Matt. 27:45-54           MAY WE NEVER FORGET

Intro: It is proper and fitting that the church pause to remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our liberty as citizens and to guarantee us the freedom to worship as we see fit.  Since the Revolutionary War some 1,162,000 people have given their lives for our freedom.  Countless millions more have served and suffered.  May we never forget!

      Still, there was a time when America did not exist.  There will be a day when it will no longer exist.  And, while we are grateful and thankful for the lives we memorialize this time of the year; we must remember that our very presence in this church today speaks of something far more eternal in nature.  I never want to forget the price others have paid so that I might be free.  But, even if I were locked in a dark dungeon today, I would still be free.  Why? Two thousand years ago a man named Jesus paid the ultimate price to secure my liberty and eternal freedom when He died on the cross.  I want to examine that sacrifice again today.  Let’s look back to that day when Jesus died for us on the cross.  Let us remember His sacrifice as we consider three aspects of His sacrifice that I pray we will never forget.  I want to preach on the thought: May We Never Forget.

 

  I.                 MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE CRUELTY

A.  The Cruel Crown – Mt. 27:27-31 – The symbol of a rejected Sovereign (Ill. John 19:15 – The King of eternity came to the world He made and He was rejected by the very people He made in His image.  They refused to have Him “reign over” then, Luke 19:14.)

B.  The Cruel Crowd – Mt. 27: 39-44 – The symbol of a rejected Servant (Ill. John 1:11; John 19:1-16)

C.  The Cruel Cross – Mt. 27:35-37 – The symbol of a rejected Savior (Ill. The sufferings of the cross – Psa. 22:15-18; Isa. 53:4-6; Psa. 129:3; Isa. 50:6; Isa. 52:14.)

 

 II.                     MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE CRIES

A.  A Forgiving Cry – Lk 23:34 – Jesus ends His ministry as He began it: in prayer.  Ill. What He could have done.  Instead, He exercised grace.

B.  A Favoring Cry – Lk 23:43 – Even as He was dying, Jesus demonstrated the reason why He came into this world.  He extended grace to one who was totally undeserving. (Ill. Eph. 2:8-9.)

C.  A Family Cry – Jn 19:25-29 – Jesus took the time to provide for His mother.  She had no, so He gave her someone.  (Ill. The comparison with a Jewish wedding.  Jesus was calling John into a covenant relationship with Mary.  Did John fulfill it? I think so – John 20:10.)

D.  A Forsaken Cry – Mt. 27:46 – When Jesus became sin on that cross, he was forsaken by the Father, Hab. 1:13.  For the first time in all eternity, there was a loss of fellowship between the Father and the Son.  (Ill. Father in Luke 23:34; Father in Luke 23:46; God in Matt. 27:46.)  Jesus was judged as sin on that cross – John 3:36; Rom. 6:23.

E.  A Fervent Cry – Jn 19:28 – Emphasizes His humanity.  The One Who made all the water, suffered thirst for you.    He did without physical water on that cross so that you might have a free drink of spiritual water, John 4:14; Rev. 22:17. His thirst was far more than merely physical, Ill. Psa. 42:1-3.  He was forsaken by His Father so that we might be accepted in the Beloved, Eph. 1:6.

F.  A Finishing Cry – Jn 19:30 – “It is finished” – Tetelestai – “To bring to a close, to end, to finish.”  What was finished? His Sufferings; Satan, Sacrificial system, Sin’s Power, were all finished.  This word was used by: Servants, Farmers, Soldiers, Artists, Merchants, Homeowners, Priests.  Note that Jesus did not say, “I am finished.”  This was the statement of a Victor, not a victim.

G.  A Farewell Cry – Lk 23:46 – For a time the fellowship between Father and Son had been broken.  Now, it is restored fully.  Jesus has suffered at the hands of cruel men; now He recommits Himself to the loving hands of His Father. The word “commend” was a banking term.  It meant “to deposit something of value”!  Heaven’s greatest Treasure, Jesus, had been “withdrawn” and send to earth to “spend Himself” for lost sinners!  He did so fully and upon completing history’s greatest “redemptive transaction”, He re-deposited Himself (now more valuable than ever) back into Heaven’s Bank and the Father’s Hand![i]

            Notice that it was Jesus Himself that “gave up the ghost.”  No man killed Him.  He laid down His life freely for you and for me, John 15:13; John 10:17-18.

 

III.                      MAY WE NEVER FORGET THE CAUSE

A.  Our Condition – Everyone in this world deserves to go to Hell.  We are all sinners, Rom. 3:10-23 and we are already judged and doomed, Rom. 6:23; John 3:18.  Jesus came to deliver us from that condition - Luke 19:10; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 1:15; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:5

B.  His Compassion – Why did He do what He did on that cross? His mission can be summed up in one word: Love! He did what He did because He loves you, Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:6-10; 1 John 3:16.

 

Conc:  May we never forget!  Fact is, we never will!  If you go to Heaven, His presence will remind you, Rev. 5:6.  If you go to Hell, regret will haunt you for eternity, Ill. Luke 16:25! Regardless of what you do with Jesus today, you will never forget what He did for you on the cross!