Mystery at the Cross

The time is 9 AM.

The place is Golgotha, the place of the skull.

As we draw near, we see that there are three crosses, but even a superficial glance makes it very clear that the man on the middle crosses buddy buddy difference is almost unrecognizable as a man. There is spittle on his face.

Some of the hairs have been plucked from his beard start. Clearly he is in agony and this we realize is the Lord Jesus our magnificent Savior, the Savior of the world is really a kind of thorns is been put on his head in Monterey and then he hangs on the old rugged Cross is a piece of wood. We where crosses made of gold. Even with diamonds would make something very beautiful art of the cross, but this cause is a very ugly cross. The beauty is not on the piece of words you beauty is seen in the person on the cross, Lord Jesus died the death of shame, death of agony he died as a despised criminal entitlement society. The word cause was never mentioned peroxidase in Latin, it was never to be authored. It was an obscenity. Paul tells us that the preaching of the cross to the Gentiles to the Greeks, is foolishness to the Jews, the preaching of the cross is an absolute scandal to think that anything good could come from one who is hanging on the cross under the ready curse of God, but to understand the Christian faith. That is to understand biblical orthodox Christianity.

We must understand the cross.

The apostles wrote of it that was central to the thinking central to their theology to the rights that he himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree that's the gospel.

Jesus dies on an old rugged piece of wood he dies on the cross of shame, but there he's dying for our sins.

Let's read Matthew as he continues his accounts. We thought of this last week as we saw our Lord Jesus being led from the bath from Pilate's judgment hall building his own costs until Simon is conscripted until Simon is given the cross and we watch our Savior as you go side of the old city and makes his way to Golgotha. The place of the skull were thinking on the holiness of God and surely were thinking of the mystery of the cross read with me. I hope you come with your Bibles.

Matthew chapter 27 if you're here for the first time, let me say we we began our study of Matthew long time ago, almost at the end and that were going consecutively through it. So our topics are decided by the text, not by what I think Matthew 27 verse 46 letter from the six hour there was darkness over the land until the ninth hour. And by the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying Alia Lee Lamas about the that is my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Some of the bystanders hitting it said this man is calling Elijah and one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a read and give it to him to drink, but the other Segway. Let's see whether Elijah will come to save Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit will the captain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and then shook on the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened by many and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

When the student with this and Julian and those who are with them, keeping watch over Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place there were filled with all and said truly this was the son of God. There are also many women there looking on from a distance would follow Jesus from Galilee, ministering to, among whom were many Magdalenian and Mary the mother of James and Joseph on the mother of the sons of Zebedee, the mystery of the cross, Jesus the Christ is bettering our sin and we see him in darkness. The Bible tells us that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. But on the cross darkness around is the son of God.

After three hours on the cross crucifixion begins our time is a one 9 AM and then we read in verse 46 from the six hour enrollment time that Snowden until the ninth. That's 3 PM there's this darkness over all the land is spiritual darkness surely signifying the judgment of God as Jesus bears punishment for our sins. Member back in the garden of Gethsemane. In chapter 26 as our Lord is in agony in the garden of Gethsemane.

He says in chapter 26 verse 39 my father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will know he is drinking.com that awful top, but as mentioned, garden of Gethsemane.

This darkness is also a symbol of desolation is separation and there's verbally express this loud cry of Jesus, did you hear my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. This is the only saying which Matthew and Mark Ricard we know is really good Matthew Mark Luke and John are Lord said seven things on the cross we call them the seven sayings of Jesus, Matthew and Mark only mentioned this one, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Luke mentions three others and John mentions three others this cry verse 26 and you know your Bible comes from a messianic Psalm Psalm 22 verse one where the psalmist says my God, my God, why has forsaken me, and Jesus is quoting it up. Jody knew all of Psalm 22 and they have accorded more of it. But here we have the first verse of Psalm 22 this is the only time incidentally when the Lord addresses God's God in all other cases in the Gospels when he's praying he prays to his father, for example, in the Lord's prayer our father who art in heaven. Some of the other things on the cross, father, into your hands I commit my spirit. Father forgive them for they know not what they're doing is amazing that on the cross is being crucified. He's praying for forgiveness. The world says love yourself.

