Where is He Going? The Way to the Cross

Join us as Pastor Tyler continues the Easter sermon series The Journey to the Cross - Where is He Going? The Way to the Cross - Luke 23:26-56

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:24

Well, Good Friday. I mean, how could it be good? It's kind of a strange word to use to call such a day, to call it good. When you think about it, we're we're coming together to celebrate the death of an innocent man, the God man Jesus Christ. Tradition tells us, though, and history tells us, that the reason why it's called Good Friday is because it was originally in reference to God's Friday or Holy Friday. And so we call it Good Friday. We call it good. This darkest day in history, we call it good. Where the innocent God man dies, we call it good. Nothing has ever been more tragic as God's Son is killed. But we call it good. Because what man intends for evil, God intends for what? Good. We call it good. Because everything Jesus does is good. Everything he did, everything he's going to, it's good. It's the most amazing, everything he does. Everything he does is the most gracious. Everything he does is the goodiest thing. Even on this day. And through redemption in Jesus, we call it good because through redemption with Jesus, we are good with God. And he is most certainly good with us because of what happened on this day. So this morning we ask the question. It really is on the disciples' minds. It's on those who are watching these events unfold, his family, his friends. They're asking that question: where is he going? What's happening here? What's he going to do? Why is he doing this? And so as we consider these questions, we're going to look at how the way to the cross is covered in tears. And we're going to look at how the way to the cross is the way to paradise. And the way to the cross is the way to victory. So we start this morning in verse 26 of chapter 23 in Luke. The way to the cross is covered in tears. You know, there's been some really important things that have been taking place over these past several days in the Passion Week, and Pastor Jack highlighted those things for us this past Sunday. In fact, uh everything really starts to pick up on Palm Sunday. Even as you look at the Gospels and you consider how much of each of the Gospels is committed to this Passion Week, it really is amazing. Matthew, 29% of Matthew, Matthew being 28 chapters, 29% of it is committed to this week. One week of Jesus' life. Mark, 37%. Luke, 25%. The book of John, 43%. Almost the entire, half of the book of John is committed to all of the details of what happened this week, the Passion Week. And as we know, the night before was the Last Supper. And we're going to celebrate that later in the service this morning as we celebrate the Lord's Supper. And that same night we have the events of the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas's betrayal of Jesus. Jesus' arrest. Peter's denial. Jesus being mocked. Jesus being beaten. Him facing the Sanhedrin. Him facing Pilate on trial. Herod on trial. Pilate releases Barabbas. And here we are. All of this is taking place in this darkest day in history. Here we are in verse 26. Starts by saying this. As they led him away, they seized Simon, a Syrenian, who was coming in from the country, laid the cross on him to carry behind Jesus, and a large crowd of people following him, including women who were mourning and lamenting him. But turning to them, Jesus said, Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children. Can you feel the grief? Can you feel the weight of this moment of history? The man who showed love in a way the world has never experienced before. Condemned to die. And why? For you and for me. That's why. Out of his great love, he bore our shame, as we read earlier in Isaiah 53. Our sin sentenced him to death. Can you feel the weight of this? And verse 26 introduced this guy named Simon. We don't really know much about him. We know a little bit about his lineage from Mark, but other than that, he's likely a Jewish pilgrim that got caught up in the crowd, and he's forced to carry the cross for Jesus. And this symbolizes something for us that the human side of our Lord, his body was badly beaten. He needed help to carry this cross. I mean, that's how bruised and destroyed his body was. That's how fatigued his body was. And even with all the beatings, even with all the mockery, even with all of the cursing, what does he do in this moment? Just look at what he does on his way to the cross. And when he's on the cross. You compare what the gospel accounts give us. It's just, it's astounding what he does. And here in this moment, in verses 24 27 to 31, on the way to the cross, it's full of these moments as Jesus ministers to others. He sees these women that are weeping and lamenting. And he turns to them. Just think about this. The shape that he would have been in. But he's concerned about these women. Wow. I mean, I get a paper cut, I stub my toe. All I'm thinking about is the pain. And we're like that, right? No, he's not thinking about the pain. He turns to these women. I mean, and what does he say? He says, he says, don't weep for me. Weep for yourselves and your children. I mean, why would he say this? Why would he say this? Well, he says this because he knows where he's going. And he knows it's going to be okay. He knows this is his purpose. This is his moment. All of human history has culminated to this very moment. The death of the Lamb of God. The shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. He knows this is his time. He says, Don't weave for me. Weave for yourselves. Because he knows where they're going. You know, even in these final moments before