“The Uplifted Savior” –> A savior who is to save is nailed to a cross to be killed. What a paradox! What is it that we can learn from our Lord’s walk now that He is nailed to Calvary’s tree? Think about that question for minute.
Today we will examine Christ’s Calvary experience. We will be examining all four Gospel writers’ story of our Lord’s death. Our Lord uttered seven phrases or sentences while on the cross. The table below shows the references.
| Phrases/Sentences | Sources | Notes |
| Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani | Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 | |
| Father, forgive them . . . | Luke 23:34 | |
| I tell you the truth, today. . . | Luke 23:43 | |
| Father, into your hands. . . | Luke 23:46; | |
| Dear woman. . . dear son | John 19:26-27 | |
| I am thirsty | John 19:27 | |
| It is finished! | John 19:30 |
Since all of the writers do not tell the entire story of Christ’s death, we will examine all four writers’ accounts. Then when we have completed, we will come back to this table and attempt to put the sayings in the order in which they were said.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us about Simon from Cyrene who was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. Where is Cyrene? And why would Simon have come to Jerusalem?
Cyrene: A Libyan city near the coast of north Africa, settled by Greek colonists in the 7th century b.c. Chief city of the Roman province of Cyrenaica. If Simon were to have traveled by sea, he might have landed at Caesearea, a major seaport, then on to Jerusalem. The total trip would have been about 830 miles. A total land route would have measured almost 900 miles. Cyrenaica is now modern-day Libya.
Let’s read each of the accounts now: Matthew 27:32-56; Mark 15:21-41; Luke 23:26-49; and John 19:16b-37.
- What do the writers tell us about Simon?
- He was from _______________________
- He had at least two sons:
- _____________________
- _____________________
- Reason for travel to Jerusalem ________________________
- The crowd that witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion misunderstood His phrase, Eloi, Eloi, lama, sabacthani. They thought He was crying out to Elijah. Was Jesus too confused at the time? Some speculate that the crowd was uncertain as to whether Jesus was speaking in Aramaic or Hebrew. The Hebrew word may have been confused for Elijah, that means, “My God is Yahweh.” Notice that the gospel writers tells you and me that exact translation.
- Luke’s version reads like a report. Either Luke had to be close by or had a firsthand account from the Centurion who was leading the three to Golgatha. Luke traces our Lord’s steps from the city to the Skull. List the details in his account:
- ______________________________
- ______________________________
- ______________________________
- ______________________________
- John goes to great detail near the end of our Lord’s life. The “day of Preparation” leads off the section where John tells about the complete fulfillment of prophesy. List the two prophesies in John.
- verse 36 _______________________
- verse 37 _______________________
- Our Lord’s burial was handled in a very special way. A man named Joseph of Arimathea performed this task. All four gospel writers record the burial – Matthew 27:57ff; Mark 15:42ff; Luke 23:50ff; and John 19:38ff. List what we know about Joseph
- ______________________________
- ______________________________
- ______________________________
- ______________________________
- John tells us that Jesus was buried in a new tomb. Why is that detail important? What other events are recorded about our Lord’s burial that “confirm” He was dead and buried?
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