Now, let’s continue on, right here where we left off for the break:

Verse 9: "And he made his grave with the wicked, … [Now notice how difficult this would be for any human being, including Christ. Now notice:] … because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

He didn’t raise His voice as far as having a political following. There was no violence in His hands. There was no deceit, and yet, He carried within Him that human nature which could be deceitful. Yet He never sinned. So this was quite a thing that Jesus did. Think on how much God loves you to do this for you. And remember, He did this before you were ever born. That’s quite a thing to always remember. And furthermore, He’s reached down and called you so that He could apply this very tremendous sacrifice which He gave to you, and to all of those whom He calls—so that you can become His; so that you can receive eternal life.

So, that’s why everything hinges on the Passover.

Now let’s continue on, verse 10: "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him…" Isn’t that something? God the Father, even as horrible as it was, was pleased that this took place, not all the violence that was involved, but the end result of it. And that he had to, had to be bruised. He had to be stricken in order to pay for the sins of all mankind.

Now remember, one sacrifice for all sin, for ever!

Let’s continue" "… he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, [Isn’t that something?] … he shall see his seed… [Now, we read of that back in Hebrews the second chapter, didn’t we? He’s not ashamed to ‘call us brethren.’ And we are the seed of God the Father and Jesus Christ.] … he shall prolong his days… [that is, through the resurrection] … and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand" (v 10). That is all the plan of God brought to fruition.

"He shall see of the travail of his soul… [now, we’ll look at this in just a little bit] … and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many… [all the teachings contained in the Bible. And ‘justification’ means forgiveness of sin and put in right standing with God. That’s amazing, isn’t it?] … for he shall bear their iniquities" (v 11).

That’s why, brethren, we take everything to Christ in prayer. We take everything to Him. We need to have Him to forgive us, strengthen us, love us, comfort us; and realize that He has done this for us. And if He has done this for us, then we can also bear whatever we need to go through. Because with Christ in us, He is giving us that strength to be able to do so. He did! So we can.

Verse 12 "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; [and that’s us] because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Now, we’re going to see that He made one intercession for all time. We’ll see that in the seven sayings of Jesus while He was on the cross.

Now, let’s come over here to chapter 52 of Isaiah, since we’re right here in 53—just come across the page.

Isaiah 52:13, KJV: "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high." That is, be very high. That is after the resurrection. But, also this:

Verse 14: Now, here is how you have the blending of things in the Old Testament. Here we have: "…deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high." That is after the resurrection. Then it comes down to, back to the crucifixion:

Verse 14: "As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men." Now, you need to realize, what Jesus went through. He virtually had flesh hanging on His body. Ripped and torn by the scourging of the cat-o-nine tails. And that scourging was near unto death.

Now notice the result that’s going to happen with it: "So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him… [sooner or later that’s going to happen.] … for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider" (v 15).

Now let’s look at one more. Come over here to Isaiah 50. Isaiah 50:5, and let’s see a prophecy of how Jesus prophesied what He was going to go through. Now remember, Jesus inspired all these prophecies of the things that would come upon Himself. And He knew what would happen, how it would happen, and all of those things. Fantastic!

Verse 5: "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back" (Isa. 50:5, KJV).

He always did the will of God. He said, "Of My ownself I can do nothing, but I do the will of the Father, Who sent Me."

"I gave my back to the smiters [that is, the scourgers], and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair… [So, they just ripped the hair right off His beard—because Jesus did have a beard.] … I hid not my face from shame and spitting" (v 6). And they beat Him and they clubbed Him, and they put the robe of purple on Him and they put the crown of thorns upon Him. And then Pilot said: "Behold the man!"

Now therefore—verse 7: "For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded… [He’s going to be confounded or turn back of any of this] … therefore have I set my face like a flint…" That’s what it said there of Jesus: set His face to go to Jerusalem because He knew He was going to Jerusalem and He told the disciples that He was going to be betrayed and be turned over to the, to the religious leaders and the political leaders and that they would, they would kill Him—but He would rise the third day. So He set His face as "a flint."

"… and I know that I shall not be ashamed" (v 7) Isn’t that something? Quite a prophecy, isn’t it?

Now, let’s look at another prophecy that’s very important for us to grasp and to understand. And, let’s come back here to Psalm 22, Psalm 22. And I’ve often wondered when I read this before, and I still do and I’m absolutely amazed in it, what David must have thought when he wrote these words, because God inspired him to write these words.