the cross, he's concerned for others. And this exchange with these with these women is just it's just it's it's it's beautiful. I mean, no one does this like Jesus. Beaten, bruised, afflicted, and here he was, still noticing others. You know, it this makes me think of a previous exchange that he had with some women in John 11, with the raising of Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus from the dead. And Jesus arrives, if you remember the story, Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been buried, and he's been inside the tomb for days. And Jesus arrives, and he doesn't arrive right when they thought and expected that he would. They thought maybe he would have come earlier to heal Lazarus before he dies, but no, he waits until this very moment. Lazarus is in the tomb. And he arrives. And Mary says, Lord, if you had been here, remember what she says? My brother wouldn't have died. And what is what does Jesus do? Sorry to Mary. The response that Jesus has to Mary, your brother will rise again. Don't worry, he's gonna rise again. And he says, I'm the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, Jesus, he's saying, even if he dies will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. And he looks at Martha. Do you believe this? Do you believe that that's who I am? That I can do that? That I'm going to do that? Martha says, Yes, Lord. And then it's interesting. Mary's out of earshot. They go to Mary and say, hey, Jesus wants to talk to you. Jesus wants to talk to Mary. So Mary gets up and she runs to Jesus. And she says, what did she say? She says the same thing her sister Martha does. Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died. And Mary doesn't hear the conversation that happened with Martha, so he doesn't know, she doesn't know in that moment how Jesus responded to Martha. But how does he respond to Mary? Do you remember? What does he do? He just weeps. He doesn't give Mary this theological answer, this hopeful, I guess you could say, answer that he did his or her sister. But he just sits there in that moment with Mary and he just he just weeps. No words, just wept. Two sisters, the same words to Jesus, two different responses from Jesus. He knew what each of them needed. He's always been perfect in these moments. He's always answered things perfectly. And here he is on the way to the cross, and he turns to these women on the way. And he knew what they needed. He knew the difficult days of sorrow would be ahead. He knew that Jerusalem would eventually fall. That it would be a mess. And we understand that from 70 AD, that that does happen. Some horrific things happen. Josephus records some of these horrific things that happened during this time. People starving and dying of hunger, turning to horrific waste. So they wouldn't starve. Jesus knows that Rome is about to come and destroy Zion in the years ahead. Now, this is important because this is a judgment that was long foretold by the prophet Hosea in Hosea 10, 8. A judgment because of the sin of God's people rejecting him. And here at the cross, we have the ultimate act of treason and rejection against God taking place. They were seeking to kill God. And so Jesus says, weep for yourselves. Judgment is coming. The consequences of sin are about to arrive. You know, in a way, Jesus is saying, weep not for me, but for why I have to do this. When we look to the cross in 2026, we should look to the cross and weep because of the reason that it exists. It exists because of our sin. My sin. Your sin. Because of our rejection of God, my rejection, your rejection. In Isaiah 53, as we read earlier, the Lord was pleased to punish him severely. He was pleased to carry our iniquities. And Jesus is saying, Don't weep for me. I'm pleased to carry your sin for you. Wow. And all of this was necessary for what comes next. Verses 32 to 43, starting in 32, he says this, two others, criminals, were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called the Skull, they crucified him there along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing. And they divided his clothes and cast lots. So piercing his hands and his feet, they nail him to the cross, they hang him between two criminals, his flesh torn, torn by the beating that he had endured, his friends and family scattered. Him being mocked. You know, the way to the cross may be covered in tears, but notice what he says. Father, forgive them because they know not what they're doing. But listen, the way to paradise is covered in forgiveness. It's covered in forgiveness. And this is the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus right here. Forgive them. Wow, would I would we be saying that if we were in his position? He had come to the cross, though, to say these words. Forgive them. Forgive them. He came to the cross to forgive you of all of your sin. And then Colossians 3 tells us that we're to forgive as God through Jesus Christ has forgiven us. So as Christians, you think like when we're struggling with forgiveness, look to the cross for your strength. Forgiveness costs Jesus his blood, his body, his tears. And if anyone had reason to retaliate, Jesus did, but he doesn't. He says, Father, forgive them. C.S. Lewis tells us in Mere Christianity, in his book, Mere Christianity, says, To be Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. Christ's forgiveness for us cost him his love, his uh his life. His forgiveness for us cost him his blood and his body. Forgiveness was on Christ's mind, not revenge, not bitterness, but forgiveness. Jesus petitioned the Father, forgive them. He gets on the cross. He prays, Lord, forgive them. Even though they didn't ask for it. Did you notice that? And how do they respond? Well, in fulfilling prophecy from Psalm 22, 18, they cast lots for his clothing. And they continue to mock him. We see this verses 35 to 38. The people stood watching. And even the leaders were scoffing. He saved others. Let him save himself. If this is God's Messiah, the chosen one. And the soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. They're mocking him. They're mocking him, and what does he do? He prays for them. Then they mock him some more. And in verse 39, then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him. Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us. But the other answered, rebuking him. Don't you even fear God since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly because we're getting back what we deserve for the things that we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. This other criminal, like coming to his defense. This is like one of the most beautiful moments, I think, in scripture. And then he says, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus says, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. You see, the criminal knew where Jesus was going, didn't he? People were asking, where's Jesus going? What is he doing? What's happening? But the criminal knew. He knew he was going to paradise, and the criminal wanted to join him. This place of paradise is a place for the forgiven. This criminal on the cross knew that he had sinned. He knew he deserved what he had coming. You see that in his response to the other criminal. But he knew also that Jesus didn't deserve it. I mean, this is the gospel right here. This man preaching, living the gospel in this moment. He says, Jesus, remember me when you enter into your kingdom. There was no time for him to be baptized. There was no time for him to memorize John 3.16. There was no time for this man to get his theology, his politics, his life straightened out. And Jesus says, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. In a moment, this man went from being far from Jesus to then, hey, listen, we're going to walk together into paradise. Wow. He was forgiven. You know, you and I can only be forgiven if we do what this man did. Acknowledging that you're a sinner in need of forgiveness, trusting in Jesus alone to walk you into paradise. And notice how the other criminal was, though, during this whole exchange. He was looking for Jesus to get them down from the cross. The other criminal was looking to go wherever Jesus was going to be, and this other criminal was saying, save yourself and save us. Just think, in proximity, both of these men are just as close to Jesus as the other one, but yet one of them is light years away. This man was so close. Not even witnessing the crucifixion was going to convince him. But he was so far away. He believed and he thought he deserved to be set free. To set free from his cross. But the other criminal believed and knew that he deserved the punishment he was enduring. And this is the difference between humility and pride at the foot of Jesus. The one criminal was looking for a political and situational relief. And the other guy, man, he just wanted to be with Jesus. Just give me Jesus. William Copper writes his most famous hymn, one of the most famous hymns, but there is a fountain filled with blood. He says this the dying thief rejoiced to see the fountain in his day. And there he hair I, as vile as he, washed all my sins away. My question for you this morning is this. Have you been forgiven? Have you turned to the Lord Jesus to wash all your sins away? This criminal did. Then the final section we see the way to the cross is the way to victory, starting in verse 44. It was now about noon. Darkness had come over the whole land until three, because the sun's light failed. Incredible. Dark. Afternoon. The curtain of the sanctuary was split down the middle. So this is the curtain inside the temple separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies once a year. And if anybody else went in there, they would be struck dead. The high priest, if he went in there another time of the year, be struck dead. This is where the Ark of the Covenant was. This is where in the Old Testament, as we're reading about the tabernacle and the temple, the Shekinah glory of God, the presence of God. This represented for Israel. This is God's presence. And yet they could see it, they could hear it, but it was still without, like just beyond reach for them because of the barrier, the sin. And so this curtain represented really this safety net between the holiness and perfection of God and the sin of the people. And so at the moment Jesus dies, this curtain, which would have been about four inches thick, it just rips in two. And the great chasm between God and man was bridged. Holy God was now forever going to welcome sinners. Sinners who were covered in the blood of Christ that can now approach the throne of God with boldness. But then it would become a symbol of victory. And here becomes the symbol of victory. And the passage goes on, and Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit. And saying this, he breathed his last. Physical death is a reminder that sin had destroyed and broken the world around us. And none of us can control our physical death. We don't know when and where and how. But see, Jesus in this moment, again fulfilling another prophecy that we see from Psalm 31:5, he says, Father, in your hands, I entrust my spirit, I commit my spirit. Jesus' death wasn't random. It was intentional. It was purposeful. It was controlled. The soldiers or the Jews didn't choose the time of his death. He did it right at the perfect moment. Like we said, all of history past built up to this moment. All