|
Sermon #1796 Miscellaneous Sermons Title:
ÒHe
Saved Others; Himself
He Cannot Save.Ó Text: Mark
15:15-39 Subject: The
Death of Christ as Our Substitute Date: Sunday
Evening — June 7, 2009 Tape
# Z-66a Readings: Merle
Hart and Frank Hall Mark
15:15-39 Introduction: If the Lord God wants Balaam to
hear his Word, he can speak as easily through BalaamÕs ass as he can through
a man or an angel. And, sometimes, in his infinite sovereignty, the Lord God
uses lost, unregenerate, spiritually ignorant men to proclaim gospel truth as
plainly and as powerfully as any inspired prophet. Those men remain as
ignorant of the gospel as ever. Yet, they become voices by which God declares
his truth. Balaam himself exemplifies that
fact. — ÒThe Lord put a
word in BalaamÕs mouthÓ - (Numbers 23:5) It was Balaam, a false
prophet, who said, in Numbers 23:19-24... (Numbers
23:19-24) ÒGod is not a man, that he should lie;
neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not
do it? or hath
he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (20) Behold, I have received commandment
to bless: and he
hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. (21) He hath not beheld iniquity in
Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is
among them.
(22) God brought
them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. (23) Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob,
neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said
of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (24) Behold, the people shall rise up
as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down
until he eat of the
prey, and drink the blood of the slain.Ó Let me give you a couple of other examples of God using wicked men to
proclaim the Gospel. á
Saul — It was wicked king Saul who prophesied
of DavidÕs great success as GodÕs king, sayingÉ (1 Samuel
26:25) ÒBlessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So
David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.Ó á
Caiaphas the High Priest (John 11:47-52) (John
11:47-52) ÒThen gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and
said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men
will believe on
him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49
And one of them, named
Caiaphas, being
the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50
Nor consider that
it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the
whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest
that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but
that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were
scattered abroad.Ó á
Pilate — ÒBehold, your King.Ó - ÒJesus of
Nazareth, the King of the Jews.Ó Now, turn with me
to MarkÕs Gospel. In the 15th chapter, as Mark was inspired by God
the Holy Spirit to record the events surrounding our LordÕs crucifixion, we see
several more examples of God speaking glorious, Gospel truths by men who
themselves knew nothing of the things they spoke. Repeatedly, those who
mocked the Savior, with their jeers spoke plainly declaring that the man
hanging on the cursed tree between two thieves was and is ÒTHE KING,Ó and most distinctly ÒTHE KING OF ISRAEL.Ó á
In verse 39, the centurion said, ÒTruly, this man was the Son of God.Ó NOTE:
The one through whom God speaks is nothing; but the message God speaks, the Gospel
of Christ, is the power of God unto salvation! — IÕm a nobody, trying to tell everybody about
somebody who can save anybody! There is another
example of this in verse 31. Here you will find the title of my message and
our subject. In the angry, blood thirsty, jeering mob, we hear the lost
religious leaders of the day joining in the hellish revelry. Though they
spoke with a hellish hatred for the Son of God, these chief priests and
scribes spoke the plain truth of the gospel most clearly. Read the verse with
me. (Mark
15:31) ÒLikewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with
the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.Ó Proposition: Because the Lord Jesus Christ came here to save his people from their
sins, because he came to save us from the wrath of God, he could not save
himself from being made sin for us, he could not save himself from the wrath
of God. My friends, this
is the very essence of the Gospel. See that you understand it clearly.
— THE HOLY LORD GOD COULD NOT SAVE
SINNERS APART FROM THE SATISFACTION OF HIS LAW AND JUSTICE BY THE OBEDIENCE
AND DEATH OF HIS OWN DEAR SON AS OUR SUBSTITUTE. á
God did not have to save anyone. á
But having chosen to save some, he cannot save any
except in a manner that honors his law and justice. á
If righteousness could come in any other way, then
Christ died in vain. á
Christ did not have to come here in human flesh, as
JehovahÕs righteous Servant, to save us. á
The Bond-servant, had He chosen to do so, could have
gone out free at any time. á
But, if He went out free, if He saved Himself, He
could not save others. á
Bless God forever, because He saved others, Himself
He could and would not save! — Our Surety stood to His bond! (Job 33:23-24)
ÒIf there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to
show unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from
going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.Ó (Romans
3:23-26) ÒFor all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Ó Unfathomable
Agony
The passage before us sets
before us the most wondrous, most glorious event in the history of the
universe. Indeed, this is the reason why God created the world in the first
place. We have before us the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ as
the sinnersÕ Substitute. Here the infinite love of God for sinners is set
forth magnificently. The sufferings described here
would be astonishing, shocking to behold under any circumstances. Should we
see any man endure such horror and grief, our hearts would be sick, deeply
moved with compassion. But the man here suffering is the eternal Son of God!
