TOPIC: THEY MET AT CALVARY
TEXT: LUKE 23:33
“And when THEY were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there THEY crucified Him…” (Emphasis mine).
First delivered 7th April 1996.
INTRODUCTION
The scene at Golgotha shows three crosses. On one of them is a man called Jesus of Nazareth. Many have looked up to Him as the Messiah. Little did his executioners know that His being nailed to the cross was God’s ordained way of bringing man back unto Himself. At golgotha, there, THEY crucified Him.
Who were these that killed Jesus? Who are “T-H-E-Y?”
Let’s treat each of letters in the word "T-H-E-Y."
1. THEY!
They were the Throngs of people who gathered there looking on, Mk. 15:15,29; Jh.9: 6,7; Lk.23: 35.
They were the Teachers of the Law, Mk. 15: 1; Lk.23: 1-2.
Among them was the Thief who had been crucified with Him casting insult at Him, Mk.15: 28; Mt. 27:44.
Among them was also Pilate the Tyrant, who released Him to be crucified so as to please the people, Mk.15: 15; Lk.23: 11,12.
Surely, you and I could have been one of these throngs, teachers of the law, the thief or Pilate the tyrant!
2. THEY
There at calvary was the High Priest who was a signatory to his death, Jh.18: 24; Mt.26: 65.
Some of us were the religious Hypocrites who paid Judas to betray Jesus and could not accept the refund by Judas because, according to them, “It is the price of blood,” Jh.19: 31; Mt.27: 6-9.
Were you represented there by the Heretics who quotes the scriptures for self- gratification? Mt.27: 39-44; Note vs.40, 43.
The Heathen were there represented by Pilate who was quick to put up on the cross the title: “JESUS KING OF THE JEWS,” Jh.19: 19, 22.
The title was most likely written to humiliate Christ.
The Hardened hearts were not left out. They said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Jh.19: 21; Mt.27: 25.
What a generation curses they invoked on their born and unborn children! God, have mercy.
That same Jesus crucified will deliverer you completely today from generation curses.
3. THEY!
At Calvary THEY were all gathered together in unity to kill Jesus.
There were the callous Extortioners. These could behold the agony of dying on the cross and engaged in balloting to determine who among them should have the seamless clothing of the dying Christ, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, “They divided my outer garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Jh.19: 23, 24; Ps. 22:18.
The Executioners were there, representing us all. One of them pierced His side with a spear, and out came the redeeming blood, for “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin,” Jh.19: 16-18, 34; Heb. 9: 22.
What of the Emotional hearers! They said: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.”, Mk.15: 31, 32; Lk.22: 67a.
So were the Evil doers there. They gave him a sour wine and mocked Him saying, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down (from the cross),” Mk. 15: 36; Lk.23: 24, 25.
4. THEY!
Illustration
The story is told of a man having a vivid dream of the beating of Christ.
In the dream, he was moved by the torture Christ was being subjected to. When he could not bear with the flogging again, he rushed at the soldier beating Christ as if to stop him.
As the soldier turned, he was only surprised to see his own face!
That is you my friend. No one but YOU killed Jesus! At calvary, you joined the “T-H-E-Y” in crucifying Jesus.
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Is.53: 4, 5.
“And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
Save thyself, and come down from the cross.” Mk.15: 29, 30.
That is you! For your sin he bled. In your stead He died.
CONCLUSION
Come to Him just as you are – with your load of sins. Present yourself to Him as a sinner for
SINNERS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN BE SAVED.
Hymn: Oh! Do not let the Word depart…
Oh! Why not tonight…
