March 29, 2024
Pastor John Hering
Matthew 27:38-54
Matthew 27:38-54
38 At the same time two criminals were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 People who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, 40 and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
41 In the same way the chief priests, experts in the law, and elders kept mocking him. They said, 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now, if he wants him, because he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him kept insulting him.
45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “This fellow is calling for Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran, took a sponge, and soaked it with sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and gave him a drink. 49 The rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. 52 Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. 53 Those who came out of the tombs went into the holy city after Jesus’ resurrection and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
It is pretty comfortable for us sitting here under the shadow of the cross on this Good Friday. Will you please go with me back to the time Jesus was crucified. Close your eyes and feel the dampness in the air, the smell of death, and just think about the horrific sounds! Hammers pounding in nails. Screams of agony. Cries of family and friends. And those voices! You can’t get them out of your head! The trial was over and the sentence was being carried out, but in their hatred the chief priests, experts in the law, and elders kept mocking him. They said, 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself. If he’s the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now, if he wants him, because he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The next voices you hear are from the soldiers beneath the cross. Luke’s gospel tells us that they join in: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself” (Luke 23:37). Evidently, they aren’t finished having fun at Jesus’ expense. Now you notice voices coming from people on their way to work or the market are chiming in! 39 People who passed by kept insulting him, shaking their heads, 40 and saying, “You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” What moves a traveler passing by to shout at a dying man like that? Finally, you pick out two voices coming from above you. You look up and see that the men on either side of Jesus are saying the same things. 44 In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him kept insulting him. Again, Luke provides the details: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39).
The voices you hear come from different people in different tones from different places on that hill, but they have the same theme: “Prove it! If you’re really God, show us!” My prayer for you on this Good Friday is that you look up at the Cross of Jesus Christ and confess,
The Sacrifice Of Jesus Is All The Evidence We Need
When Doubts Arise
I can’t imagine any of us would have yelled such things at Jesus. Or could I? Have you never said, “If there is a God, where’s the proof? Why can science explain everything without him? Why is there so much evil in the world? Why do prayers go unanswered? If you’re up there, God, make me better. Give me a sign. Then I might believe.” Just like the crowds at Jesus’ crucifixion people today just like you speak words like this to fight against a God they can’t stand. Others just want to make fun. Some totally reject Christ. Others are desperate and grabbing at anything to make themselves feel better. In other words, the doubting world today continues to Put God On Trial and Demand the Evidence. This affects us all.
Once again, picture yourself there on Golgotha listening. How do those voices make you feel? Maybe angry: “How dare you say those things!” Or frustrated: “You don’t understand who he is.” But you might also be wondering if the voices are right: “Why isn’t he doing anything? I’ve seen him multiply loaves, heal the blind, and raise the dead! Why won’t he come down from the cross? Is this the limit of his power? Is he not the one I thought he was?” Yes, doubting Jesus actively or passively has its affect on us all. “If Jesus is the Son of God, why did he let this tragedy happen to me? Why doesn’t he stop his enemies from taking advantage of his people and mocking his name? Why doesn’t he give some kind of proof, some kind of sign? Why does he stay quiet?” If I was Jesus I wouldn’t stay quiet! I would let them have it! And there it is—the evidence that I’m not the Savior.
The solution isn’t to ignore the voices raised against Jesus. In fact, I think we should listen more closely! “He saved others!” If only they had set aside their spite for a moment, they might have followed up with the right question. “He saved others. Why doesn’t he save himself?” They didn’t consider the evidence that Jesus was refraining from using his power for a reason. Why didn’t the man who could raise the dead save his own life? Jesus answers our “Why?” question with one of his own “Why” questions to give us the answer when doubts arise. Before he bowed his Head and
Jesus Closed His Eyes
What was the “Why” question Jesus asked? “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?“ The Son in the flesh calls out not to his Father but to his God. It’s not a cry of unbelief but of agony. It reveals what no one standing there could see because it is only perceived through faith. The man on the middle cross wasn’t just suffering from nails, thirst, and suffocation—on top of the ridicule. This man, who had done nothing wrong in the court of humankind or the court of God, was suffering God’s wrath for the sins of others. His question came from the depths of the torment we deserved. The one who saved others didn’t save himself. Why? Because he loves us!
That’s the answer to all the “Why” questions that plague us. “Why doesn’t Jesus do ___? Why would he allow ___?” If he was willing to suffer and die in our place, we cannot doubt his love. The answer to our questions remains the same: It must be because he loves us! It may not be the answer we want, but it’s the answer we need. Jesus suffered the punishment of hell for you and me before he closed his eyes. The evidence is in Jesus’ question: ? “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?“
Jesus was paying the penalty of all our sins. Today, by a simple washing of the Word connected to water, he puts his Spirit in us to convince us that he is our Savior. Through time-worn words, he speaks to us the same forgiveness, the same promise of paradise. In a simple meal of bread and wine Jesus lets us taste and see he loves us and forgives us. These means bring Jesus’ death to us to erase our doubts with evidence to strengthen our faith.
And then it happened. Jesus Closed His Eyes! 50 After Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. There is all the evidence you need of God’s amazing love for you. Jesus died. But, wait! There’s more evidence of the power of Jesus at work even in his death! 51 Suddenly, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and rocks were split. 52 Tombs were opened, and many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life. This was evidence enough for the centurion on duty. 54 When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” The curtain once divided the people from the presence of God. Jesus ripped open the way for God to once again establish his relationship with all people through the blood of Jesus Christ. The display of Jesus’ power over dead people being raised back to life removed any doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. The Sacrifice of Jesus Is All The Evidence We Need when Jesus Closed His Eyes in Death.
It is comfortable for us to sit in our chairs and meditate on this Good Friday. But, now I want you to go up to Mt. Calvary. Close your eyes. The smell of death in God’s kingdom is the smell of forgiveness for us. Then listen carefully to the seven words Jesus spoke. Every word gives testimony that Jesus’ Sacrifice is all The Evidence We Need To Believe in Jesus, Our Savior. Amen!
