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Matthew 27:26-44 ESV

Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

I. PRELUDE TO THE CRUCIFIXION
A. Jesus endured physical torture even before His crucifixion.
B. The Romans tortured Jesus both physically and psychologically.
C. No matter what they did, Jesus took it & gave Himself over to them for more.

II. THE PLACE OF THE CRUCIFIXION
A. Jesus is not only our Passover lamb but also our goat of expiation.
B. Jesus not only atones for our sins but takes the blame for them as well.

III. THE PAIN OF CRUCIFIXION
A. Jesus refuses to numb the pain. He will feel every drop of God’s wrath for our sin.

IV. THE PURPOSE OF CRUCIFIXION
A. Jesus had claimed to be God and was killed for those claims.
B. Jesus dying causes the Jews to doubt His claims.
C. Religious leaders claim they will believe if Jesus proves He is Messiah by coming down. They are lying.

V. BELIEVING VS FOLLOWING
A. Jesus never interested in “if / then” followers who want to follow Him on their terms.
B. If there are conditions to your following Jesus then you are following a Jesus you made up.
C. Jesus never settled for believers. He always demanded followers.

VI. THE PERSEVERANCE OF JESUS IN CRUCIFIXION
A. Jesus could have come down but would not come down because of His love for His Father and us.
B. To possess the unconditional love of God it means we must unconditionally surrender to Him.
C. Cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love (Rom 5:8).
D. Jesus chose us over His own life. It is right for Him to ask the same of us.

APPLICATION
1. Believe that God loves you individually.
2. Let His love lead you to follow and not just admire or believe in Him.