THE FIRST RESURRECTION SUNDAY

THE FIRST RESURRECTION SUNDAY

Matthew 28:1-15

This is the morning when the Christian church celebrates what we have come to know as Easter. It is the day when we commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. However, instead of Easter, I prefer the name "Resurrection Sunday." Of course, like so many traditions held by the church, it would be difficult, if not impossible to get the name changed.
You see, the word "Easter" is believed to from the word "Eastre", which is the Anglo-Saxon name for the Teutonic (pre-Germanic) goddess of spring and fertility. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the spring equinox. Many of the traditions used in her worship survive to this day. The Easter Bunny, a symbol of fertility, the Easter egg, painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and the giving of baskets filled with treats are just a few of the traditions that survive.
May I remind you that Resurrection Sunday is not about Easter bunnies, Easter eggs or the giving of gifts. It is about celebrating the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the first Resurrection Sunday.
With that in our minds this morning, let's journey back to that first Resurrection Sunday morning. Let's look in on the events at the tomb of Jesus that day and see what happened and what it means for you and me!
I. THE APPROACH OF THE WOMEN  V. 1
Matthew records the fact that two women came that morning. The other Gospel writers reveal the fact that others came also. There is no contradiction, they probably arrived as part of different groups. However they came, they were sad, defeated and discouraged. Some had witnessed and others had heard of the death of Jesus on the cross and they were coming to pay their last respects to the body of the Lord. As we consider their motives for coming, we can see what they were doing early that Sunday morning.
A. Some Came To Look - Matt. 28:1 - Maybe they were coming to pray or to meditate near the place where His body had been buried. Maybe they were coming to make sure that everything was in order at the tomb. Whatever the reason, we are told that they "came to see the sepulchre".
B. Some Came To Labor - Mk. 16:1; Lk. 24:1 - These verses teach is that some of the women came to perform one last labor of love for the Lord Jesus. They came to finished anointing His body for burial. They wanted to serve Him one last time.
C. Some Came To Linger - John 20:11-18 - These verses tell us that Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb after the others had already gone away. Here was a woman that owed much to Jesus. There had been a time in her life when she had been possessed by seven demons, Mark 16:9. Her life had been radically changed by Jesus and she loved Him more than life itself. If you will remember, she was one of the last at the cross, Matt. 27:61, and she was the first to see Him after He had risen from the dead, Mark. 16:9. She loved Him so much for what He had done for her. Surely her hear was broken that morning, but still she came to love Him and worship Him!
II. THE ACTIVITY OF THE ANGEL  V. 2-8
Humanity was the only one that sent ambassadors to the tomb early that morning. Heaven also sent an emissary to proclaim the good news that Jesus was not dead but alive. Let's look in on the activities of the angel that first Resurrection Sunday.
A. V. 2 He Rolled The Stone - (Obstacle One Removed) - Mark 16:1 tells that while the women made their way to the tomb to finished preparing the body for burial, one of their concerns was how to remove the stone. That stone represented the finality of death. For them, that stone was an exclamation point at the end of the sentence of death. That stone said, "He is gone forever!" Thank God, the Lord took care of that stone! Not to let Jesus out, He was long gone before that angel ever arrived on the scene. That stone was rolled away so that men could look into the tomb and see that it was forever empty! One of the obstacle to faith, the stone, was rolled away!
B. V. 3-4 He Removed The Soldiers - (Obstacle Two Removed) - Matt. 27:62-67 tells us that the chief priests and the Pharisees were concerned that the prophecies of Jesus might actually come true, and they wanted a guard to be posted at the tomb. (Ill. It is sad when rank infidels know more about the Bible and believe it more than people who claim to know Jesus!) So they sealed it with Pilate's seal and they posted a company of guards at the door. That detachment of soldiers stood as an obstacle between the saints and their entrance into the tomb of Jesus. However, when this angel appeared, he made short work of the soldiers. These battle hardened men fainted at his feet like a bunch of silly teenagers at Elvis Presley concert! Another obstacle to faith, the guard at the tomb, has been rolled away!
C. V. 5-7 He Reminded The Saints - (Obstacle Three Removed) - As this angel began to speak to the women that morning, the greatest obstacle of all was removed - unbelief! His message inspired them to belief in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! Notice what he reminded them of.
1. V. 5 Of The Past - They were reminded of the crucifixion. Of course, these ladies needed no such reminder. They had both been there, John 19:25. Still, the fact of His death is emphasized. This reminds us of the importance of the death of Jesus on the cross. His death provided the sacrifice that was needed to cleanse sinners from their sins and to make them right with God, Isa. 53:4-6; Heb. 9:22; 1 John 1:7.
2. V. 6 Of The Present - The angel tells them, "You are here at this tomb, but Jesus isn't! He is risen!" My friends, this was the greatest proclamation ever to fall upon human ears! His death was the perfect, eternal payment for sin, but His resurrection was God's receipt for the full amount! You see, a dead Savior can save no one! But a living Savior can offer salvation to all who come to Him by faith, Heb. 7:25. When Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is finished!", John 19:30. When He rose from the dead, God the Father said, "I am satisfied!"
Now, Jesus had proven that He was Who He had claimed to be all along, John 11:25-26. Now, He can declare His victory over death, Rev. 1:18. Now, we can look to Him by faith and be confident of His power to save, Acts 16:31. That is the present state of affairs!
3. V. 6 Of The Promise - They are reminded that His resurrection should not have taken them by surprise! After all, it was what He said that He would do all along, Matt. 12:40; 16:21; 17:7; 17:23; 20:19; 26:31; John 2:19; 10:17. The resurrection should not have caught them off guard. The crucifixion should not have taken them by surprise. They should have been holding worship services outside the tomb early that morning! They should have been there ready to meet Him when He came out of the tomb. Again, I will remind you that it seems like the Jewish leaders had more faith in the promises of Jesus than did His Own disciples!
4. V. 6 Of The Proof - The angel's invitation is for them to look into the tomb and see for themselves that Jesus is gone! Later, when the Peter and John arrive there, John records the fact that the linen cloths that had been wrapped around Christ's body were lying there like and empty cocoon, while the napkin that had been about His face was folded in a place by itself. This sight caused John to believe in the resurrection, John 20:2-7.
