“Were You There?” David Owens
Text: Matthew 27:32-56 3/28/99
Thesis: Witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus had differing effects on the people gathered that day, and it
has similar differing effects today.
Aim: To help us take another look at the cross that we might be transformed.
Introduction:
A. The young waitress in the restaurant was taken back by the question, “Why are you wearing that cross?”
1. To her it was a piece of jewelry, the kind of things lots of people wear.
2. She had never been asked about its significance, and to her it had little.
B. A tourist bought a brass souvenir called a “Tuareg (Tor-egg) cross”.
1. It has a diamond-shaped center with four projections coming from each point.
2. The trinket is not shaped like a typical cross, but it is a cross nonetheless.
3. Amazingly, this cross is the symbol of the nomadic Tuareg (Tor-egg) people of the Sahara Desert in northern Africa.
4. What is surprising about this is the fact that the Tuareg people are Muslim, not Christian.
5. Historians and anthropologists are not sure where the Tuareg cross came from or why it is so important to these people.
6. Somewhere along the line, the cross’ meaning has been lost.
C. If we are not careful, the same can happen with us.
1. We are surrounded with images of the cross. There are crosses on jewelry, crosses on church buildings, even crosses out on the highways we travel.
2. We come together as a church every Sunday and we turn our attention to the cross as we participate in the Lord’s Supper.
3. But does all this exposure heighten our awareness to the cross and its meaning, or does it desensitize us to the cross and its meaning?
4. The answer is found only in the individual mind and heart of each person.
D. That is the case today, and that was the case 2000 years ago.
1. Witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus had differing effects on the people gathered that day, and it has similar differing effects today.
2. What I hope to do today is to help us take another look at the cross so that its meaning might bring about the necessary transformation in our lives.
3. Let’s go back to the cross and see who was present that day, and perhaps we will see ourselves in some of those people.
4. Where you there when they crucified our Lord? I think you were.
5. But a better and more important question is: How did you and are you responding to the Lord?
I. The People Who Watched the Event
Mt 27:32-37) “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: This is Jesus, The King of the Jews.”
A. Present that day were the DUTY KEEPERS.
1. These “duty keepers” were the many Roman Soldiers responsible for the crucifixion.
2. To them it was just another day at the office. They had no doubt been through scores of crucifixions, and these were the same as the others: two common thieves and an insurrectionist.
3. So they went through all the usual motions:
a. Parade out of the city.
b. Undress the man and attach him to the cross, either with ropes, or nails, or both. We know that Jesus was nailed to the cross, because “doubting” Thomas would not believe unless he saw the nail marks in his hands.
c. Put the cross in place, and then try to pass the time until the man is dead.
d. The worst parts about the job, no doubt, were the boredom and the heat.
4. The text rather plainly says, “And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.”
5. There really wasn’t much else to do other than to sit patiently and watch.
6. The people on the cross weren’t going any where.
7. Perhaps the only danger was that someone might come and help the person escape off the cross, and avoid punishment.
8. When we come to the cross for Sunday worship, or our daily walk, are we just going through the motions?
9. Are we just there because it is our duty? You know, just put in our time so that we can get our heavenly paycheck.
10. Are we in a hurry to get this thing over with so that we can get on with what we really enjoy in our lives?
11. I sincerely hope not for that would be a travesty. To do so would be a total disregard for the significance of the cross.
12. Nevertheless, there were duty keepers there that day, and there are still duty keepers at the cross today.
B. Present that day at the cross were the GAME PLAYERS.
1. It’s hard to believe that anyone would be that cold, but it appears that the soldiers gambled for what little possessions Jesus had - the clothes off his back.
2. It is not as if they went off in a corner and did it, or waited until he was dead before they did it. No, they bent right down there at the foot of the cross and cast lots for his clothes.
3. Are there game players and gamblers at the cross of Jesus today? Oh yes there are.
4. These are the folks that don’t take religion very seriously. To them it is all just fun and games.
5. They don’t mind occupying their mind with anything but the cross during worship times.
6. And although most of this attitude is unconscious, the underlying goal is to see just how much they can get from Jesus without it costing them anything.
7. They are trying to win the heavenly lotto with a one dollar investment.
8. Rather than taking the path of holiness, service and discipleship, they are placing all their bets on the grace of God.
9. Their attitude is the one that Paul wrote against, “Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means!” (Ro 6:1-2)
10. Let’s be sure that we are not playing games at the foot of the cross.
11. God will not look with favor on anyone who plays games with him or his Son.
12. Salvation is something far too precious to gamble with.
Mt 27:38-45, “Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who are going to destroy the temple and build it again in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!’ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trust in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
C. Also present at the cross were the INSULT HURLERS.
1. As Jesus hung there in agony, people took advantage of the opportunity to shout snide remarks at him.
2. Some of the remarks seemed legitimate and reasonable:
a. If he really was someone special, like he said he was, then let him save himself.
b. Or better yet, if he is someone special to God, then let God save him.
3. The insults came seemingly from all directions.
a. People who walked by hurled their insults.
b. The Jewish authorities, who no doubt stayed for the entire event, mocked him.
c. And even the criminals who hung on each side of Jesus joined in with insults of their own.
