Sermon: Everything at Stake - printer-friendly

Sermon: Everything at Stake --given First Holy Day, Spring 2000, 2011 and 2018

by Chris Cumming

On Thursday, we kept the Passover/Lord’s Supper. The night Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper was a Tuesday.

Late Tuesday night, He was betrayed and all through that night and into the wee hours of Wednesday morning, He was beaten, abused, tortured and humiliated. Finally, we come to the part of the story recorded in John 19.

John 19:13-16

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

…and they led Him away to be crucified.

But why crucifixion? Why did He have to die this most terrible way? Why not hanging, such a Judas. . The Babylonians, Persians and Assyrians also used various forms of crucifixion, including impaling. But Jesus was not impaled. Why wasn’t He beheaded like John the Baptist?

Stoning was quite prevalent in those days. Clearly, the Pharisees picked up stones more than once during the ministry of Jesus. But He was not stoned. He was crucified.

My purpose today will be to show you that Jesus…

Had to be crucified.

He had to be crucified.

The Romans made an art form of crucifixion as a means of capital punishment after borrowing the idea from the Greeks and Phoenicians.

The Jews thought it a most disgusting form of death. It was gory and very painful, often lasting for days. Roman citizens were usually exempted from crucifixion; they were beheaded for capital crimes.

In Jesus’ day, crucifixion was considered so gruesome that it was reserved for slaves and worst criminals or enemies of the state.

Death usually took days unless the victim had been severely beaten or scourged first, which was often the case. To maximize the impact, crucifixions often occurred along public highways or other very visible areas, as lessons for all of what would happen to enemies of the state or incorrigibles.

Why did Jesus have to die that way? Was there not a more humane way for Him to die for our sins? Were He an ordinary man, such questions might be relevant, but to be our Savior, He had to

die in such a way.

The Father had planned for specifically this type of execution because it so perfectly depicts so many things necessary for a full comprehension of sin and its horrors.

This is the key point in the sacrifice of Jesus. Not only did He have to die for our sins; He had to die in a fashion that would show us, in detail, the agony and shame and horror of sin.

He not only died FOR our sins, He died as the perfect IMAGE of Sin!!

Mankind refuses to see that image. Notice…

All the movies and paintings and images. They soften the image and in doing so they are hiding the truth about sin.

Let us now make the image of sin very clear as we examine the truth and image of the crucifixion.

Point 1: Jesus Had to Die by Execution

A primary factor in Jesus’ death is that it was substitutionary. For each sin we commit, we earn the death penalty.

This penalty cannot be paid by dying a natural death of old age, by accident or by disease, for this is the way everyone dies as a matter of course. Hebrews 9:27 says, "It is appointed for men to die once."

If "merely" dying any old way were the payment for sin, idolaters, murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers and other sinners would be completely absolved of their sins upon their deaths. Cleared of all guilt by death, they would legally qualify for entrance into God’s Kingdom.

However, we must remember the rest of verse 27: ". . . but after this the judgment."

Thus, a simple physical death does not pay for sin. Only a permanent second death can pay for sins and the second death is by execution. Notice Hebrews 9:22.

Hebrew 9:22

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

So, as a substitutionary sacrifice, Jesus had to die the way we would have, by execution.

The phrase “shedding of blood” in the Greek means, “effusion of blood” or a “dynamic flow of blood by rupture”… rupture by force.

What did Pilate do? Notice Matt 27:26

Matthew 27:26

Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

He was executed.

Of course, Jesus was not guilty of any crime or sin. Our sins brought on us the death penalty.

In taking the penalty on Himself, Jesus had to die by execution, and crucifixion was Rome’s preferred means.

Point 2: Sin brings shame. Therefore, Jesus had to die in the most shameful way.

God also allowed His Son to suffer crucifixion because it was a very shameful way to die.

It was the death of criminals and incorrigibles, for those considered "the scum of the earth." No one in Jesus’ day would have bragged that his uncle had been crucified any more than we would be proud of a relative who was executed by electric chair.

To make matters worse, Jesus was crucified between two robbers (Matthew 27:38). The typical passerby would have judged Jesus guilty by association.