of history future is built on this moment. God died. And our sin put him there. And in his choosing to die, these words that he says, Father, into your hands I entrust or I commit my spirit. In his choosing to die, he now puts himself into the hands of the Father. Amazing. You know, if this is true of Jesus at his death, when he dies, he goes into the hands of the Father. This is certainly true of us. If you're sitting here, you've been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are walking in newness of life with him. His death is your death, his death is my death, and at death we will be welcomed into the hands of the Father. You know, for the Christian, death becomes nothing more than this barrier like that curtain was in the temple. But now it's torn in two. Jesus truly died as he breathed his last. And he was dead, it says. For us, our death is a graduation, as we call it, right? Into the hands of the Father. As Christians, into the hands of the Father. And then the passage goes on to say in verse 47, when the centurion saw what had happened, he began to glorify God, saying, This man really was righteous, and all the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, they went home, striking their chests. But all who knew him, including the woman, who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things. He says, Surely this man was righteous. I mean, like, look at these words in these verses, 47, 49. The most dreadful thing in all of history has taken place, and they knew it. Crazy. They all knew it at that moment. They felt it. The centurion, surely this man was righteous. Think about all that this guy had just seen take place. He saw the mocking, he saw the criminals, he saw the weeping, all that he had heard. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Today you will be with me in paradise, he says to the criminal. I mean, guaranteed, he had never heard anyone who is in the midst of being tortured on a cross. He had ever heard anyone say such radically gracious and selfless and amazing words. And his statement here about Jesus being righteous is not just this statement, but the text tells us he was glorifying God. It's a statement of praise and of worship. This centurion, this Gentile, he knew what he had seen and he began to worship the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. So that's one reaction. And then another reaction we see is those who had just gathered for the spectacle. Hey, we're having a we're having a uh a cross today. We're having some criminals killed today. Let's go see it. They gathered for the spectacle, but they were leaving, striking their chests, it says. Now we don't really know specifically what this means. We don't know if they had a heart change. We we don't know if they're disturbed by what they saw. Um we we don't know. But what we do know, it hit them in a powerful way. And they're striking their chests, they're upset. And then Jesus' friends and disciples in verse 49 were standing at a distance. Later, these would be the friends and disciples who would write all these things down for us. And then what happens in verses 50 to 56? What happens is, as all dead people do, Jesus was buried. Joseph of Arimathea, Pharisee, who was part of the Sanhedrin. So you wonder if maybe he was there earlier when Jesus was before the Sanhedrin. He likely was. Part of the Sanhedrin believed that what was done was wrong and insisted in burying Jesus in his tomb. And so they took him down from the cross, they wrapped him in fine linen. Think about this. He came into the world wrapped in swaddling clothes. Now he'd be buried in fine linen. They laid him in the tomb. And then they rested on the Sabbath. It was Saturday. But Sunday is coming. The victory of the cross would be boldly shown when the one whom they had killed and buried would rise to life on the third day. Sunday is coming. And we invite you to join us in celebration this coming Sunday as we talk about that great and glorious victory through the grave. Let's pray. I want you to ask yourself this question. Are you forgiven? Have you trusted in Jesus alone to save you from your sin? Today is the day of salvation. You can take a moment right now between you and God and pray to him, talk to him. In your own words, admit that you're a sinner, as this criminal did. In your own words, ask him for his forgiveness as this criminal did. In your own words, thank him for his promise of salvation and paradise. As Jesus promised this criminal. You can do that right here and right now this morning. This is why we exist as a church. For this message of hope and deliverance from death. And Jesus is standing there, the Father is standing there with his hands and arms wide open, wanting to give you the forgiveness you need for your sin. I don't know what you've been struggling with, what you've been going through, but I can guarantee you this our God forgives. He's a redeeming, forgiving, loving God. Are you forgiven? Father, we thank you for the cross this good Friday. Because we thank you for Jesus and what He's done on our behalf to tear that curtain between us and you. To bring us into your presence without shame, without guilt. We thank you, Lord, that you deal with the sin of this world. Father, I pray for those here this morning that are just, they're still trying to figure this all out. They're searching, Lord. I pray that the Holy Spirit would get a hold of their hearts and their lives. The scales would fall from their eyes. You would show them the beauty, wonder, blessedness, forgiveness, and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you that we get to celebrate this in the Lord's Supper now, we pray. In Jesus' name.

unknown 36:47

Amen.