4. All the while, Jesus remained silent. He spoke no word in his defense.
5. He could have spoken up and explained that he was someone special and that he could save himself, or God could save him, but this crucifixion just had to take place. Although he would like to come down off the cross and prove himself, his death was necessary for their salvation.
6. Are there insult hurlers at the foot of the cross today? I think so.
7. These are the folks who come with all the demands, and when God does not comply they quickly turn on God.
a. They say or think things like: “What has God ever done for me?”
b. “Where was God when I really needed him?” “Why didn’t he protect me from that car accident?” “Why did he allow me to loose my job?” “Why didn’t he keep my mother from dying of cancer?”
8. These people shake their heads and their hands at God, and leave the cross in bitterness, anger and hatred.
Mt 27:45-50, “From the sixth hour (noon) until the ninth hour (3 p.m.) darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ - which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’”
D. Present there that day were the THRILL SEEKERS.
1. They were the people who attended this crucifixion looking for something spectacular to happen.
2. Thus far, Jesus had been silent, and nothing but the darkness had been unusual.
3. But when Jesus spoke as he did, calling out to God, these folks got excited.
4. They ran and got him something to drink, hoping it would revive him and keep him there long enough for something miraculous to happen - like Elijah coming to save him.
5. Are there thrill seekers at the cross today? You better believe it.
6. Perhaps we have more thrill seekers coming to churches in recent times than ever before.
7. These are the people who are looking for excitement and entertainment. If they don’t get much of either, then they go looking for another church until they find it.
8. And if they cannot find excitement and entertainment in a church somewhere, then they stop going to church altogether.
9. Rather than a solid, consistent, life walk with God, these people are like a junkie going from one spiritual fix to another.
10. Please don’t misunderstand me. God created emotions for our good, and emotion is important to our relationship with God.
11. But emotionalism is a terrible substitute for faithful discipleship, for what happens when the emotion is gone? So is the faith.
12. We see the same principle at work in today’s marriage environment. It is not marriage based on commitment, but marriage based on contentment. Not marriage based on faithfulness, but feelings.
13. It is deadly, both for marriage and for religion.
Mt 27:50-56, “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
E. Finally, at the cross that day were the DEVOTED FOLLOWERS of Jesus.
1. As you know, most of the apostles were not present. Matthew does not tell us, but we know from the other gospels that Jesus’ mother was there as was the apostle John.
2. Along with them were many of the women who had followed Jesus.
3. These people were faithful and courageous enough to follow him wherever he went, even to the cross.
4. Today you will find the devoted followers of Jesus at the foot of the cross.
5. Most of us who are here today fall into this category. We love Jesus, and we are thankful for his cross. We come to worship him, and be reminded of what he has done for us.
6. We are not here out of duty, we are not here to play games or hurl insults, and we are not here just for the excitement.
7. We are here to praise our Lord and Savior and to learn and grow in him.
8. Praise God for a church full of devoted followers of Jesus. Amen!
F. We have spoken about the people who watched the event, now let’s speak briefly about the people who were won over by the event.
II. People Who Were Won Over by the Event
A. The gospels tell us specifically, that two people who watched the event of the cross were won over by it. I’m sure there were many more won over that day, but we are told about only two.
1. Both men began as part of one of the groups we have already discussed.
2. The centurion was one of the soldiers there to do his duty. He was likely one of the soldiers that entered into the game playing.
3. The thief on the cross was part of group of insult hurlers. He took his turn throwing jabs at Jesus
4. But at some point in the day, both men experienced a change.
a. Maybe the change was gradual, with one thing leading to another.
b. Maybe the change was instantaneous and came by surprise.
5. Nevertheless, both men began the day faithless, and ended the day faithful.
B. What was it about Jesus on the cross that transformed them?
1. Was it the incredible grace with which Jesus suffered and died?
a. He remained silent in the face of insult and persecution.
b. Jesus’ greatest concerns on the cross were his concern for the mother he left behind, and the forgiveness of the people who did this to him.
2. In addition to that, perhaps they were transformed by the physical signs that mysteriously surrounded the event.
a. The 3 hours of darkness in the middle of the day must have made everyone uncomfortable.
b. The earthquake at the moment of his death must surely have gotten the attention of many.
3. Whatever it was about Jesus on the cross, it pierced the hardened hearts of these men, and it opened them up to faith in Jesus Christ.
C. The cross has that same power today.
1. If anyone will look long enough and hard enough at Jesus on the cross, they cannot walk away the same.
2. For the cross proves the love of God for mankind.
3. The cross proclaims the justice of God against the sin of mankind.
4. The cross provides the forgiveness we all desperately need.
D. Did you find yourself in the people around the cross back 2000 years ago?
1. Were you there back then? Were you there today?
2. How will you respond to the Christ who gave his life for you?
3. Will you be transformed today and everyday as you visit the cross?
4. Is this moment the moment of transformation for you? Is it time for you to put your faith in Jesus and receive today the salvation he offers? We would rejoice at the opportunity to baptize you into the name of Jesus so that your sins would be washed away, today!
5. Will you leave here today a more devoted follower of Jesus? I pray so.
6. May God bless you and lead you into his grace. Amen!
