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Sermon: Everything at Stake
--given First Holy Day, Spring 2000
by Chris Cumming
On Tuesday, we kept
the Passover. Tuesday was the day Jesus shared His last supper, “The
Lord’s Supper”. These Days of Unleavened Bread fall on the same days of
the week that Jesus experienced.
Late Tuesday night, He was betrayed and all through that night and into
the wee hours of Wednesday morning, He was beaten, abused, tortured and
humiliated. Finally we come to the part of the story recorded in John
19.
John 19:13-16
13 When
Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down
in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the
Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it
was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he
saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they
cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto
them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no
king but Caesar.
16 Then
delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took
Jesus, and led him away.
…and they led Him
away to be crucified.
But why
crucifixion? Why did He have to die this most terrible way? Why not
hanging, such a Judas. . The Babylonians, Persians and Assyrians also
used various forms of crucifixion, including impaling. But Jesus was
not impaled. Why wasn’t He beheaded like John the Baptist?
Stoning was quite
prevalent in those days. Clearly, the Pharisees picked up stones more
than once during the ministry of Jesus. But He was not stoned. He was
crucified.
My purpose today
will be to show you that Jesus…
Had to be
crucified.
He had to be
crucified.
The Romans made an
art form of crucifixion as a means of capital punishment after borrowing
the
idea from the
Greeks and Phoenicians.
The Jews thought it
a most disgusting form of death. It was gory and very painful, often
lasting for days. Roman citizens were usually exempted from crucifixion;
they were beheaded for capital crimes.
In Jesus’ day,
crucifixion was considered so gruesome that it was reserved for slaves
and worst criminals or enemies of the state.
Death usually took
days unless the victim had been severely beaten or scourged first, which
was often the case. To maximize the impact, crucifixions often occurred
along public highways or other very visible areas, as lessons for all of
what would happen to enemies of the state or incorrigibles.
Why did Jesus have
to die that way? Was there not a more humane way for Him to die for our
sins? Were He an
ordinary man, such questions might be relevant, but to be our Savior, He
had to
die in such a way.
The Father had
planned for specifically this type of execution because it so perfectly
depicts so many things necessary for a full comprehension of sin and its
horrors.
This is the key
point in the sacrifice of Jesus. Not only did He have to die for our
sins; He had to die in a fashion that would show us, in detail, the
agony and shame and horror of sin.
He not only died
FOR our sins, He died as the perfect IMAGE of Sin!!
Mankind refuses to
see that image. Notice…
All the movies and
paintings and images. They soften the image and in doing so they are
hiding the truth about sin.
Let us now make the
image of sin very clear as we examine the truth and image of the
crucifixion.
Point 1: Jesus Had To Die by Execution
A primary factor in
Jesus’ death is that it was substitutionary. For each sin we commit, we
earn the death penalty.
This penalty cannot
be paid by dying a natural death of old age, by accident or by disease,
for this is the way everyone dies as a matter of course. Hebrews 9:27
says, "It is appointed for men to die once."
If "merely" dying
any old way were the payment for sin, idolaters, murderers, rapists,
thieves, liars, adulterers and other sinners would be completely
absolved of their sins upon their deaths. Cleared of all guilt by
death, they would legally qualify for entrance into God’s Kingdom.
However, we must
remember the rest of verse 27: ". . . but after this the judgment."
Thus a simple
physical death does not pay for sin. Only a permanent second death can
pay for sins and the second death is by execution. Notice Hebrews 9:22.
Heb 9:22
22 And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding
of blood is no remission.
So, as a
substitutionary sacrifice, Jesus had to die the way we would have, by
execution.
The phrase
“shedding of blood” in the Greek means, “effusion of blood” or a
“dynamic flow of blood by rupture”…….rupture by force.
What did Pilate
do? Notice Matt 27:26
Matt 27:26
26 Then
released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he
delivered him to be crucified.
He was executed.
Of course, Jesus
was not guilty of any crime or sin. Our sins brought on us the death
penalty.
In taking the
penalty on Himself, Jesus had to die by execution, and crucifixion was
Rome’s preferred means.
Point 2: Sin brings shame. Therefore
Jesus had to die in the most shameful way.
God also allowed
His Son to suffer crucifixion because it was a very shameful way to die.
It was the death of
criminals and incorrigibles, for those considered "the scum of the
earth." No one in Jesus’ day would have bragged that his uncle had been
crucified any more than we would be proud of a relative who was executed
by electric chair.
To make matters
worse, Jesus was crucified between two robbers (Matthew 27:38). The
typical passerby would have judged Jesus guilty by association.
Why and how does
shame enter the picture? Why did Jesus have to die a shameful death?