Why and how does shame enter the picture? Why did Jesus have to die a shameful death? Sin causes shame. Sin is shameful. Jesus died a shameful death to depict the shame brought on by our sins. It is shameful to be known as a thief, a pervert, an adulterer, a liar or a murderer.

It should be shameful to be known as an idolater or one who takes God’s name in vain, breaks the Sabbath or disrespects his parents. Sin does not make us look good, nor does it make our family proud of us. Sin is shameful. Man should be ashamed to sin!

Crucifixion was shameful not only as a penalty, but also as a process. Listen as I read from Mr. Armstrong’s book, “The Real Jesus”:

“It was the soldiers who were finally given the nod at sometime between 6:00 and 9:00 A.M. in the morning on that Wednesday to lead Jesus away within the court (called the Praetorium). The Roman soldiers actually looked forward to venting their wrath and frustrations on this one man who claimed to be King of the Jews. What better way to attack this hated race than by scourging and crucifying their "king"!

The soldiers began by stripping Him of His blood-spattered clothing, finding a newer robe made of scarlet, and then, following the idea that Herod's own men had devised, jammed the crown of thorns back down on His head. They gave Him a useless reed for His right hand, and then, one by one came forward to do mock obeisance before Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

As each leering soldier shuffled forward with his brawny forearms glistening with sweat, his leering, filthy face grinning in cruel expectancy, he would kneel before Jesus, grasp the rod (it was more like a cattle prod, or a stick than a reed) out of His hand, and strike Him right across the top of the crown of thorns on the top of His head, saying, "Hail! King of the Jews!" Then, each one would hawk up a clot of spit and expectorate it fully into Jesus face!

Finally, getting no response, save a wincing now and then, and the tightest shutting of His eyes, the Roman soldiers tired of their play, and took all of His garments away until He was naked.

The leader of the group grasped the heavy handle of his scourge, letting the metal chunks grate ever so slightly on the polished floor, and, with a cruel leer at his fellow soldiers, his eyes feverishly glinting with a perverted bloodlust, he flailed at Christ's back with all, his strength.

Now from another passage:

One of the soldiers had stripped Jesus' clothing from Him and another one of them reached up and tore the last of His garments off. Later, the Roman soldiers who had been sent to finish the whole sordid mess sat at the foot of the three stakes after they had finished hoisting each in place (including two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus) and began to gamble for His clothing (which was expensive).

Mary, Jesus' mother, her sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene had managed to come forward in the crowd, weeping, looking with terrible anxiety and shock at the emaciated, disfigured, swollen, puffy, purple and livid figure, naked on the stake. Mary thought her heart would break. She didn't think she could stand it, but, unable to tear her eyes away, and yet seemingly unable to look, she stood aghast at this hideous spectacle who had been her firstborn.

Imagine the shame Jesus had to endure not only as a part of His death but to give us the Shameful image of sin. Notice two key verses now…

Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Now, strange as it seems, some in the end will have no shame about their own sins but will be ashamed of Jesus, Himself...notice

Mark 8:38

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Sin is shameful, and Jesus depicted this clearly in His sacrifice for sin.

Point 3: Sin brings agony. Therefore, Jesus had to die in the most agonizing way.

Jesus also had to die a death that was excruciatingly painful. Why? To depict the horrible pain that sin causes. It would not have served God’s purpose if He had died a painless death. The picture would have been incomplete.

Listen now as I read again from Mr. Armstrong’s book…

A scourge was the Roman version of the "cat-o’-nine tails," and featured leather thongs with bits of metal wrapped in the ends of each one, fastened to a wooden or a heavy leather handle.

Oftentimes, a person who was so scourged died in the whipping, just as many seamen in the navies of the world, both then and in the generations thereafter, have died during a particularly vicious whipping on the gratings.

Jesus grunted in terrible pain, his back arching spasmodically, lips torn back from bleeding face and gums. The first blow had cut him deeply, splattering blood and chunks of flesh on those soldiers closest; they stepped back quickly, wiping at their faces and clothing.

"Chunk!" "Splat!" 'Smack!" The raining blows continued; opening great gouges in his arms, chest, stomach, back, thighs and legs. The soldier's great chest heaved with his efforts; his companions laughed with perverted, bestial pleasure; Jesus' moans were becoming a dull sob, a bare whimper, until He almost fainted!

