"He Saved Others; He Cannot Save Himself!" The Chief Priests Kick Jesus When He's Down / Sermon / Pr. Ted Giese / Season Of Lent / Wednesday March 21st 2018 - / Matthew 27:33-44
Each evening in this year’s Lutheran Church Canada WASCANA Circuit Lenten exchange of midweek Services will be focused on people like the High Priest Caiaphas. From unfriendly crowds seeking Jesus’ death, to the Sanhedrin, to Pilate’s Soldiers, to men like Judas Iscariot, the Centurion at the cross, the chief priests and even Pilate’s wife: They all say things that surprisingly hit the nail on the head. The often unwittingly or unintentionally tell the truth of things in a direct and revealing manner. In our Lenten and Holy Week Services we’ll dig into all of these and think about what their words mean to us, to the world, to all people.
Tonight’s Sermon is centred on the words of the chief priests who were kicking Jesus with their words while He was down, calling out at the cross as He died, “He saved others; he cannot save himself” by Pastor Ted Giese from Mount Olive Lutheran Church Regina.
Matthew 27:33–44
And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered [Jesus] wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when He tasted it, He would not drink it. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over Him there. And over His head they put the charge against Him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with Him also reviled Him in the same way.