Crucifixion: Way of Suffering

A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church

I.       PRAETORIUM: COMMENCEMENT OF SUFFERING
A.       HATRED
1.       RELEASE
Mt 27:26a Then [Pilate] released Barabbas

2. RUIN
Mt 27:26b and having whipped Jesus, transferred Him to be crucified.

B. HARM
1. ROUTINE
Mt 27:27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and they gathered the garrison around Him.

2. REPROACH
Mt 27:28-29a And they stripped Him and put a scarlet cloak on Him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head and put a reed in His right hand.
(also Isaiah 1:18)

3. REVILED
Mt 27:29b And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

4. REACTION
Mt 27:30 And they spit on Him and took the reed and repeatedly struck Him on the head Jn 19:3 with their fists.

C. HUMILIATION
1. RAILED
Mt 27:31a And when they had mocked Him, they removed the cloak and put His own clothes on Him
(also John 8:28)

2. REWARD
Mt 27:31b and led Him away to crucify Him.
(also Matthew 16:24)

II.      VIA DOLOROSA: COURSE OF SUFFERING
A.       HELP
1.       REJECTION
Jn 19:5 Pilate went out a last time, saying to them, “Behold the man!” Jn 19:16 And so he sent Him to be crucified.

2. REQUIRED
Mt 27:32 As they left, they found Simon from Cyrene, and compelled him to carry His cross.

3. RELATION
Mk 15:21 the father of Alexander and Rufus
(also Acts 11:20-21; Acts 19:33; Romans 16:13)

B. HEARTBREAK
1. REGRET
Lk 23:27 And there followed Him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for Him.

2. REASON
Lk 23:28-29 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’
(also John 10:18)

3. RUIN
Lk 23:30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us’.

III.     CALVARIA (GOLGOTHA): CONVERGENCE OF SUFFERING
A.       HORROR
1.       RECOMPENSE
Lk 23:32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be executed with Him.

2. RESOLUTION
Mt 27:33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha Jn 19:17 (which in Aramaic means Place of a Skull),
(also Heb 13:12-13)

B. HUMANITY
1. REJECTION
Mt 27:34 they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but when He tasted it, He would not drink it

2. RESULT
Mt 27:35 And they crucified Him