I am astounded, amazed, lost in wonder, as I read this chapter. Standing at the foot of the
cross, as I behold the Holy One nailed to the cursed tree, covered with his
own blood and the spit of an enraged mob, and see him made sin for us,
forsaken and cursed of God his Father, yet, realizing that this is the work
of GodÕs own hand, I am lost in astonishment! I am filled with reverence and
awe (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13). Yonder (Amazing
sight!) I see The incarnate Son
of God Expiring on the
cursed tree, And weltering in
His blood. Behold, a purple
torrent run Down from his hands
and head, The crimson tide
puts out the sun; His groans awake
the dead. The trembling
earth, the darkened sky, Proclaim the truth
aloud; And with the amazed
centurion, cry, ÒThis is the Son of
God!Ó Here is something even more
astounding. All that the Lord Jesus Christ endured, when he was made sin for
us, he willingly, voluntarily endured. Even when he was made sin for us, it
was by his own will that it came to pass. He willingly took upon himself our
sins. He willingly went to the cross. He willingly died the shameful,
ignominious death of the cross. He willingly became the object of his FatherÕs
holy wrath and indignation. The Lord Jesus Christ willingly took the cup of
wrath and, with one tremendous draft of love, drank damnation dry for us. Why? The
Book of God Reveals two distinct answers to that question. á
Christ died for us
because of His great love for us. —
He loved us! Here is ÒThe love of
Christ that passeth knowledgeÓ (Eph. 3:19). ÒGod commendeth his love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for usÓ (Rom. 5:8). ÒHerein
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be
the propitiation for our sinsÓ (1 John 4:10). ÒHereby perceive we the love
of God, because he laid down his life for usÓ (1 John 3:16). á
And He died for us
because justice had to be satisfied. I want us to simply observe
from the passage before us the things our Lord Jesus suffered, when he was
made sin for chosen sinners. I want us to follow our Redeemer, step by step,
from his condemnation to his death. There is deep meaning, spiritual
instruction, and great consolation in everything our Substitute endured when
he suffered the wrath of God in our place. As we dwell upon these things,
let us not forget, not even for a moment, that our sins and the salvation of
our souls were the cause of all his agony. It was our hell that he endured!
It was our death that he died. I am talking to you, my brothers and sisters,
about the blood atonement and sin offering of our own Surety! (2
Corinthians 5:21) ÒFor he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that
we might be made the righteousness of God in him.Ó (1 Peter
2:24) ÒWho his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were
healed.Ó (1 Peter
3:18) ÒFor Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened
by the Spirit:Ó I.
HERE WE SEE
THE SON OF GOD DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF ROMAN SOLDIERS, CONDEMNED TO
DEATH, TO BE CRUCIFIED AS A COMMON CRIMINAL. (Mark
15:15) ÒAnd so Pilate,
willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered
Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.Ó Here is that One before whom
one day soon the whole world must stand in judgment. The great Judge who
shall summons all men before the great white throne in the last day, is here
judged of men, sentenced to death and delivered up to be executed by the
hands of wicked men. Do you ask why? It was that he
might deliver us from judgment, the pit of destruction, and the sentence of
eternal death in hell. The Lord Jesus was made to be sin, judged guilty, and
put to death for his people, so that believing sinners might never be judged
for sin, so that he might present all the hosts of GodÕs elect before the
presence of his glory, holy, unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight. (Romans
4:8) ÒBlessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.Ó (Romans
8:1) ÒThere is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit.Ó (Romans 8:33-34)
ÒWho shall lay any thing to the charge of GodÕs elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that
is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.Ó II. Jesus Christ The Righteous is
here mocked, jeered, insulted and made a laughing stock before all the world. (Mark
15:16-20) ÒAnd the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium;
and they call together the whole band. 17 And they clothed him with purple,
and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18 And began to salute him, Hail,
King of the Jews! 19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and
bowing their knees
worshipped him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and
put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.Ó (Mark
15:29-32) ÒAnd they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and
saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30 Save thyself, and come down from
the cross. 31 Likewise
also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He
saved others; himself he cannot save. 32 Let Christ the King of Israel
descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were
crucified with him reviled him.Ó They clothed him with a purple
cloth, put a crown of thorns on his head, and mockingly worshipped him - ÒHail!
King!Ó Then they beat him, spit on him,
and mocked him. As they led him away to crucify him, he became the song of
drunkards. Harlots and holy men,
pimps and priests, sots and scribes joined in hellish revelry as they nailed
him to the tree and watched him die. Even the two thieves who were crucified
with him found relief from their torture by joining in the infamy. The Son of
God was made to be utterly contemptible before men. He was made to be Òthe
filth of the world and the offscouring of all things.Ó Do you ask why? It was that we,
who are indeed the filth of the world and offscouring of all things, that we
who are in truth vile and contemptible, that we might have glory, and honor,
and eternal life by the merit of his blood, that we might stand before God
without one spot of sin or wrinkle of infirmity, in perfect holiness. He wore
a crown of thorns, that we might wear a crown of glory forever. He wore the
spit of man, that men might wear the kiss of God forever. He sunk in
humiliation, that we might rise in triumph. III. THE LORD JESUS WAS STRIPPED NAKED BEFORE MEN, EXPOSED IN OPEN
SHAME TO ALL HIS ENEMIES. (Mark
15:24) ÒAnd when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting
lots upon them, what every man should take.Ó Do you ask why? It was that we,
who have no righteousness before God, might be clothed with his perfect righteousness.
