Crucifixion of Jesus – The Nature and Purpose of the Crucifixion

1. It was a real place.

1) It was outside the walls of the city ( Hebrews 13:12 “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

2) In Hebrew, Golgotha; in Latin, Calvary – the place of the skull. John 19:17; Luke 23:33.

3) It was a place of death.

2. There were real soldiers.

1) These were Roman soldiers.

2) These soldiers were trained in the art of death.

3) These soldiers mocked, spat upon, scourged and then crucified Jesus. Matthew 27:27-31

3. There were real people who saw it.

1) Matthew 27:39-43. Passers by. Chief priests. Scribes. Elders.

2) John 19:25 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

4. It was a real death.

1) Matthew 27:50 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.”

2) John 19:33, 34 “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

1. The reasons were personal.

1) Power over the people — John 12:19 “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.”

2) Matthew 27:18 and Mark 15:10 record it was for envy that the Jews delivered up Jesus.

3) Pilate did not want to lose his job. John 19:12 “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”

4) Our sins

a. 1 Cor. 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

b. Gal. 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

c. 1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

2. The suffering was personal.

1) The spit that was spat upon him was very personal.

2) The crown of thorns was personally pushed upon his head.

3) The flog very personally came in contact with his back.

4) The nails very personally pierced his hands and his feet.

5) The six hours of torment on the cross was very personal.

3. The sacrifice was personal.

1) It was a choice that Jesus personally made.

a. 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.”

b. Matthew 26:53 “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”

c. We should not think that the one who had power over disease, demons, elements of the earth, and even death itself would die unless it was his own personal choice to do so.

2) It was the personal body of Jesus that was sacrificed.

a. John 1:14 says the word became flesh.

b. Hebrews 10:5-7 “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

c. Jesus had a body, just like you and I.

1. His was a sacrificial life.

1) He left behind everything. Phil. 2:5

2) He possessed nothing. Matt. 8:20

3) He dedicated everything. Matt. 20:28 “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

2. His was a sacrificial death.

1) He did not deserve to die. 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.”

2) He gave his body. Luke 22:19 “…This is my body which is given for you:…”

3) He gave his blood. Matthew 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

3. He sacrificed all.

1) We are the beneficiaries of his sacrifice.

a. Rom. 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

b. Rom. 4:25 “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

2) Because he sacrificed all, he can ask us to sacrifice all in return.

a. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech ye, therefore, brethren…”

b. Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ…”

c. Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”