A splashing bucket of water in the face, and, jerking Him upright again, the hideous beating continued! Jesus was stark naked and terribly vulnerable; and the soldier now and then deliberately flayed the whip at his hips so as to strike out at his manhood.

The Roman soldiers, delighting in their animal-like bloodlust, took turns whipping Jesus' body until they quite literally laid open His flesh, exposing the ribs through the wounds, with chunks of lead and metal biting deeply into His body, and splattering the hall and the Romans themselves with His blood.

They beat Jesus until He fell, hauled Him to His feet, and beat Him until He fell again. Finally, they had to tie Him upright and continue the vicious beating until Jesus' head slumped down in total exhaustion and He had to be revived once again.

"Wait! Wait!" an officer cried out! "TenSHUN!" he screamed. The whip trailed bloodily on the floor. The soldier's face glistening with blood and sweat; his crazed eyes bulging with

half-insane, animal-like incomprehension.

"You’ll kill him, you fool!" the officer screamed! "If he dies here you'll be crucified in place of him, I assure you!" "Let’s get on with the crucifixion. You two, pick him up; revive him, and let's get going—a huge crowd is gathering, and we may not be able to get him through it to the gate alive if we don't hurry! I’ll want a triple guard, and a runner sent to the gate; we've got to keep this thing from getting out of hand!"

With a bitter glance at the still-dazed leader of the group carrying the whip, the officer said, “You stay here! I may have to talk to you later!"

With that, another bucket of water was splashed into Jesus' face and they dragged the hideously deformed man to His feet. Quickly throwing His own clothes back on Him, they half-dragged, half-carried Him from the garrison room back to the street. They led Him out, and, holding up the heavy wooden beam He was to bear, slowly lowered it onto His hideously torn back. Then, urging Him on with whips, they began to lead the procession through the crowds.

By now, with His face a purpled, livid, blackened and bloody swollen mass, His eyes swollen nearly shut, one eyelid laid horribly back, huge open wounds in His scalp, shreds of skin and flesh openly exposed, Jesus would not survive much longer, the soldiers knew. So, they hurried along the street, urging Jesus along when He stumbled and fell, inexorably moving toward the denouement of their bestial drama—crucifixion.

In another passage:

Feeling the continual draining of His strength, and sensing the horror of His solitude, Jesus cried out in shock, pain and surprise, "My GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!"

Because He said it in Aramaic, using the word Eli ("my God"), some of those nearby misheard and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah.

Only a few moments had passed after Jesus, in great mental shock, cried out those terrible words—"My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me!" —when, with His head bowed, He seemed to feel a moist, bitter softness pressed against His torn, terribly swollen lips and, stirring slightly, opened His dry, aching mouth and allowed a small trickle of the bilious mixture of vinegar and a strong soap-like cleansing agent made from a bitter plant called hyssop to pass His teeth. No sooner had this been done than the sponge was pulled away from His mouth and the soldier who had affixed it to the staff of his spear, reversed his spear, and, with a derisive laugh, thrust it into Jesus' side!

Screaming out in pain, Jesus' head hit the back of the stake with a solid whack, His body arched, His limbs straining against the large spikes pinning His members to the upright pale, and, muscles spasming and trembling, said, "Father, I commend my spirit into your hands!"

With this final soft utterance, the straining muscles relaxed, the bubbling stream of stomach fluids and blood running in a full rivulet down His hip, along His leg and dripping in a steady stream from His feet, gradually ebbed to a slow dribble, and His head lolled forward. Jesus was dead.

What agony……what shame. This is what sin is. After hearing this, ……after seeing this image in your mind’s eye, it will never be enough to quote FIRST John 3:4 and say…

“for sin is the transgression of the law”

Sin is a bloodied, tortured, humiliated and executed Son of God nailed to a hideous upright stake.

This is why Christ had to be crucified. It was the only way He could show us what sin really is.

This is the sin we are putting out of our lives. This is the sin we are overcoming and defeating by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

This is the “leaven” we are putting out of our homes.

These are the ugly thoughts and temptations we are stopping dead, at the gates of our minds.

Let us never give up in our battle against sin. Persevere in your Salvation process. BE THERE AT THE END!!!

Let these be the words you hear at the return of our brother, Jesus Christ…

“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”