“They Watched Him There”
INTRODUCTION: Matthew 27:35-39 – all turn, read.
There was a great crowd who saw the scene at Mt. Calvary that day. On Friday, we celebrate an EXECUTION. There were 3 crosses. Over the middle cross as a sign: “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews”. It was written in Greek, Latin & Hebrew … so ALL could read it. This was His claim … this is why He was crucified. It was the only thing that they could accuse Him of.
What would WE have seen that day?
o A DEATH beyond human comprehension.
o PAIN so intense, it would make us shudder.
o BLOOD running down His brow, covering His hands & feet.
o BEARD plucked out by the handful … beaten … spat upon.
There were many who watched this horrible sight … “They Watched Him There” – 27:36
I.- GOD WATCHED HIM THERE
1.- He saw HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
The crucifixion of Jesus, God’s Son, didn’t take God by surprise. It was prophesied in the Old Testament as to:
o The MEANS … on a cruel cross.
o The TIME … Daniel Chapter 9.
o The MANNER … between 2 thieves.
God looked upon His Son as the FULFILLMENT of all the Old Testament sacrifices … the only ACCEPTABLE sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Only the blood of JESUS could do that.
2.- He saw YOU AND ME
When God saw Jesus, He was looking at EVERYONE who would ever trust Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin. That’s why Paul could say (Gal. 2:20) – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
When I stand before Holy God, my sin debt will be marked “Paid in full”. WHY? BECAUSE … God saw ME that day … when He looked upon His Son, Jesus.
II. THE ANGELS WATCHED HIM THERE
This must have been a bewildering sight for them! They had worshipped Him from the time of their creation.
o They announced His birth to Mary.
o They reassured Joseph that this was God’s child.
o They witnessed His birth in the stable.
o They told the shepherds to go to Bethlehem.
o They witnessed His baptism … miracles … healings … preaching & teaching ministry.
AND NOW … they witness Him hanging on a cross … suffering in torment & agony. “They Watched Him There” … in wonder & amazement!
III. MARY WATCHED HIM THERE
She was chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah.
She watched Him grow up … and cared for Him.
She heard Him declare, at age 12, “I must be about My Father’s business.”
NOW … she is watching Him as He is DOING His Father’s business … hanging on a cross. What she saw there that day, no mother should have to witness. BUT … Mary was there … she “Watched Him That Day.”
IV. THE WOMEN WATCHED HIM THERE - Matthew 27:55-56
We aren’t told who all the women were who watched Him there that day.
It could have been:
o The woman with the infirmity 18 years … whom Jesus healed.
o The woman whom Jesus raised her son from the dead.
o The woman whom Jesus cast demons out of her daughter.
We aren’t told exactly who all was there. BUT … they hadn’t forgotten Jesus, who changed their lives.
53 days later, there were 3000 people saved on the Day of Pentecost. Several days later, Peter preached again, and 5000 were saved. Just days before the crucifixion, the people had cried our “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” A few weeks later, over 8000 were saved.
WHY SUCH A CHANGE? Matthew 27:50-53
The earthquake opened up the tombs, and they could look inside, and see the dead bodies of their loved ones. For 3 days, they couldn’t roll the stones back over the entrances to the tombs … it was the Sabbath … the Passover. I’m sure they camped outside the tombs and guarded them for 3 days.
THEN … when Jesus arose from the tomb, the dead came out of their tombs in their resurrected bodies, and went into Jerusalem. IMAGINE seeing the body of your father/mother/child in the tomb for 3 days … they had been buried years before. THEN … they appear to you. They tell you that Jesus is ALIVE … He is the Messiah …He died to pay the penalty for your sin … AND … He arose to give them new life.
Think of the stories they must have told:
o How they had been in Paradise these many years.
o How they had fellowshipped with Adam/Eve, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David.
o How Jesus had come just a few days ago … and would soon take them to Heaven with Him.
What a witness this must have been to those in Jerusalem … the marvelous story of hope, joy, life, power, and victory over death! No wonder 8000 were saved just a few weeks later! BUT RIGHT NOW, these women are weeping over His suffering … as “They Watched Him There”.
V.- THE DISCIPLES WATCHED HIM THERE
Jesus had often told them of His coming suffering and death. BUT … they didn’t understand … MAYBE … because they didn’t want to.
o JAMES & JOHN were too busy arguing over who would get the chief seat in His Kingdom.
o PETER was too busy telling Jesus how faithful he would be … HE wouldn’t deny Jesus!
o JUDAS was too busy counting the money in the bag.
They were TOO BUSY to listen to Jesus talk about His death. They had their own agenda. They had pinned all their hopes on the KINGDOM that Jesus promised.
BUT … Jesus hadn’t come, yet, to set up the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus wanted to rule & reign in their hearts. “They Watched Him There” … and it seemed like it was all over for them. What they didn’t realize was … this was just the BEGINNING!