There are two reasons why the appearance and arrangement of the grave clothes are of such importance. First, there was no sign of human intervention. If someone had taken the body, they could not have removed it through the graveclothes, and it is likely that they wouldn't have removed them anyway. They would have taken the body with them still wrapped in the cloths that bound it. Neither would they have taken the time to fold the napkin, but it too would have been taken with the body, or at least it would have been discarded in a haphazard manner. In short, the empty tomb was a scene of perfect order. This suggested a resurrection had taken place.
Second, was the ancient oriental custom of the napkin. When a man with servants was eating a meal, he would often use his napkin to signal them during the course of the meal. If he left the table and wadded his napkin up, it meant that he was finished and would not be back. If, however, he neatly folded the napkin, it told his servants that he was stepping away for a moment, but he would be back! Jesus was telling His disciples, "I may be out of your sight right now, but I'll be right back!" When Peter and John arrived at the tomb, they feared the worst. Perhaps they thought robbers had come, or that the Jews had taken His body away. Even Mary missed the napkin and supposed the gardener had moved the body of the Lord, John 20:15. Yet, John, who had been raised with servants, Mark 1:20, probably knew this custom and quickly grasped the meaning, v. 8.)
5. V. 7-8 Of The Plan - They were to go and share the good news that Jesus was risen from the dead. Those disciples who were cowering in fear that the next cross might be their own were to receive the glorious news that Jesus had conquered death and was alive forevermore!
(Ill. What a glorious message those women were given that day! It was a message of hope. A message of life. A message of victory. It was a message that every one needed to hear. It still is! May we never forget that the message of that tomb is as fresh today as it was then! Jesus is still alive and men trapped in the bondage of fear and sin still need to hear about it. May we do as they did and carry the message with swift feet and joyful hearts to a world that needs desperately to hear about a risen Lord!)
III. THE APPEARANCE OF THE SAVIOR  V. 9-10
A. V. 9a The Appearance Of The Lord - As they were going to tell the others, Jesus Himself met them in the way. He came to give them a personal word of encouragement and hope, (Ill. "All hail!" = "O joy!".) He came to them personally so that they might know first hand that He had indeed risen from the dead.
B. V. 9b The Adoration Of The Lord - When they meet Him, they are so overcome with love and joy that they fall at His feet in worship! That is the natural reaction of those who love Him! They cannot help but come into His presence with worship and praise. It is a fact, those who know the risen Savior have a desire to worship Him!
He is worthy to be worshiped? He is worthy of all the praise we can heap upon Him! There is no need to hold back in your love and expressions of love for Jesus. After all, He is the theme of Heaven's worship, Rev. 4:11; 5:9-10. He should be the theme of worship on the earth as well, Heb. 13:15.
C. V. 10 The Assurance Of The Lord - When the Lord speaks to these ladies, it is to comfort their hearts and confirm their mission. He assures them that all is well and that the time to be afraid had forever passed. He is alive and will take care of all that arises in life! That is glorious news! Only a living Lord can give peace and assurance to the hearts of His people, John 14:27! Only a living Lord can be present with them in the way, Heb. 13:5! Only a living Lord can speak words of comfort, peace and hope! Thank God for our living Lord this morning!
IV. THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE ENEMY  V. 11-15
Not everyone who heard about the events at the tomb we overjoyed, however! We see in these closing verses of our text that the enemies of the cross and of the resurrection were already gathering to try and find a way around what had happened that day
A. V. 11 The Problem - If Jesus was really alive from the dead, then the Jews had a real problem! It meant that He was right and they were wrong! It meant that their system of worship was dead and that Jesus, alone, was the path to salvation! They had to find a way to silence the disciples and to counteract what had happened at the garden tomb early that morning. They were terrified!
By the way, all religious systems in the world are bothered by the empty tomb! You see, you can travel to China, find the tomb of Buddha, and it will say "Occupied" over the door. You can travel to the middle east and find the tomb of Mohammed, and it will say, "Occupied" over the door. Travel to Russia and look at the body of Lenin in his glass coffin and the sign should say, "Occupied." But, travel with me to Palestine. Let's go to an old tomb hewn out of a rock. The tomb where they tell us the body of Jesus once lay. What does the sign over the door say, "Vacant!" That empty tomb sounds the death knell for every other religious system on the face of the earth! There is one risen Savior and His name is Jesus! There is one Way to Heaven and His name is Jesus. There is only One who descended into the depths of death and came to life again the eternal Victor over death for all who believe in Him, and His name is Jesus!
B. V. 12-13 The Plan - His resurrection is a problem for all who do not believe, so they try to find a way to discount it. This is what the leaders of the Jews are doing in these verses. (Ill. The context.) They made up a lie to cover the truth. They devised a scheme to avoid having to face the facts. They willingly chose darkness over the light!
That's what people do every day! They hear the claims of the Gospel and they turn a deaf ear to it. They try and justify their rejection, but it is still just that! They are saying no to the only One Who can give them life. They are refusing Jesus, the Truth, and believing the lie of Satan and going off into damnation! It is a foolish plan!
C. V. 14-15 The Perjury - They agreed with the soldiers that if Pilate heard about this thing, they would lie for them and get them off the hook. After all, for a Roman soldier to sleep at his post carried a sentence of death. But, notice what they told them to say: "His disciples came by night and stole Him away." What? Those eleven men were off somewhere cowering in fear, John 20:19. They were so scared that when He was arrested, they fled in fear. They were so afraid that only one of their number was brave enough to go to the crucifixion. They were so afraid that they allowed the women to go to the tomb to finish preparing the body. These men would never have stolen that body. They were just too afraid! Besides that, all of them but John, and he was boiled in oil, died for their faith. They were persecuted to death because they preached the resurrection from the dead! If it were not true would they have died for it? If don't think so!
Conclusion: This passage begins with a tale of life and it ends with the telling of a lie. Which has influenced your life the most? The life or the lie? I praise the Lord for the life! It has changed my life forever. The events of that day will forever reverberate throughout eternity. Those who come to Jesus by faith will be saved, and become partakers of the life of God in Christ. Those who believe the lie are damned!
Let me just remind you that this was the first Resurrection Day, it won't be the last! Because He lives, those who place their faith in Him will live too! Those in the graves will come forth one day, 1 Thes. 4:13-17, and those who are alive when He comes will never taste of death. Because when He died He tasted death for us, Heb. 2:9! Thank God for that day when death lost the battle with Life forever! Thank God for the day the battle was forever won for you and me! Thank God for that first resurrection day!

