基督被釘十架
馬太福音二十七章32至50節
32他們出來的時候，遇見一個古利奈人，名叫西門，就勉強他同去，好背著耶穌的十字架。
33到了一個地方名叫各各他，意思就是髑髏地。
34兵丁拿苦膽調和的酒給耶穌喝。他嘗了，就不肯喝。
35他們既將他釘在十字架上，就拈鬮分他的衣服，
36又坐在那裡看守他。
37在他頭以上安一個牌子，寫著他的罪狀說：“這是猶太人的王耶穌。”
38當時，有兩個強盜和他同釘十字架，一個在右邊，一個在左邊。
39從那裡經過的人譏誚他，搖著頭，說：
40“你這拆毀聖殿，三日又建造起來的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的兒子，就從十字架上下來吧！”
41祭司長和文士並長老也是這樣戲弄他，說：
42“他救了別人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，現在可以從十字架上下來，我們就信他。
43他倚靠神，神若喜悅他，現在可以救他，因為他曾說：‘我是神的兒子。’”
44那和他同釘的強盜也是這樣地譏誚他。
45從午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。
46約在申初，耶穌大聲喊著說：“以利！以利！拉馬撒巴各大尼？”就是說：“我的神！我的神！為甚麼離棄我？”
47站在那裡的人，有的聽見就說：“這個人呼叫以利亞呢！”
48內中有一個人趕緊跑去，拿海絨蘸滿了醋綁在葦子上，送給他喝。
49其餘的人說：“且等著，看以利亞來救他不來。”
50耶穌又大聲喊叫，氣就斷了。
信息分享
基督被掛在十架上六小時：三小時在日光之下，三小時在黑暗之中。開始的三個小時發生了很多事，基督說了三句話，每句話都顯出祂的偉大和愛。祂求神赦免釘祂的人；祂將救恩賜給一名被釘的強盜；對祂母親和約翰表達關愛。那期間，兵丁拈鬮分祂的衣服，祭司長等人譏誚祂，在旁的婦女一直在哭泣。
釘十架的刑罰不會令人很快死去，犯人可能要在極大的痛苦和無法忍受的乾渴之下，歷盡幾天的煎熬才死去。然而，那一天，就在正午時分，天色突然變得昏暗，一直持續了三個鐘頭。在那段期間，基督再次開口說話，一共四次，其中一句最悽慘的話是：「我的神，你在哪裡？為甚麼離棄我？」我們當然知道神為何轉臉不看祂，因為基督已背負了我們所有人的罪，神不願看見戴罪的祂。
後來，基督說了一句意味深長的話，對我們意義重大。祂說：「成了。」換言之，從創世以來的整個救恩計劃已經完成了；神交給祂的工作，祂已經完成了；父要祂喝的苦杯，祂已經喝了；如今既已大功告成，祂可以回到父那裡去了。因此，到了這一刻，祂終於可以說：「父啊，我將靈魂交在你的手中。」
祂憑著簡單且全然的信心，放棄自己的生命，因為祂相信父神當然不會容讓祂留在死地，卻要使祂從死裡復活。我們當然知道故事在接著的星期日如何發展。感謝神，祂的大愛成就了整個救恩計劃。
THE DAY CHRIST DIED
Matthew 27:32-50
32 Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.
33 And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull,
34 they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.
35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:
“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”
36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.
37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:
38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.
39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads
40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said,
42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is 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 Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.
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?”
47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”
48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Message
Christ was six hours on the cross, three in sunlight and three in darkness. The first three were busy hours. He spoke three times, each time revealing His greatness and His love. He spoke words of forgiveness to His executioners. He spoke salvation to the thief and love to His mother and John. In those hours the soldiers played dice, while the priests scoffed at Him. Women nearby were weeping.
Crucifixion did not bring about a quick death. It was possible for men to last several days in terrible agony and unbearable thirst. On this day the scene was suddenly blotted out right at noon and darkness lasted three hours. During this time Christ spoke again, this time on four occasions: One statement contains the most tragic words ever heard, “My God, where are you? Why have you left me?” We know the answer of course because God had turned His back - He was laying on Him the sin of us all and God could not look on sin.
Then later He said those grand words which mean so much to us, “It is finished.” What did He mean? The whole plan of salvation worked out in eternity was completed. The work God gave Him to do was done. The cup the Father gave Him to drink had been drunk. He could go home to the Father with everything finalised. Then and only then, could He say, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
He literally gave up His own life in simple yet wonderful faith that the Father would not leave Him in the place of death but would bring Him back to life again. We know the rest of the story - then came Sunday!
Thank God for the love which drew salvation’s plan.