Has anyone here this morning ever started out on a trip with the kids only to hear these words from the back seat of your car—“are we there yet?” You never know when that statement coming…you just know at some point it will.

Since the first Sunday of this year we’ve been on a journey to the resurrection. I’ve not heard anyone say ‘are we there yet’…but I can tell you that resurrection Sunday is just around the corner. But—before we get to our destination…we must make one more stop. Today we’ll be stopping at Golgotha.

It’s what happened here that makes the resurrection necessary. Today we’ll discover some horrific things that took place on what’s been called Good Friday. We’ll learn just how horrible humanity can be one to another. We’ll see how anger and animosity will lead people to do the unthinkable. Hopefully—when we have finished, we will have realized something else that’s so important for putting this event in its proper context. That is—what man meant for evil…God used for good.

1. The miscarriage of justice.

The things we read about here in the beginning of chapter 15 all have to do with manipulation. Twisting the truth to insure a desired outcome. The religious leaders have their hearts set on seeing Jesus die immediately. In verse 1 the Bible says, “The whole Sanhedrin reached a decision.” That decision was not in favor of mercy. If someone was sentenced to die—the law had a provision for a two day waiting period before anyone could be executed to insure there was no last minute information that might prove their innocence.

But—the decision reached by the Sanhedrin didn’t have justice in mind. Only manipulation. Are we ever guilty of this? Have ever found yourself being more focused on an outcome than truth. A win at all costs mentality?

Pilate heeds to the pressure of the crowd. I’m sure the last thing Pilate wanted to do was get caught in the middle of what he thought was simply a religious dispute. But what he doesn’t know is—he’s a pivotal part of a divine plan. The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world is about to be sacrificed and he will see that it happens (John 1:29). Even when Pilate tries to do what he thinks is the right thing and release Jesus…he can’t escape the sovereign hand of God. The chief priests manipulate the crowd—calling for Jesus to be crucified…and we read that Pilate capitulates to their request.

As this scene develops we can clearly see a miscarriage of justice taking place. How can God stand by and allow this to happen to His one and only Son? Sadly—it gets worse.

2. The mocking of Jesus.

In the middle section of chapter 15 everything we’re told about is intended to add insult to misery. For those who would deny the existence of evil…point them to the gospel accounts of the crucifixion and then ask them to read it carefully.

A. Jesus is mocked by those who don’t know Him. The Romans were polytheistic people. This means they worshipped many gods. Often times they would even pay homage to the local gods of a conquered people in an effort to not upset a perceived local deity and also, as an attempt to avoid any civil unrest among the people.

These soldiers we read about here didn’t know who Jesus was…nor did they care. To them—Jesus simply became the object of a twisted sense of sadistic humor. Mocking Him—I’m sure was nothing more than a way of having some fun while at work.

B. Jesus is also mocked by those who should know Him. After the soldiers have their fun we read that they lead Jesus to Golgotha (v22). It’s there that He’s crucified between two thieves. While on the cross people walking by hurl insults at Jesus (v29). Notice also, the chief priests and the teachers of the law join in and mock Him as well. The religious leaders of all people—should have known who He was. Even the centurion in verse 39 was able to figure it out.

The religious elite didn’t recognize Jesus simply because—hearts consumed with anger and animosity never see anything clearly. They saw Jesus as a threat to their power and their self imposed prestige—instead of the Christ sent from God. The long awaited Messiah.

The willingness of God’s creation to mock Him is amazing. We see it here as well as in our own day. Each time an innocent life is taken from the womb we mock God as if we’re saying we have the right to determine who should live or not live…in our world. God help us to have eyes that clearly see Jesus…and hearts that won’t mock You.           

3. The means for justification.

Verses 33-39 convey a message that we need to not only understand—but one that needs to written upon the walls of our heart. It’s the message of redemption. Jesus is about to experience something for us so that we will never have to face this again. What is it?

It’s the horror of being separated from God. When the wrath of God is poured out on Jesus because of man’s sin—He experiences something He has never known before…a sense of being separated from God. The Bible teaches us sin is what separates man from God (Is 59:2). Up until this point—Jesus, who had no sin, has never experienced the consequence of sin either (2 Cor 5:21). As Jesus receives the punishment for our sin on the cross—the horror associated with the sense of being separated from perfect fellowship with God causes Him to cry out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (v34)?  

We enter the world spiritually separated from God therefore we can’t fully understand the impact of losing something we never had…like Jesus did. God has to draw us to the place where for the first time we realize that we are separated from His fellowship and then He has to teach us the horror of that reality. Those who learn this and respond by faith say it’s like being born again!

Our hope of being reunited with God. Verse 38 says the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The temple curtain signified that free access to God was not possible. A barrier put in place because sinful humanity cannot enter the presence of a Holy God without death occurring. Only the high priest was allowed behind the curtain. And that only happened once a year after the sacrificial lamb had been slain for the sin of Israel.

Church—when Jesus, our Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7) had been slain on the cross at Golgotha…the hope of being reunited with God became a reality because His blood paid for our sin. Therefore we can approach the throne of grace freely now according to Hebrews 4:16.

In other words—Jesus death on the cross is a means of justification for all who believe in Him. For everyone who calls out to God and says—Father I have nothing to pay for my sin with. But—the Bible says if I would call out to Jesus for forgiveness and offer His sacrifice as my own to you…I will be saved (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Never again to be separated from fellowship with You.

When the religious elite had Jesus put on the cross they thought they had finally gotten rid of Him. It’s true—that latter on that afternoon, on Good Friday, Jesus was dead and placed in a tomb…but He doesn’t stay there. And that’s where we’re headed on this journey…to the resurrection of Christ.

If you were to ask, “What’s the message from the cross?” There are many answers. But there is one that helps us put the miscarriage of justice, the mocking of Jesus and the means of justification into a context we can better understand. That’s simply this—what man meant for evil…God used for good.

This is why Jesus said in Matthew 20:28, “The Son of Man did not come to be served—but to serve…and give His life as a ransom for many.” Are you among those for whom Christ died? Has His blood paid the price of your sin?