THE DEATH OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT

THE DEATH OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT 

Mark 15:33-41

If any man who ever lived deserved the title of “hero”, it was the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, He didn’t have leading man good looks, Isa. 53:2. He didn’t have heroic, selfless followers, Mark 10:35-37. He didn’t have money, earthly power, or a fancy sports car, Matt. 8:20; 2 Cor. 8:9. In fact, there was nothing about Jesus that made Him stand out from His fellow Jew. Yet, I submit to you that the world has never seen a greater hero that the Lord Jesus Christ.

        Jesus left His home in Heaven, invaded this world, His arch enemy’s own territory, to redeem His people from their sins. Jesus Christ, Who was, is, and ever shall be God, came to this world and became a man, Phil. 2:5-8; John 1:1; 14. He lived a sinless life, perfectly keeping the Law of God for those who could not keep it. Then, He was rejected by the very people He came to save, John 1:11.

        Jesus came to this world to provide a way for the lost to be saved. In order for Him to open this way of salvation, He had to die. He had to be nailed to a cross and executed, the innocent dying the guilty, 1 Pet. 3:18.

        Jesus was rejected by the Jews. They accused Him of blasphemy and declared that He was worthy of death. They beat Him, bound Him and took Him to Pontius Pilate. Pilate refused to free Jesus and upheld the death sentence, turning Jesus over to his soldiers so that they could execute Him. Those soldiers took Jesus and they mocked Him, they beat Him with a scourge, and they led Him away to a place called Calvary, where they nailed Him to the cross.

        Our text opens with Jesus on the cross. By the time we come to verse 33, Jesus has been on the cross for three hours. During those first three hours, He has suffered all the pain the cross can mete out. During that time, Jesus has also been mocked by the jeering crowds.

        Those first three hours were a time of pain, degradation and shame. During that time, humanity had its way with the Creator. The God Who made man out of the dust of the earth was dying for sin on a cross right before them and they had no more compassion for Him than they would have for a dog run over in the road.

        Up to this point, Jesus has suffered greatly at the hands of man. Now, it is time for Him to suffer at the hands of His Heavenly Father. The cross was not about man having his chance to attack God. The cross was about God judging His Son for sin in the place of sinners.

        In these verses, we will witness The Death Of The Suffering Servant. In this passage, we will see Jesus as He suffers for our sins on the cross. We will witness some of the price He paid that day so that we might go free. We will see The Misery Of His Death; The Miracles At His Death and The Ministry Of His Death. Let’s consider these thoughts together as we witness The Death Of The Suffering Servant.

  I.   THE MISERY F HIS DEATH  v. 33-37      

                 By the time we come to this verse, Jesus has been on the cross for some three hours. Nails have been driven through His hands and His feet. The nails passing through His hands would have been in close proximity to the median nerves. This would have caused acute spasms of pain to shoot through the Lord’s body. The muscles of His body would be cramping from dehydration and from being forced to remain in such an unnatural position for a long period time. The spasms in His body would have caused His back, which had been lacerated from the scourging, to writhe against the wood. A raging thirst would have gripped the Lord. We can only try to imagine the agony He endured that day as He died for us on the cross.

