Jesus' Cross

Jesus' Cross

By Pastor Young Joon Park

September 13, 2009

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Jesus' Passion

I. Jesus was rejected by His People

1. The spirit of rejection

2. Those leaders are

The chief priests - who are mediator in the gap between God and men

The Elders - who leads God’s people

The teachers of the law - study the word of God and give interpretation

The whole Sanhedrin - all the operation of the nation

3. The source of the blindness

II. Jesus was accused by His People

1. The spirit of accusation

2. The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly.

III. Jesus was handed over to be crucified

1. The spirit of bitterness

2. The bitterness of chief priests

1) They stirred up the crowd

2) He was wishing to satisfy the crowd,

IV. Jesus was mocked by the soldiers

1. The mocking spirit

2. They mocked Jesus?' Kinghood.

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Mark 15:21-32

²¹ A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and *Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

²² They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).

²³ They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.

²⁴ And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.

²⁵ It was the third hour when they crucified Him.

²⁶ The inscription of the charge against Him read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS."<

²⁷ They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.

²⁸ [And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, **"And He was numbered with transgressors."

²⁹ Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!"

³¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, "He saved others; He cannot save Himself.

³² "Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!"***Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

** ^ISA^53:12

Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And He was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.

***

^{LK 23:39} One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"

^{LK 23:40} But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

^{LK 23:41} "And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

^{LK 23:42} And he was saying, Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!"

^{LK 23:43} And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

I. Carrying the Cross

1. Jesus Christ by Himself

Roman crucifixion was a particularly severe execution. The cross, the instrument of execution, consisted of two beams of wood called the stipes and the patibulum. The stipes was the upright beam which remained implanted in the ground at the place of execution. The patibulum or crossbeam was carried across the shoulders of the prisoner to the execution site. This crossbeam generally weighed approximately 110 pounds.

Every sinner carried their own execution tool the cross to the crucifixion place, because the Roman government showed to the people how horrible and sever pain and the cost their life through the cross execution, to give the fear to them, and at the same time to give the maximum pain for their crime.

Carrying their own cross does not simply means just carrying the cross, but they are to be executed on the cross that they carried. Carrying his cross by the sinner signifies a meaning that he is already dead.

Jesus carried His own execution tool of the cross on His shoulder, not because of His Sin, but our sin. He might have fallen down many times due to His Physical condition that arose from the severe tortures on His Physical Body, and the weight of the cross.

God gave the instruction to build the Ark of the Covenant to Moses while the Israelites were in wilderness.

The size: length - 2.5 cubits, (3.75 ft), width - 1.5 cubits, (2.25 ft), height - 1.5 cubits, (2.25 ft)

The weight was very heavy, because it was an overlay of acacia wood with pure gold.

Exodus 25:

¹⁰ “Have them make a chest of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

^:11 Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.

¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other.

¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.

¹⁴ Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the chest to carry it.

This Ark of the Covenant was not carried by using any neither animals nor cart of any kinds, but carried by priests.?The priests carried this ark while Israelites were in the wilderness?life, when they crossed the River Jordan until settling down in the Promised Land.

Joshua 3:8

Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.?

The Ark of the Covenant has to be carried by the priests, because they are the mediators in the gap between God and men, meaning that the priests are the one who carries people’s sin with the clean animal’s blood of sacrifice and stand for them in the Holy Holy Place. They carried the heavy anointing from the Lord on their shoulders for the entire Israelites.

Jesus carried the sins of the world which of course includes yours and mine for 33 years and 2000 years ago.

John 1:29

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

On the way to the Golgotha, Jesus carried the heavy cross or cross beam, but He was exhausted to carry the heavy cross, so He stopped or fell down because of the heavy cross that were the sins of the world which of course includes yours and mine.

Jesus Christ our Lord carried our sin for us, instead of us carrying the cross.

2. A certain man from Cyrene, Simon,

who carried Jesus' Cross for Him

1) He was the father of Alexander and Rufus,

2) He was passing by on his way coming out of the country,

3) and they forced him to carry the cross.

Jesus carried His Cross for a while, but He could not carry any more because of His Physical torture by Roman soldiers, so the Roman soldiers were looking for other man to carry His Cross to the execution site.

Cyrene, Simon was passing by on his way, he was forced to carry Jesus' Cross.

It was unpleasant event and painful emotionally as well as physically for him.

There might be wrong impression about him to the public, but he did not have any choice to refuse or accept, but had to obey their order.

It was so physically and emotionally painful with shame to carry the symbol of the punishment for sinner, but this incident became the most blessing for his life and his children. They were known very well to the people who read this Gospel.

He was the blessed man in the entire human history.

Because of this chosen task, his children were known among the Saints.

He was chosen to carry Jesus' Cross among the people who were watching Jesus' Passion, also he was chosen by the Lord even before the Lord put the foundation of the universe.

Romans 16:13

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother (Simon’s wife), who has been a mother to me, too.

A. We share the sufferings of Christ I Peter 4:12-14

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

¹³ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

B. We have to take up our cross in daily.

One time the Lord asked His Disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

Also He asked them, “But what about you??o:p>

Peter did confess, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.?o:p>

He knew Jesus exactly who He is.

Jesus prophesized to His Disciples about His suffering, His Death and His Resurrection.

At that time Peter was upset, and he took Jesus aside and rebuked Jesus.

