The Crucifixion Of Jesus
Sermon Notes
Hey everybody my name’s Louis I’m the lead pastor here at City Awakening, and today we’re continuing our teaching series called The Story. We’re going through the biblical narrative from the very beginning in Genesis 1 to the last amen in Revelation 22, and today we’re studying the crucifixion of Jesus. We’re studying the time in history when Jesus was crucified, he was brutally tortured and killed by the Romans. The video we just saw was from a medical doctor we know, and his name is Dr. Shan Young. He’s been a medical doctor for over 32 years, he has degrees in both history and medicine, and he wrote a book called Crushed where he gives greater historical and medical detail about the crucifixion of Jesus. So I’ll be quoting Dr. Young and a few others throughout this message, to help us gain greater insight on the crucifixion of Jesus.
The crucifixion of Jesus is a historical event that both skeptics and believers would agree happened, both agree this event is true. Since both skeptics and believers agree this event is true, then let’s explore the historical details of this event. Let’s explore the historical details of the crucifixion of Jesus, and see what his death on the cross means for us today. Let’s turn to Luke 23 and get into it. If you open your bible to the middle, keep turning right, you’ll find the Gospel of Luke. We’ll be in Luke 23:13-43. Title of today’s message is The Crucifixion of Jesus, and here’s the big idea. Jesus stood in our place for our sins, so we can enjoy eternal paradise with him...Jesus stood in our place for our sins, so we can enjoy eternal paradise with him...
Context:
Here’s your context. The past several weeks we’ve been studying the life of Jesus. We’ve studied the happy life of Jesus, the great power of Jesus, and the compassionate heart of Jesus. We’ve also studied the missional heart of Jesus, his desire to reach the lost, and his final prayer before he’s arrested and crucified. Today we’re studying the historical details of his crucifixion, the great pains he went through on the cross, and what his death means for us. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
Luke 23:13-43 states, “Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14 and said to them, ‘You have brought me this man as one who misleads the people. But in fact, after examining him in your presence, I have found no grounds to charge this man with those things you accuse him of. 15 Neither has Herod, because he sent him back to us. Clearly, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore I will have him whipped, and then release him.’” Pilate is the 1st Century Roman Governor who oversaw the trial of Jesus, and notice he declares Jesus is innocent two times. He says there’s no grounds to convict Jesus of a crime, and that he’s done nothing to deserve the death penalty. He declares the innocence of Jesus even though he isn’t a follower of Jesus. But we know he eventually overturns his decision because he’s facing heavy opposition from the Jews, and he’s already on thin ice with the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Tiberius put him on probation because Pilate started a lot of riots in Jerusalem, so he eventually overturns his decision to let Jesus go because he can’t afford another riot. But before he does this, he offers the Jews a chance to release one Jewish prisoner as an act of good will. He lets them choose between releasing Jesus who’s innocent, or Barabbas who’s guilty of murder.
Vs. 18, “Then Jews all cried out together, ‘Take this man away! Release Barabbas to us!’ 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for a rebellion that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate addressed them again, 21 but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify! Crucify him!’ 22 A third time he said to them, ‘Why? What has this man done wrong? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have him whipped and then release him.’” So the Jews choose Barabbas who’s guilty instead of Jesus who’s innocent. Pilate knows Jesus doesn’t deserve the death penalty, so he sends Jesus away to be whipped, hoping a Roman flogging will satisfy the Jews. But it’s important to realize what Dr. Young said in the video, which is that Jesus suffered from hematidrosis before the floggings. What is hematidrosis? Alexander Metherell’s a medical doctor, professor, and research scientist. Dr. Metherell states,“Jesus was suffering from hematidrosis, which is associated with a high degree of psychological stress. The severe anxiety causes the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result there’s a small amount of bleeding into the glands, and the sweat becomes tinged with blood.” Dr. Young explains in his book that this condition irritates the nerve endings in the skin, causing Jesus’ body to be sensitive to touch like having a sunburn. So imagine being whipped, being flogged with a sunburn. That’s what Jesus was going through.
Now historically we know a typical Roman flogging entailed 39 lashes across a person’s back and legs. It was extremely brutal, because they weaved metal balls and pieces of sharp bone into leather whips, so the whip would tear into a person’s flesh and bones. Dr. Metherell states, “When the whip would strike the flesh, these balls would cause deep bruises and contusions that would break open with further blows. The back would be so shredded, that part of the spine was sometimes exposed by deep cuts. The whipping would go all the way from the shoulders down to the back, the buttocks, and the back of the legs. We know many people would die from this kind of beating, even before they were crucified...Because of the terrible effects of this beating, there’s no question that Jesus was already in serious to critical condition, even before the nails were driven through his hands and feet.” So at this point in the text Jesus is weak from hematidrosis, but he’s even weaker from the floggings, from the 39 lashes across his back and legs...He’s lost a lot of blood...some of his bones are exposed from his flesh being ripped to shreds...and Pilate brings him back to the Jews dripping with blood, hoping this will satisfy them.
