Disclaimer: Source material for this sermon has been gleaned from many different sources. I have attempted to acknowledge these sources whenever possible.
Christ’s Final Week: Crucified
John 19:1-18
At Christ’s observance of His last Passover meal, He told the disciples that His body and His blood were going to be shed. (Matthew 26: 26-29) He went outside of the city to the Garden of Gethsemane. He was then arrested and brought back to the palace of the High Priest, where He was questioned by Annas, a former High Priest, and Caiaphas, Annas’ son-in-law. He was then tried by the Sanhedrin, and found guilty of blasphemy by proclaiming Himself the Son of God. He was sentenced to the death penalty. Since it was only the Romans who were able to carry out execution, Christ was sent to Pontius Pilate. Pilate, not finding anything wrong, sent Him to King Herod, who returned Him back to Pilate. Pilate, submitting to the pressure of the crowd, then ordered that Jesus be flogged and crucified. Christ was then led out of the city walls to be crucified on Golgotha, called the place of the skull because caves on the face of the hill give it the appearance of a skull. Jesus’ died at the highest point of Jerusalem. Christ told Nicodemus that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so He would be lifted up. (John 3:14-15) High above Jerusalem stood the greatest and most important structure ever erected in all of history – the cross of Jesus Christ.
I. The Cross of Christ is a Cross of Division
A. It divides between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant
1. Matthew 26:27 – 28 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the NEW COVENANT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
2. Colossians 2:14 “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”
3. Paul identifies the cross of Christ as the great time-divide where the two covenants meet
4. Hebrews 10:11 – 14 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
B. It divides between the saved and the lost
1. 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22- 24 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (22)For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
2. The Cross declares both the path of the gentile and the Jew to be dead ends.
3. The World Despises the Cross of Christ.
4. The cross divides the saved from the unsaved. A person cannot be saved from their sin unless they trust in the cross of Christ.
C. ’Twill divide, then, the world,
O my friend, it is true-
The great cross of Jesus;
On which side are you? - copied
II. The Cross of Christ is a Cross of Decision
A. Because the Cross of Christ divides you cannot be neutral in relation to the cross. You must be on one of two sides either on the cross of rejection or the cross of repentance and reception.
B. Luke 23:32 – 33 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary; there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
C. Two sinners hung on crosses with the Savior affixed between them.
D. Center stage was the cross of redemption.
E. Hebrews 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."
F. On the one side was the cross of rejection and rebellion.
G. Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.
H. This man did not seek for salvation truly; he did not ask to be delivered from his sins; if he had, Jesus would have heard him. Men often, in sickness and affliction, call upon God. They are earnest in prayer. They ask of God to save them, but it is only to save them from “temporal” death.
I. This man died in unbelief. He died in his sins (John 8:42), with his sins unforgiven or retained. He died without hope and without God. The Savior of the world was right next to him, but he refused to trust Him. He rejected the only remedy for sin, the only cure, the only One who could grant him life.
J. On the other side of Christ was another cross – the cross of repentance and reception.
K. Luke 23:40 – 43 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
L. At first the man hanging of this cross mocked Jesus as did the other criminal (Matthew 27:44). But then something happened. The Holy Spirit began to work on his heart. He changed. He began to see Jesus differently. He repented. He feared God. He knew that he was in a place of condemnation (Luke 23:40). He knew that he was a guilty sinner, a condemned criminal, and that he was getting exactly what he deserved for a life of lawlessness (Luke 23:41). He also knew the Lord hanging next to him on the center cross was innocent and had done nothing wrong. He turned in faith to the Savior and said, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." He could not be baptized, join the church, do reparations. He was justly being executed for his crimes.
M. All the thief had was Jesus Christ and that was enough. The Lord Jesus Christ was all that he needed! Salvation is found in Christ and in Him alone. (Ephesians 2:8-9) The Lord recognized and acknowledged his faith and promised him that before the day was over he would be more alive than he ever was: "Verily (truly) I say unto thee, Today shall you be with Me in paradise."
N. The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise. – D. L. Moody, from "Day by Day with D.L Moody,"
O. Martin Luther, when he was a young lad, read St. Augustine’s writings concerning election and predestination, which were based upon the Biblical writings of Paul, Luther struggled in anguish with the horrible thought that, as much as he wanted to be saved and faithful, perhaps he was not one of the elect who were predestined unto salvation. Just the thought that he was not one of God’s elect caused him great distress. In anxiety and tears, he brought this concern to his beloved pastor, who told him, "Stop worrying, Martin, about these lofty theological matters! Instead, look to the precious shed blood of Jesus at the cross, which was shed for your sins! That is where forgiveness lies! Look at the blood of Jesus shed at Calvary for the forgiveness of your sins and for your salvation!" Yes, it is true that salvation is found at the cross. Keep your eyes upon your precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Find your salvation and forgiveness in His shed blood at the cross of Calvary! - copied
III. The Cross of Christ is a Cross of Destination
A. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
B. The two thieves’ destinies were determined by their view of the cross of Christ
C. That day both thieves entered into eternity. One went into the presence of Christ in Paradise the other entered into a hell of torment.
D. What you do with the cross of Christ will determine where you will spend eternity. It is the cross that determines your destiny!
E. Christ promised the penitent thief immediate and conscious fellowship after death with Christ in Paradise. No soul sleep, no annihilation but in the presence of the Lord. The unrepentant thief the moment he died went into conscious and immediate torment in hell. (Luke 16:22-24) Their choices determined their destinies.
F. John 3:14 – 16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should £not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
G. Our decision about the cross makes the decision for us about our eternity. To receive the finished work of Christ on the cross is eternal life (John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name); to reject it is eternal damnation (John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”).
H. It is for this reason Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Conclusion: As you consider the cross of Christ, a cross of division, a cross of decision, a cross of destiny – on which side are you? Have you taken up the cross of repentance and reception? Do you see Christ as your sin-bearer and giver of eternal life? You cannot be neutral. Come to the cross.
