JANUARY 10, 2016
THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST (PART 1)
INTRODUCTION:
1. The so-called trial of our Lord before the great Sanhedrin was nothing more than a shameful mockery. (Ch. 14:53-65)
a) Truth and justice were not the aim of this court, but rather, its goal was to obtain a guilty verdict by whatever means necessary.
b) Jesus was immediately subjected to horrible disrespect and cruelty by those in attendance, and that, before even a charge was made.
c) With no credible witnesses, and when even those that had been hired were discredited, still the high priest was intent upon bringing capital charges against Christ.
d) It turned out to be our Lord’s own true testimony affirming that He was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God, that Caiaphas seized upon to charge Him with blasphemy.
2. Being then charged, Jesus was straightway bound and brought before Pilate the next morning. (Ch. 15:1ff)
a) Pilate clearly disagreed with the verdict of the ecclesiastical court, and tried desperately to have it overturned. He even tried using the custom in which at the annual feast they could request the release of a prisoner. (Verse 6) That idea also failed. (Verses 7-11b)
b) In the end, Pilate’s right opinion regarding Christ’s innocence would only prove his own lack of character, and magnify his guilt. Instead of acting as a man of honor to do the right thing, he elected to do the politically expedient thing, and content the people by sentencing an innocent man to be crucified.
I. PILATE YIELDED TO THE JEWS’ DEMAND, AND CONDEMNED CHRIST TO BE CRUCIFIED. (VERSES 15-21)
A. PILATE, TO GRATIFY THE JEWS’ MALICE, ORDERED THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST. (VSE. 15)
1. His motive was political. “Willing to content the people…” His decision was unconscionable. “…he released Barabbas unto them (who was the scandal and plague of the nation) and delivered Jesus (Who was the glory and blessing of the nation) …to be crucified.” This he did “when he had scourged him,” apparently hoping that would content them, still not designing to crucify Him, though he went on to do that. (See Luke 23:16) It’s no wonder that one who could call for the scourging of an innocent man could also go on to order his execution. Political figures historically have done disgraceful things for sake of political gain, but none have stooped so low as Pilate did here.
2. Christ was crucified. While it is true that the reason why Christ died according to the Roman method of execution was because the scepter was departed out of Judah, and therefore they had no power of capital punishment, the primary reason was that the Scriptures and God’s method of atonement required that Christ must be crucified.
a) Crucifixion is a bloody death. (Heb. 9:22) The blood is the life. (Gen. 9:4) The Savior must give His life by shedding His life’s blood. It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Lev. 17:11) this was the message of every bloody sacrifice made under the Levitical system.
b) Crucifixion was a cursed death. (Deut. 21:23) He that is hanged on a tree is accursed of God. (II Sam. 21:6) It is to be made a public curse. (Gal. 3:13)
c) In Psalm 22:16, Christ is heard saying, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” In John 3:14 Jesus said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent…even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”
B. THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST WAS PUT INTO THE HANDS OF ROMAN SOLDIERS, WHOSE SICK HUMOR ADDED MUCH ABUSE AND HUMILIATION. (VERSE 16-19)
1. For no reason other than to abuse and make sport of Him, Jesus was removed into an inner hall where the whole regiment could come in and have a part in His humiliation and abuse. (Verse 16)
2. Jesus had already been ignominiously abused by servants of the high priest. Now, He must endure shameful, and sometimes painful treatment from the soldiers. He had declared to Pilate that He was a King. It was this claim that they made the focus of their ridicule and mockery.
a) Since Kings ought to wear royal colors, they clothed Him with purple.
b) Since Kings need crowns, they platted a crown of thorns and and put it about His head.
c) Since Kings receive the acclamations of their subjects, they sarcastically bowed and saluted Him with Hail, King of the Jews.
d) Since Kings have scepters, they put a reed in His right hand.
e) Since Kings receive adoration form their subjects with tokens of their affection, the solders substituted smiting and spitting while bowing down in mock worship.
C. THE SOLDIERS AT THE APPOINTED HOUR LED HIM AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED. (VERSES 20, 21)
1. When they had glutted themselves with sick humor and insults, they restored to Jesus His own robe and led Him away. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. (Verse 20; Isa. 53:7)
2. They compelled one Simon to carry His cross. (Verse 21)
a) It is unlikely that this was done out of compassion, more likely it was for expedience. Perhaps they were afraid Jesus would faint beneath the load short of the destination.
b) Simon was apparently commandeered by authority of the governor to bear the cross. Perhaps he was as some think, a disciple of Christ, and was therefore chosen. Those who will follow Christ must expect to bear a cross for Him.
