There Were Three Crosses On Golgotha 19
Jno. 19:17-18

A. The most familiar noun used to designate the place of Christ’s 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. He’s 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 God’s 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, he’s 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. God’s way is to hard, my way is easier and not as demanding.
Why is that? They don’t 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 I’m 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, don’t 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) That’s 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