"Truly This Was The Son of God!" Matthew 27:54

Good Friday                                                                                     15-April-2022
Theme: “Christ’s Passion: Revealing the Thoughts Of Many Hearts!”
Sermon Text: Matthew 27:54

I.N.R.I. In Jesus’ day the Jews dreamt of a Messiah marching triumphantly in to Jerusalem, freeing them from Roman rule, and triumphing over all their enemies. They didn’t want a Messiah who would deliver them from their sin. They were certain that they didn’t need such rescue. After all, they were blood descendants of Abraham chosen by the Lord and entrusted with His Word. Moses had given them the Law. They kept it zealously since the days they had returned from captivity in Babylon. They safeguarded God’s Law received through Moses with 613 additional commandments. No one could out righteous them - they didn’t need a Savior from sin - they only needed political freedom and the world would be theirs.
      Satan whispered the same lie to Jesus. Baptized as the Scapegoat for all sinners, Jesus was led by the Spirit, bearing the burden of our sins, into the wilderness to battle the old evil foe. Satan, the accuser, laid his trump card on the table showing Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and their glory, then promising, Matthew 4:9 ..., "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Jesus will not forsake the calling of the cross. Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.' "
    What kind of Messiah are you looking for tonight? One who’d cancel your taxes? Destroy your enemies? Empower you? Make you rich and give you all your heart desires? Beware! Satan still whispers his Lie. He calls you away from the cross to a flesh appealing theology of glory. Where Jesus calls, Matthew 16:24-26..., "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (25) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (26) For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Satan lies, “Whatever makes you feel good do it! God helps those who help themselves! Jesus wants you to live your best life now! Name it and claim it! Grace is cheap! Sin as much as you desire - God will forgive you anyway! Trust your inner light - you don’t need His Word!” Satan’s lie - the theology of glory leads away from Christ Jesus and His Cross - ultimately to delusion, despair, defeat, death, and damnation.
    Repent of looking for a false Messiah! Fix your eyes upon Jesus - the Author and Finisher of your faith. For the joy of rescuing you - body and soul from sin, death, and the devil - He endured the cross - despised its shame. Now He rules enthroned as the Messiah of sinners as True Man and True God!
    The final heart revealed at the foot of the cross is that of the Roman Centurion. Hear him confess: “Truly this was the Son of God!”
    The Messianic King begins His triumphant march from the cross. He alone has the power to lay down His life in place of our own. History records, Matthew 27:50-53 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (51) Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, (52) and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; (53) and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” The battle hardened centurion had seen many a man die in battle. This Jesus, whom he had been mocking with the others, doesn’t die defeated! He shouts in triumph! Then all heaven breaks lose upon the earth. The veil of the Temple is torn from top to bottom - the Lord marches triumphantly forth to reclaim the world as His own. The earth quakes - rocks are split -it mourns the death of its Creator. The earth skips for joy for that which Satan stole by sin is liberated reclaimed by its Creator. Satan who held all captive by the fear of death and the grave loses his stronghold. Graves are broken, death is robbed - many of those died trusting in the Messiah from sin - are raised to life. They will testify to the fact that Jesus is the Only Messiah over death.
    The Messianic King now begins conquering Rome and all earthly governments who set themselves in place of God! Matthew 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Roman Caesars claimed to be “sons of god”, but they were mere sinful men. They demanded men worship and sacrifice to them as gods, but it was self-delusion. This centurion confesses that Jesus is one greater than caesar. Of a truth - Jesus was the Son of God and it fills them with fear for they killed Him. Dying Jesus breathes out His life giving Holy Spirit from the cross - and this Roman centurion opens his lips and sounds forth His praise.  
      The Roman governor Pontus Pilate proclaimed Jesus innocent and without fault. Now this Roman centurion certifies that Jesus is exactly Whom He said He was - God’s Son. Three years earlier the Roman centurion at Capernaum begged Jesus to heal his ill servant. Jesus agreed to come, Matthew 8:8-11 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. (9) For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (10) When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! (11) And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” The centurion trusted in Jesus and the power of His spoken Word. His faith made Jesus marvel - that God the Holy Spirit had called and given such a strong faith to this Gentile - while many Jews would not listen.
    From the hour this centurion took Jesus under his charge to crucify Him - he heard the words our Lord spoke. There weren’t many, but the Messiah’s Word is living and active. He saw the sentence that brought Him death - “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.” He heard Jesus pray the Father to forgive him. His promise of paradise to the dying thief who asked the King to remember him. Entrusting the care of His grieving mother to one of His followers. He stood his post as the world went into black darkness from noon to three. He heard Jesus’ prayer of despair, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” He heard Jesus declare with parched lips, ‘I thirst’ Perhaps he himself, filled the sponge with sour wine and put it to the Criminal’s lips. Then the King shouted in victory, “It is Finished!” Crying out with triumphant voice, “Father, into Your Hands I entrust My Spirit.” He saw this man do what no man could do - lay down His life giving up His spirit!
      Christ’s Word works. The centurion at the cross confesses Jesus as the Son of God. He is only mistaken on one point - He says, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” Jesus isn’t the Son of God in the past tense - even in His death. He is the eternal Son of God - begotten of His Father from all eternity. He took our humanity into His divinity to become our Brother - True Man born of the Virgin Mary. His death doesn’t severe the bonds between God and Man. He is the God/Man - the Son of God/ the Son of David - who has power to lay down His life and take it up again!
      His messianic triumph begins at the cross. His heart is opened by the Roman spear and blood and water pour out of His side upon the earth making all things new. The centurion confesses - the Cross of Christ triumphs on that day - it has marched triumphantly through the world to this day. King Jesus draws near to you - under the cross - in His Church with the living water and blood which flowed from His crucified flesh.
    Learn from the centurion to stand at the foot of Christ’s cross confessing:”Truly this is the Son of God! He is my Lord! My Redeemer from all my enemies!” Soon what happened on that Good Friday at His death shall be repeated at His return - the veil between the Creator and His Creator shall be rent. The earth shall quake for joy of being delivered from our sin and recreated in pure righteousness. Our graves shall be opened, our bodies raised, and you and all believers in Christ shall dwell eternally face to face with the Son of God. Amen.