Preaching Christ

By Herald Magazine on July 1, 2024

The Timing of Jesus’ Sacrifice

“Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ” (Romans 10:17, RSV).

— Bill Dutka

Preaching Christ

The timing of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and when the benefit of this sacrifice came to Jewish believers, and later to Gentile believers, seems meaningful.

The holy Spirit came to Jewish disciples at Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:1-16. The disciples “were filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” This allowed visitors — Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, and elsewhere — to hear the disciples speak the gospel in their native languages. “All were amazed … but others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’” Peter replied to this charge, “It is only nine o’clock in the morning” (Acts 2:15, NRSV), and in this response we are informed of the time this experience came at Pentecost.

Later, in Acts 10:1-8, we have an account of the blessing of the holy Spirit to Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. “One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision” (Acts 10:3, NRSV), advising him to call for “Simon who is called Peter” (verse 5), who was then visiting at Joppa.

These two times of day — 9 AM and 3 PM — remind us of the time Jesus was crucified, and the time he died. The Gospel of Mark records both times — 9 AM and 3 PM — while Matthew records only the time of Jesus’ death (Mark 15:25, 34, 37, Matthew 27:46, 50). The Gospel of Mark is shorter than Matthew.

However, when discussing the same event, Mark tends to include some details that Matthew omits. Following are records of Jesus’ crucifixion and death.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Mark 15 (NRSV). (21) “They compelled a passer‑by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. (22) Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). (23) And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it. (24) And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. (25) It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. (26) The inscription of the charge against him read, ‘The King of the Jews.’ (27) And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. (29) Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, (30) save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ (31) In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. (32) Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.”

The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:33-39. “When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. (34) At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (35) When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ (36) And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ (37) Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. (38) And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. (39) Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’” (NRSV)

Matthew 27:46‑50. “And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (47) When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘This man is calling for Elijah.’ (48) At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. (49) But the others said, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.’ (50) Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last” (NRSV).

Once for All

Jesus’ sacrificial death was once and for all, to secure an offset for Adam’s sin. Thus, the man Jesus remained in death, so that the man Adam and all his prodigy now have an opportunity for life. God “Wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (5) For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity — the man Christ Jesus. (6) He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time” (1 Timothy 2:4‑6, New Living Translation).

Adam and Jesus were both perfect human beings, thus of corresponding value in the eyes of justice. By Adam came condemnation; by Jesus came relief from condemnation. “Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; (22) for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, NRSV).

The crucifixion of Jesus at 9 AM, and the death of Jesus at 3 PM, are two parts of one sacrifice. Jesus was put on the cross for the Jewish people at 9 AM. Jesus was placed on the cross in order to redeem Israelites from the curse of the Law — Jesus subsequently died, in order to redeem all mankind from the curse imposed on Adam.

Thus, being placed on the cross at 9 AM was also a fitting time for the Pentecost blessing to come on Jewish believers. Having died at 3 PM was also a fitting time for the blessing to come on Gentile believers, beginning with Cornelius.

Paul speaks about the first part, redemption from the Law, in Galatians 3:10-14. “All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’ (11) Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ (12) But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.’ (13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’ — (14) in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (NRSV).

On the Chart of the Ages, at the end of the Jewish Age, there is a cross on plane “P” to show that Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross was to lift the curse of the law from Israel — and another cross on plane “N” to show that Jesus’ death also secured release for all, from Adam’s penalty of death.

Hung on a Tree

The curse for disobedience under the Law is expressed in Deuteronomy 21:22-23. “When someone is convicted of a crime punishable by death and is executed, and you hang him on a tree, (23) his corpse must not remain all night upon the tree; you shall bury him that same day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (NRSV).

(1) This concept is brought to mind also in the offering of Isaac by Abraham. He “built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood” (Genesis 22:9, NRSV).

(2) In Genesis 40:19, Joseph interpreted the dream of the chief baker, and subsequently of the cupbearer. Respecting the dream of the baker, Joseph said, “Within three more days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree, and the birds will eat your flesh off you” (NASU). This dream is prophetic of Jesus, whose flesh, his human life, was yielded on the cross.

(3) Another example where hanging on a tree is used as a final judgment is in Joshua 10:22-27. Five Canaanite kings were defeated at Makkedah. The kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were subdued, slain, and subsequently hung on five trees until evening.

(4) Peter, an apostle to Jewish believers, mentions that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24, NASU).

Daily Sacrifice, Two Lambs

Numbers 28:3-4 speaks of the daily offering in Israel of two lambs, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. These foreshadowed the offering of Jesus in the morning on the cross, and his death in the afternoon. “This is the offering by fire which you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a continual offering. (4) The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening” (RSV). Two lambs — one in the morning for Israel, another in the evening for Gentiles and all.

Six Hours on the Cross

As Jesus was placed on the cross at 9 AM, and died at 3 PM, this experience consumed six hours of time. Perhaps this is a token of Jesus’ death, atoning for the sins of mankind enduring for 6000 years.

Healing of the Crippled Beggar

This narrative, in Acts 3:1-10, occurred at the ninth hour of the day, that is, at three in the afternoon. “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon” (Acts 3:1, NRSV). There they met a beggar, lame from his birth, requesting alms. Peter replied that silver and gold he had not, but he did have something to give — and he healed the man’s lameness. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk” (verse 6). The lame man perhaps represents the world of mankind, lame from the outset from Adam’s sin. His healing at 3 pm connects well with Jesus’ death for Adam and mankind, at 3 PM.