         By noon, the Lord’s physical sufferings were not even close to being over. By the “sixth hour”, he had endured inconceivable physical agony, but His spiritual sufferings were just about to commence.

        We are told that “there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” After humanity had abused and shamed the Son, God the Father turned the lights out. This was not an eclipse of the sun. That would not have been possible at the Passover, which was held just after a full moon. This was not a natural darkness, it was a supernatural darkness. It also appears that this darkness was not worldwide, but that it was localized in Israel.

        Why did God cause this darkness to fall upon Israel the day Jesus died? I want to offer a few possible reasons for this.

Ø  One reason has to do with the people around the cross. For three hours they have laughed, mocked and stared as Jesus Christ hung in nakedness and shame on the cross. Now, God brought about a dense darkness to prevent them from seeing what He was about to do to His Son. What Christ was about to endure was so holy that sinful humanity was not worthy to look upon it.

Ø  Another reason has to do with ancient prophecy. The Prophet Amos warned of the coming judgment of God against the sinfulness of Israel. In Amos 8:9, the Lord said this, “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.”

        Throughout the Bible, darkness is associated with the judgment of God. In Exodus 10:21-23, God sent darkness upon the land of Egypt as a sign of His coming judgment. The Egyptians worshiped a god named “Ra”. He was the “sun god”. God extinguished his power.

        Jesus said that His second coming would be announced by darkness, Mark 3:24-25. In those days, the sun will not shine, the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the heavens. It will be a time of judgment.

        When the darkness fell on Israel that day, God was signaling that the judgment of that nation was at hand.

Ø  A third reason has to do with the curse of sin. The lost are held captive in the  darkness of their sins, Eph. 5:8; Col. 1:13. Jesus entered the very darkness of sin that we might be brought out of darkness into “His marvelous light”, 1 Pet. 2:9.

         The darkness that covered Israel lasted for three hours. As far as we know, the darkness silenced the people around the cross. For three hours, there was little sound or movement. At the end of that time, from the depths of that oppressive darkness, Jesus cries, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

        To understand why Jesus made that terrible cry, we need to understand what was happening during those three hours of darkness. While Jesus hung on the cross that day, the sins of those who would be saved were transferred to Jesus Christ. As Paul would later write in 2 Cor. 5:21, “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

        While darkness covered the nation of Israel that day, the blessed Lord of glory was plunged into the greatest darkness He had ever known. The holy, sinless, Lamb of God literally became sin on that cross. Peter would put it this way, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed,” 1 Pet. 2:24.

         Consider what this means. It means that every lie,  every murder, every act of revenge, every aborted baby, every word of blasphemy, and every evil deed committed by all those who would ever be redeemed by His blood was placed on Him. It means that all the pride, all the hatred, all the sexual sin, all the immorality, all the wickedness and all the ungodliness of His people was placed on Him. It means that every rape, every molestation, every injustice, and every evil thought or deed ever committed by those He would redeem was placed on Jesus.

         Can you imagine how this must have repulsed His holy soul? Here is a man Who cannot sin. He was born without a sinful nature and He had no desire for, or impulse to commit sin, ever! Here is a man Who is accustomed to holiness and righteousness. Now, all the sins of His Bride are placed on Him. The spiritual agony Jesus endured that day far outweighed any physical torment He might have suffered.

         When that transaction was made on the cross, God the Father focused all of His wrath against sin into the body of His Son. God judged Him as if He were every one of those who would come to Christ. God treated Jesus as if He were a murdered, a rapist, a whoremonger, or a blasphemer. In that moment of time, Jesus suffered the greatest agony of Hell itself. He suffered separation from the presence of His Father!

        By the way, the greatest pain of Hell will not be the fire. It will not be the thirst. It will not be the gnashing of teeth. The greatest agony of Hell will be eternal separation from Almighty God, 2 Thes. 1:8-9.

·         When Jesus cried “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Or My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Some of the people near the cross thought He was calling on Elijah. An ancient Jewish legend said that Elijah would come to the aid of righteous Jews in their hour of need. One of them gave Jesus a drink of vinegar, which was a weak, tart wine that was said to take away thirst better than plain water. Jesus took this drink, because it did not have the narcotic myrrh in it. The people thought they might see a miracle that day. They thought that Elijah might show up and save Jesus.

·         When Jesus cried like He did, He was not calling on Elijah. Jesus was quoting Psalm 22:1, but He was doing more than that! He was signaling that He had been judged in the place of sinners and for sin! Mark tells us in verse 37, that He “cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” John tells us what He cried. John 19:30 says, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

        The phrase “it is finished” translates the Greek word “tetelestai”. It was a common word that had many meanings in that society. The primary usage had to do with two parties coming together in agreement on a price. When an agreement had been reached that mutually satisfactory, they parties would say “tetelestai”. It meant, “the deal has been struck and both parties are satisfied.”

