1. At The Cross…
Matthew 27:11-26

2. Joseph of Arimathea
At the cross, Joseph represented the person who has been more concerned about what man thinks of them than God thinks of them.
“…a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one…” (John 19:38)

3. Joseph of Arimathea Who was Joseph of Arimathea?
A prominent member of the Council. Mark 15:43
“Waiting for the kingdom of God”.
A problem with courage?
A rich man. Matt. 27:57
A good and righteous man. Luke 23:50
“For fear of the Jews” – John 19:38
Mentioned along side Nicodemus – John 19:39
Mentioned along side Nicodemus – John 19:39
He originally came to Jesus by night. John 3:1
Certainly not a full defense of Jesus in John 7:50 – he is rather cautious in his defense of the Savior.
Last mentioned after Christ’s death bringing expensive spices for Jesus embalming.

4. Joseph of Arimathea Are we ashamed of who we claim to be? Luke 9:26
Secret disciples because we’re more concerned about our standing in society? John 12:42-43
There is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Luke 14:25ff
Will we confess our faith before the world? Luke 12:8-9
Do we have the boldness and confidence that is necessary? Phil. 1:19-20
Luke 9:26, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”
Luke 14:25-29, “Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?”
Luke 12:8-10, “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God; 9 but he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.”
Phil 1:19-20, “For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

5. Judas
At the cross, Judas represents all whose focus in life is on the material things.
“…they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity…” (Matt. 26:15)

6. Judas Judas had a love of money, John 12:4-6
Was Jesus simply an opportunity to make more money? Matt. 26:14-16
It’s not that Judas didn’t have a conscience… Matt. 27:3-4
He knew Jesus was an innocent man.
John 12:4-6, “But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, 5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii, and given to poor people?" 6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.”
Matt 26:14-16, “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me to deliver Him up to you?" And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from then on he began looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.”
Matt 27:3-4, “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!“”

7. Judas Did things not turn out the way he had planned?
Love of money will cost us more than we think!
What happened to that silver that was so important to him?
It’s the same lesson Solomon figured out in Ecclesiastes – you can’t buy, acquire or obtain enough to make yourself satisfied. Eccles. 2:10-11
We are warned about a love of money or a love of this world’s goods – have we heeded? John 2:15; 1 Tim. 6:6-10
Eccl 2:10-11, “And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.”
1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
1 Tim 6:6-10, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.”

8. Thief #1
At the cross, he represents all those whose sole focus in life is on God’s kingdom.
“…Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”

9. Thief #1 What was his knowledge of “the kingdom”?
Perhaps he knew about the OT prophecies about it’s coming (Daniel 2:44) and perhaps he knew that Jesus was the one who Daniel said would receive “dominion, glory and a kingdom” that is “everlasting” and “which will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
He was seeking the kingdom - Will we “seek first” the kingdom – Matt. 6:33
Dan 2:44, “"And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.”
Dan 7:13-14, “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. "And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him.His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.”

10. Thief #1
Are we as concerned as he was about entering the kingdom of heaven?
That it takes more than being religious? Matt. 7:21; cf., Matt. 5:20
Will it continue to be our focus? 2 Pet. 1:10-11
Will we be devoted to the kingdom/church as the pillar and support of the truth? 1 Tim. 3:15
Will we be vigilant against efforts to burden our Lord’s church with tasks other than what we have authority for in the scriptures? 1 Tim. 5:16 “…let not the church be burdened…”
2 Peter 1:10-11, “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”

11. Thief #2
At the cross, this thief represented a soul with a hardened heart that would not see the truth.
“…one of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, ‘Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!’”
Luke 23:39

12. Thief #2 Just as Pharaoh hardened his heart. 1 Sam. 6:6
Hardened by the deceitfulness of sin? Acts 19:9; Heb. 3:13
Similar to the tem “stiff necked” – Jer. 7:25-26; 19:15
Represented by the hard soil along the road that never receives the seed, God’s word Matt. 13:19
Even the Philistines knew how Pharaoh had hardened his heart!. 1 Sam 6:6-7, “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow the people to go, and they departed?”
Acts 19:8-9, “And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus”
Heb 3:12-13 “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Jer 7:25-26, “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them. 26 "Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did evil more than their fathers.”
Matt 13:19, “"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.”

13. Thief #2 A case of fallow ground. Jer. 4:3; Hos. 10:12
Fallowed – uncultivated, inactive, overgrown and hardened by neglect - left unseeded.
“Land allowed to lie fallow…soon became overgrown with thorns and weeds. The cultivator of the soil was careful to ‘break up’ his fallow ground, i.e., to clear the field of weeds, before sowing seed in it… Hosea 10:12”
One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Phil. 2:9-11
Jeremiah 4:3, “For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,"Break up your fallow ground,And do not sow among thorns.”
Hosea 10:12, “Sow with a view to righteousness, Reap in accordance with kindness; Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.”
“It is land that could be productive, but for whatever reason has not been broken up, tilled, plowed, and prepared for planting. The prophets …are commanding the people to beak up that land – spiritually! To plow the plowable that they have.”

14. The 3 Mary’s
Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Clopas (His mother’s sister) and Mary Magdalene.
At the cross, they represented loyalty and dedication to the Messiah.
“…standing by the cross of Jesus …”
John 19:25-27; Matt. 27:55-56
John 19:25-27, “Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”
Matt 27:55-56, “And many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, 56 among whom was Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.”

15. The 3 Mary’s What God wants is our loyalty. Hosea 6:6
Prov 20:6, “Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?”
Recognized the new relationships that Jesus brought them into (“from that hour the disciple brought her into his own household”, John 19:25-27).
A trustworthy witness. John 20:11-18
Be thou faithful until death. Rev. 2:10.
Hosea 6:6; “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Many a man proclaimed their loyalty to Jesus, but it was the 3 Mary’s that remained loyal to the end.
John 19:25-27, “Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.”
John 20:11-18, “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." 14 When she had said this, she turned around, and beheld Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" 18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.”

16. Pilate
At the cross, Pilate represented the man who knows what’s right but doesn’t have the courage to follow through with his convictions…
“…that you may know that I find no guilt in Him…Pilate made efforts to release Him…so he then delivered Him to them to be crucified…”
John 19:4, 12, 16

17. Pilate
Pilate was scared (John 19:8) but not convicted enough to do the right thing. Just like Felix in Acts 24:25
We have to overcome the spirit of timidity and pray for a heart of power, love and discipline Tim. 1:7

18. Peter
At the cross, Peter represents the man who desires to follow courageously but whose faith fails him at a key moment – ashamed but then emboldened to preach the gospel for the rest of his life.
Luke 22:60-61, “… ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’…a cock crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.”

19. Peter
Challenged by Satan (Luke 22:31-33) “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
His fail did fail,
But he also did “turn again” -

20. 3000 Souls
Undoubtedly were some of those who shouted, “crucify Him! Crucify Him!”.
50 Days later, Peter convicts them of their sin. Acts. 2:22ff.
Convicted, they simply ask, “what shall we do?” – about?

21. Who represents you at the cross?
A heart hardened by sin?
A loyal and faithful servant?
A secret disciple?
Someone in love with the things of the world?
Someone who knows what’s right but lacks the courage to do it?
A humble heart seeking God’s kingdom?
A heart convicted of sin?
A failed faith that turns again?