Now, remember also that Jesus was also called "the son of David." So isn’t it interesting that David was given these Psalms. Everyone of these Psalms that have to do with the crucifixion of Christ came through David.

Now, let’s pick it up here in verse one, Psalm 22. Now, what we’re going to see is that many of the words that Jesus spoke, while He was on the cross, we find recorded here. All the events that we find in the Gospels about the account of all the events leading up to His arrest, and His arrest and all the events subsequent to His trials and scourging and subsequent mocking and beating and ending up in the crucifixion, were all prophesied. Every one of them. Here one of them right here, beginning in verse one.

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" (Psalm 22:1, KJV).

Isn’t that something? That he was, was just at that time, when darkness covered the earth from the, from the, what was that, to the, from noon to three in the afternoon, when darkness covered the earth—and it wasn’t an eclipse because you can’t have an eclipse of the sun when the moon is full. It’s an absolute impossibility because it’s on the other side. It was darkness and God had to leave Him so that He, by Himself, on that cross dying, would bear the sins of all mankind so that we could have our sins purged.

Amazing, isn’t it?

Now, he says—let’s come down here, let’s come down here to verse 6: "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him."

Now, what did Jesus think when He heard that. Looked down and saw the priest, and saw the Roman soldiers, and saw the people out there all jeering at Him. And then the thief on the one side, the thief on the other side, one of them says, "Yes, save us, save yourself and save us." Here what He thought of them:

Verse 9: "But thou art he that took me out of the womb… [goes right back to when He was born as a human being.] …thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother’s belly" (vs 9-10).

Saying, "God you’ve always been with Me forever. You have been with Me through this whole thing from the time I was born right up to this very minute, so you are not going to leave Me. You are not going to forsake Me."

"Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help" (v 11). No one is going to help Him but God—and that’s only going to come with the resurrection. While He’s on the cross there is none to help. None to relieve. None to comfort.

"Many bulls have compassed me… [ Now, these are just like the soldiers out there, and also can have a reference to, reference to the demons, because, you see, when Christ was there on the cross, I’m sure that Satan was there and the demons were there and they were circling, going around and around and around, laughing and scorning what Jesus was going through.] …strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion" (vs 12-13).

And so, there He is suffering, bleeding, dying, weak, thirsty, and then He looks down, He talks about how He felt. And as He was expiring His very last:

"I am poured out like water… [just all the energy and life coming out of Him, just pouring out water] … and all my bones are out of joint: [pain in every bone] my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels…. [He could just feel the life coming out of Him. And this is, this is probably when the soldier thrust the sword into His side and pierced His heart indeed.] … My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death" (vs 14-15).

He knew what it was and He knew what it was going to be. This is tremendous, brethren, what Jesus Christ has done. That’s why it’s such a travesty that the world take the verse, John 3:16, and treats it so lightly and does not comprehend the great magnitude of what God has done. And they do not even realize that this was done on the Passover in the middle of the week. Amazing, isn’t it?

He continues now: "For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet" (v 16).

That’s exactly what they did. Didn’t He tell, didn’t He tell Thomas, "Here, put your hand in My hand, and put your hand in My side." And that’s where the spear went in. It probably came in from the right side and pierced right into His heart.

Now, He’s looking down at His body and it says here: "I may tell [or that is, count] all my bones… [as His head was down and He probably had to lift it up to get any breath and there are His ribs, flesh torn right off.] … Tell all my bones they look and stare upon me" (vs 16-17).

They just gape, they just gawk—and when something that evil takes place and something that bad happens, that’s what people do. They just gawk—they don’t know what to do. They don’t know what to say. They don’t know how to handle it because the pall of death is right there.

"They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture" (v 18). There the soldiers were, down there. And God made those soldiers do it. To cast the lot. Then decide, "Well, this expensive garment, don’t, don’t cut that, we’ll just, well just cast lots for it."

So then He says, verse 19: "But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy name unto my brethren… [Now, He’s looking toward then the resurrection, when He would do this.] … in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee…. [Now, notice what He says here:] … Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel" (vs 19-23).

So, that’s something! That’s what Jesus went through. That’s what He experienced.

Now, let’s come back here to Luke, the twenty-second chapter, and let’s see that Jesus knowing all of these prophecies. Now, let’s come to Luke, the twenty-second chapter. And now you will understand when Jesus prayed, why it’s recorded what He did and how He reacted.

And this is important for us to, to understand that Jesus knew every one of these things that was going to take place. He knew everything that was going to happen. He knew how it was going to come down. Let’s pick it up here, Luke 22, and let’s pick it up here in verse, verse 39, verse 39. Now, this is after they had the Passover.

