verse 40, 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.919 you see the passerby saying, 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.299 you who would destroy the 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.440 temple. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:58.359 You save yourself. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:22:59.720 You, you, you, you, you. 00:22:59.720 --> 00:22:59.799 You. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:01.339 They're speaking to him on 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:01.880 the cross. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.180 And then in verse 41, the 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.440 chief priests, scribes, 00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:08.799 elders mock him saying, he 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.460 saved others. 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.299 He cannot save himself. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.620 They're not even giving him 00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:12.900 the dignity of speaking to 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.039 him. 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.279 It's like their backs are 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.180 turned talking to one 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:16.360 another. 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:18.960 He, he, he can't even save 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.339 himself. 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.440 He saved others, but he 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:20.960 can't save. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.279 They're not talking to him. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.860 It's like when someone 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:25.200 talks about you in your 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:26.200 presence, but they're not 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.180 talking to you. 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:31.160 They're just humiliating him. 00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.279 He saved others. 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:34.559 He cannot save himself. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:37.819 The irony, of course, is 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:39.860 that he's giving himself to 00:23:39.860 --> 00:23:40.779 save others. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:43.200 He's the king of Israel. 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.380 Let him come down now from 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.279 the cross and we will 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:45.799 believe him. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:47.819 Even if he did come down, 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.160 they would not believe him 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:51.160 because their heart are so 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:52.160 hard towards him. 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:56.980 They're thinking that, hey, 00:23:57.040 --> 00:23:58.279 we will acknowledge the 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.960 reign of this king if he 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.660 comes down. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.240 And the reality is he's 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:05.060 establishing his reign by 00:24:05.060 --> 00:24:05.920 staying up. 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:10.640 There's that phrase again, 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.460 king of Israel. 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:18.019 In verse 43, these Jewish 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:20.440 leaders quoting Psalm 22, 00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:22.420 8, he trusts in God. 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:24.019 Let God deliver him now if 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:24.940 he desires him. 00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.539 For he said, I'm the son of 00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:26.779 God. 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.900 Oh, Jesus, if he has that 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:30.259 special relationship with 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.600 God, if he is really God's 00:24:31.600 --> 00:24:34.920 son and he trusts God, 00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.920 then God should deliver him 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.980 if he desires that. 00:24:38.080 --> 00:24:39.720 He will want him to be 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.059 delivered. 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:44.000 Again, these Jewish leaders 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.960 are thinking, hey, if he is 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.340 who he claimed to be, then 00:24:47.340 --> 00:24:48.279 God's going to bring him 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:48.640 down. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.160 He's going to rescue him 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:51.920 from the cross. 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:54.600 But they don't seem to 00:24:54.600 --> 00:24:56.580 remember Isaiah 53, 10, 00:24:56.820 --> 00:24:58.300 which says it was the will 00:24:58.300 --> 00:24:59.880 of the Lord to crush him. 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.540 Jesus does trust in his 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:04.940 father. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:07.640 And God's not going to 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.180 deliver him. 00:25:08.420 --> 00:25:09.820 He's going to crush him. 00:25:09.820 --> 00:25:09.880 He's going to crush him. 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:15.140 They don't see it. 