Religion says love others. Jesus says love your enemies, and he prays to his father, but no, he says my God, my God, why have you forsaken me now. Jesus knows that he's going to be delivered by his father through his resurrection but not on the cross he is the sacrifice for sinners, John the Baptist and said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and this is not happening. He is taken away the sin of the world and as he's doing that he's asking this question.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me. God is triune, the father the son and the Holy Spirit could God forsake God. In essence and substance. The unity of the Trinity is preserved. What's happening here is not a break.

In essence that's unthinkable is not a break.

In essence of the Trinity is our Lord is being forsaken not in essence but in presence, darkness falls fellowship between him and his father is darkened, no angel comes to the sons help on other occasions rooted in the Gospels that the angels minister to him during his ministry, but not on this occasion and also notice that although he has forsaken his trust is still in God. He addresses God as my God, my God, and furthermore the love of the father continues for the son. The father doesn't stop loving his son when his son is bettering the sin of the world. We see the judgment of God against sin following on the sinless Christ the cross of Christ is the greatest demonstration of the love of God, we had this past week.

Our music complement each day the children learned about arson. One of the days they learned Romans five verse eight. What does it say music Children know that adults not but God shows our God commands his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and when our Lord Jesus on the cross.

In these hours of darkness tries my God, my God, why have you forsaken me there is no answer to the Lord's cry in the silence and in the darkness of Golgotha atonement for our sin is being made. Give any idea of how awful sinners. I hope you understand what a sinner you are thinkable of the sin of the world, the Lamb of God is taken away the sin of the world and Paul right so wonderfully in Romans chapter 8 regarding the father.

He says the father did not spare his son, but delivered him up for us all remitted that we think of the story of Abraham and Isaac when Isaac is Isaac is about to be delivered up in the last moment God says no. It is a substitute around caught in the thicket, but for the son of God, as he is being offered up as a sacrifice for sin on the cross that is no last-minute reprieve. The father does not spare his son but delivers them up by four us all understand why this is your only hope this is your only way of salvation. No further understand that on the cross is true man nailed him to the cross, wicked man hardened man it's true the crowd and the religious establishment.

The pilot and headed wanted them dead. That's true behind the hung on the cross is also true that Jesus is voluntarily leaving Donovan is life. Isaiah 53 verse and it was the will of the Lord to crush him. He has put him to grief. Yes, in a very real sense and fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.

The father is putting the sun to grief. The father is smiting his son, the shepherd is being struck down, but all of this is in God's triune plan of salvation and the innocent Lamb of God's bidding. The sin of the world. Yours and mine, when you think of that, but Christ bore our hell is aware that we might share his heaven that Christ enters into the darkness so that you and I for all of eternity may live in the life in the light of heaven that the sinless Christ bears the sin of the world that we who are so sinful might be free bulk and says says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. He goes into the darkness so that we may for ever live in the light of the glory of God and Jesus is calling Charlie laying down his life. Did you notice verse 50.

And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, notice it was a loud voice. The client verse 46 he cried with a loud voice, Jesus is calling Charlie laying down his life out Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal purposes of God chooses the exact time when he will lay dying his life on the cross he said in John chapter 10 no one takes my life from me. I power to lay it down and I power to take it up again of my own accord with the wonderful and that the time chosen the exact time chosen from all of eternity by the triune God our Savior. Verse 50 tries again with a loud voice and yields up his spirit. John says as a kind of across our Lord cried finish and again. John says he bowed his head and give up spirit is laying down his life finish and he bows his head and gives up his the man who mentored me as a very young and the very naïve attorney.

Not only was sub smoking them for his name was Jim estate. Not only was a brilliant attorney is a very strong follower of Christ, quiet man observed mind until he got into court with the going another life, but he was very quiet very shy in the goodness of God.