Jesus corrected him to align to God’s Will, but not his flesh will.

And then Jesus spoke to them about the true Christian life.

Luke 9:23

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

The cross is an execution tool. It means the death, so we need to die everyday.

To die means we do not follow our will or our desire, but we will follow His Will alone.

Another meaning is that we rely only on the Lord alone, not relying on myself or other at all.

We need to refuse my flesh desire and will, but choose the Lord’s Will daily

One of my friends who does the healing ministry shared one testimony with me.

One day he was so exciting, because he felt the Holy Spirit anointing and God’s presence very strongly, so he was expecting the powerful ministry by the Holy Spirit in the seminar, but there was no fruit during the seminar.

One day he was so down and did not feel the Holy Spirit’s anointing and God’s presence at all, but he has to lead the healing ministry that evening without any eager.

The Holy Spirit moved among all the people’s heart so strongly, and he saw so much fruit from the ministry that evening.

The Holy Spirit cannot work if we do not rely only on the Lord alone.

So we have to pick up our cross and choose to rely on the Lord alone everyday.

What is your cross?

II. Jesus' Crucifixion

1. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (= The Place of the Skull).

The place of the Cross is the place of the death.

There is the death only where there is sin.

This is the place where God appointed to destroy and to put all the sins of the world to death for you and me.

That is why they brought Jesus to this place.

Our sin was put to death and destroyed in this Golgotha.

Aren’t you sure about your forgiveness or salvation? Do you feel that God did not forgive your past sin yet?

You need to come to this Golgotha where Jesus was brought to be crucified.

Jesus was ready to put all the sins on the cross and destroy forever for our eternal life.

2. They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it.

The purpose of this wine is to reduce the pain of the crucifixion for the prisoner for the last mercy.

Jesus did not avoid the hard time, but He intentionally chose to receive all the pain without any anesthesia.

Jesus prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane very seriously several hours ago.

Luke 22:42

"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

Now He was facing the crucifixion.

His prayer was to drink all the wrath of God for all the sins of the world even the one last drop of wrath of God 100%.

His plan was never for the partial redemption and forgiveness.

He wanted to take the responsibility of your eternal life perfect 100% continually.

Jesus took all the pain what I have to go through, and He took every drop of pain for my sin completely, that is why He did not want to avoid the pains of me and the entire human beings' sin with any pain killer.

This is Jesus' Love and Father's Love for you personally.

He takes the responsibility for the rest of your life.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

3. And they crucified Him at the third hour (9 AM),

There are several forms of the crucifixion, and that is not all the pictures of Jesus' Cross Crucifixion pictures are the same, but different. They might have had the different forms of cross at that time. When we traveled to Israel we found another form of crucifixion during Jesus? time in Israel that is different than the traditional one.

Prisoner’s legs were positioned on both sides of the vertical pole of the cross, and prisoner’s ankles were nailed on both sides against the pole.

His wrists were nailed.

The Only Way for Him to be able to breathe was for Him to push His Legs up.

However, pushing His Legs up causes all of His Weight to be on His ankle. And needless to say this causes the extremely excruciating pain on all of His Body.

Jesus had gone through all this for all of sins of mine and yours.

Jesus began receiving all the wrath of God against the sin of the world on Jesus.

He became curse of sin.

1) Jesus became sin for our sin

2 Corinthians 5:21

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2) Jesus was cursed for our sin

Galatians 3:13

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse against us -- or it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"

3) Jesus died for our wage of sin

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

4. The inscription of the charge against Him read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS."

The Charge on Jesus was claiming as the King of the Jews that is true.

Luke 1:32

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

The King of the Jews means that He is the Messiah.

He was crucified as the Messiah for us.

He is the King of kings.

He is your King. Is He really your King in your everyday life?

Rome 10:9-10

Lord & Savior - Salvation

5. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.

1) And the Scripture was fulfilled which says,

2) And He was numbered with transgressors.

3) Isaiah 53:12

** ^ISA^53:12

Even Jesus Christ died among the sinners.

He was friends of the sinners (people’s concept as their own self-righteousness view) , and He died on the Cross among the sinners (as the concept of political and the law).

I am here for the Lost, but not only for saints.

I have to accept the people who are despised by people.

Jesus was criticized by the leaders, because Jesus had a good relationship with the people who were labeled as sinners by the spiritual leaders. The leaders separated themselves from those people.

Jesus was friends of sinners, because He came here to save those sinners.

Jesus came here for us who were sinners before.

We should not judge anyone, but we need to carry His Love to bring them to the Lord.

I am not talking about accepting their sin. God wants us to love them and share His Love, but not the sin.

III. Mocking of Jesus

1. Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying,

1) Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple

2) You are going to rebuild it in three days,

3) save Yourself, and come down from the cross!

2. In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes,

1) They were mocking Him among themselves and saying,

2) He saved others; He cannot save Himself.

3) Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross,

4) so that we may see and believe!

3. Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

²⁹ Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!?

³¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself.

³² “Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!?***Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

The mocking spirit will work in every opportunity in every kind of people.

Conclusion

1 Peter 4:15-19

^{1PE 4:15} Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

^{1PE 4:16} but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

^{1PE 4:17} For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

^{1PE 4:18} AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?

^{1PE 4:19} Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.