―When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.‖

The crucifixion of Jesus is the supreme event in Christianity.› Without the cross, there would be no Christianity.

› The cross served as the crux of apostolic preaching. ―We preach Christ crucified‖ (1 Cor 1:23, ESV).

―I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified‖ (1 Cor 2:1-2, ESV).

If we could go back in time & watch

Jesus die, wouldn’t our lives be

drastically different?

Several people did watch Jesus die.› The soldiers, the Jewish leaders, & his mother were all

present at the crucifixion.

› This evening we wish to examine men who witnessed the Lord‘s crucifixion – the centurion & those with him. ―When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping

watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‗Truly this was the Son of God!‘‖ (Matt 27:54, ESV).

What did they see that caused them to express faith in Jesus‘ deity?

A Suffering Son

―When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it‖ (Mt 27:33-34, ESV).› It was custom to offer the condemned spiked wine before

crucifixion. Custom began with the Jews rather than the Romans.

The mixture would dull the pain.

› Jesus refused this mixture, for it was God‘s will that he suffer.

The Lord willingly suffered for our sins.› Jesus was ―a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief‖

(Is 53:3, ESV).

› ―We see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone‖ (Heb 2:9, ESV).

› ―Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God‖ (1 Pet 3:18, ESV).

The centurion & his companions had

to be struck by Jesus’ refusal.

Any normal person would gladly accept pain medication.

Jesus suffered in order that he might take God‘s wrath upon himself.› ―For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so

that in him we might become the righteousness of God‖ (2 Cor 5:21, ESV).

› ―Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‗Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree‘‖ (Gal 3:13, ESV).

A Shadowy Son

―Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour‖ (Matt 27:45, ESV).› Some say this was a solar eclipse. Passover occurred during a full moon.

A solar eclipse can only occur during a new moon.

› It‘s not clear if this was darkness over all the earth or just over Palestine. The Greek term could have either meaning.

It makes no difference, for the effect on those present at the crucifixion would have been the same.

› Darkness is typical of the powers of evil.

The sun does not stop shining

because someone dies.

The fact that the sun does stop shining shows just how different Jesus was.

A Saving Son

―Jesus said, ‗Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do‘‖ (Lk 23:34, ESV).› This prayer is only mentioned in Luke, but it‘s extremely

consistent with Jesus‘ life. Luke goes to get lengths to demonstrate Jesus‘ graciousness.

―I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven‖ (Matt 5:44-45, ESV).

―Jesus said, ‗Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do‘‖ (Lk 23:34, ESV).› This prayer is only mentioned in Luke, but it‘s extremely

consistent with Jesus‘ life.

› Isaiah prophesies of this event. He ―makes intercession for the transgressors‖ (Is 53:12, ESV).

―Jesus said, ‗Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do‘‖ (Lk 23:34, ESV).

Jesus came to offer himself as a sacrifice for sins; he is here praying that that forgiveness be bestowed on his executioners.

Those crucifying Jesus did not understand what they were doing.› ―Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did

also your rulers‖ (Acts 3:17, ESV).

› ―None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory‖ (1 Cor 2:8, ESV).

While ignorance is no excuse for sin (Acts 17:30), the Jews‘ ignorance might have mitigated their sin.

If Jesus forgave those who crucified him, surely he can forgive us!› ―Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through

this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses‖ (Acts 13:38-39, ESV).

› ―In [Jesus] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins‖ (Col 1:14, ESV).

When Peter told the Jews at Pentecost that they had killed the Messiah, they asked what they should do.› He told them to repent & be baptized.

› He didn‘t say, ―You‘ve crucified God‘s Son. There‘s no hope for you‖!

We haven‘t done anything as horrible as physically crucifying the Son of God.

Ordinary men would be cursing

those killing them.

Yet, Jesus offers forgiveness.

One of the criminals ―said, ‗Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.‘ And he said to him, ‗Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise‘‖ (Lk 23:42-43, ESV).› ―Paradise‖ is a Persian word meaning ―walled garden.‖

› When a Persian king wished to honor a subject, he made him a companion in the garden.

While ―Paradise‖ occasionally refers to heaven in the New Testament, the word here refers to the place the righteous await the resurrection.› The word can‘t mean ―heaven‖ here, for Jesus didn‘t go to

heaven when he died. After the resurrection, Jesus told Mary Magdalene, ―Do not cling

to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‗I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God‘ ‖ (Jn 20:17, ESV).

Peter quotes David who spoke about Jesus: ―You will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption‖ (Acts 2:27, ESV).

The Paradise here is “Abraham’s

bosom” where Lazarus was after his

death (Lk16:19-31).

In that place, Lazarus was comforted.

This gives us hope for a ―deathbed conversion.‖› It‘s never too late as long as one is alive.

› Yet, we shouldn‘t wait until our deathbed to come to Jesus. ―Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of

salvation‖ (2 Cor 6:2, ESV).

We can say we‘ll obey Jesus but never do so.

Felix told Paul: ―Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you‖ (Acts 24:25, ESV).

As far as we know, Felix never found that ―opportunity.‖

So many are on their deathbeds before they know what happened.

Jesus will save you!› Jesus ―has freed us from our sins by his blood‖ (Rev 1:5,

ESV).

› ―We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will‖ (Acts 15:11, ESV).

But, that salvation only comes to the obedient.› ―Being made perfect, he became the source of eternal

salvation to all who obey him‖ (Heb 5:9, ESV).

› Have you obeyed Jesus for your salvation?

Only God’s Son could forgive sins.

A Speaking Son

―Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‗Truly this man was the Son of God!‘‖ (Mk 15:37-39, ESV).› Mark doesn‘t tell us what this ―loud cry‖ was.

› ―Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‗Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!‘ And having said this he breathed his last‖ (Lk 23:46, ESV). Jesus put his trust & confidence in God.

He knew that he didn‘t need to worry about his soul.

You & I can have the same confidence.› Jesus came to ―deliver all those who through fear of death

were subject to lifelong slavery‖ (Heb 2:15, ESV).

› ―I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life‖ (1 Jn 5:13, ESV).

Few people die in confidence.

Because Jesus died for us, we can also die in confidence.

Because of all he saw, the centurion

proclaimed faith in Christ.

Do you need to make that same proclamation tonight?