HE OFFERS SALVATION: BELIEVE

5/20/2012

1.     DECLARING VICTORY (LUKE 22: 66 – 71)

• The early morning trial before the Sanhedrin
• The Sanhedrin is convened once again and they have formulated a charge against Jesus that they think will stand up before the Roman court.
• By accusing Him of blasphemy they become guilty of blasphemy by denying that Jesus is the Son of God.

2.     ENDURING INJUSTICE (Luke 23: 1 – 31)

• V. 1 – 5 Jesus is brought before Pilate and questioned by him
• V. 6 – 12 Jesus before Herod
• V. 13 – 25 Jesus sentenced to die

3.     DISPLAYING TRUST (LUKE 23: 32 – 49)

3A. BELIEVE: HE FORGAVE (LUKE 23: 32 – 34)

32 And two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be put to death with Him.

33 And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

NASB

• Greek = kranion = skull
• Hebrew = Galgotha = skull
• Latin = calvaria = skull
• Why did he here call out to the father to forgive them, why did he not do it himself?

3B. BELIEVE: HE OBEYED (LUKE 23: 35 – 39)

35 And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." 36 And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" 38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

39 And one of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!"

NASB

• He chose to drink the "cup" which his Father gave Him.

3C. BELIEVE: HE SAVED (LUKE 23: 40 – 43)

40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 "And we indeed justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43 And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." 

NASB

• The thief said this to Christ BEFORE... the rending of the veil before the earthquake before the hours of darkness before the Centurion looked up and said, CERTAINLY THIS MAN WAS INNOCENT.

3D. BELIEVE: HE WAS VINDICATED (LUKE (23: 44 – 49)

44 And it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 the sun being obscured;

Exodus 10:21-23

21 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. 23 They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the sons of Israel had light in their dwellings.

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Joel 3:14-16

14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!

For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars lose their brightness.

16 And the LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem,

And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people

And a stronghold to the sons of Israel.

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Amos 8:9

9 "And it will come about in that day," declares the Lord GOD,

"That I shall make the sun go down at noon

And make the earth dark in broad daylight.

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• Darkness is associated with God’s judgment.
• There are things about the cross and the Crucifixion that are hidden from us.
• Darkness covered the land so the people couldn't see.
• There was a transaction between the Father and the Son taking place there.

 and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit." And having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent." 48 And all the multitudes who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee, were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

NASB

• After all of these events we see that even many priests became believers.

Acts 6:7

7 And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

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