         When Jesus went to the cross, He went to satisfy God. Jesus did not die to pay the devil. Jesus died because, “the wages of sin is death”, Rom. 6:23. Jesus died because the only way we could ever be free was for an innocent man to give His life in our place. That is what Jesus did!

        He took our sins upon Him and He was judged in our place. He died when He knew the Father was satisfied. That is why the Bible says Jesus is “the propitiation for our sins”, 1 John 2:2.

         The death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was the ultimate expression of God’s love for the lost, Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:10. Jesus Christ died in physical and spiritual agony to save His people from their sins. He did it not because we deserved it, but because He loved us. He did it because we could not save ourselves. As the song writer so accurately said, “He suffer it all because He loved me!”

  II.   THE MIRACLES AT HIS DEATH  v. 38        

         The death of Jesus was attended by more supernatural miracles. When Jesus died, Matthew says this, “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many,” Matt. 27:51-53.

        Imagine that! There were earthquakes, rocks shattered, graves burst open, and long dead saints got up and walked about the city. It was a miraculous moment.

         The greatest miracle mentioned is in verse 38 of our text. We are told, “And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”

        The veil in Solomon’s Temple hung between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. According to the Law, only the High Priest could go behind that veil, and he could only go there one day each year. God promised Israel that He would dwell between the two cherubim that stood over the Mercyseat. He promised that He would meet with His people there.

        On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest, was to take the blood of a lamb and enter the Holy of Holies. He was to sprinkle that blood on the Mercyseat, which rested on top of the Ark of the Covenant, making atonement for the sins of the people. To enter the Holy of Holies at any other time, and without blood, was to violate the holiness of God and it meant certain death. The priests in Jesus day did not need to worry about that, the glory of God had long departed from the Temple. He was no longer there, neither was the Ark of the Covenant or the Mercyseat.

         That veil stood as a barrier between man and God. That veil said to all who entered the Temple, “This far and no farther!” The moment Jesus died, that massive veil, which was so thick it was said that a team of horses could not tear it apart, ripped down the middle, as if a giant sword had sliced it into.

         That rent veil signaled the end of the Jewish sacrificial system. That rent veil proclaimed that the way to God was open for all who would come to Him. That rent veil means that whosoever will can come to Jesus and be saved by the grace of God. That rent veil means the way to God is open and all who will can come, Rev. 22:17; John 3:16; Rom. 10:13.

         I remind you today, this text makes on thing as crystal clear: There are not many ways to God, there is only one Way, and His name is Jesus, John 14:6; Acts 4:12. Muhammad did not die for sin. Buddha did not die for sin. Joseph Smith did not die for sin. There was only one man on that cross that day and His name was and is Jesus. He is the one Who died for sin and for sinners. All those who come to Him will be forever saved!

 III.   THE MINISTRY IN HIS DEATH  v. 39     

         Among those standing around the cross that day was a Roman centurion. This man was a leader of other men. He was over 100 Roman soldiers, thus the title “centurion”. This man had witnessed many executions. No doubt he had supervised the death of hundreds, if not thousands of men during his career. As he watched Jesus die, something struck him as being different about this man.

         Usually, when people died on the cross, they grew gradually weaker, until their bodies simply gave out. Not Jesus! Jesus Christ endured terrible pain and suffering on the cross, but He ended His life by crying out in a loud voice.

        Normally, those crucified were not able to speak in anything above a whisper at the end of their lives, if they could speak at all. When Jesus died, it seemed as though He still possessed strength of mind and body. This spoke to the centurion. He saw how Jesus died and he confessed that Jesus was “the Son of God.”

        That’s not all this man saw. He saw how Jesus held His peace as He was crucified. He listened as Jesus prayed for His adversaries, Luke 23:34. He saw the tender minister of the Lord Jesus to His mother Mary, John 19:26-27. He saw how Jesus reached out to the dying thief, Luke 23:39-43. He saw the sign over the Lord’s head, v. 26. He saw the darkness that covered the earth. He saw all of this and he knew there was something different about this man!

        Now, we don’t want to read too much into this, but I have always been of the opinion that this man was saved right here. Whether he did or not will be revealed when we arrive in glory, but what he did is what it takes to be saved. All it takes is a lost sinner looking away by faith the a crucified Savior. Salvation is as simple as placing childlike faith in Him, Acts 16:31.

         This may not mean much to you, but the fact that Jesus died possessing His mental and physical strength says a lot about His death. You do know that the Romans did not kill Jesus, don’t you? You do know that the Jews did not kill Jesus, don’t you?

        The fact is, Jesus Christ did not release His Spirit, which is what the phrase “gave up the ghost” means, until He knew God was satisfied with the payment He had made for sin. Jesus chose the time; He chose the means; and He chose the place where He would lay down His life as a ransom for sin,John 10:18. Jesus died for sin, but He died on His Own terms so that people like that centurion, and the rest of us, might have a means of salvation.

         Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Have you looked away in faith like that centurion and believed on Him? If you haven’t, I beg you to come to Jesus today.

        I praise Him that my spiritually blind eyes have been opened and that I have seen Him. I praise God that I have seen His life, His love, His death and His resurrection. I have seen it and I have believed! Thus, I am saved by grace and on my way to glory. How about you?