II. CHRIST WAS AT THE APPOINTED HOUR AND PLACE CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO THIEVES. (VERSES 22-32)
A. THE PLACE AND TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION. (VERSES 22, 25)
1. The place is called Golgotha – the place of the skull.
a) Many believe it was given that name because it was the place of execution for malefactors and many heads were there cut off and left.
b) Perhaps it was simply so called because the rock formation was in the shape of a skull.
c) The place is significant, because it was the place where Abraham offered Isaac and God made provision; the place from where Abraham had an eye to this day, and called it Jehovah-Jireh, i.e. the Lord will provide, expecting that in the mount of the Lord it would be seen. (Gen. 22:14; John 8:56)
2. The time when Jesus was crucified was the third hour of the day, that is, about nine o’clock in the morning.
a) At the time when the priests were supposed to be attending the temple services, offering the peace-offering to begin the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, when there was to be a holy convocation.
b) Instead of presiding over the public devotions, they were here venting their malice against our Lord. Yet these men pretended to be zealous for the temple, even condemning Christ for allegedly speaking against it. Many will pretend a zeal for the church who regularly shirk their duties to it.
B. THE MANY INDIGNITIES THAT WERE DONE TO CHRIST AS HE WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS. (VERSES 23, 24 26-32)
1. He was offered wine mingled with myrrh, which He refused to drink. It was the custom to give wine to persons that were to be put to death. They mingled His with myrrh to make it bitter and nauseous. He tasted it, but refused to drink it. He was willing to admit the bitterness, but not the benefit of it.
2. The soldiers cast lots for His garments. This too was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. (Matt. 27:35) The seeming incidental mention of His own clothes being put on Him was just one of the many, many details which providence was directing for the fulfillment of Scripture. (Verse 20) The garments of those executed were part of the executioners’ fee. His own seamless garment would have been of no value if divided, therefore the soldiers cast lots for it. The soldiers were making merry with their sport while Jesus was hanging above them in pain and agony.
3. They set a superscription over His head by which they intended to reproach Him. “The King of The Jews.” (Verse 26)
a) Pilate perhaps intended this to disgrace Christ and the people too. We know that the people protested it, (John 19:21) but Pilate refused to change it. (John 19:22)
b) God intended it to be the proclamation even of Christ upon the cross, though Pilate knew not what he wrote, any more that Caiaphas knew what he said. (John 11:51)
c) Christ Crucified is King of the church, His spiritual Israel. Even then, when on the cross, He was a conquering King, conquering and triumphing over His and their enemies. (Col. 2:15)
4. They crucified Him between two thieves. (Verses 27, 28)
a) He was placed on the middle cross, between two notorious felons, to indicate that in their eyes He was the worst criminal of the three.
b) Mark takes particular notice of the fulfilling of the Scripture in this. It is particularly that famous prediction of Isaiah’s prophecy that he cites. (Isa. 53:12)
5. Christ, as He was on the cross, was insulted by spectators and passers-by. (Verses 29, 30)
a) How is it that curious passers-by were not moved with compassion at the sight of His suffering? From the things they were saying it appears that they knew about Him. If they knew about Him, they were aware of His wonderful works, yet they added their voices to those of the revilers.
b) This is a lesson in corrupt human nature. These somehow felt compelled to join with the crowd, and participate in their wickedness. We see this kind of evil inclination demonstrated throughout society.
6. The chief priest and scribes also cast the same in His teeth. (Verses 31, 32)
a) There is great irony in their mockery. “He saved others, himself He cannot save.” How true! He, in order to save others, could not save Himself. Thank God, He could not save Himself, because He would not save Himself.
b) “Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross that we may believe.” Had He come down, He would have relinquished His Kingdom in so doing. Had He come down from the cross, there would be no point in believing on Him. Their unbelief was precisely because they did not understand this fundamental truth. Had He come down, all our believing would be in vain. (Compare I Cor. 15:17)
7. Even the two thieves on either side of Him reviled Him. (Verse 32b)
a) We know what one of them said. (Luke 23:39)
b) Apparently, both of them were saying such things.
c) But, one of them, glory be to God and His amazing grace, had a change of heart, and did believe on Him, and was saved, and is now in heaven. (Luke 23:38-43)
d) Sadly, however, the other thief continued in unbelief along with the blind leaders of the blind who sat in Moses’ seat as Israel’s religious leaders.
8. We will stop here for now, and take up with this study of The Crucifixion of Christ at Verse 33 when we continue.
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