Matthew 26:47-54 – Three Miracles of the Cross – Bible study

Matthew 26:47-54 Three Miracles of the Cross For several weeks, Jesus journey to the tomb has been on my mind. We have followed our Lord from Caesarea Philippi where the disciples finally recognized who He was, south through Galilee, into Samaria, across the Jordan River and down the east bank through Jericho, over the Mount of Olives, and into Jerusalem. This was His Farewell Tour. Now, with His face set like a flint in His last hours, Jesus walked to Calvary to die on the cross. Let us consider three miracles that happened on this part of Jesus journey. The word "miracle" is not normally a word we associate with the cross. There are other words which come to mind far more readily. Words like "agony," "suffering," "incomprehensible," and "cruel," but today, I want us to consider some of the miracles, the impossible acts, that made the cross possible and allowed Jesus to continue His journey to the tomb. I. Man Handled God. Matt 26:50 Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. A. Common men, sinful men, laid their hands upon the holy, Almighty God. And not only so, but they did much more to Jesus. 1. The Bible says they seized Him or restrained Him. Matt 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. a. That is, they did not just touch Jesus, but they forcibly held onto Him, as in to keep God from leaving or walking away. b. The Scripture goes on to say they tied God up. Mt 27:2 And when they had bound him. c. Does the impossibility of this not strike you? Have we read and heard the story of Jesus so many times that we fail to see the miracle that was performed, that God would allow mere mortal hands to grab hold of God and to detain Him? d. Yet, the miracle continued on. 2. Several passages add that these men, with their hands and man-made instruments, beat God. Matt 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee? a. Here with hands that God fashioned for man, man struck God! (1) Can we remember that God gave us these hands? (2) These hands are wonders of engineering! LA Times, July 13, 1986, by Richard Buffum In an interview with a surgeon who repaired hands with injuries or disease, Dr. Eugene Elliot described the amazing hand. The act of simply bending ones forefinger into the palm is a "marvel of mechanical ingenuity." He explained that two tendons, which pass under two sets of pulleys to create a mechanical advantage, not to mention the complex articulation of the joints, are involved in bending the finger. Straightening the finger involves a separate intricate system, he pointed out. "The whole system involved in a single finger is so finally balanced that if any part of the system, through injury or disease, breaks down, the whole finger becomes unbalanced," he said. http://articles.latimes.com/1986-07-13/local/me-20852_1_automata In another article published November 30, 2014, Dr. George McGavin pointed out: The fascinating features of our hand, which gives us a powerful grip but also allows us to manipulate small objects with great precision. This ability sets us apart from other creatures. The muscles in the hand are strangely arranged, since most of the hands movements are controlled by muscles not located in the hand but in the forearm. The fingers are connected to the forearm by long tendons that pass through a flexible band. This arrangement gives the fingers movement and strength that would be impossible if all the muscles were in the hand. In short, the hand looks like a bony puppet controlled by the forearm. http://creation.com/incredible-human-hand b. Can there ever be a more realistic picture of mans rebellion against God than this? That man would take the very tools that God gave to us and turn them against Him? I think not! 3. With mans hands, man scourged God Matt 26:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 4. drove God like men drive cattle Matt 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 5. All of this is like the Old Testament picture of a willing lamb being led into the slaughter house to die. Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 6. and finally nailed God to a tree. Matt 27:35 And they crucified him. B. If the impossibility of this has not yet sank in, let me remind you Who it was that man so cruel handled that day. 1. It was the God who came down on Mount Sinai. a. \#Ex 19:16-20\ describe how the powerful God came down on that mountain in fire and a thick cloud, with angelic trumpets sounding, the ground shaking, thunder rumbling, and lightning flashing. b. Was that just a pyromania display or was God allowing man to see but a touch of the power that is God? 2. Or was God joking when in \#Ex 33:20\ He told Moses, "there shall no man see me and live." Is God really so awesome, so holy, so powerful as these? 3. Some will say, "Yes, but these were in Gods pre-incarnate form. He laid that power and glory aside when He put on mans flesh. 4. Did He? a. How about the three times when man wanted to lay hold on Jesus to either catch or kill Him, and He simply "walked through their midst"? (1) \#Luke 4:30\ at Nazareth (2) \#John 8:59\ at the temple (3) \#John 10:39\ on Solomons porch b. And again, even a few hours before the cross, when the religious police came to arrest Jesus and, merely by acknowledging His identity, knocked them all on their backsides? John 18:4 Jesus said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. C. No, my friend, an impossible thing is taking a placea miracleand how is it being done? 1. There is but one answer. 2. God is allowing this impossible act of finite and wicked man to handle the holy, omnipotent God. 3. The first miracle of the cross is man handled God. II. God Stayed on the Cross A. Oh wicked man put God on the cross, that is true and miraculous enough, but even more miraculous is that God stayed on it. Matt 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. B. I can think of four reasons that God had for NOT staying on the cross. 1. God did not belong on the cross! a. Jesus had done nothing wrong. I had. b. That was my cross and your cross that God was hanging upon. 2. God had the power to come down. Mt 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? a. I suspect that the angels were more than ready, and perhaps had to be commanded NOT to come to Jesus aid! b. Indeed, if the angels did not more on their own it would have only been because they knew who Jesus was and what power lay in His thoughts and words. c. Friend, if God can speak the world into existence, He can most certainly speak it back out of existence! 3. God could have proven who He was BY coming down. a. That is exactly what the devil was baiting Jesus to do! b. That was the devil speaking through those men that day. "Come down! Come down! Then we will believe in You!" c. And while coming down would have proven that Jesus was God, it would have also foiled mans only hope for redemption! d. Thank God that He did not come down. 4. God could have judged those evil men if He had come down. a. Isnt that what God is all about, judging man, the sinner and his sin? b. If so, why didnt God come down that day? There was a whole herd of blasphemers, ungrateful and unholy sinners just below His reach? c. And look what they were doing to Him! (1) Friend, if you ever think that sinners do not deserve hell, just remember the hell that sinners but the holy, Son of God through. (2) Yes, God knew it was going to happen. He wrote it in a Book and planned on it, but it was sinful man who chose to do those wicked and vile things to God. (3) If you stand in the company of the God rejecters, you share in their deeds. (4) If you die lost, you will die worthy of hell. III. God Died. Matt 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. A. Yes, God, the immortal, eternal, all-powerful Creator of all things died. B. But that is impossible. Yes. It was a supernatural event. It was a miracle. 1. But how is that possible? 2. It is possible because God put on flesh. a. Some men like to mock God by asking, "Can God make a rock so big that He cannot pick it up?" b. He has already done that. When? c. The answer is "He did that when He made Himself into man so weak that He could die." C. Dont let the miracle that happened that day slip you by! 1. God died. 2. Not because man took His life but because He gave it. 3. Not just for an ambiguous world but for you. 4. And today, if you would trust Jesus death, you could be saved from your sins. I pray that you will allow Gods miracles to touch you today.