Conclusion: Mark closes this sad scene by telling us about some precious women who had followed Jesus and ministered to Him during His life and ministry. They had been near the cross earlier, now they have moved farther away. Perhaps they did not to be there when He took His last breath.

        Surely, these men are broken hearted. As far as they are concerned this is the end of Jesus. All their hopes, dreams and aspirations have been shattered. What these women fail to realize is this is not the end! Jesus is dead, and He will be buried, but three days from now, He will rise from the dead! In three days time, their sorrow will be turned into rejoicing, for Jesus will rise from the dead and guarantee salvation for all who believe on Him.

        Why did Jesus do what He did? He did it so that sinners might be saved. He did it so that there might be power in the Gospel. He did it so that we who have trusted Jesus might have hope. He did it to save us.

        Hear what Paul has to say about the death of Jesus.

·         Romans 3:26, “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

·         Romans 4:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

        The question today is what does His death mean for you? Are you saved? If not, com to Jesus now. If you are, rejoice in the high price He paid to redeem you from your sins. If you are, serve Him like He deserves to be served!

A PLACE CALLED GOLGOTHA

A PLACE CALLED GOLGOTHA

Mark 15:22-32

Before the world was formed God set an amazing plan into motion. Before the sun, moon stars and planets were formed; before God made man in His image; before there was even light in the universe; God determined to send His Son to die for sinners. Listen to some precious verses from the Word of God.

·         Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”

·         1 Peter 1:19-20, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

        I know we have a hard time grasping those truths, but the fact is, if you are saved, you have been on the heart of God for a long time. God determined that He would save you in Jesus Christ, before He ever formed the world. Then, God sent His Son into the world to die on the cross so that you would be saved. What God formulated in eternity was fulfilled in time! Listen again to 1 Peter 1:20, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

        Today, we will follow our Savior to Calvary. We will watch as He suffers for our sins. Let’s follow Him with a sense of reverence to A Place Called Golgotha. In Mark 15:22, the Bible says, “And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha...” It is that awful, but glorious place that has my attention today.

        I want you to see several facts about A Place Called Golgotha today. My prayer is that we will see Jesus as He willingly gives His life to redeem us from our sins. It is my prayer that the lost sinner will see His need of a Savior. It is also my prayer that every truly redeemed saint of God will remember the awful price He paid for us and that we will fall in love with Jesus once again. By God’s help, I want to preach about A Place Called Golgotha.

  I.   IT WAS A PLACE OF CHOICES  v. 22-23   

 When soldiers arrived at Golgotha with Jesus, they offered Him “wine mingled with myrrh” to drink. This was a narcotic mixture. It was not designed for the condemned man’s comfort; it was designed for the soldier’s convenience. They did not care how much Jesus and other condemned men suffered. They offered them the drink because it kept the prisoners from struggling as they nailed them to the cross. They did it because it made their jobs easier. The prisoners who were drugged did not fight the soldiers. They did not struggle and scream against the pain of being nailed to the cross as much as those who were not drugged first.

When Jesus is offered the mind-numbing drink, He refuses. Why would He do that? Jesus came to this world to die for sin, John 18:37. He came to drink the dregs of His Father’s cup of wrath, Mark 14:36; Isa. 51:17. He came to die for the innocent, 1 Pet. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:21.

There really weren’t any choices for Jesus that day. He was there to complete the Father’s plan of redemption. He was there to make the Gospel of grace a reality. He was there to unlock the door of salvation and kick it open wide so that all those who would come to Jesus could come and be saved!

         Jesus wanted to do what He was about to do with a clear mind. Jesus willingly endured all the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional agonies of the cross, without any relief. He desired to suffer the full measure of the punishment I deserved. He did it for me and I praise Him for that.

         Jesus also did what He did to fulfill ancient prophesy. Isaiah 53:7-8, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”

The soldiers did not have to force Jesus onto that cross. They did not have to hold Him down as they drove those spikes into His hands and feet. They did not have to endure His curses and His screams as they nailed Him to the cross. No, as the songwriter says, “He suffered it all because He loved me!”

 II.   IT WAS A PLACEOF CRUCIFIXION  v. 24-28  

         The Bible is an amazing book. All four Gospel writers write about the crucifixion, but the event itself is never described. The most important events in human history is simply described by the words, “and they crucified Him”. The day God lifted high His holy banner of everlasting love for sinners is reduced to a simple four word sentence.

The Bible may not give us much in the way of description, but it does let us know that the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was a very important event. In fact, the cross is the centerpiece of all history. The day Jesus was crucified was the day sin and Satan were forever defeated for all those who believe.

         The crucifixion is an event that deserves a closer look. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross is an event that should grip the hearts of the redeemed. It should fill us with praise and worship. It is an event that should cause the lost sinner to stop and look heavenward in wonder and faith toward a God Who loved the lost sinner enough to allow His Son to die in such a fashion.

        Frederick Farrar, in his book The Life Of Christ, describes a crucifixion in this way:

        A death by crucifixion seems to include all that pain and death can have of the horrible and ghastly - dizziness, cramps, thirst, starvation,sleeplessness, traumatic fever, shame, publicity of shame, long continuance of torment, horror of anticipation, mortification of intended wounds-all intensified just up to the point at which they can be endured at all, but all stopping just short of the point which would give to the sufferer the relief of unconsciousness.

