BIG IDEA:
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS FULFILLED EVERY OT PROPHECY DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL AND DEMONSTRATED THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD
(:17-18) INTRODUCTION / SUMMARY: SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION
A. (:17) The Final Suffering Steps on the Road to Golgotha (Via Delorosa)
“They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”
Who is in control throughout this entire scene? Yes, they “took Jesus”, but “He went out” fully under the sovereign control of God.
Everett F. Harrison: All the Synoptics state that Simon of Cyrene was compelled to bear the cross. John alone states that Jesus carried it. Luke’s account makes room for both. Jesus started, but could not carry it all the way.
B. (:18) The Ultimate Humiliation: Crucifixion as a Common Criminal
“There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.”
I. (:19-22) THE INSCRIPTION ON THE CROSS WAS UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL:
JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS
A. (:19) The Inscription (written by Pilate) Highlights the Irony of the Tragedy
“And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross. And it was written, ‘JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.’”
B. (:20) The Inscription Reached a Wide Audience
“Therefore this inscription many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek.”
C. (:21) The Inscription Was Distasteful to the Jewish Religious Leaders
“And so the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, ‘Do not write, The King of the Jews, but that He said, I am King of the Jews.’”
D. (:22) The Inscription was Under God’s Sovereign Control
“Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’”
II. (:23-25a) THE DIVIDING OF HIS GARMENTS WAS UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL (down to the smallest detail of prophecy)
A. (:23) The Prophetically Guided Equal Division of the Outer Garments
“The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier”
B. (:24) The Prophetically Guided Single Distribution of the One Seamless Tunic
“and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. They said therefore to one another, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be’; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, ‘They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.’”
On the surface, this prophecy seemed like a contradictory puzzle – how could both parts be true – either the clothes would be divided among several or lots would be cast to determine the recipient.
C. (:25a) The Soldiers Performed the Actions, But God Ruled Behind the Scenes
“Therefore the soldiers did these things.”
III. (:25b-27) THE TRANSITION OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES WAS UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL
A. (:25b) Family and Friends Left Behind – Four Women (contrasted with four soldiers administering the crucifixion) – Three Marys (and possibly Salome)
“But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.”
B. (:26) Jesus’ Loving Charge to His Mother
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’”
C. (:27a) Jesus’ Loving Charge to John
“Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’”
D. (:27b) The Faithful Performance of These Family Relationship Responsibilities
“And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”
IV. (:28-30) THE CLIMACTIC SURRENDERING OF HIS SPIRIT WAS UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL
A. (:28-29) Fulfillment of Prophecy to the Last Detail
1. (:28) The Prophetic Thirst
“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I am thirsty.’”
2. (:29) The Prophetic Sips of Sour Wine
“A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth.”
B. (:30) Final Departure Under God’s Sovereign Control
1. Final Act of His Humanity
“When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine,”
2. Final Completion of His Earthly Mission of Atonement
“He said, ‘It is finished!’”
3. Final Act of Sacrificial Spiritual Worship
“And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”