He mentored me and he was a bit of a point. Thinking of this he write some lines or medical you ready for this. Meekly he bows his sacred head to the agony the shame or almost sore departure the lips of Christ can bear no more, but yet he bows his head submissive sale even in the order of death to all the fathers will to get that he's obedient unto death, even the death of the cross and that bowed head symbolized his perfect obedience to the father's will.

Then Jim estate writes a verse for us. We still plugged heart. How can I stand in Luke on that had so humbly bending low, and not let men with tears and shame of face by willful ways rebelling murmuring so all for the grace and every athlete loss the by the head to God as Christ did on the cross and when you never suffered loss and when he had ever find life hard. Anyone here ever gone through something which was extremely difficult. The answer is yes just about all of us unless we better very young. What are we to do this, the cross of Christ, tell us. It certainly tells us that he bore our sins, but is also a perfect example isn't the what it means to be a follower of Christ that in every athlete loss. I'm to bow the head to God as Christ did on the cross. Some of you are familiar with the Valley of vision of book of Puritan prayers and devotions. Here's an extract. Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy that I might be brought in trial didn't dine as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend surrender to house worse that I might attain heaven's best strip that I might be closed winded that I might be healed of first that I might drink tormented I might be comforted, made ashamed that I might inherit glory entered darkness that I might have eternal life. That's it. He goes into the darkness so the none he says one who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life is also something very strange. Verse 51 below the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom in the tabernacle, and in the temple there was a video curtain.

It was a sign of God's own approachability it symbolized. There was no way into the presence of God. The veil was made of blue and purple and scarlet childhood dream were woven into the carton symbolizing God's protective presence that it is. It separated the holy place, from the holy of holies was in the holy place the articles of furniture that was the table of showbread there was the altar of incense. And then there was the lampstands was in the holy of holies they are of the covenants. It was there between the holy place and the holy of holies was this magnificent temple who entered into the holy place the priests in the tabernacle and the temple. The average worshiper cameras at work to the present there to worship there to give that animal to be worshiped who entered into the holy place the ordinary priests who entered into the holy of holies. Only one man, and that once a year, the high priest on the great day of atonement described in Leviticus 16, Yom Kippur on that one day just one day of the year, the high priest entered into the holy of holies sinners are separated from a holy God. Here was a visible manifestation of the presence of God among his people. The dog desires to dwell with his people make for me. Attendance in the wilderness at tabernacle and that Solomon bills a permanent temple in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Then it was symbolizing the presence of God. Know the crucifixion was wonderful versus one that corrected is torn in two from top to bottom. How big do you think the curtain in the temple was Solomon tells us in first Kings six. The height of the temple was 45 feet is big. It was 30 cubits was attributed attribute is the measurement of a man from the tip of his largest finger to his elbow yesterday afternoon. I measured my and being close to the perfect man. It was 18 inches right foot and 1/2 so 30 cubits is 45 feet now as I have the temple is opposing it was a little but didn't quite go the whole and top was a shoe which curtain, how could you curtain from the top to the bottom that is over 40 defeats. Answer was a mandatory curtain was it was God himself.

It was torn by guards from the top to the bottom that the day of God's wonderful son and his perfect act of vengeance and taking meant cup and drinking that cup and going into the hours of darkness and the incredible history of the cross, when he who is no sin is made sin for us now. He heals up his spirits and what happens when say this reverently, God is on that our blessed Savior has opened all the way to God.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus by the new and living way that the "awesome through the curtain, that is new. His flesh at Golgotha.

The Old Testament system and sacrifices and priesthood are forever abolished the holy of holies. Think of it now stands open that curtain in the tabernacle that curtain in the temple, which had been there for over a thousand years separating the presence of God from the people of God is abolished, the veil is forever gone and only a few years the Roman army is going to come in is going to totally demolish the temple symbolizing that it's over it's gone on. No access to the throne room of God is open to all Jew and Gentile, who come through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the veil is aware he has unveiled thought that we are sinful man and woman. I don't need a priest. I don't need the high priest, you don't need that, that you through the blonde of the Lord Jesus Christ can come right into the throne room of God. But I don't. Hebrews puts it this way. Hebrews 4 verse 16.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that when we come to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the way that's not just a formula.