Vs. 23, “But they kept up the pressure, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and their voices won out. 26 As they led him away, they seized Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people followed him...” So Pilate finally gives into the Jews, he orders Jesus to be crucified, and the Roman soldiers take Jesus away to prep for his crucifixion. Weak and wounded, they put a heavy wooden crossbeam on his beaten tender back, and they tell Simon of Cyrene to help him. The text says a large crowd of people followed him, meaning it’s a public event. The Romans wanted to publicly shame those being crucified, so they’re making Jesus carry his cross in the public streets to shame him. He’s having to carry his cross in public shame, to the execution site.
Vs. 32, “Two criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull...” The execution site was a place called The Skull, and historians believe it was called The Skull for 1 of 2 reasons. It’s either because of all the skulls that were on the ground from prior executions, or because the execution sight looked like a skull. Regardless The Skull was a place where the Romans executed people. It was a hill about eye level, because the Romans wanted everybody to see the crucifixion. It was another way of publicly shaming people and creating fear in the empire against committing crimes like those being crucified.
Again vs. 32 states, “Two criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there...” They crucified Jesus, and here’s what we know about Roman crucifixion. We know the Romans enjoyed creating executionary methods that caused the most pain for the longest time. They wanted long and painful executions to show if you cross Rome, you’ll die a slow and painful death. To make this point clear, they’d even crucify people on highways like 436. For example in 71 BC when the Romans defeated the famous gladiator Spartacus, they crucified 6000 men on a major highway stretching 120 miles. Can you imagine being a parent traveling with kids on that highway? They didn’t have cars, so they had to walk or ride a horse while covering the eyes of their children for 120 miles. The Romans were very brutal, they wanted to make a statement, and their biggest statement was the crucifixion. Jesus was publicly crucified on a cross for everyone to see. When he arrived at The Skull they proceeded with the crucifixion by laying him on a wooden post, and stretching out his arms to the point of dislocation. Then they took 5-6 inch metal spikes, and drove them through his wrists about 1 inch below his palms. The Romans knew if they nailed it through the center of his hands, the nails wouldn’t support the weight of his body. They would just rip right through his hands. So instead they drove the nails 1 inch below his palms to support his weight while hanging on the cross. As the nails puncture his skin it crushes what’s called the median nerve, which sends deep pain throughout his body. Crushing the median nerve is like the pain you feel when you hit your funny bone, except it’s like taking pliers and squeezing that funny bone nerve until it busts. That is what Jesus was feeling as the nails were driven through his wrists and feet. Dr. Young states, “Puncturing this nerve sent unbearable, shooting pains throughout the arm and the hand on each side. The searing anguish radiated even into the shoulders and the neck on each side as the nerve fibers transmitted pain signals to the spinal column. Such injuries resulted in excruciating severe pain, to the point where people either fainted or died from the agony of it...This torment alone was so extreme, people wanted to die rather than suffer through it.”
But the worse part comes while he’s hanging on the cross, because each breath is a struggle. He literally has to push on the nails with his tarsal bones just to breath. Dr. Metherell states, “Once a person is hanging in the vertical position, crucifixion is essentially an agonizing slow death. The nail in the feet would tear through the foot eventually locking against the tarsal bones. After managing to exhale, the person would be able to relax down to take another breath. Again he’d have to push himself up to exhale, scraping his bloodied back against the coarse wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion takes over, and the person can’t push up anymore. As the person slows his breathing, he goes into respiratory acidosis, which leads to an irregular heartbeat, and cardiac arrest.” Metherell’s saying Jesus’ body was stretched out so much he literally couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t exhale. So he had to push on the nails with his tarsal bones to exhale, then come back down to inhale...(show it)...Historians say this went on for about 6 hrs, until his body was too weak to continue, and he died...Jesus suffered and died...He suffered so badly, the Romans had to create a new word to describe the pains of the crucifixion. Its the word excruciating. The word excruciating means out of the cross...Yet as he’s suffering such excruciating pain, you know what he’s thinking?...Forgiveness...He’s thinking forgiveness...In vs 34 he says “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing!” He’s been shamed, beaten, crucified, struggling to breathe, yet the one thing he’s thinking is forgiveness. He’s crying out for the very souls of those crucifying him. If you think you’re beyond forgiveness, the cross shows you’re not. Jesus is offering forgiveness to the very people crucifying him, and he’s offering forgiveness to you. What a loving, gracious, forgiving Jesus we have!...He displays his forgiveness on the cross, even to the 2 criminals crucified next to his cross.
Again vs. 32, “Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.” Notice the criminals are on the right and left of Jesus, meaning Jesus is in the middle. It’s supposed to be Barabbas in the middle. It’s supposed to be Barabbas who was guilty, but instead it’s Jesus who was innocent. Jesus stood in the place of Barabbas who was guilty of sin, just like he stands in our place even though we’re guilty of sin. He stands in our place dying the death we deserve to die for our sins, so we can enjoy eternal life with him.