"Then He left the house and went, as He was accustomed, to the Mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. And when He arrived at the place, [this special place on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane] … He said to them, ‘Pray that you do not enter into temptation.’ And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw; and falling to His knees, He prayed, Saying, ‘Father, if You are willing to take away this cup from Me—; [it’s not even a completed sentence here—then He says:] … nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done’" (Luke 22:39-42, FV).

So here was one of the last things that was of the pull of the flesh, that Jesus had to confront just before He was arrested. To make sure He would do the will of the Father. And He said, "…nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done."

"Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly…. [And He was probably going over all of these prophecies that He Himself had prophesied and given the David and given to Isaiah and given to the other prophets—knowing that everything He prophesied about this night, about His sacrifice, would come to pass. So being in agony, and more earnestly.] … And His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (vs 43-44).

So this was a, a tremendous, just absolutely—how could we say it—just saturating His whole being. The whole anticipation of the experience of the coming crucifixion. And after that—see, God gave Him the strength. God was with Him. Though He was going to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He still did not fear. And He had His mind set. And He knew what this was all about. And He knew what He was going to do. And He knew what was going to happen to them—because He prophesied all of it.

Now, how did Jesus have this mindset? And how was He able to do it?

Let’s come back here to Hebrews 12, because this is important for us to understand. Hebrews, the twelfth chapter, about how Jesus had this mindset. It tells us what we are to do, because, brethren, we have been living in a time of great ease, of great luxury, of great opportunity. And we are going to be facing some very desperate and trying times in the future. And so, we need to have the same attitude that Jesus had. We need to, as the prophecy said, "set His mind like flint." So that we also can endure the things that come. That we also can be focused on, on what Jesus did.

Now let’s see it right here: Hebrews 12:1, FV: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great throng of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entraps us; and let us run the race set before us with endurance, Having our minds fixed on Jesus, the Beginner and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy… [that’s why He was able to get up from this prayer and walk out with the disciples knowing that Judas and the band was on the way] … that lay ahead of Him endured the cross, although He despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (vs 1-2).

Now, let’s come back to 1 Peter, 1 Peter, the second chapter—and let’s see what Peter wrote concerning the crucifixion and how Jesus reacted to it. Quite a thing when you understand it! Quite a thing! Listen, understand this: there is no problem, there is no difficulty, there is no temptation, there is no sin, there is no depression, there is nothing that God cannot help you with—understand that! There is nothing you cannot take and lay before the feet of Jesus Christ, because He has gone through it to take it for us, so that we, we can have peace with God! So that we can be in the Kingdom of God! That’s what He had His mind set on. And that’s what we need to do also.

Now, 1 Peter 2:21, FV: "For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His footsteps. Who committed no sin; neither was guile found in His mouth; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously… [That’s what we need to do with our life. That’s what the whole Feast of Unleavened Bread, as we’re going see, is all about. That’s what taking the Passover is all about.] … Who Himself bore our sins within His own body on the tree, so that we… [He did it for us! He did it for you! He did it for me! He did it for all of those He has called!] … being dead to sins, may live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes you are healed. [Now that’s something!] For you were as sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls" (vs 21-25).

That’s the reason for it.

Now, let’s go back and see some of the things that Jesus said while He was on the cross, knowing that this was the mindset that He had before He was arrested and then led away and subsequently crucified. Let’s begin by coming here to Luke 23. Ok, let’s come to Luke 23, and let’s pick it up here in verse 39.

"Then one of the malefactors who was hanging there [one of the other crosses] railed at Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ And the other one answered and rebuked him, saying, ‘Do not even you fear God, you who are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving due payment for what we did; but this man did nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, [so this is the first saying:] ‘Truly, I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise’" (Luke 23:39-43, FV).

"I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise."

Now, that couldn’t mean that, that the thief’s soul went to paradise that day, because that would have gone there before Jesus died. So, you know, there’s no such thing as an immortal soul—so we won’t get into that. But he said, "I’m telling you today, you shall be with Me in paradise." So that’s the first saying that Jesus said while He was hanging there on the cross.

Now, notice what He was thinking of. He was thinking of His mother. Now, let’s come here to John 19:25, FV: "And Jesus’ mother stood by the cross, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son’" (vs 25-26).

Now, He was letting her know that the Apostle John would take care of her. So that’s the second saying that Jesus said. There were seven sayings altogether. Notice what was on His mind: serving and helping others.

"Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother.’ And from that time, the disciple took here into his own home" (v 27).

Now, let’s come here to Matthew 27, Matthew 27. Here’s the third saying, which was taken right from the prophecy of Psalm 22. Third saying: Matthew 27, Matthew 27, rather and verse 46: "And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ That is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’" And He had to be forsaken so that He Himself could purge our sins by Himself.

And so, then we have the next one over here in John 19—so this is number five _{[transcriber’s note: #4]}, John 19:28—this is getting right down to the, right before He died.

"After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had now been finished, so that the scripture might be fulfilled… [So He was aware of the fulfilling of the scriptures all the time He was going through this whole ordeal. And He had His mind on the goal, the Kingdom of God and bringing all the brethren into it. He had His mind on the goal of what He and God the Father were doing. The very purpose of the plan of God the Father and Jesus Christ.] … so that the scripture might be fulfilled said, ‘I thirst’" (John 19:28-29, FV).

So then they, they tried giving it to Him and then He didn’t take it.

Now, we come here, down to verse 30: "And so, when Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, ‘It is finished.’"

Now, we know that those things are very, very important to understand. Now, come over here to Luke 23:46, FV: "and after crying out with a loud voice… [And that’s probably right after, right after the spear was thrust into His side.] … Jesus said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ And when He had said these things, [He died] He expired."

So that’s what He had on mind all the time He was going through the crucifixion. He was aware of the Scriptures being fulfilled. He was aware of what was taking place. He knew that He would, He was going to die and that everything as far as being a human being would be just completely, all the strength exhausted out of His system. But He knew that God was going to raise Him. He had His mind on that. He had His mind on the, on the plan of salvation for all mankind.

Now, I’m going to read to you what I have here on page 266-267 in the Harmony. I have this:

"As the chain of agonizing events unfolded—the false accusations and unjust trials, the cruel beatings, humiliating mocking and spitting, brutal scourging and slow death by crucifixion—Jesus Christ remained steadfast in His love and loyalty to God the Father. But the disciples and women who looked upon Jesus’ mutilated and bloodied body did not understand what they were witnessing. They stood afar off, watching His crucifixion in stunned bewilderment and disbelief that this could be happening to Jesus Christ, Whom they believed was the Son of God. How could the promised Savior hang beaten and scourged, nailed to the cross in naked shame, dying before their very eyes? They had hoped that He would save them from the Roman oppression and establish the kingdom of God. Now there would be no salvation, not at that time or ever, so they thought, as they witnessed Jesus drawing His last breath on the cross. They did not realize until after the resurrection that the outpouring of Jesus’ blood was the beginning of the salvation of the world.

"[Jesus] the Son of God had died to atone for the sins of the World! As the God Who had created man, His death paid the penalty for the sins of every human being, opening the way for all mankind to receive the gift of eternal life. This was the beginning of the New Covenant, sealed with the body and the blood of Jesus Christ, which would bring salvation to all the world" (Harmony of the Gospels, by Fred R. Coulter, pp 266-267).

So, when you go keep the Passover, tomorrow night, keep all of this in mind and realize that Jesus was crucified and died to save us from our sin.

(End Sermon)

1. Revelation 3:14

2. Genesis 3:14-15

3. John 3:16

4. Job 3:16

5. Philippians 2:5-8

6. Romans 8:3

7. 2 Corinthians 5:21

8. John 1:29, 36

9. Revelation 13:8

10. Exodus 12:12-13

11. Hebrews 2:9

12. Hebrews 1:3

13. Hebrews 2:10-11

14. Hebrews 10:7-9, 12

15. Hebrews 5:5-9

16. Psalm 69:1-4, 7-10, 12-21

17. Isaiah 53:1-12

18. Isaiah 52:13-15

19. Isaiah 50:5-7

20. Psalm 22:1, 6-23

21. Luke 22:39-44

22. Hebrews 12:1-2

23. I Peter 2:21-25

24. Luke 23:39-43

25. John 19:25-27

26. Matthew 27:46

27. John 19:28-30

28. Luke 23:46

1. Psalm 2

2. Genesis 15

3. Revelation 11:8

4. 1 Timothy 3:16

1. The Christian Passover, by Fred R. Coulter

2. The Day that Jesus the Christ Died, by Fred R. Coulter

3. Taped Hebrew series #27—The Covenant Between God the Father and Jesus Christ, by Fred R. Coulter

4. A Harmony of the Gospels in Modern English, by Fred R. Coulter

5. Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ

[ Back ] [ Home ] [ Up ] [ Next ]