There Were Three Crosses On Golgotha 19
Jno. 19:17-18
A. The most familiar noun used to designate the place of Christs
crucifixion is Calvary. How
many sermons preached, songs written and sung in honor of that
place where the Son of
God died for our sins. How many songs do you know? On the
Cross of Calvary, The
Old Rugged Cross, Lead Me To Calvary, Beneath
The Cross of Jesus, When I Survey
the Wondrous Cross, Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross.
The list is almost endless.
(3) Calvary is not a first century New Testament Word. Latin CALVARIA,
Hebrew GOLGOTHA and it means the place of the skull. The place
where the Romans executed anyone who received capital punishment.
a. There were three crosses on the day Jesus was crucified. We
usually refer to the
cross as if there was only one. Two other men were crucified.
One on each side of Jesus.
(1) They were criminals who had committed crimes against the state.
They were guilty and paying the just penalty for their sins. But,
the Roman Governor who sentenced Jesus to die, did so reluctantly
because he could find no fault in Him, Lk. 23:14-15. In fact,
Matt. 27:24, records Pilate as saying, I am innocent of
the blood of this just man. Three men were crucified on
that day. This morning we will look at each of them.
(1) On one cross one man died IN sin. He lived a life of crime
and rebellion to the government. The Original language calls him
a robber not a thief. But, either way, he lived in rebellion to
both God and secular authority.
(a) Now paying the penalty for his choices in life. You always
reap what you
sow. He does not want to reap the harvest of his life. Hes
one of those
people who wants to dance, but does not want to pay the fiddler.
He is
angry about having to pay the just penalty for his sin. Therefore,
he remains
bitter, unrepentant to the end.
The agony of death has no softening effect on his hardened heart.
Death brought no word of regret to his lips. No tear of repentance
to his eye. He is the exact opposite of Jesus. Bitterness, abusive
language is what characterizes him in his dying hour.
One of the objects of his bitterness was Jesus Himself. Lk. 23:39,
says, Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed
Him, saying, "If You really are the Christ, save Yourself
and us."
Christ prayed for His enemies. He wanted Gods will to be
done and was willing to suffer, even die, for that to be accomplished.
This thief wanted salvation from the cross, but only on his own
terms.
In the wilderness Satan offered Jesus a kingdom that did not include
the Cross. And now, on the cross, hes still trying to get
Jesus to avoid that cross, listen to it, Save yourself and
us.
Today, men are still trying to be saved without the cross. They
do not want salvation the way God tells them to be saved in His
Word. They want salvation on their own terms. Gods way is
to hard, my way is easier and not as demanding.
Why is that? They dont want to bear their own cross. But,
Jesus never promised He would save us from the cross. He came
to save us through the cross......His and ours. Do you understand
what Im saying?
Eph. 2:16, God has reconciled us in the one body by the
cross. By His death on His cross Jesus established His Church
and in that Church is the place of reconciliation.
But, dont forget what Jesus said in, Lk. 9:23; 14:27, If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow Me.... whoever does not take up
his own cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.
Salvation is not from the cross, it is through the cross.
On another cross a man died TO sin. He was just like the first
man we talked about this morning. He was a criminal. Paying the
penalty for his sin.
Suddenly, sees the truth about himself and Jesus. Lk. 23:40-41.
And he calls out to Jesus and Jesus has good news for that man.
In Vs. 43, He says to the man, Of a truth, I say to you,
today you shall be with Me in paradise.
That day, three men were crucified on Roman crosses. On one cross
a man died in his sin. On another cross a man died to sin. But,
the most important thing that happened on that day, The other
man died for sin.
(4) Thats the cross you need to see. Understand what happened
on that day. See yourself and know what humanity is capable of
doing. Almost make you ashamed to be a part of the human race.
(1) But, more to the point it should make us ashamed of our own
sins. You cannot just point at someone else and say, Your
sin killed the Son of God.
(1) He died for your sin also. That makes it personal. It was
your hand that held the whip that peeled the flesh off His back.
Your lips that ridiculed and mocked Him. Your saliva that was
spit into His face. Your hand that bashed His face. Your hand
that drove the nails into his hands and heels You must look into
the mirror and admit, I nailed my savior there.
(2) Had Jesus not died on that cross, there would not be a paradise
for the robber, you or me, or anyone else.
(2) Remember the three crosses. They speak to you and your eternal
destiny.
(1) Which one best describes you? One died IN his sin. Even the
power of God cannot save the rebellious and unbelieving.
(2) One died TO his sin. Jesus hears they plea of the foulest
sinner who cries out to Him for salvation. Now look at the central
cross and hear the truth, There is no other name under heaven,
given among men where by we can be saved, and that name is Jesus.
When I Survey The Cross (pg. 179).
(3) Acts 20:32.
Spur - 03/31/2002 am
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