VI.- THE SOLDIERS WATCHED HIM THERE
They didn’t see Jesus as the Son of God … they saw a CRIMINAL. They MOCKED Him, saying, “IF Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself.” They had no guilt feeling … they were just doing their job.
o They gambled for His coat.
o They sat down and stared at Him.
Psalm 22:17-18 – “I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; [18] They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.”
PERHAPS … they were the same soldiers (500 of them) who came to the Garden the night before to arrest Him. They witnessed His POWER. When they told Jesus who they were looking for, Jesus said, “I am He!” All at once, they fell down backwards … 500 soldiers, swords, shields, armor. All were lying helpless on the ground. They saw the POWER of Jesus. NOW … they are getting their revenge!
They may have been the same soldiers who bound Him … and led Him off to Pilate & Herod. Perhaps the same ones who whipped Him without mercy … beat Him with their fists … spat upon Him … put the cross on His shoulders … drove the nails into His hands & feet.
Perhaps they were the same ones who would guard the tomb where His body will be laid. Their PLAN was to open it in 3 days and show the world that Jesus was still there … a fraud … a fake … a lunatic. BUT … instead, they found an empty tomb!
It’s IRONIC:
o That for 3 days, after the earthquake, every tomb in Jerusalem was opened … except this one!
o That the open tombs couldn’t be closed because of the Passover.
o That the closed tomb of Jesus couldn’t be opened because of the soldiers.
These soldiers drove the nails into the hands & feet of Jesus. AND …”They Watched Him There” … not realizing that He was “God in the flesh”.
VII.- THE PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS WATCHED HIM THERE – Matthew 27:41-43
They envied Him … YET … despised and feared Him. Jesus was DIFFERENT from them … and they knew it. Man fears what he does not understand. AND … “They Watched Him There” … judging Him. BUT … one day, they will have to stand in judgment BEFORE Him!
VIII.- THE THIEF WATCHED HIM THERE
He said: “Come down from the cross, and we will believe you … If you are the Christ, save yourself … AND US!” Oh, how CLOSE he was to the Lord … only a few feet away. And yet … so far away … an ETERNITY away!
There are so many like him today … so close to being saved … BUT … will spend eternity away from Him.
IX.- THE REPENTANT THIEF WATCHED HIM THERE
He saw himself as he really was … a sinner … in need of a Savior. AND … he saw Jesus for who He really was … God’s sacrifice for sin … for HIS sin. There were 2 THIEVES who “Watched Him There” that day. BUT … ONLY 1 heard the words, “Today, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.”
X.- SATAN WATCHED HIM THERE
Satan had tried for centuries to prevent this hour.
o He wanted Joseph to have Mary stoned as an adulteress.
o He had the Hebrew babies killed when Jesus was born.
o He tempted Jesus to sin … unsuccessfully.
o He fought a spiritual battle with Jesus in the Garden.
BUT … Satan “Watched Him There” … and he was watching his defeat! Jesus had won the victory!
CONCLUSION:
o Those that loved Him … were grieved.
o Those that hated Him … were glad.
o Those that didn’t understand Him … were bewildered.
o Those that despised Him … were mocking Him.
o Those that passed by … rebuked Him.
HOW DO YOU SEE JESUS TODAY? You can’t witness the cross of Calvary & ever be the same!
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS JESUS? Look at Him here tonight … let Jesus make a difference in your life!
THE LORD’S SUPPER
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“They Watched Him There”
INTRODUCTION: Matthew 27:35-39
I. GOD WATCHED HIM THERE
1.- He Saw His Only Begotten Son – Jesus fulfilled God’s requirement as the blood sacrifice for forgiveness of sin.
2.- He Saw You And Me – Galatians 2:20
II. THE ANGELS WATCHED HIM THERE
- They witnessed this event in wonder and amazement.
III. MARY WATCHED HIM THERE
- She watches Jesus going about His “Father’s business”.
IV. THE WOMEN WATCHED HIM THERE – Matthew 27:55-56
- They hadn’t forgotten what Jesus had done for them.
- WHY SUCH A CHANGE? Matthew 27:50-53
- The open tombs were a witness to those in Jerusalem.
V. THE DISCIPLES WATCHED HIM THERE
- They were too busy with their own agendas to think about His talk about the coming crucifixion.
- It seemed like it was all over … but it was the beginning!
VI. THE SOLDIERS WATCHED HIM THERE
- They saw a criminal – Psalm 22:17-18
- They saw an opportunity for their revenge.
- They couldn’t see ahead to the empty tomb.
VII. THE PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS WATCHED HIM THERE – Matthew 27:41-43
- They judged Him … but one day they will stand in judgment before Him.
VIII. THE THIEF WATCHED HIM THERE
- He was so close … yet an eternity away.
IX. THE REPENTANT THIEF WATCHED HIM THERE
- He saw himself as a sinner … in need of a Savior … and Jesus as his Savior.
X. SATAN WATCHED HIM THERE
- Satan had tried to prevent this hour.
- Satan was watching his defeat!
CONCLUSION:
o How do you see Jesus today?
o What will you do with this Jesus?
THE LORD’S SUPPER