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:18.720 They reject Jesus as their 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.160 Messiah. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.520 Son of God, King of Israel, 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:23.520 taken together equals Messiah. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.220 They reject him. 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:29.940 And Jesus doesn't respond. 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:36.539 Verse 44, the Jewish criminals 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.759 on either side of him, they 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.640 get in on the game. 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:41.380 They revile him the same way 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:43.059 Luke tells us, are you not 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.600 the Christ? 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:45.779 Save yourself and us. 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.000 Us too. 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:52.059 We know later that one of them 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.400 will actually have a dramatic 00:25:53.400 --> 00:25:54.900 change of heart and he will, 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:57.160 to that day on the cross, 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.500 will be the day of salvation 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.099 for him. 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:02.019 But Matthew records for us 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.759 here, it's all the Jews 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:07.740 in this area are heaping up 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.079 reviles on him. 00:26:09.339 --> 00:26:11.880 It is like a chorus of 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:14.220 revilings of these Jewish 00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:15.259 spectators. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:19.140 The passerbys, the leadership, 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.059 the criminals on either side, 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:23.359 they've rejected Jesus as the 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:25.200 King, the Son of God, and they 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.059 revile him. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:34.160 Remember, Jesus, this is not 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.940 about power. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.119 Jesus had the authority. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.119 He healed sick people of their 00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.839 sicknesses with just a touch. 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:46.119 He just spoke words to raging 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:48.099 seas and they were peaceful. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:53.180 He spoke a word of exorcism to 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:55.480 legions of demons and they left 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.220 their victim. 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:59.839 And he raised people from the 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.160 dead. 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:05.200 This is not an issue of ability. 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:08.680 It's not that Jesus cannot save 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.160 himself. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:13.220 Jesus will not save himself. 00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:16.920 He's choosing not to save himself. 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:20.740 He's choosing to give himself. 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:23.200 And these Jews around him right now, 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.039 they don't get it. 00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:24.900 They don't see it. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:29.400 But for all this Jewish reviling, 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:31.120 it's not the worst of it. 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.519 This isn't the worst of it. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:37.100 It's what happens in 45 through 50 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:38.100 that's the worst of it. 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.440 And now we move to scene four. 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:44.380 His cry of dereliction and his 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:44.680 death. 00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:47.779 In verse 45, we see darkness 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:49.059 coming over the land. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:50.319 It's the sixth hour. 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:55.039 That means noon to the Roman mind. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.779 So it's noon and there was 00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:59.139 darkness all over the land. 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.519 It would have been very odd. 00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.419 Do you remember, do you all 00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:03.919 remember the solar eclipse this 00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.599 past summer? 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.659 It was high day. 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.919 If you're in Missouri, you'd be 00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:10.599 like, this is weird and freaky, 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:11.859 but kind of awesome. 