THE MOST NOTABLE WITNESS TO CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION

INTRODUCTION-- The horrible scene at Calvary shows the cruelties of Rome.
  1. Jesus worked most of the time in Galilee, and had many disciples there.
  2. His destiny was in Jerusalem, however, and he faced many enemies there. Matthew 20:17-19
  3. But why go there to be killed? To fulfil the prophecy of Zechariah 12:10, and turn his enemies into mourners. "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born."
  4. Yet, until he died on the cross, Jesus was encompassed with either doubters, cynics, or vehement haters, with one grand exception.
LESSON-- Who was that one exception?
  • It was not one of the twelve disciples.
    1. At Jesus' arrest in the Garden, the disciple fled from Him. Matthew 26:56 (Jesus had predicted this in Matthew 26:31 "all of you will be offended....")
    2. Only one disciple went to the cross, John. John 19:26-27
    3. Peter fulfilled Jesus' prediction by denying Him 3 Times.
    4. After His resurrection, Jesus had to rebuke the unbelief of the disciples. Mark 16:14
  • It was not the Priests and the Scribes.
    1. The venom of their hatred started at the trial. Matthew 26:63-68 "And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy: 66 what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?"
    2. It continued to build before Pilate. Mark 15:6-14 "And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him."
    3. It remained at the foot of the cross. Matthew 27:39-43 "And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, 40 and saying, Thou that de-stroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 In like manner also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. 43 He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God." (Some people no doubt just stood by and watched, indifferently.)
  • It was not the women who followed him to the cross in confusion. John 19:25-26 "There were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mo-ther's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." (No comment!)
  • It wasn't one of the thieves crucified with Him, since he mocked Jesus like the Priests, and did not repent when rebuked by the other thief.
  • The most notable witness to the resurrection of Jesus was that other thief who changed his mind. Luke 23:39-43 "And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom. 43 And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."
    1. His rebuke of the other thief showed two things.
      1. That he faced up to the consequences that followed his sins. Ezekiel 18:20, and Numbers 32:23 "Be sure your sin will find you out."
      2. That he recognized in Jesus that He was sinless. Hebrews 4:15
    2. He did not let the fact that Jesus was also dying cause him to doubt His destiny as the King of the Kingdom.
      1. This was remarkable, in view of the depression experienced by the Disciples at his death.
        1. The two on the way to Emmaus could only hang their heads, and speak forlornly of their lost hope. (Luke 24)
        2. The others mocked the women who reported Jesus' resurrection.
      2. The thief's confidence shows a knowledge of the intent of prophecies concerning the death and resurrection of the Christ. (Isaiah 53, etc.)
        1. Is it too much to believe that a criminal could be more discerning than a disciple close to Jesus?
        2. Is it disconcerting that the thief could grasp the nature of the kingdom of Christ, while the disciples were still seeking it?
      3. The humble penitent request to be remembered is received, no doubt, with joy by Jesus, who finds at the moment of His death an unlikely soul who meets the criteria of faith He has preached for so long to others. He says, "Today you shall be with me in paradise."