        The unnatural position made every movement painful; the lacerated veins and crushed tendons throbbed with incessant anguish; the wounds, inflamed by exposure, gradually gangrened [when a victim took several days to die]; the arteries-especially at the head and stomach-became swollen and oppressed with surcharged blood, and while each variety of misery went on gradually increasing, there was added to them the intolerable pang of a burning and raging thirst, and all these physical complications caused an internal excitement and anxiety, which made the prospect of death itself-of death, the unknown enemy, at whose approach man usually shudders most-bear the aspect of a delicious and exquisite release.

        One thing is clear. The first century executions were not like the modern ones, for they did not seek a quick, painless death nor the preservation of any measure of dignity for the criminal. On the contrary, they sought an agonizing torture which completely humiliated him. And it is important that we understand this, for it helps us realize the agony of Christ’s death.[i]

         The procedure of crucifixion may be summarized as follows. The patibulum was put on the ground and the victim laid upon it. Nails, about 7 inches long and with a diameter of roughly 3/8 of an inch) were driven in the wrists. The points would go into the vicinity of the median nerve, causing shocks of pain to radiate through the arms. It was possible to place the nails between the bones so that no bones fractured.

        Studies have shown that nails were probably driven through the small bones of the wrist, since nails in the palms of the hand would not support the weight of a body. In ancient terminology, the wrist was considered to be part of the hand. (Davis)

        Standing at the crucifixion sites would be upright posts, called stipes, standing about 7 feet high.(Edwards) In the center of the stipes there was sometimes a crude seat, called a sedile or sedulum, which served a support for the victim. The patibulum was then lifted on to the stipes. The feet were then nailed to the stipes. To allow for this, the knees had to be bent and rotated laterally, being left in a very uncomfortable position. The titulus was hung above the victim's head.

        When the cross was erected upright, there was tremendous strain put on the wrists, arms and shoulders, resulting in a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow joints.(Metherall) The arms, being held up and outward, held the rib cage in a fixed end inspiratory position which made it extremely difficult to exhale, and impossible to take a full breath. The victim would only be able to take very shallow breaths. (This may explain why Jesus made very short statements while on the cross). As time passed, the muscles, from the loss of blood, last of oxygen and the fixed position of the body, would undergo severe cramps and spasmodic contractions.[ii]

        That is some of what the Lord Jesus suffered to save sinners. Are you saved? If you are, let the cross move you to a heightened state of obedience and love for Him. If you are not saved, oh sinner, come to Him today and be saved by His grace!

        The deaths of Jesus of Nazareth and the two thieves that day was just business as usual for the Romans. The deaths of three Jewish men never even made a blip on Rome’s radar. I want you to know that while earth didn’t see the significance of what was happening that day, the death of Jesus Christ made news in Heaven!

        The Father witnessed the death of the Son, and He was satisfied, Isa. 55:11. Sin’s penalty had been forever paid and sinners could be saved. The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ opened a way to God that will never be closed. Now, all those who come to Him by faith, trusting His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead as their sole hope of salvation, will be eternally saved by the grace of God. (Ill. Rom. 10:9; 13) That is what He did to redeem us from our sins!

III.   IT WAS A PLACE OF CRUELTY  v. 24, 29-32  

People like to think that humanity is basically good. The truth is far different! Man, in his natural state, is a totally defiled, absolutely corrupt being. Left to himself, man will always choose a downward, evil path. That is the teaching of Eph. 2:1-3 and Rom. 3:10-23. There is no good in mankind. Man is hopelessly defiled and hopelessly evil. He cannot do good, and he cannot change his own heart. In fact, he has no desire to.

        The ugly depths of human depravity was clearly on display that day at Calvary. Mankind came face to face with his Creator. Man did not bow to Him. Man did not worship Him. Man did not honor Him. When mankind came face to face with the Creator on Calvary, man killed his God.

        That’s right! Many of the people at Calvary that day were decent people, by other people’s standards. They were good to their neighbors. They paid their debts. They lived their lives and raised their families. Many would have looked at them and would have called them good. Those so-called “good” people murdered God when they were given the chance! Notice how the cruelty of man was put on display at a place called Golgotha.)

·         The Cruelty Displayed By The Soldiers, v. 24 –After the soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross, they sat down at His feet and gambled over the only possessions He had in this world, the very clothes on His back. This was done to fulfill ancient prophecies, Psa. 22:18.

        The actions of these men also demonstrates just how hard and wicked the heart of man can be. These hard hearted soldiers turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the sufferings of the Lord Jesus that day. There was not one ounce of compassion for the Lord Jesus Christ that day at Calvary!

·         The Cruelty Displayed By The Passing Crowds, v. 29-30 – As Jesus was hanging on the cross at Calvary, there was a great number of people gathered to watch Him and the other men die. The phrase “they that passed by” is in a tense that suggests “they kept on passing by”. In other words, there was no lull in the action. One after the other, people kept walking by the cross of Jesus.

        As they did, we are told that they “wagged their heads”. In that society, this was a sign of contempt and derision. These people hated Jesus and wanted Him dead!