00:28:11.859 --> 00:28:16.259 Some have speculated that what's 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:19.199 happening here on this Friday 00:28:19.199 --> 00:28:22.019 is a solar eclipse, but the reality 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:24.019 is it would have been Passover, 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.299 it would have been full moon, 00:28:25.399 --> 00:28:26.799 and apparently you can't have a full 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:28.339 moon and a solar eclipse at the same 00:28:28.339 --> 00:28:28.679 time. 00:28:29.219 --> 00:28:30.500 So it's not a solar eclipse. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.679 Something else is going on. 00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:36.439 What is this darkness for me? 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:40.539 Jesus has been on the cross for three 00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:42.100 hours, 9 a.m. 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.160 It's noon. 00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:45.580 Darkness is coming over the land. 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:53.880 Back in Exodus, before God, the 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:57.980 tenth plague in which God pours out 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:00.059 death on the firstborn and he 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.880 provides a Passover lamb. 00:29:01.880 --> 00:29:05.840 And before that, the ninth plague, 00:29:07.020 --> 00:29:07.520 darkness. 00:29:08.780 --> 00:29:10.180 Three days of darkness. 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.460 It starts getting at this sense of 00:29:15.460 --> 00:29:16.340 judgment. 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:19.700 God's wrath building up. 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:23.140 Throughout the Old Testament, there's 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.980 a linkage between darkness and 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.520 judgment. 00:29:27.800 --> 00:29:30.220 Now, if it's true that this gathering 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:33.660 darkness is a manifestation of God's 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:36.640 judgment, we've got to start asking a 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:36.980 question. 00:29:37.180 --> 00:29:39.380 What is God's wrath being aimed at here? 00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:42.740 Why is God's wrath being gathered 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:43.380 visibly? 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:45.519 What is happening? 00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:47.799 We have the Son of God on the cross, 00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:51.720 and we have darkness gathering in this 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:53.140 area, in this land. 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:58.200 Who is this judgment aimed at? 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:04.640 Verse 46. 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:09.579 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.720 The judgment isn't on the Roman soldiers. 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:17.600 The judgment isn't on these reviling 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.200 Jews. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:22.960 This gathering judgment is falling upon 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:25.539 the Son of God on the cross. 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:30.659 His wrath being poured out on Jesus. 00:30:32.819 --> 00:30:35.819 In verse 46, we're told that it's the 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:37.639 ninth hour Jesus cried. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.579 3 p.m. 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.779 Friday afternoon. 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:42.440 He's been on the cross for six hours. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:45.319 This darkness has been there for three 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.779 hours. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:48.839 This judgment being poured out on Jesus 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:50.039 for three hours. 00:30:50.639 --> 00:30:52.960 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.860 This is the worst part of it. 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:57.140 This is what Jesus has been dreading in 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.660 the garden. 00:30:58.279 --> 00:31:00.299 This is the cup that he was going to be 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.920 drinking that he didn't really want to 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:04.160 drink but was willing to drink out of 00:31:04.160 --> 00:31:05.240 obedience to his Father. 00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:09.900 He's quoting Psalm 22.1. 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:14.059 Psalm 22 is about an innocent man who 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.900 suffers greatly. 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:17.340 It's that basic and simple and that is 00:31:17.340 --> 00:31:18.960 exactly what's going on here. 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:25.720 Jesus is experiencing God forsakenness. 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:32.259 It's the cry of dereliction, of cry of 00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:33.040 abandonment. 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:36.620 He's drinking the cup. 00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:43.339 And we've got to ask, well, in what sense 00:31:43.339 --> 00:31:44.959 is Jesus being forsaken here? 00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:48.019 And there's a couple clues in the actual 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.419 quote. 00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:51.599 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:31:53.679 --> 00:31:55.359 The relationship is still intact. 00:31:56.659 --> 00:31:58.659 The second person of the Trinity has not 00:31:58.659 --> 00:32:00.939 ceased to be the son of the first person 00:32:00.939 --> 00:32:02.039 of the Trinity, the Father. 