Sin causes shame. Sin is shameful. Jesus died a shameful death to
depict the shame brought on by our sins. It is shameful to be known as
a thief, a pervert, an adulterer, a liar or a murderer.
It should be
shameful to be known as an idolater or one who takes God’s name in vain,
breaks the Sabbath or disrespects his parents. Sin does not make us look
good, nor does it make our family proud of us. Sin is shameful. Man
should be ashamed to sin!
Crucifixion was
shameful not only as a penalty, but also as a process. Listen as I read
from Mr. Armstrong’s book, “The Real Jesus”:
“It was the
soldiers who were finally given the nod at sometime between 6:00 and
9:00 A.M. in the morning on that Wednesday to lead Jesus away within the
court (called the Praetorium). The Roman soldiers actually looked
forward to venting their wrath and frustrations on this one man who
claimed to be King of the Jews. What better way to attack this hated
race than by scourging and crucifying their "king"!
The soldiers began
by stripping Him of His blood-spattered clothing, finding a newer robe
made of scarlet, and then, following the idea that Herod's own men had
devised, jammed the crown of thorns back down on His head. They gave Him
a useless reed for His right hand, and then, one by one came forward to
do mock obeisance before Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
As each leering
soldier shuffled forward with his brawny forearms glistening with sweat,
his leering, filthy face grinning in cruel expectancy, he would kneel
before Jesus, grasp the rod (it was more like a cattle prod, or a stick
than a reed) out of His hand, and strike Him right across the top of the
crown of thorns on the top of His head, saying, "Hail! King of the
Jews!" Then, each one would hawk up a clot of spit and expectorate it
fully into Jesus face!
Finally, getting no
response, save a wincing now and then, and the tightest shutting of His
eyes, the Roman soldiers tired of their play, and took all of His
garments away until He was naked.
The leader of the
group grasped the heavy handle of his scourge, letting the metal chunks
grate ever so slightly on the polished floor, and, with a cruel leer at
his fellow soldiers, his eyes feverishly glinting with a perverted
bloodlust, he flailed at Christ's back with all, his strength.
Now from another
passage:
One of the soldiers
had stripped Jesus' clothing from Him and another one of them reached up
and tore the last of His garments off. Later, the Roman soldiers who
had been sent to finish the whole sordid mess sat at the foot of the
three stakes after they had finished hoisting each in place (including
two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus) and began to gamble
for His clothing (which was expensive).
Mary, Jesus'
mother, her sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene had
managed to come forward in the crowd, weeping, looking with terrible
anxiety and shock at the emaciated, disfigured, swollen, puffy, purple
and livid figure, naked on the stake. Mary thought her heart would
break. She didn't think she could stand it, but, unable to tear her eyes
away, and yet seemingly unable to look, she stood aghast at this hideous
spectacle who had been her firstborn.
Imagine the shame
Jesus had to endure not only as a part of His death but to give us the
Shameful image of sin. Notice two key verses now…
Heb 12:2
2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is
set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 6:4-6
4 For it
is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of
the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have
tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they
shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame.
Now, strange as it
seems, some in the end will have no shame about their own sins but will
be ashamed of Jesus, Himself….notice
Mark 8:38
38
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Sin is shameful and
Jesus depicted this clearly in His sacrifice for sin.
Point 3: Sin brings agony. Therefore
Jesus had to die in the most agonizing way.
Jesus also had to
die a death that was excruciatingly painful. Why? To depict the horrible
pain that sin causes. It would not have served God’s purpose if He had
died a painless death. The picture would have been incomplete.
Listen now as I
read again from Mr. Armstrong’s book…
The leader of the
group grasped the heavy handle of his scourge, letting the metal chunks
grate ever so slightly on the polished floor, and, with a cruel leer at
his fellow soldiers, his eyes feverishly glinting with a perverted
bloodlust, he flailed at Christ's back with all, his strength.
A scourge was the
Roman version of the "cat-o’-nine tails," and featured leather thongs
with bits of metal wrapped in the ends of each one, fastened to a wooden
or a heavy leather handle.
Oftentimes, a
person who was so scourged died in the whipping, just as many seamen in
the navies of the world, both then and in the generations thereafter,
have died during a particularly vicious whipping on the gratings.
Jesus grunted in
terrible pain, his back arching spasmodically, lips torn back from
bleeding face and gums. The first blow had cut him deeply, splattering
blood and chunks of flesh on those soldiers closest; they stepped back
quickly, wiping at their faces and clothing.
"Chunk!" "Splat!"
'Smack!" The raining blows continued; opening great gouges in his arms,
chest, stomach, back, thighs and legs. The soldier's great chest heaved
with his efforts; his companions laughed with perverted, bestial
pleasure; Jesus' moans were becoming a dull sob, a bare whimper, until
He almost fainted!