Vs. 39, “Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: ‘Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: ‘Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42 Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.’” Notice the difference between the 2 criminals. The one is rejecting Jesus, mocking Jesus, yelling insults at Jesus. The other is repenting to Jesus, admitting his sins to Jesus, admitting he’s punished justly, and he’s putting his faith in Jesus. In Matthew’s gospel we learn both started out yelling insults at Jesus. Matthew 27:44 states, “Even the criminals crucified with him taunted him.” So they both started out rejecting Jesus, but the one ends up repenting and putting his faith in Jesus. We know this criminal’s heart was truly changed by looking at the nature of his request. I mean both these criminals would’ve loved it if Jesus saved them from the pains of the cross, which is why the one who rejects Jesus says “If you really are the messiah, then save yourself and us!” They both would’ve loved being saved from the pains of the cross. But the criminal who repents and puts his faith in Jesus doesn’t even ask for that! He doesn’t ask Jesus to save him from the pains of the cross, he asks Jesus to save his soul! He asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus enters heaven. He wants Jesus to save his soul, more than he wants Jesus to fix his life. He wants eternity with Jesus after he dies on the cross, more than he wants Jesus to take away his cross.
What about you?...Do you want Jesus to save your soul, or do you just want Jesus to fix your life?...Do you want Jesus who died for you, or do you just want Jesus to take your cross from you?...Do you still want Jesus, if he doesn’t fix your marriage?...Do you still want Jesus, if he doesn’t fix your family?...Do you still want Jesus, if he doesn’t fix your finances, fix your health issues, fix whatever cross you’re carrying in your life?...Do you still want Jesus, if he doesn’t answer your prayers and fix whatever cross you’re carrying in life?...There’s nothing wrong with asking Jesus to fix your cross, but you’re relationship with Jesus is superficial if you’re only following him to fix your cross. You know Jesus is the center of your life, when you still want him despite the cross you’re carrying in life. This criminal never asks Jesus to fix his cross. He wants Jesus to save his soul, more than he wants Jesus to fix his life. He wants eternity with Jesus, more than a cross free life without Jesus. He believes Jesus + nothing = everything.
Again vs. 42, “The one criminal said, ‘Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.’ 43 And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” Jesus says “today,” not tomorrow. He says “today” you will be “with me” in paradise, meaning they both died that very day. They both died and went to paradise, they went to heaven that very day...But notice Jesus didn’t fix the criminal’s cross in that moment...He didn’t fix the criminal’s cross in that moment, instead he gives him something far better. Jesus gives him forgiveness of sin, and eternal life in the paradise of heaven with him...City Awakening sometimes Jesus will fix your cross in this life, sometimes he won’t fix it until you enter eternal life, but either way he’ll fix your cross. He’ll fix your cross if you repent and believe like this criminal that Jesus died for your sins on the cross. The 3 crosses in the text tell the story of the gospel, they tell the story of redemption, they tell the story of humanity. They tell your story, and my story. What we have is a cross of rejection, a cross of repentance, and a cross of redemption. The one criminal’s hanging on a cross rejecting Jesus, the other is hanging on a cross repenting, and Jesus is hanging on a cross of redemption that’s a dividing line for their salvation. His cross is a dividing line for those who reject him, and for those who repent and put their faith in him. But only one criminal is currently enjoying eternal life in the paradise of heaven with Jesus. The question is which criminal are you?...Are you the one who rejects Jesus, or the one who repents and puts your faith in Jesus?...Both criminals die, but only one is currently enjoying eternal life in heaven with Jesus.
The Big Idea:
The big idea is Jesus stood in our place for our sins, so we can enjoy eternal paradise with him...Are you carrying a cross of fear and uncertainty, wondering if you’ll end up in eternal hell, or eternal paradise in heaven? The cross shows Jesus loves you and is willing to save you...Are you carrying a cross filled with sin, shame, regret, wondering if Jesus will still love and forgive you? The cross shows he loves you and is willing to forgive you...Are you carrying a cross filled with the pains of unanswered prayers, the pains of Jesus not fixing the cross you’re carrying in life, and you’re wondering if he loves and cares about you? The cross shows he loves and cares about you...The way to know if Jesus loves you, saves you, forgives you, cares about you, is to look at the cross and the excruciating pain he went through for you. So let’s do that, let’s look at the cross this morning. Let’s close our eyes, let’s picture our Savior on the cross, as we pray.
PRAYER
Picture Jesus hanging on the cross, suffering excruciating pain for you...Picture him sweating blood...being flogged...arms being outstretched and dislocated...nails being driven through the median nerves...pushing on his tarsal bones struggling to breathe...If he went through all that pain for you, then imagine how much he must really love you. He loves you so much, he was willing to suffer excruciating pain for you. So ask him right now to save you, to forgive you of sin...Ask him to fix your cross, but also to give you the faith to still praise him if he doesn’t...