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:07.099 But in some way, in ways that we can't 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:11.079 fathom, there is now a hostility between 00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:12.519 Father and Son. 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:15.579 There's something there that's never been 00:32:15.579 --> 00:32:18.279 there before for all eternity past. 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:20.799 And we get a flavor of it. 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:25.480 In Matthew chapter 3, after Jesus is 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:27.960 baptized, we hear the Father's voice. 00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:30.460 This is my beloved Son with whom I am 00:32:30.460 --> 00:32:31.079 well pleased. 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:34.980 And then in Matthew chapter 17, after the 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:37.839 transfiguration, this is my beloved Son 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:39.039 who I'm well pleased. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.319 Listen to Him. 00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:44.019 And here on the defining moment of 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:46.619 salvation, what do we hear from the 00:32:46.619 --> 00:32:46.980 Father? 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.500 Nothing! 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:53.220 We just hear the Son. 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:56.019 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:32:56.019 --> 00:33:04.440 Why would He forsake His Son if His Son is 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:04.759 innocent? 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.839 Why would He do this? 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.700 It's all according to plan. 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:17.460 From before the foundation of the world, 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:21.740 God ordained His Son to be sacrificed for 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:24.339 those who would one day believe, to gather a 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:25.420 people for Himself. 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:32.359 If you turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 5.21, 00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:44.120 we read this. 00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:46.119 For our sake. 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:48.419 For our sake. 00:33:50.419 --> 00:33:52.239 For sinners who would one day believe. 00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:53.279 For our sake. 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:57.939 For our sake, He, the Father, made Him, the Son, 00:33:58.500 --> 00:34:01.019 to be sin who knew no sin. 00:34:01.159 --> 00:34:01.819 He was innocent. 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:05.960 So that in Jesus, we might become the 00:34:05.960 --> 00:34:07.079 righteousness of God. 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:09.500 Why would God the Father forsake His 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.199 innocent Son? 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:14.500 He put our sin on Him and poured out His 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:16.440 wrath on it for our sake. 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:26.960 In Matthew 20.28, Jesus, speaking of His death, 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:30.460 says, I have not come to be served, but to 00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:33.300 serve and to give my life as a ransom for many. 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:38.079 Right here at this moment, Jesus is ransoming 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:39.079 the many. 00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:42.820 He's giving His life for all who would one day 00:34:42.820 --> 00:34:47.559 believe in the Son and pay for their sin. 00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:52.800 A ransom is a payment to release a slave or 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:54.059 for to give a debt. 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:57.840 And Jesus is paying the ultimate ransom price 00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:01.380 with His life for you and for me. 00:35:03.600 --> 00:35:06.900 The eternal wrath of God was being poured out on the 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:08.579 eternal Son of God. 00:35:08.840 --> 00:35:10.320 Remember, this is Passover. 00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:15.079 He's our Passover sacrifice whose death delivers us 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:17.360 from God's pending judgment. 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:22.200 Because we're under the blood, God's wrath is satisfied. 00:35:25.980 --> 00:35:30.019 It's because of this ransom payment that Romans 8.1 is 00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:32.980 something that Christians can say with full confidence. 00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:35.340 There is therefore now no condemnation. 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:36.280 There's no wrath. 00:35:36.740 --> 00:35:39.620 There's no judgment for those who were in Christ Jesus 00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:41.940 because He ransomed me. 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:44.139 He paid for it. 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:47.000 1 Peter 3.18 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:51.159 For Christ also suffered once for sins on the cross. 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:53.559 The righteous for the unrighteous. 00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:57.320 He's a substitute that He might bring us to God. 00:35:58.159 --> 00:36:02.800 He ransomed sinners in order to reconcile sinners to God. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:12.480 Why did God the Son, 00:36:12.560 --> 00:36:14.420 why was He forsaken by God the Father? 