Jesus of Calvary

Text: Matthew 16:21-23

As you pass over the life of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord, you cover some very significant parts of the world. He began his journey on earth in a little town of Bethlehem.
Bethlehem of course was known for a few things in the history of Israel. It was the place of Rachel's burial in Genesis 48:7. Then it became the city where the great ancestress of David sojourned in the book of Ruth. It was David's boyhood home as well in 1 Samuel 16.
So, the city of Bethlehem was really a city of great importance to the Jews but most importantly it had a great promise given to it in Micah 5:2!
Then Jesus lived a little while as a toddler in the land of Egypt. Right from the get-go Jesus had to run for his life.
Then as we saw a couple of weeks ago Jesus would be called a Nazarene, thus fulfilling the scriptures that the Messiah would be one who was a root out of dry ground and who had no form or comeliness that we should desire him!
Soon his journey took him away from his home of Nazareth and made him one of the most popular figures in all of Israel. There was one place however, that Jesus had to go!
There was one city of all the cities of the world that Jesus had to make his presence known and it would be the place that would make the greatest difference in the world.
Please turn to Matthew 16:21-23 and read with me where Jesus had to go!
Jesus had to go to Jerusalem!
The city of the king!
Perhaps the most famous city of all time.
Yet, Jesus' crowning as king of all Kings would be quite different than the other great kings like David & Solomon who wore the crown proudly there.
Why did Jesus have to go there?
He had to be rejected by the leaders of Judaism.
God's chosen "people" would have leaders who would refuse to listen to God's only Son! John 1:11
Then, He had to be killed.
Imagine, being the apostles and convinced that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God and then being told that these men must kill him!
How do you believe this?
How could they kill you?
Yet, Jesus says it must be this way!
There can be no other way. Though you cannot understand it now, I must be killed. Why?
Because then I will rise again!
Where is this all going to take place?
Jerusalem!

What about us today?
It is amazing that next weekend many people will go to a church service for about the first time this year to celebrate the fact that someone died. We realize that true Christianity is more than a convenience religion. You don't just go to worship God when it is convenient for you but true worshippers of God make it part of their necessary living!
True worshippers now make their whole lives a sacrifice unto God! But it is amazing that millions of people still believe in the message of hope that is found in the events that transpired at Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago.
This reminds us of the Herculean task we have of presenting to these people what this event really meant and means.

Please turn to Luke 23:33-38,44-47 and read.
The amazing thing about these accounts recorded in the gospels is the whole history of the human race is centered on these three days! Everything that is to be and everything that was is dependent on the events being described. What is interesting now, however is that the most critical point in history, the point that brought Jesus to Jerusalem does not actually take place in the city of Jerusalem but actually at a place known as "Calvary" or "golgotha" , "the place of the skull"!

There are many reasons given as to why it was called the place of the skull, but one thing is for certain, it was a place that was familiar with cruel deaths! What does all this mean?
What does the Jesus of Calvary bring to our attention that we need to convey to the world especially at times like these?

Jesus was abused & despised!
The Psalmist centuries ago said this was to be in Psalms 22:6,7a. Now in Matthew 27:29-31, Mark 15:29-32. Why did this "have" to be according to Jesus?
What does the cross represent?
It represents the highest in human coldness!

Jesus interceded for you and me!
Luke 23:34- Father forgive them they know not what they do! Jesus was performing on the cross something very valuable for mankind. Romans 8:34. What does the cross represent?
What does Calvary mean?
It means someone has gone the distance for us to intercede on our behalf.

Jesus became our substitute and made the payment! Mark 15:33,34!
Why did Jesus have to say this?
Certainly not on anything that he had done! Why?
Isaiah 59:1,2! Jesus took our place. Why did he die on the cross?
Not just so we could go to heaven, so he could take our punishment for sins upon himself! 2 Cor.5:21, Heb.9:28 What does the cross represent?
What does Calvary mean?
It means that our sins are so terrible, that we couldn't bear them and Jesus took our place! Why is it wrong to make Christianity a religion of convenience or indifference?
Because sin is so terrible! We must get it into our minds every day, what sin did and can still do to Jesus! Hebrews 6:6

Jesus was perfected!
Two of the greatest cries that have ever been uttered were heard in Calvary. John 19:30- It is finished and Luke 23:46- Father into Your hands I commit my spirit!
We know that God was well pleased with His Son! Colossians 1:19-22! Hebrews 2:9-11.
What does the cross represent?
What does Calvary mean?
It means that Jesus was the perfect or complete sacrifice for mankind's sins and when we are washed in that blood, we have been purchased so we can live with God forever!
But, why did it have to be this way?
Because there was no other way! The only way for we to be with Him, was if someone came down to this earth and is destroyed! John 12:32!
What did Calvary make men conclude? Matthew 27:51-54- this was the Son of God!
But, how does one man dying on a tree, pay for you and me?
What hope is there in death?
The answer is made three days later!
The beauty of the Christian religion over all others is made clear in the fact that Christianity has no tomb, because we have no corpse. For our gospel does not end in a corpse but in a Conqueror, it does not end in a tomb, but in a triumph.1

And so today, we look back at Calvary and we remember the time when humanity's cruelty had reached its highest peak and we stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder how he could love me a sinner condemned unclean.

Those of us who are his now agree with the apostle Paul when he said for us who are saved the preaching of the cross of Christ is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
Because of Calvary we don't just remember Jesus from time to time, but we live for him every day of every year because He loved us so.

The beauty of the cross is that it is offered to you as well, that all your sins can be forgiven and all your roads can be cleared and lead back to the God who loved you before you were you, will you come…

1. Adapted from E. Stanley Jones, the Christ of Every Road, p.85-86, 89

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