Calvary
3 June 2018 AM – Mark 15:21-41 – Mr17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: The hymn writer William Newell penned these words, “Years I spent in vanity and pride, Caring not my Lord was crucified, Knowing not it was for me He died On Calvary. Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span At Calvary! Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty At Calvary.”
We know the crucifixion story, but if we are not careful, we may overlook some of its significance.
Transition: This morning as we think of Christ’s death on Calvary, I want us to consider it from three perspectives: God’s plan for Calvary, God’s payment on Calvary and God’s provision through Calvary.
First consider Christ’s death from the perspective of …
1. God’s Plan for Calvary
Jesus dying on the cross was not an accident. He was not overcome by the evil of this world. It was not an afterthought. It was the sovereign plan of God from eternity past. God knew that man whom He would create would sin, separating him from God. He also knew that the only sufficient payment for man’s sin would be for God the Son to become a man and die for man Himself.
a. Consider the origin of God’s plan
1) God planned for Christ to die in man’s place before the world began. (1 Peter 1:18-20) “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”
2) God even promised eternal life to mankind before the world began. (Titus 1:2) “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
3) God first spoke of His plan in (Genesis 3:15) “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
b. Note some key points about God’s plan
1) Jesus came into this world as the God/man so that He could save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
2) Christ by His death on the cross would abolish eternal death and bring eternal life to all who believe. (2 Timothy 1:9-10) “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
Second consider Christ’s death from the perspective of …
2. God’s Payment on Calvary
a. Christ paid physically for our sins
1) Christ endured pain (v.21-25)
a) After being scourged, Jesus was so weak that He could not carry His own cross (v.21).
b) The cruel soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with myrrh to ease the pain, but He refused it (v.23)
c) The pain of crucifixion is tremendous (v.24-25). The soldiers drove large nails through Christ’s wrists and feet to fasten Him to His cross (Jn 20:25; Col 2:14). Unbelievable pain!
2) Christ endured humiliation (v.26-28)
a) Crucifixion was a humiliating form of execution. His beaten, bleeding, thorn-crowned, unclothed body was hung up for all to watch as he slowly died.
b) His cross was placed between two thieves. Fulfilling Scripture, Christ died with sinners (v.27-28).
3) Christ endured mocking (v.29-32)
a) Onlookers railed on Him or spoke reproachfully about Him (v.29). They mocked His words and told Him to come down from the cross.
b) The chief priests and scribes mocked among themselves. Note their mocking words (v.31-32).
4) Jesus endured the cross to purchase our salvation. (Hebrews 12:2) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
b. Christ paid spiritually for our sins.
1) Christ bore our sin as our substitute (v.37-38).
a) The sinless Jesus Christ became sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
b) The lights of heaven went black for three hours because God the Father could not look upon Christ as He bore our sin.
c) Jesus paid for the sins of the world as John the Baptist said He would. “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)
2) He paid for our sins in full and gave us access to God (v.37-38). In the temple, a huge thick veil or curtain separated the holy place from the holy of holies where God dwelt on the Ark of the Covenant. The only human every allowed behind the veil was the high priest on the Day of Atonement once each year. When Christ died and the veil tore in two from top all the way to the bottom, granting access through the blood of Christ into the very presence of God.
a) (Hebrews 10:10) “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
b) (Hebrews 10:19-20) “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;”
Third consider Christ’s death from the perspective of …
3. God’s Provision through Calvary
a. He provided salvation from hell
1) This is a wonderful truth for all who believe. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (Romans 5:8-10) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
2) In addition to saving us from hell He gives us live eternal in heaven. (John 20:31) “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
3) (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
b. He provided salvation for all
1) Christ died for every human and wants to save every sinner. (1 Timothy 2:4) “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:6) “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
2) Christ died for all but He does not save all. He can only save those who repent and believe on Him. (Acts 3:19) “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (2 Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Conclusion: Because Christ bled and died on Calvary (and resurrected) we can have our sins forgiven and receive eternal life in heaven. Christ died for YOU but have YOU received the gift of His salvation? It is not enough to know about Christ, you must personally receive Him. (John 1:12) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” If you have not done that, I urge you to receive Christ today.
Christian friend, ponder what Christ did for you on Calvary. What are you doing for Him?
Song: At Calvary 477