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:18.220 To ransom sinners from their sins. 00:36:19.519 --> 00:36:22.580 It comes all the way back to Matthew 1.21 00:36:22.580 --> 00:36:24.900 where Jesus is named and He says, 00:36:25.160 --> 00:36:26.220 You are the Lord saves 00:36:26.220 --> 00:36:31.300 because you are going to save your people from their sins. 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:35.300 And here He is doing it. 00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:42.880 Christ crucified. 00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:47.240 The King of Israel. 00:36:48.080 --> 00:36:49.060 The Son of God. 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.060 Emmanuel. 00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:55.640 Being crucified and forsaken by His Father 00:36:55.640 --> 00:37:00.160 in order to ransom sinners from their sins. 00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:04.160 And then it's really odd 00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:06.200 because if you turn back to Matthew 27 00:37:06.200 --> 00:37:10.440 in verse 47 through 49 00:37:10.440 --> 00:37:13.200 you have this really strange event that takes place. 00:37:13.560 --> 00:37:15.000 The bystanders there are like, 00:37:15.220 --> 00:37:16.600 Hey, this man is calling Elijah. 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:19.480 Eli, Eli sounds like Elijah. 00:37:19.900 --> 00:37:20.220 And so they're like, 00:37:20.240 --> 00:37:21.519 Hey, hey, hold on a second. 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:23.060 Maybe Elijah is going to come. 00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.380 Now, 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:27.640 they have no idea who this is on the cross 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:29.779 and they have no idea what He's doing. 00:37:30.879 --> 00:37:33.659 That He's accomplishing salvation. 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:39.059 In verse 50, 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:41.960 we read, 00:37:42.839 --> 00:37:45.000 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:47.279 and yielded up His spirit. 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:50.780 John records in 1930 00:37:50.780 --> 00:37:53.660 what Jesus actually said. 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.720 It is finished. 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.080 What was finished? 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:01.960 His ransom payment was finished. 00:38:03.240 --> 00:38:05.880 Paying for your sin and my sin was finished. 00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:10.780 And then in the end of verse 50, 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:12.079 He yielded up His spirit. 00:38:12.200 --> 00:38:12.920 It's very clear. 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.220 The language is very clear. 00:38:14.640 --> 00:38:16.660 His life was not taken from Him. 00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:19.480 He gave His life as a ransom for many. 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:25.640 He was willingly there as our substitute. 00:38:25.639 --> 00:38:32.139 We move from scene 4 00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:34.639 and the main thing 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:37.779 to seeing its immediate effects. 00:38:41.420 --> 00:38:42.500 In verse 51, 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:43.299 And behold, 00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.159 the curtain of the temple 00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:45.819 was torn in two from top to bottom. 00:38:46.339 --> 00:38:48.099 The curtain being talked about 00:38:48.099 --> 00:38:50.940 is the curtain between the holy place 00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:52.579 and the holy of holies in the temple. 00:38:53.259 --> 00:38:54.539 It was 60 feet high, 00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:55.539 30 feet wide, 00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:56.759 and what Matthew records, 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:59.779 it was rend from top to bottom. 00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:00.719 And so it's like, 00:39:00.779 --> 00:39:01.559 what does that mean? 00:39:02.119 --> 00:39:03.119 Here's what it means. 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.960 Through the death of Jesus, 00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:08.340 we all now have access 00:39:08.340 --> 00:39:09.860 into the presence of God. 00:39:10.440 --> 00:39:11.559 That's what that means. 00:39:15.940 --> 00:39:17.960 There's a new way to come to God. 00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:20.139 It's through Jesus. 00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:22.900 That's the point of Hebrews 9 00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:23.800 and Hebrews 10. 00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:25.320 But there's another implication. 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:29.539 The temple was then and there 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:31.559 rendered obsolete. 00:39:32.699 --> 00:39:33.880 No more need for it. 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:36.480 Because there's a new and better way 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:36.960 in Jesus 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:38.739 to come to God. 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:42.460 The temple now 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:45.920 has been rendered obsolete. 00:39:47.800 --> 00:39:50.219 Major shift in God's saving plan 00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:51.400 for the fullness of time. 00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:54.740 The focal point is no longer on the temple. 00:39:54.740 --> 00:39:57.019 The focal point becomes Jesus. 00:39:58.280 --> 00:39:59.720 The curtain of the temple 00:39:59.720 --> 00:40:01.099 was torn from top to bottom. 00:40:01.400 --> 00:40:02.460 God initiated this. 00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:05.519 God wanted all to come to Him. 00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:07.559 Verse 51, 00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.900 there's an earthquake. 