        We are also told that they “railed on Him”. The word “railed” means “to blaspheme”. They repeated the false charges leveled at Jesus by the Jewish leaders. They mocked His claim that He would rise from the dead, v. 29b. They mocked His claims to be the Saviour of the world, v. 30. (Ill. Luke 19:10; Mark 10:45)

        The people that passed by Jesus that day were not concerned by His sufferings. They did not care that He was in great torment. They did not care that He was dying. All they cared about was mocking Him as He died. That is humanity! That is what people without Jesus Christ are really like. This is the same spirit that causes people to stand on the sidewalk and call up for a suicidal person to jump from a building. They are capable of the most depraved acts imaginable! (Ill. Look no farther than Nazi Germany and the Holocaust; the genocide in the Sudan; the cruelty of prejudice; etc.)

·         The Cruelty Displayed By The Priests, v. 31-32 – Among the people gathered there that day were the very men responsible for the death of Jesus in the first place; the chief priests and scribes. Now, get the image in your mind. Jesus has been nailed to the cross and He is dying. Two other men have also been crucified and are hanging there in open shame and agony.

        If there was any group of men in Jerusalem who should have been motivated by love, compassion and godly concern, it should have been these men. But, when they pass by the cross. They do not pray. They do not offer words of comfort and encouragement. They do not offer expressions of sympathy or apology.

        When these men pass by the cross, they “mock” Jesus. The word has the idea of “playing with someone.” In other words, they made a cruel game of passing by and ridiculing Jesus as He died. They mocked Him as Saviour, v. 31. They claimed that He was not able to save others.

        What they did not realize is that Jesus stayed on the cross, not because He could not come down. Jesus stayed on the cross because He would not come down. He could have easily saved Himself that day. Jesus stayed on the cross so that He might save His people from their sins!

        Then, they have the audacity to taunt Jesus, even as He dies. They ridicule He claim to be the King of Israel. They say that if He were to come down from the cross, they would believe. The fact is, nothing Jesus could have done that day would have brought them to a place of faith. They would not have believed on Jesus no matter what! They were given wholly over to their sins!

        These men are glaring proof that religion alone does not have the power to make evil men holy. Their religion did not reach beyond their hearts. They knew about God, but they did not know God. They were religious, but they were lost. Lost, religious people are among the most depraved people you will ever meet. Why? They “have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” That makes them able to justify the most horrible of offenses in the name of their religion! (Ill. The Inquisition; Islam; etc)

·         The Cruelty Displayed By The Other Condemned Men, v. 32 – That day at Golgotha, even the other men who were dying unleashed their hatred and venom upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We are told that they “reviled” Him. This word has the idea of “finding fault”. It can also mean “to return evil for good”.

        These dying men proved that they were nothing but vile sinners as they ridiculed the dying Saviour on that cross. They were demonstrating their adamic nature even as they died. Of course, Luke tells us that one of these men came to faith. God opened his eyes and he turned to Jesus and prayed to be saved, and they Lord saved his soul that day, Luke 23:39-43.

        In that man, we see the way of salvation. It is not by works. It is not by religious deeds. It is not by being good. It by simple faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Salvation occurs when a lost sinner places his or her faith in the Gospel of grace, 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

  ·         I do not have time to dwell on this thought, so I will just mention it today. You were represented at Calvary! There was someone there who was just like you.

Ø  Maybe you are like those soldiers, thinking of no one but yourself. Taking all you can because you think life is all about you.

Ø  Maybe you are like the crowds, lost and undone without God, but turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the only One Who can save you. You mock salvation and the new birth. You make light of holy things. You actually think salvation is a joke.

Ø  Maybe you are like the chief priests and scribes. You are religious, but you are lost. You know a lot about God, but you do not know God. You are a good, moral person. You are a church member. You are a good neighbor. You don’t drink or curse. Yet, you have never bowed before Jesus and called on Him for salvation. Until you do, you are lost in your sins!

Ø  Maybe you are like those two thieves; dying but oblivious to the Saviour Who stands nearby, ready to save. Look to Him today, and like the repentant thief, call on Jesus and He will save your soul and secure your eternity. He will deliver you from Hell and give you a home in Heaven!

Ø  You were there the day Jesus died. You were either in Him when He died, or you were one of those who mocked Him as He died! (Ill. Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20)

 Conclusion: What do the events at Golgotha that day mean to you? Can you look back at Jesus dying on that cross and rejoice in the truth that He was dying for your sins? Or, do you look back at that day and say, “So what? It’s a good story, but I don’t see how it affects me.”

        The events that occurred that day at A Place Called Golgotha are either your salvation or your damnation, depending on what you do with them. If you will receive Jesus as your Savior, Calvary becomes your salvation. If you refuse to believe in Jesus, choosing your sins, your ways and your will over His, then Calvary becomes your damnation.

        The cross of Calvary is the dividing line of humanity! On one side stand the redeemed; those who have trusted Jesus and are saved by grace. That crowd is going to Heaven.

        On the other side stand those who refuse to bow to Him.  This is the crowd that is headed to Hell. They are lost!

        If you are on the side of the redeemed, you should rejoice because God has been gracious to you, calling you out of sin and saving you by His grace.

        If you are lost, you should heed His call and come to Jesus today. He will save you, if you will come to Him! It’s not too late to change sides!