By Steve Hamilton

Introduction:  We are nearing the time of year in which the world is mindful of the birth of Christ.  The purpose of His birth is stated in Matt. 1:21. Interestingly, we are never required nor requested to remember the day of His birth.  However, we are commanded to remember an event far more significant then His birth.  We are commanded to remember His death (1 Cor. 11:24-26).  As Christians, we remember Christ by remembering His death!

 I. What is so significant about His death?

          A.  It is through His death that we live (Gal. 1:4).

          B.  He bore our sins upon the cross (1 Pet. 2:24).

          C.  He gave His life as a ransom for us (Matt. 20:28).

          D.  His death shows His tremendous love for all (1 John 4:9-10; 3:16).

II. Why should we remember His death?

          A.  We are commanded to remember His death (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

          B.  We condemn ourselves by not remembering His death as prescribed (1 Cor. 11:27-30).

III. What do we remember?

          A.  “The Lord’s body,” (1 Cor. 11:29).  In other words, His death on the cross!

          B.  Crucifixion – “A form of punishment in which the condemned person was fastened to a cross to die of exposure and exhaustion.  It meant many hours of intense suffering and torture.  First used by various eastern peoples, it was adopted by Rome as a death of shame from which Roman citizens were exempted.  The Jews used it only after they came under Roman rule.  It was finally abolished by Emperor Constantine after the Romans had employed it in persecuting the Christians.” [The American People Encyclopedia]

IV. Just prior to His crucifixion, Jesus suffered many things that contributed to His death.  We often forget what He suffered in His final hours on earth.  Without referencing to scripture, let me remind you of His suffering He endured and what He might have felt at the time.

·        Betrayed by Judas - Hurt, disappointment.

·        Forsaken by His disciples – The time when we want someone to bail us out.

·        Bound – As if to say He did something wrong or he’s dangerous.

·        Denied once by Peter – The rejection.  You know that had to hurt Him personally.

·        Tried by Annas – A stressful and helpless event.

·        Hand struck – Perhaps unexpected.  The quick pain, sting, throbbing on His face.

·        Bound again – The humility.  He knows he wouldn’t hurt a soul.

·        Denied twice by Peter - The feeling of sadness, being rejected, the inward pain.

·        Denied thrice by Peter – He knew!  He looked Peter straight in the face. He was now all alone.

·        Tried by Caiaphas – The uselessness of the event as He was condemned already.

·        False witnesses testify against Him – Perhaps having a desire to defend Himself but knowing it would do no good.

·        Accused of Blasphemy – The lies would be enough to get me angry.  But He took it.  He knows He could never do such.  What sorrow He must have felt being so accused.

·        Condemned – An expected blow as numbness swells from hearing His fate.

·        Spat Upon – Disgusting!  Perhaps wanting to resist but struggling to control Himself.

·        Covered His face and buffeted (to hit hard) – Pain with each blow and not knowing where it will hurt next.  I’m sure He longed for it to end.

·        Struck by many – It was so undeserving.  Taking the painful blows as though everyone hates Him.

·        Tried by Pilate – Relief from the beatings while having to listen to more lies.

·        Tried by Herod – He must be on an emotional rollercoaster while taking more verbal abuse.

·        Mocked – He was teased which makes the best of us mad or at least frustrated.

·        Tried a second time by Pilate – Been here.  Maybe wanting to get it over and wishing for a painless end. 

·        Arrayed in a robe – Mocked and shamed; perhaps wanting to be left alone.

·        Sentenced to death – He must have felt the sorrow as reality hits home and the disappointment that others believed the lies.

·        Scourged - A beating would be more desirable.  He felt the pain as the lashes hit His flesh and I’m sure He screamed as His flesh ripped off like raw meat while blood poured out of His wounds.

[Scouging – “The usual instrument was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones [like nails] were tied at intervals.  For scourging, the man was stripped of his clothing, and his hands were tied to an upright post.  The back, buttocks, and legs were flogged either by two soldiers or by one who alternated positions.  The severity of the scourging depended on the disposition of the lectors and was intended to weaken the victim to a state just short of collapse or death.  After the scourging, the soldiers often taunted their victim.” (JAMA)]

·        Stripped to wear scarlet robes – By now He has lost control over His on body.  He has no dignity.  All He has is pain as the blood dries on the robes.  Have you ever had duct tape or a Band-Aid ripped off?   That robe was one big Band-aid as they ripped it off!

·        Crowned with thorns -  One thorn hurts enough without having so many pushed into His scalp.  How many tears He must have shed from the pain as blood flowed down His face.

·        Mocked again – As if He hadn’t had enough, they are relentless to shame Him.

·        Spat upon again – What a disgusting feeling!  If they would just leave Him alone.

·        Smitten with a reed – Striking pain.  It hurts.  He could hardly bear up.  Most would have been dead by now.  Perhaps death is a welcome thought.

·        Carries His cross until he drops – He is totally exhausted.  He hurts and has no desire to move.

·        Abstained from drinking vinegar – It is believed to be a stupefying potion to ease the pain but He refuses it.  Jesus was going to feel every horrifying pain as He was tortured on the cross.

 [Concerning the Crucifixion – Zondervan’s Bible Dictionary: “The agony of the crucified victim was brought about by a number of factors.  First, the painful but non-serious character of the wounds inflicted.  Although there were two distinctive methods of affixing a living victim to a cross, tying or nailing, it is well established that Christ underwent the horror of the later, or possibly both.  The second factor causing suffering was the abnormal position of the body.  The slightest movement would be accomplished with additional torture.  The third factor would be the traumatic fever induced by hanging for such a long period of time.

    “What was the physical reason for Christ’s death?  Recent medical studies have sought an answer to the question.  When a person is suspended by his two hands, the blood sinks rapidly into the lower extremities of the body.  Within six to twelve minutes blood pressure has dropped to 50 percent, while the rate of the pulse has doubled.  The heart is deprived of blood and fainting follows.  This leads to an orthorastic collapse through insufficient circulation.  Victims of crucifixion did not generally succumb for two or three days.”]

·        Crucified – Death on the cross produced excruciating pain!  Imagine the pain with every blow as the nails pierce His hands and feet.  The searing pain as the cross is dropped into a hole.  Imagine the tortured movements as He moves up and down on the cross in order to breath in exchange for more pain in His extremities.  Not to mention the scrapping of the wounds on His raw back.

·        Reviled (spoke evil of) – Perhaps now easier to ignore as the pain has most of His attention.  Yet, it is so undeserved.

·        Railed upon (scolded) – It is that unwelcome stern advice that you know won’t help if you would follow it. 

·        After all this, He dies – Later to have a spear pierce His side bringing forth blood and water.

V.  Christ laid down His life for you (John 15:13-14)!

       A.  We think the world of someone who risks his life for us.  What do you think of Christ after He went through all that for your sins?

       B.  By all rights you should suffer your own crucifixion for your own sins!  Why do we feel offended when others point out our sins when it is our sins that caused Christ to die for us?  We ought to feel guilty for every sin we ever committed!  Is it to much for Christ to ask for your obedience? 

Conclusion:  When we live life as though we don’t care if we sin, we might as well have been the ones who drove the stacks through our saviors own hands!  Paul said it better in Heb. 10:26-31.  Does Jesus’ death on the cross mean anything to you?  If it does, this is a good time to apologize to our savior for the sins you committed that put Christ on that cross!

Invitation song: #604, “I’m The One”    

Last modified: 05/02/08