In Jesus name, amen.

This is recognizing when we pray that we have no standing, no jurisdiction before God by yourself. Can you approach a holy God only one way to our Lord Jesus Christ, we come in his name and we come to the throne of judgment is what you deserve most of throne of grace, that we may receive mercy. Mercy of course all your past sins. You need God's mercy every single day. Don't you, that we may receive mercy and find grace to need grace today and the strength in her wisdom, God's help for today to help in time of need. Why is it brothers and sisters we so slow to pray that you have your time of need your time of anxiety time when you feel so helpless that you and I through the wonderful work of our Lord Jesus Christ, that this carton this veil is torn down and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can come at any time.

Running into the throne room of God right in the word to the holy of holies God himself through the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, and then I will receive the mercy and the grace in my time of need. You've experienced them to brother I have. Hope you have sister. I hope you know what it is to receive his mercy and his grace in your time of need, and the entire sacrificial system foreshadow this one upgrade unrepeatable perfect sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No, every believer is a priest.

Martin Luther said he preach the priesthood of believers is an event that is incredibly, this incredible that were family of priests and you and I don't need some human mediator.

You don't need some priest start past and you are going to let anyone else to mediate between you and God you come in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We approach them directly and we have immediate access anytime imagining it.

Being able to go in the throne room of God.

Anytime you know whether to go to the doctor tell you how to make appointments to them calling for an appointment this week and I is difficult to get to see my doctor. I don't have immediate access to the horse now I have immediate access to some of my friends. I now have immediate access sometimes to my wife she was advertising and we smell alone thing of this.

I do have immediate access to great God in my time of need. The way is open. The blood is shed the bridges completed the work is finished, the prices paid is why we say he's the only way to God. No wonder he says I'm the way the truth and the life.

No one comes to the father apart from me. Who else came from heaven to so that you can go from heaven else ever done.

This does not he should be there is none like him, nor will there ever be anyone like him on the worst of people and Tabasco people can come that God's love extends to all the world. There is no other way of forgiveness. No other way for my sins to be forgiven. No other way to receive eternal life to something else or 51 Boulder curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to fit me the noise when the process citing the huge tear in the shoe.

No wonder. Think of the momentous occasion of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ shook and the rocks were split.

There's an earthquake. The tombs also were opened many many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep would raise him coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city of Jerusalem and appeared to many – K quick Shirley was a sign of God's judgment against those who put Jesus on the train terms were opened bodies over some of the saints were raised after the resurrection they going to the holy city Jerusalem. They appear to many were told this is a restoration to life, similar to the resurrection of Lazarus member Lazarus raised from the dead was happening, Jesus Christ. Paul says, is the firstfruits from the dead.

He said to his followers in John 14 because I live, you shall live also.

Our Lord Jesus Christ dies were going to see next week days and the term that were going to go celebrate the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ resurrection is coming at these same stingrays of the term is a is a symbol of the pictures and enacted probable historical events that dad has been conquered by our Lord Jesus Christ, that he's gone into that and see his dad. Those who know him. Those who are united him to him will live forever and ever himself and said in John 11. I am the resurrection and the life he that believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live in.

Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never ever, and then verse 54 we have this amazing confession by this unlikely Connick to visit Jerry and he's a Gentile is recommended of 100 soldiers easily.

He's the executioner he's in charge of the execution room fascinating in there that this confession is made by the Romans, and shooting a pagan who witnesses the suffering and death of Jesus.

Verse 54 when the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus the job with a grisly job.

Their job is to put to death.

Jesus, keeping watch over Jesus when they see their way quick take place. They were filled with all that said, truly, this was the son of God through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Theirs offered salvation even to someone like this century and after all, Jesus had prayed father forgive them for they know not what this man as he began the grisly task of putting to death the prisoner Jesus. He had no idea what he was doing a no as he watches as he sees what's going on. He makes this declaration. Truly this was the son of God.