A splashing bucket
of water in the face, and, jerking Him upright again, the hideous
beating continued! Jesus was stark naked and terribly vulnerable; and
the soldier now and then
deliberately flayed
the whip at his hips so as to strike out at his manhood.
The Roman soldiers,
delighting in their animal-like bloodlust, took turns whipping Jesus'
body until they quite literally laid open His flesh, exposing the ribs
through the wounds, with chunks of lead and metal biting deeply into His
body, and splattering the hall and the Romans themselves with His blood.
They beat Jesus
until He fell, hauled Him to His feet, and beat Him until He fell again.
Finally, they had to tie Him upright and continue the vicious beating
until Jesus' head slumped down in total exhaustion and He had to be
revived once again.
"Wait! Wait!" an
officer cried out! "TenSHUN!" he screamed. The whip trailed bloodily on
the floor. The soldier's face glistening with blood and sweat; his
crazed eyes bulging with
half-insane,
animal-like incomprehension.
"You’ll kill him,
you fool!" the officer screamed! "If he dies here you'll be crucified in
place of him, I assure you!" "Let’s get on with the crucifixion. You
two, pick him up; revive him, and let's get going—a huge crowd is
gathering, and we may not be able to get him through it to the gate
alive if we don't hurry! I’ll want a triple guard, and a runner sent to
the gate; we've got to keep this thing from getting out of hand!"
With a bitter
glance at the still-dazed leader of the group carrying the whip, the
officer said, "You stay here! I may have to talk to you later!"
With that, another
bucket of water was splashed into Jesus' face and they dragged the
hideously deformed man to His feet. Quickly throwing His own clothes
back on Him, they half-dragged, half-carried Him from the garrison room
back to the street. They led Him out, and, holding up the heavy wooden
beam He was to bear, slowly lowered it onto His hideously torn back.
Then, urging Him on with whips, they began to lead the procession
through the crowds.
By now, with His
face a purpled, livid, blackened and bloody swollen mass, His eyes
swollen nearly shut, one eyelid laid horribly back, huge open wounds in
His scalp, shreds of skin and flesh openly exposed, Jesus would not
survive much longer, the soldiers knew. So they hurried along the
street, urging Jesus along when He stumbled and fell, inexorably moving
toward the denouement of their bestial drama—crucifixion.
In another passage:
Feeling the
continual draining of His strength, and sensing the horror of His
solitude, Jesus cried out in shock, pain and surprise, "My GOD, MY GOD,
WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!"
Because He said it
in Aramaic, using the word Eli ("my God"), some of those nearby misheard
and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah.
Only a few moments
had passed after Jesus, in great mental shock, cried out those terrible
words—"My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me!" —when, with His head
bowed, He seemed to feel a moist, bitter softness pressed against His
torn, terribly swollen lips and, stirring slightly, opened His dry,
aching mouth and allowed a small trickle of the bilious mixture of
vinegar and a strong soap-like cleansing agent made from a bitter plant
called hyssop to pass His teeth. No sooner had this been done than the
sponge was pulled away from His mouth and the soldier who had affixed it
to the staff of his spear, reversed his spear, and, with a derisive
laugh, thrust it into Jesus' side!
Screaming out in
pain, Jesus' head hit the back of the stake with a solid whack, His body
arched, His limbs straining against the large spikes pinning His members
to the upright pale, and, muscles spasming and trembling, said, "Father,
I commend my spirit into your hands!"
With this final
soft utterance, the straining muscles relaxed, the bubbling stream of
stomach fluids and blood running in a full rivulet down His hip, along
His leg and dripping in a steady
stream from His
feet, gradually ebbed to a slow dribble, and His head lolled forward.
Jesus was dead.
What agony……what
shame. This is what sin is. After hearing this, ……after seeing this
image in your mind’s eye, it will never be enough to quote FIRST John
3:4 and say…
“for sin is the
transgression of the law”
Sin is a bloodied,
tortured, humiliated and executed Son of God nailed to a hideous upright
stake.
This is why Christ
had to be crucified. It was the only way He could show us what sin
really is.
This is the sin we
are putting out of our lives. This is the sin we are overcoming and
defeating by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
This is the
“leaven” we are putting out of our homes.
These are the ugly
thoughts and temptations we are stopping dead, at the gates of our
minds.
Let us never give
up in our battle against sin. Persevere in your Salvation process. BE
THERE AT THE END!!!
Let these be the
words you hear at the return of our brother, Jesus Christ…
“Well done, good
and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful: enter thou into the joy
of thy lord.”
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