WHAT DO WE SEE AT CALVARY? (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The word “Calvary” is only used one time in the KJV (Luke 23:33).

 

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

 

B.   Calvary, however, is the common term to denote the place of the crucifixion. 

 

C.   Several songs that we sing speak of Calvary.

1.    #5:  A Hill Called Mount Calvary

2.    #53:  At Calvary

3.    #95:  Burdens Are Lifted at Calvary

4.    #514:  On the Cross of Calvary

 

D.   There is another song in our books that contains the word “Calvary” in the title.

1.    It is a song that contains a request by those who sing the song.

2.    The song is “Lead Me to Calvary” (#384)

3.    Stanza #1:

 

King of my life I crown thee now,

Thine shall the glory be;

Lest I forget thy thorn-crowned brow,

Lead me to Calvary.

 

E.   Last week we started a brief series entitled:  “What Do We See at Calvary?”

1.    We see injustice and justice.

2.    We see the children of Abraham and the Son of God.

3.    We see hate and love.

 

F.    Let us lead you back to Calvary this morning as we seek to answer the question:  “What Do We See at Calvary?”

 

I.             WE SEE MAN AND THE SON OF MAN

 

A.   When we say we see “man,” we use that term in its general sense, that is, we see humanity.

1.    At Calvary, we see man at his worst.

a.    He is selfish.

b.    He is conniving.

c.    He is dishonest.

d.    He is proud.

e.    He is envious.

f.     He is hateful.

g.    He is cruel.

h.    He has no concern for justice.

i.     He has no regard for life.

j.     He has total disregard for his religion.

2.    We get many glimpses into this degenerate state of man.

a.    A kiss of betrayal (Matt. 26:48)

 

Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he:  hold him fast.

 

b.    Total disregard of a confession (Matt. 27:4)

 

Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.  And they said, What is that to us?  see thou to that.

 

c.    Soldiers gambling for the Lord garment (Luke 23:34)

 

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.  And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

 

d.    A spear used by a soldier to pierce a dead body (John 19:34)

 

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

 

e.    No concern for the Lord’s body going into the grave, but deep concern that the body not to come out (Matt. 27:63-64).

 

Saying, Sir, remember that the deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead:  so the last error shall be worse than the first.

 

B.   The one the Jews crucified not only bore the title, the Son of God, but was also referred to Himself as “the Son of man.”

1.    Matthew 8:20 is the first time we read this title of Jesus in Scripture.

 

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hat not where to lay his head.

 

2.    Jesus was both God and man.

a.    However, Jesus was the perfect man (1 Pet. 2:22).

 

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.

 

b.    In Jesus, we see man at his best.

1)    No evil speaking.

2)    No retaliation.

3)    Concern for others:  the daughters of Jerusalem, his mother

4)    Desire to forgive His adversaries

5)    Complete dependence upon His heavenly Father

6)    Complete submission to the will of God

 

II.           MAN’S REBELLION AND THE SON OF MAN’S SUBMISSION

 

A.   The Jews and Romans were in complete rebellion to God.

1.    The Jews knew the holy Scriptures. 

a.    This knowledge caused them to live in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

b.    During His ministry, Jesus pointed the Jewish leaders to the Scriptures.

1)    Matthew 5:17-18

 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:  I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

2)    John 5:39

 

Search the Scriptures; for I them ye think ye have eternal life:  and they are they which testify of me.

 

3)    Matthew 27:46

 

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?  that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

 

a)    This verse has been difficult for commentators.

b)    One of the best interpretations is that Jesus spoke these words at this time in order to gain the attention of the Jews at the foot of the cross by pointing them to Psalm 22, a messianic prophecy that opens with these very words. 

c)    Jesus wanted them to understand that the things that were happening at that very hour were the fulfillment of this messianic psalm.

2.    The Jews, however, rejected the fulfillment of prophecy, the sinless nature of Jesus, the power of His words, and the wonder of His miracles.  Their rebellion led them to crucify and slay the precious Son of God.

 

B.   The Son of man, on the other hand, was in complete submission to His heavenly Father.

1.    All of His life, Jesus submitted to God’s will.

a.    At the age of 12, He was about the Father’s business (Luke 2:49).

b.    During His earthly ministry, He affirmed:  “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34).

2.    Even His death was in submission to the will of God (Matt. 26:39).

 

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

 

III.         SIN AND SACRIFICE

 

A.   Sin was magnified at Jesus’ crucifixion on Calvary.

1.    A list of 10 tens:

a.    Betrayal

b.    Denial

c.    Fear

d.    Bribery

e.    Envy

f.     False witnesses

g.    Injustice

h.    Blasphemy

i.     Assault

j.     Murder

2.    The irony is the that the Jews were placing Jesus on the cross for sins they claimed He had committed.  The cross, they believed, was just punishment for His transgressions (See Gal. 3:13b).

 

…as it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

 

B.   Man saw the crucifixion of a criminal, but God saw a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

1.    Hebrews 9:26b

 

…but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 

2.    Ephesians 5:2

 

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Calvary was a “one-of-a-kind” event.

 

B.   The contrasts that we see at Calvary are bold in nature.

1.    Man and the Son of man

2.    Rebellion and submission

3.    Sin and sacrifice

 

C.   Man does not ever need to forget Calvary.

Man needs to go there often and view what transpired.

The chorus of “Lead Me to Calvary”

 

                             Lest I forget Gethsemane;

                             Lest I forget Thine agony;

                             Lest I forget Thy love for me,

                             Lead me to Calvary.

 

D.   God understood the importance of our returning to Calvary.  Thus, He made it an important aspect of our worship each Lord’s Day.