00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:10.840 The significance is 00:40:10.840 --> 00:40:12.079 the death of Jesus 00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:15.760 had immediate creation effect. 00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:21.560 It literally shook things up. 00:40:24.100 --> 00:40:26.020 One might have this anticipation 00:40:26.020 --> 00:40:27.920 of what else is going to happen 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:29.120 among creation 00:40:29.120 --> 00:40:31.560 at the start of this work of redemption. 00:40:31.559 --> 00:40:35.000 We read that. 00:40:35.559 --> 00:40:37.239 Tombs were opened up. 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.239 Verse 52. 00:40:38.880 --> 00:40:39.659 Now you've got to remember 00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:41.239 that the tombs in that day 00:40:41.239 --> 00:40:43.920 were tombs hewn into the earth. 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.679 And so if there's an earthquake, 00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.739 rock splitting, 00:40:46.940 --> 00:40:48.980 it opens up tombs. 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:53.400 Now that might be a little confusing 00:40:53.400 --> 00:40:54.159 to you to read. 00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:56.039 The tombs also were opened up 00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:57.320 and many bodies of the saints 00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.539 who had fallen asleep were raised. 00:40:58.679 --> 00:41:00.380 The best way to understand that is 00:41:00.380 --> 00:41:01.780 on this Friday, 00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:03.579 the tombs also were opened up, 00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:04.579 complete stop, 00:41:05.099 --> 00:41:06.619 and then that and 00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:08.480 picks up on Sunday, 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:09.820 resurrection Sunday. 00:41:10.260 --> 00:41:11.699 And many bodies of the saints 00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:12.820 who had fallen asleep 00:41:12.820 --> 00:41:14.260 were raised on that Sunday 00:41:14.260 --> 00:41:15.760 and coming out of the tombs 00:41:15.760 --> 00:41:16.840 after His resurrection, 00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:18.019 they went into the holy city 00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:18.679 and appeared to man. 00:41:19.000 --> 00:41:19.739 Do you know what happened 00:41:19.739 --> 00:41:20.359 as a result? 00:41:20.859 --> 00:41:22.119 Old Testament saints 00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:23.960 who trusted God 00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:25.639 would be raised to life 00:41:25.639 --> 00:41:27.139 and what it says is 00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:29.059 even Old Testament faith 00:41:29.059 --> 00:41:30.699 depended upon the Christ. 00:41:36.619 --> 00:41:37.699 Now could you imagine 00:41:37.699 --> 00:41:38.319 if you were there? 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.539 You'd just taken all this in. 00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:41.960 You're just sitting around 00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:42.659 watching this. 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:43.819 You're the centurions 00:41:43.819 --> 00:41:46.259 and his three other Roman soldiers. 00:41:46.799 --> 00:41:48.519 You've seen the revilings 00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:49.460 of the other Jews. 00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:50.219 You've seen how Jesus 00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:51.019 responded to that. 00:41:51.400 --> 00:41:53.420 You yourself had reviled him. 00:41:54.500 --> 00:41:56.420 You nailed him to the cross. 00:41:57.219 --> 00:41:58.239 You've seen it happen. 00:41:58.619 --> 00:42:00.360 You saw the darkness come in. 00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:02.019 You heard him say, 00:42:02.119 --> 00:42:02.920 my God, my God, 00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:03.980 why have you forsaken me? 00:42:04.199 --> 00:42:05.460 You heard him say, 00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:06.639 it is finished. 00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:09.340 You felt the earthquake. 00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:15.440 And so what we read 00:42:15.440 --> 00:42:22.400 in verse 54, 00:42:24.400 --> 00:42:24.840 truly, 00:42:25.300 --> 00:42:26.720 this was the Son of God. 00:42:27.460 --> 00:42:30.180 You have the first Gentile convert 00:42:30.180 --> 00:42:32.240 after the death of Jesus. 00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:32.339 Jesus. 00:42:34.339 --> 00:42:35.659 The centurion, 00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:36.879 he's somehow, 00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:38.279 someway recognizing 00:42:38.279 --> 00:42:40.719 that this is God's Son. 00:42:48.719 --> 00:42:49.739 Christ's death 00:42:49.739 --> 00:42:51.119 opened up a way 00:42:51.119 --> 00:42:54.099 and the immediate response 00:42:54.099 --> 00:42:56.859 is a Gentile centurion 00:42:56.859 --> 00:42:58.779 confessing Jesus 00:42:58.779 --> 00:43:00.000 as the Son of God. 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:04.980 in verses 55 and 56, 00:43:05.539 --> 00:43:06.360 Matthew is clear 00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:08.320 to show that there are women there. 00:43:08.679 --> 00:43:09.820 Though the male disciples 00:43:09.820 --> 00:43:10.699 have bailed, 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:12.199 the women are there. 00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:14.639 They're holding out. 00:43:17.940 --> 00:43:19.119 The last scene 00:43:19.119 --> 00:43:21.239 is the burial 00:43:21.239 --> 00:43:23.820 in Joseph's tomb. 00:43:24.699 --> 00:43:26.280 And that's 57 through 61. 