It was that we, who are naked and shameful, all defiled with sin, might wear
the wedding garments of grace and sit side by side with the angels of God
unashamed. It was that we might forever wear the white robe of righteousness,
the garments of salvation, clean and white, before great white throne of our
God. IV. THE HOLY ONE OF GOD WAS RECKONED A TRANSGRESSOR AND A SINNER. (Mark
15:27-28) ÒAnd with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand,
and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was
numbered with the transgressors.Ó He who did no sin, in whose
mouth was no guile, was Ònumbered with the transgressors.Ó Do you ask why? Why was he
numbered with the transgressors? It was because he was made to be sin for us,
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor. 5:21). The holy
Lamb of God was made to be sin so that we, who are altogether unholy, might
be made perfectly holy forever! He was pronounced guilty so that we might be
pronounced righteous before God! V. THE SON OF GOD WAS FORSAKEN BY HIS FATHER. (Mark
15:34) ÒAnd at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi,
Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast
thou forsaken me?Ó Try to grasp this. When our
Surety, JehovahÕs righteous Servant, was at the height of his obedience, as
he was performing the crowning work he was commissioned of God to do, he was
abandoned, forsaken by his Father. Do you ask why? It was because
he was made to be sin; and the holy Lord God cannot look upon sin. Why was he
forsaken of God? It was that we might hear the Lord God himself declare - ÒI
will never leave thee nor forsake thee!Ó Christ was forsaken because he was made sin for
us. We can never be forsaken because he has taken our sins away! VI. the lord
of glory was CRUCIFIED UPON THE CURSED TREE. (Mark
15:22-26) ÒAnd they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being
interpreted, The place of a skull. 23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh:
but he received it not. 24 And
when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon
them, what every man should take. 25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26 And the
superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.Ó Death by crucifixion was
reserved for only the most vile of felons. This shamefully horrid,
ignominious, tortuous form of execution was designed to show the utter
contemptibility of the one hanging upon the cross. The man hanging on the
tree was counted accursed. The Lord Jesus died the cursed death of the cross. Do you ask why? It was that we
who were born accursed might be delivered from the curse of the law and stand
forever blessed of God for ChristÕs sake. (Galatians
3:13) ÒChrist hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Ó VII. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, OUR SUBSTITUTE, FREELY, VOLUNTARILY LAID DOWN
HIS LIFE, HE GAVE UP THE GHOST, FOR HIS PEOPLE. (Mark
15:37) ÒAnd Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.Ó (John
10:11) ÒI am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the
sheep.Ó (John
10:15-18) ÒAs the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay
down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,
and one
shepherd. 17 Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it
again. 18 No
man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of
my Father.Ó Do
you ask why? (1 John 4:9-10) ÒIn this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live
through him. 10 Herein
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to
be the propitiation for our sins.Ó VIII. BY HIS BLOOD ATONEMENT, BY HIS DEATH UNDER THE
CURSE OF GODÕS HOLY LAW, THE SON OF GOD RIPPED OPEN THE VEIL IN THE TEMPLE. (Mark
15:38) ÒAnd the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom.Ó When justice was satisfied,
when sin was put away, when there was nothing left to separate the holy Lord
God from his people, when the law of God was forever silenced, the symbol of
separation was ripped apart. Do you ask why? It was that
redeemed sinners might come to God with the full assurance of faith, being
accepted in the beloved. (Hebrews
10:12-19) ÒBut this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for
ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his
enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he
had said before, 16 This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will
put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will
I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19 Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,Ó Application: 1. What a deep
sense we ought to have of the debt we owe to the Lord Jesus Christ. All that we have, all that we
are, all that we hope for, must be traced to the doing and dying of the Son
of God for us. á
By his condemnation, we are acquitted. á
By his being made sin, we are made the righteousness
of God. á
By his sufferings, we get peace. á
By his shame, we get glory. á
By his death, we have life! Thanks be unto God for
his unspeakable gift!Ó 2. What assurance
we ought to have of ChristÕs great love for us! 3. What a reasonable
thing it is for us to unceasingly present ourselves as living sacrifices unto
our God! — ÒYe are not your own. For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are GodÕs Ó (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). (Romans 12:1)
ÒI beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.Ó AMEN. Don Fortner Listen to sermons
at FreeGraceRadio.com |
|