TEXT: John 19:10-18
READING: Psalm 19
SUBJ: The awfulness of sin from God’s perspective as witnessed in the death of Christ.
AIM: That we might ever be reminded of how and from what we are delivered.
INTR: We have recently been confronted with graphic displays of killings. But men tend to downplay the value of human life and refuse to see the sufferings of Christ and why He suffered.
1. The tone of modern evangelism is to sell folks on the idea of Christianity being the ideal way of life while downplaying the necessity of repentance and faith. This being the case, they corrupt the real meaning of the cross of Christ and His sufferings. – Quote from Spurgeon: “I did not see the awfulness of my sins until I saw them on Christ.”
2. How often do we think on the cross, the sufferings and where we would be without it – thus facing the reality that the cross portrays to us?
3. This is nothing new, but it must be freshly remembered – Joy is an experience realized in contrast. If we do not see the source of misery, how can we know the source of joy.
THESIS: It is in considering the death of Christ that we realize the awfulness of sin from the perspective of a Holy God.
I. The death of Christ reveals the awfulness of sin
1. Instruction about sin is from the Law (the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ).
1) Men acknowledge sin but do not repent (“So you got me – big deal”)
2) Since sin is not such a big deal to them, it makes for an easy transition
2. But consider the hatred of God against sin. It is not contrived – it is real. Neither has it ever been abated.
1) This is the essence of the quote from Spurgeon as we are to witness
2) What God did to His Son because of our sin.
3. The judgments of God are not mediated, and all are held fully accountable. (Consider the rage of victims when a perpetrator has not received the sentence they think he should have. How much more should the demand be so with God?)
4. The obedience of Christ was unto death – “even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:8)
5. Compare, however, Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. AND Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
II. The death of Christ reveals necessity
1. The moral teachings of Christ reveal the precepts for the life of the saved – not a means for salvation. Necessity for divine intervention is seen in those who cried for and participated in the Crucifixion. – They are the representatives of man’s reaction to God’s Son and His righteousness.
2. The real essence of depravity is herein displayed. See verses 12, 15
3. If the death of Christ is seen as anything other than the judgment of God then the necessity of repentance (Godly sorrow works repentance) and faith is in a very shallow form.
4. Men do not see the potential for this behavior in themselves. Rather, they quickly judge those who crucified Him, and they become magnanimous in their pity toward Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. The world would teach us not to take sin so seriously. Sin is the basis of much humor. It is overlooked by the law. Furthermore, it is campaigning for protection under the law of the land – note abortion and homosexuality. And they are condoned by the silence or acceptance of the masses. These things are not all that is wrong, but they are representative. – After all, the haters of Christ used their law to crucify Him.
III. The death of Christ provides for that which is necessary – to be delivered from such
1. The question of Pilate and the answer of Jesus. He is in complete control and knows what is happening and why.
2. He was delivered to Pilate by the Jews (v. 11) and then Pilate, in answer to their demands delivered Him to be crucified (v. 16). Remember Pilate’s words in verse 10.
3. But, through this process we see the intention of God to sacrifice His Son for the sins of many – Acts 2:23-24 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
4. They filled up the measure of their fathers: Matthew 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
5. We preach Christ Crucified as more than a mere mantra: we see rather the hatred of God for sin even when it was laid on His Son.
1) To declare and prove the depravity and hopelessness of all who come
2) To prove the awfulness of sin from the divine perspective
3) To show that there is only one remedy for sin in God’s provision of the sacrifice.
4) To show that many shall be saved from their sin and its consequences.
