"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary..." This morning I would like us to turn our attention to the place called Calvary and to the event that took place there nearly two thousand years ago. We might wonder how that something that took place so long ago and so far away could have any impact upon our lives today, but the crucifixion of Christ was not just another historical event. From God's point of view the death of Christ is the focal point of time and eternity. All Christian truth finds meaning and unity in the cross. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the grand theme of the Old Testament, the climax of the four Gospels, and the content of the messages of the New Testament epistles. This morning as we go to Calvary look and listen to what is taking place there. The Lamb of God is being sacrificed for you and for me. For six hours Jesus will hang on that old rugged cross; suspended between heaven and earth. Seven times He will speak. Let's listen carefully to hear what is being said.
I. The Cry of Forgiveness: 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' v33
A. It was a fulfillment of prophecy.
(Isa 53:12) "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
B. It was backed by power.
(Mat 9:6) "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."
1. Jesus had the power to forgive sins.
2. No other person could claim that right.
3. No other person or institution has the power to forgive sins today.
C. It was far-reaching in its extent.
1. Jesus interceded for those heathen soldiers who were crucifying Him, and…
2. He intercedes for us today.
(Heb 7:25) "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
(Col 2:13) "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"
3. Jesus still forgives sin!
II. The Cry of Salvation: "…Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." v43
A. It proves salvation is all of grace.
(Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."
B. It proves that salvation is by Christ, and Christ alone.
(1 Tim 2:5) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
C. It proves that salvation comes instantly, the moment one believes.
(Rom 10:9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
1. Believe in the heart.
2. Confess with the mouth.
3. Then comes salvation!
III. The Cry of Provision: 'Woman, behold thy son! ... Behold thy mother' John 19:25-27
A. It shows the compassion of Christ.
1. He no doubt realized the pain that a mother felt at the loss of a son.
2. Remember the widow of Nain.
3. It was Jesus who saw her and had compassion on her and told her to weep not.
B. It shows Christ's obedience to the Word.
1. Ex. 20:12, 'Honor thy father and thy mother...
2. He is an example in all things.
3. He was the oldest and therefore was responsible for the well being of His mother.
4. He committed her care to John,
Time passes, darkness gathers over Golgotha at noonday. Perhaps a strange hush comes over the angry crowd as we hear yet another cry…
IV. The Cry of Desertion: 'My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?' Mk. 15:29-34
A. It reveals Christ's love for mankind.
(John 15:13) "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." [6]
B. It reveals God's holiness.
1. God cannot look upon evil.
(Hab 1:13a) "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…"
2. When Christ became sin for us upon that tree, by taking upon himself all the sins of the world, God the Father bad to forsake Him.
C. It reveals God's plan of salvation.
(2 Cor 5:21) "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
V. The Cry of Suffering: "I thirst" Jn. 19:28
A. This, too, was a fulfillment of prophecy.
(Psa 69:21) "They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."
B. It let's us see that Christ suffered as a man.
1. Many would say that Jesus received some divine power that allowed Him to suffer as He did.
2. Jesus had only the power of love that permitted Him to suffer as He did.
C. It reveals to us the pain of the crucifixion.
1. It had been about nine hours since He was first arrested.
2. He had suffered the 39 stripes from the hand of an expert in torture.
"Jewish law, stated that a man should not receive more than 40 lashes, but it does not specify the type of whip. Man's depravity devised a whip called the flagrum, a stout handle with several leather strips each studded with a stone or metal tip. In this way they could fulfill the letter of the law while satisfying their own cruel nature. The back is the only area of the body that could withstand this type injury.
By the end of the whipping the back of our Lord was a shredded mass of crimson tissue. Long strips of torn skin and muscle lay at peculiar angles and dangled like red icicles dripping blood."
3. He had his beard pulled from His face brutally.
4. He had felt the piercing pain of the thorns that was forced upon His brow.
5. His hands and feet had been nailed to the old rugged cross.
"Severe local inflammations coupled with an insignificant bleeding of the jagged wounds, produced traumatic fever, which was aggravated by the exposure to the heat, of the sun, the strained position of the body and the insufferable thirst. The wounds swelled about the rough nails and the torn and lacerated tendons and nerves caused excruciating agony. The arteries of the head and stomach were surcharged with blood and a terrific throbbing headache ensued. The mind was confused and filled with anxiety and dread foreboding.
The victim of the crucifixion literally died a thousand deaths. Tetanus often caused convulsions that would tear at the wounds and add to the burden of pain, till at last the body forces were exhausted and the victim sank to unconsciousness and death."
6. He had felt the weight of all the sins of the world.
7. He felt the loneliness of sin, when the Father forsook Him.
D. Jesus went through hell on the cross so we wouldn't have to!
VI. The Cry of Victory: "It is finished" Jn. 19:30
Note: Not 'I am finished!' but 'It is finished!'
A. Salvation's plan was finished. Hebrews 12:2 says,
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith"
B. God's work for Jesus was finished. Jn. 6:38 says,
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me"
C. Thank God, Jesus wasn't a quitter, He finished the work God had sent Him to do!
VII. The Cry of Death: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" Luke 23:46
A. It was a climax to Christ's yielded life.
(Mat 26:39) "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
1. Remember when He was praying in the garden.
2. He prayed that God might let the cup pass from Him.
3. Then He said, 'Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.'
B. It was a climax to Christ's life of obedience.
(Phil 2:8) "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
1. He humbled himself, and became obedient to death;
2. Even the death of the cross.
C. It was a climax to Christ's life of power.
(John 10:18) "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
1. No man had the power to take His life;
2. He gave it himself because he loved mankind.
3. He willingly went to the cross in our place that we might have eternal life through Him.
4. He suffered the agony of Calvary that we might be saved.
We have heard His cries from Calvary, but do we hear His cries today? To those who have never received Him He cries:
(John 3:17) "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
(John 10:9a) "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…"
To the believer, His plea is for us to represent Him in this world. We are to be His hands, His feet, and His mouth today. What are we doing, where are we going, and what are we saying?
(John 13:34) "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
(John 13:35) "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
What is your need today? Come to Christ now.