24: The Redemption of the World

John 19:30

INTRODUCTION: Travel with me, if you will, back in time approximately 2,000 years ago. Where we are going, time is measured in the same manner, but presented in a different fashion. In fact, a day begins and ends at 6 PM. The first part of the day is evening and the latter part of the day is morning. Our journey will give us a glimpse into the final twenty-four hours of Christ’s earthly ministry.

I. WEDNESDAY EVENING

A. The Gathering Against Christ (Matthew 26:3-5)

1. The people (Matthew 26:3; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:2)
a. The chief priests
b. The scribes
c. The elders of the people
2. The place (Matthew 26:3)—“the palace of the high priest,”
3. The purpose of the gathering (Matthew 26:4)
a. They consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty (see Mark 14:1).
b. The end desire was to put Him to death (see Mark 14:1; Luke 22:2).

B. The Feast at the House of Simon (Matthew 26:6-13)

C. The Plan of Betrayal (Matthew 26:14-16)

D. The Passover (Matthew 26:17-20; Mark 14:12-17; Luke 22:7-18)

E. The Post Passover Events (John 13:2-32; Matthew 26:21-30; Mark 14:18-26; Luke 22:21-23)

1. Washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:2-17)
2. News of the betrayal (John 13:18-32; Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23)
3. The Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20)

F. The Final Teachings (Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:33-38; see also John 14:1-John 17:26)

G. The Prayer in the Garden (John 18:1; Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46)

H. The Arrest (Matthew 26:47-57; Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-54; John 18:2-12)

I. The Jewish Trials (John 18:12-23; Matthew 26:57-68; Matthew 27:1-2a; Mark 14:53-65; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:54, 63-65; Luke 22:66-Luke 23:1; John 18:24)

II. WEDNESDAY MORNING

A. The Denials by Peter (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-17, 25-27)

B. The Trials before the Rulers (Matthew 27:1-25; Mark 15:1-14; Luke 23:1-26; John 18:28-19:16)

C. The Journey to Calvary (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26-32; John 19:17)

1. The reaction of the women—bewailing and lamenting (Luke 23:27)
2. The teaching of the journey (Luke 23:38-31)

D. The First Three Hours (9 AM – 12 PM)

1. The sign (Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19-22)
2. The lifting up of Christ (Mark 15:25)
a. The fastening to the cross (John 20:25)
b. The time presented—“the third hour” at 9 AM
3. Christ’s words of forgiveness (Luke 23:34)
4. The parting of the garments (Matthew 27:35-36; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-24)
5. The railing upon Christ (Matthew 27:38-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:35-43)
a. By those passing by (Matthew 27:38-40; Mark 15:29-30)
b. By the religious leaders (Matthew 27:41-43; Mark 15:31-32; Luke 23:35)
c. By the soldiers (Luke 23:36-37)
d. By the thief (Matthew 27:44; Mark 15:32; Luke 23:39-43)

III. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON

A. The Next Three Hours (12 PM – 3 PM)

1. The conditions—darkness (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45)
2. The events (John 19:25-27)
a. The Saviour’s care for His mother (John 19:25-27)
b. The spiritual battle (Colossians 2:13-15)

B. The Final Three Hours (3 PM – 6 PM)

1. The cries from the cross (Matthew 27:46-50; Mark 15:34-37; Luke 23:46; John 19:28-30)
a. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46-47; Mark 15:34-35; Psalm 22:1)
b. I thirst. (John 19:28-29; Matthew 27:48-49; Mark 15:36)
c. It is finished (John 19:30)
d. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46; Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37)
2. The giving up of the ghost
3. The effect of Christ’s death
a. On the veil of the temple—rent (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45)
b. On the earth—quaked (Matthew 27:51)
c. On the graves—opened (Matthew 27:52-53)
d. On the centurion—glorified God (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47)
e. On the multitudes—smote their breasts (Matthew 27:54-56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:48-49) – See the comment found in Matthew 27:54 – “they that were with him”
4. The rush to remove the body (John 19:31-37)
5. The request of Joseph of Arimathaea (Matthew 27:57-58; Mark 15:42-45; Luke 23:50-52; John 19:38)
6. The preparation and burial of the body of Jesus (Matthew 27:59-61; Mark 15:46-47; Luke 23:53-55; John 19:39-42)
7. The visit of Christ to hell and to Abraham’s bosom

CONCLUSION: Only eternity will show the import of the last twenty-four hours of the earthly ministry of Christ. In the end, Christ bore it all for sinners just like me. He did it to satisfy the wrath of God, the Father, and to pay the penalty for my sinful nature and deeds.