I'm sure he could.

Many people today Roman crowd was ruthless, but here it is uploaded greater than normal. It is a part of God for salvation political and military power may seem impressive but in seeming weakness in seeming defeat. The magnificent of God is being displayed at the cross at the foot of the cross.

This hard soldier. This tough guy has his heart changed and down through the centuries for over 2000 years ago soldiers tough man little children, people of all walks of life of all ages have simply come in the come to the cross of Christ.

If you've ever been to. Praise God, the goodness of God had been there. I know I'm talking about of experience the transformation that takes place at the foot of the cross that is this compelling attraction of the Savior that he said that as that he would be lifted up so this people look at him as they receive him as they believe in him will receive eternal life. And then there's these women in verses 55 and 56. There also many women looking on delinquent with the apostles were the 11 apostles the case that woman of stronger faith than men that were looking on from a distance they had followed Jesus from Galilee Galilee's away in the north and these women had followed Jesus and of the come to Judea right to Jerusalem and there and they had ministered to Jesus itself to the taking care of, among whom were Mary Magdalena and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of 70 characterized by faithful loyalty they begun. They had begun to follow Jesus.

They had served them when he was in Galilee.

They had been with him as he traveled from the north right dine to Jerusalem and they had continued following him unlikely apostles right to the cross was Saddam to the confuses as the were looking on from a distance, but they were demonstrating their great love and loyalty toward Lord Jesus these many women verse 55 love Jesus, that the burial of Jesus were going to see next week, but 61 cup of them to these women are given the privilege of being the first shipment witnesses of the resurrected Christ faithfully following Jesus for at least three years following Jesus following Jesus and always easy as it could've been easy for these women fearful, confused sometimes feel like giving up the way we go through difficult times in our Christian faith. Things don't work out the way we we think they should they expect I will expect that's what we think we deserve in life can be taught tough in life can be hard and sometimes we we we feel we want to give up always on them is a bit of rebellion in us through unexpected unexpected circumstances and discouragements. Sometimes you may feel like retreating. Benjamin feel like pulling back once you serve the Lord with great zeal, with great devotion. Once you were very close to the Lord with these difficult circumstances of calm life hasn't been kind to you in your view, and that you pulled back can ask you if you feel like that and who hasn't felt like that sometimes you feel like I want you to keep looking at the cross we need to look at the Lord Jesus the Savior of the world. When you to be steadfast, don't want you to give up what you to keep following Jesus want you to keep responding to Jesus with faithful loyalty. Our mission is being in making authentic followers of Jesus Christ. That means I'm to follow them every day my life with her that day is wonderful with his heart.

You were to follow him today and tomorrow will you do that you find it difficult to go back to the cross and survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died. Remind yourself that the father did not spare the son, but delivered him up for you that on the cross on your Lord Jesus Christ paid the price of your sins, how kind you desire time can you give up. Be strong, be courageous and categorize Jesus story is told of a missionary. He was preaching the gospel to try for the first time and as he finished the chief of the tribe asked them to go over the story again which the missionary did I when it came to this story, the story of the cross. The chief stood up and interrupted him and said, hold on, hold on to Jesus Christ dying from the cross to come down and I say Jesus Christ doesn't belong in the cross I belong in the cross with God other than the Scripture is that he died for me, son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Yes, I deserve to die on the cross. Here is the sinless one who knows no sin becoming sin for us. I ask again to allude to the Savior you've never open your heart to Christ. We do that, this is your only way of salvation. This is only way to receive eternal life.

This is the only way to be sure that when you die you going to be with the Savior. This is the compelling mystery of the cross on the part of the cross yes to the world is foolishness yes to the world as a scandal to us who believe Paul says it is the wisdom of God and the power of God. I want you today. Experience the power of the cross of father under God and pray that each one of us here will experience that power there's Mr. here father I feel so an adequate to preach on these versus the depth of them.

The mystery of them and yet we rejoice that there are Savior died for our sins and he died for me are pretty for someone here who does not know Christ open the heart to him. In Christ name I pray