The Old Rugged Cross

The Old Rugged Cross
Matthew 27:33-54
What The Cross Meant in the First Century…
The Roman orator Cicero: …

“Crucifixion is the most cruel and dis-gusting punishment. The very mention of it should be far removed, not only from the body of a Roman citizen, but from his mind, his eyes, and his ears.”
The Emblem of …
Suffering and shame... Matt 27:33-35
Golgotha …
33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. 35 Then they crucified Him ...

Emblem of …
Suffering and shame... Matt 27:33-35
Judicial execution ...

Two thieves …v.38,44; Luke 23:39-43
Paul’s appeal to Caesar .. Acts 25:10-11, 25
Cursed of God … Deut. 21:22-23; Josh 10:26-27
We all Have Sinned …
The Curse belongs on Us …
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."

Two Ways of Justification …
Keeping Works of Law
"Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
“The law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."

Be Justified by Faith
“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith.“
“blessing might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

All Under a Curse
PATRIARCHAL
Rom 2:14-15 Gentiles …show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

MOSAICAL
Gal 3:10 as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
The Old Rugged Cross An Emblem of …
Suffering and shame... Matt 27:33-35
Emblem of Destiny … Matthew 27:35-38
Psa 16:8-11 Not left in Hades
Psa 34:20 None of his bones broken
Psa 22:16 Pierced hands and feet
Isa 53 Mockery, led to slaughter as lamb
Fulfilling God’s Plan…
34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. ... 35 Then they crucified Him and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots."

Psalm 69:21 “they gave me gall for my food and they gave me vinegar to drink”
Psalm 22:18 “they divide my garments among them and for my cloak they cast lots”

Foreknowledge of God…
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The Old Rugged Cross An Emblem of …
Suffering and shame... Matt 27:33-35
Emblem of Destiny … Mt 27:35-38
Emblem of Derision … Mt 27:39-44
Scoffing and Insults …
Matt 27:39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"
44 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
Who Really Deserves the Shame? … We Do
Revelation 3:17-18 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Who Really Deserves the Shame? … We Do
Daniel 9:7-9 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day — to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. 8 "O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.
The Old Rugged Cross An Emblem of …
Suffering and shame... Matt 27:33-35
Emblem of Destiny … Mt 27:35-38
Emblem of Derision … Mt 27:39-44
Exodus 13:13-16 Passover lamb to be slain
Tit. 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18 Redeemed by His blood
The Old Rugged Cross An Emblem of …
Suffering and shame... Matt 27:33-35
Emblem of Destiny … Mt 27:35-38
Emblem of Derision … Mt 27:39-44
Emblem of Decision … Mt. 27:45-54
Witnessing all …
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

Lloyd Douglas …
The Old Rugged Cross
Matthew 27:33-54