At The Cross

Luke 23:33-49

Introduction: There were a lot of people present in Jerusalem the day Jesus was crucified. These people were there by divine purpose, by that I mean that God put them there for a specific reason, He needed them to fulfill the prophecy of His son giving His life for the sin’s of the world, their sin, your sin and my sin. Today I want us to look at the groups of people who were there and what they represented. I want us to look At The Cross as the crowd seen it…

I. The Romans were there

Roman citizens and soldiers represented the gentile world. Their empire was full of pagan practices; they were lost, rejecting the Lord and His message of salvation. This group of men and women give a biblical picture of the untold millions who are living a life without God, without Christ and without hope. The Romans were present in political power, military might, pomp, engineering, technology and science. They were able to conquer the world but unable to conquer themselves. They were the practical, the powerful and the pagan, Calvary drew the likes of them.

Today we have taken what the Romans begun and expanded upon it. Our nations are full of pagan practices that lead men and women away from the truth of Gods word. Everyday we see political power, military might, extravagance, engineering marvels, and technology beyond our wildest dreams and science that leaves us standing in awe; all of this to glorify ourselves, ignoring the wisdom of God to satisfy our own pride.

II. The Robbers were there

The two thieves and Barabbas represented those who defied the law, those found guilty and condemned. At Calvary they were facing the consequences of their actions. These men hurled insults into the face of God by reviling His son.

If you and I look honestly and sincerely we can find ourselves among this group. If not at this point in our life at some point we have been here. We have defied God’s law, we have been weigh in the balance and been found wanting, we have sinned and came short of the glory of God. If you find yourself in this condition today there’s good news you don’t have to stay there. We read in Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

III. The Rank and file were there

Jesus had healed their sick raised their dead fed their hungry and cast demons from their possessed. He also made their lame to walk, their blind to see, their dumb to speak and their deaf to hear. They were a thankless, thoughtless, fickle mob who repaid Him by shouting for His death and choosing the freedom of Barabbas by name. They were at Calvary to mock and jeer.

How often has the blessed you, your home, your family, this church or anything that affects your life? Now I must ask this how did you respond to His work in your life? Were you thankful? Were you thoughtful? Did you give Him praise, honor and glory? Or; did you take as a passing thought instead passing it off as coincidence, luck or something similar. There isn’t one person living today that can honestly say God has never moved in there life. There are very few who can honestly say they have honored Him for doing so. When we take advantage of God work in our life we mock the Lord’s work at Calvary.

IV.The Religious were there

The Rabbis, Scribes and Pharisees, they were there too with their self-righteous tradition and special selected scripture. The rest they ignored because it didn’t meet with their agenda. These men had so tinkered with Holy Scriptures they had buried the Bible beneath a mountain of oral tradition and agenda. This group came to Calvary to make sure Jesus died, then go home and religiously keep the Sabbath and Passover, convincing each other they had done God a favor. They mocked the Lord, claiming He saved others but could not save Himself.

How many churches today are being led by the Holy Spirit? How many are letting God have His way? Unfortunately there aren’t very many. There’s a lot being preached about the grandma and grandpa done things or Dad and Mom done things or how someone thinks church should be. There are a lot of agendas being pushed in church today. What there’s not is a lot of sound Bible preaching taking place. We know how to examine someone else but we don’t remember how to exhort, we know how to entertain but we don’t remember how edify, we have room for everything except God.

V. The Redeemed were there

The smallest and what was considered by the previous four groups as the least significant group that was present at Calvary was the redeemed, those who followed Jesus. Many were too frightened to be seen at the Cross but a few came, stood by the Lord and wept over His willingness to die for their sin.

From all of the worldly practices, the political and religious agendas and all of he show and tell, there remains a remnant of God’s people. Those of us who can say without a doubt we are saved by grace through faith by the blood of Jesus Christ. Not only can we say it we strive to live it, we love it and learn daily how to live by it. When Jesus walked on this earth there was a remnant who followed Him to the Cross, you and I are challenged with task of being the remnant who will follow Him through the age of Grace.

Conclusion: You and I were represented at the Cross, in many if not all of the representations in this message. What we must deal with this morning is the questions: am I sure of my salvation? Am I sure of my walk with God? And am I sure of my service to God? Everyone may want to give a resounding yes just to get out the door today, don’t do that, your relationship with God is too important to just hurry through this and move on to the next item on your Sunday agenda. Close as the Lord leads…