00:43:26.440 --> 00:43:26.940 Matt's here. 00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:27.860 I'm going to leave that to you 00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:28.880 to do a little bit more work 00:43:28.880 --> 00:43:29.599 in next week. 00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:31.700 But here's what I want you to see. 00:43:32.920 --> 00:43:33.579 He's dead. 00:43:34.860 --> 00:43:35.760 He really died. 00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:38.320 He's put in a tomb. 00:43:40.740 --> 00:43:41.800 Here's the point of it all. 00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:43.519 This is the climax 00:43:43.519 --> 00:43:44.619 of Matthew's gospel. 00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:45.720 And he's showing us 00:43:45.720 --> 00:43:47.140 what Jesus had to endure 00:43:47.140 --> 00:43:48.460 in order to save sinners. 00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:51.180 The worst part 00:43:51.180 --> 00:43:53.519 wasn't the mockery 00:43:53.519 --> 00:43:55.240 of the Roman soldiers. 00:43:55.460 --> 00:43:56.280 The worst part 00:43:56.280 --> 00:43:57.380 wasn't the pain 00:43:57.380 --> 00:43:58.200 of the cross. 00:43:58.500 --> 00:43:59.380 The worst part 00:43:59.380 --> 00:44:00.539 wasn't the mockery, 00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:01.920 the reviling of the Jews. 00:44:02.300 --> 00:44:03.260 The worst part 00:44:03.260 --> 00:44:04.200 was being forsaken 00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:05.079 by his Father. 00:44:05.460 --> 00:44:06.420 And he did that 00:44:06.420 --> 00:44:07.200 for you 00:44:07.200 --> 00:44:09.119 that you could be forgiven. 00:44:11.039 --> 00:44:11.519 Ransomed. 00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:16.140 He gave his life 00:44:16.140 --> 00:44:16.860 for yours. 00:44:16.860 --> 00:44:23.400 Let me close with one application. 00:44:27.780 --> 00:44:29.440 It means salvation for you. 00:44:32.380 --> 00:44:33.599 It means salvation. 00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:37.599 If you came into this room 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:38.340 and you're thinking, 00:44:38.620 --> 00:44:39.880 oh, I believe that Christ 00:44:39.880 --> 00:44:40.620 was crucified. 00:44:40.619 --> 00:44:42.759 My prayer 00:44:42.759 --> 00:44:44.279 is that you would recognize 00:44:44.279 --> 00:44:45.579 that he was crucified 00:44:45.579 --> 00:44:47.059 for you. 00:44:47.579 --> 00:44:48.940 It is personal. 00:44:49.900 --> 00:44:51.059 He did it for you. 00:44:52.739 --> 00:44:54.739 When was the last time 00:44:54.739 --> 00:44:56.779 you took stock 00:44:56.779 --> 00:44:58.339 and thought through 00:44:58.339 --> 00:45:00.619 all that the Son of God endured 00:45:00.619 --> 00:45:03.079 in order to pay 00:45:03.079 --> 00:45:04.500 for your sin 00:45:04.500 --> 00:45:06.480 so that you could come 00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:08.079 into a real 00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:09.599 and living relationship 00:45:09.599 --> 00:45:10.420 with God, 00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:14.699 it means salvation. 00:45:16.819 --> 00:45:17.880 And that's something 00:45:17.880 --> 00:45:18.779 we sing about. 00:45:20.259 --> 00:45:21.219 That's something 00:45:21.219 --> 00:45:22.239 that we proclaim. 00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:25.079 That's something 00:45:25.079 --> 00:45:26.019 that informs 00:45:26.019 --> 00:45:27.239 our very, 00:45:27.599 --> 00:45:28.679 very life 00:45:28.679 --> 00:45:29.839 as a church. 00:45:31.059 --> 00:45:32.420 This is what is of called 00:45:32.420 --> 00:45:33.819 first importance. 00:45:33.820 --> 00:45:42.160 The main thing 00:45:42.160 --> 00:45:43.420 is to keep 00:45:43.420 --> 00:45:44.180 the main thing 00:45:44.180 --> 00:45:46.059 the main thing. 00:45:47.340 --> 00:45:48.100 And when it comes 00:45:48.100 --> 00:45:50.160 to biblical Christianity, 00:45:50.820 --> 00:45:52.160 the main thing 00:45:52.160 --> 00:45:53.000 is summed up 00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:53.900 in two words. 00:45:55.300 --> 00:45:56.260 Christ crucified. 00:45:56.260 --> 00:45:56.380 Christ crucified. 00:46:00.100 --> 00:46:01.100 Do you believe 00:46:01.100 --> 00:46:01.900 he was crucified 00:46:01.900 --> 00:46:02.639 for you? 00:46:04.680 --> 00:46:06.160 And if this is the day 00:46:06.160 --> 00:46:07.960 that lights are going on 00:46:07.960 --> 00:46:08.440 for you 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:09.500 for the first time, 00:46:09.960 --> 00:46:11.000 come on down front 00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:11.900 after we sing. 00:46:12.660 --> 00:46:13.300 I'd be glad 00:46:13.300 --> 00:46:13.840 to talk to him 00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:15.200 about you. 00:46:16.660 --> 00:46:17.360 Let's pray. 00:46:19.639 --> 00:46:20.519 God in heaven, 00:46:21.440 --> 00:46:23.380 we give you 00:46:23.380 --> 00:46:24.000 great thanks 00:46:24.000 --> 00:46:24.639 and praise 00:46:24.639 --> 00:46:26.000 for all that happened 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:26.639 to Jesus 00:46:26.639 --> 00:46:28.300 by your will 00:46:28.300 --> 00:46:29.200 on the cross. 00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:30.419 we see 00:46:30.419 --> 00:46:31.219 the outworking 00:46:31.219 --> 00:46:31.799 of Isaiah 00:46:31.799 --> 00:46:32.219 20, 00:46:32.599 --> 00:46:33.500 of Psalm 22. 00:46:33.839 --> 00:46:34.639 We see Isaiah 00:46:34.639 --> 00:46:35.519 53 10. 00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:36.279 It was your will 00:46:36.279 --> 00:46:37.099 to crush him. 00:46:37.879 --> 00:46:38.960 And we see him 00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:40.419 willingly doing it, 00:46:41.500 --> 00:46:42.639 lovingly doing it 00:46:42.639 --> 00:46:44.699 to save us. 00:46:46.359 --> 00:46:46.839 God, 00:46:46.899 --> 00:46:47.799 would you do a work, 00:46:48.159 --> 00:46:49.539 press this into our hearts, 00:46:50.159 --> 00:46:50.819 change the way 00:46:50.819 --> 00:46:51.519 that we live. 00:46:52.099 --> 00:46:53.480 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:54.439 Amen. 00:46:54.439 --> 00:46:54.639 Amen. 00:46:55.639 --> 00:46:56.000 Amen. 00:46:56.000 --> 00:46:56.059 Amen. 00:46:56.059 --> 00:46:56.119 Amen. 00:46:56.119 --> 00:46:56.179 Amen. 00:46:56.179 --> 00:46:56.500 Amen. 00:46:56.500 --> 00:46:56.559 Amen. 00:46:56.559 --> 00:46:56.619 Amen.