Mixed Group at Golgotha (Luke 23:49a)

Driving home: As one comments, as one commentator has quaintly expressed it, they came to the cross for a show. What they saw at the cross left them with woe.

A commentator's quaint expression is quoted to summarize the experience of the curious onlookers at the cross, highlighting their superficial motivation and the profound, negative impact of what they witnessed.

The text says they came to behold this spectacle. And the very ones who came out of Jerusalem with the same spirit that produces the kind of gawking and cursing, curiosity-seeking, whenever there is a crowd gathered around a glory scene, those very people, Luke tells us, went back in groups over a period of time, returning to Jerusalem, smiting their breasts. They left shaken, disturbed, gripped with fear, concern, and self-loathing at the sight of the things that were done. As one comments, as one commentator has quaintly expressed it, they came to the cross for a show. What they saw at the c...

8:22 - 9:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the two highlighted activities of these lingerers: 'standing afar off' (due to modesty, indignity, and confusion) and 'beholding' (looking with interest, care, and…

Martin uses the analogy of staring at the sky versus scrutinizing the stars to illustrate the difference between a casual glance and looking with interest, care, and consideration, emphasizing the depth of the women's 'beholding' at the cross.

Sometimes preachers of the word in their desire to be true to every word which is God breathed stretch the differences between synonyms, but there's a present danger in our day and it's the danger of overreaction as though the distinctive words used in given settings have really no significance. Well, let me illustrate how foolish this is. If I say of a certain man he went out on a beautifully clear night and he stared up into the sky, is that any different from saying he scrutinized the stars? A man who's simply staring into the sky can have a blank look and have his mind on going fishing tom...

30:26 - 31:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that true followers of Jesus are often unknown until a crisis of loyalty is sovereignly precipitated, revealing the true state of the heart.

He describes a young person raised in a Christian home whose true devotion is unknown until a crisis (like Christ being 'crucified' before them) precipitates a clear declaration of loyalty.

The principle that the true followers of Jesus are often unknown and unseen until a crisis of loyalty is sovereignly precipitated and then the true state of the heart is revealed. You say, how does that work out, Pastor? Well, let me give you two or three illustrations. Here's the young person reared in a Christian home.

42:03 - 42:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that true followers of Jesus are often unknown until a crisis of loyalty is sovereignly precipitated, revealing the true state of the heart.

An example of a biology teacher mocking special creation is used to illustrate how a sovereignly precipitated crisis can unveil a young woman's true, bold devotion to Christ.

And you know what happens? Suddenly they are prepared to be marked out as followers of the Lamb. The suave, smooth, slick, charismatic personality teacher stands up in a biology classroom and starts taunting and mocking the idea of special creation by divine fiat. God sings and it is done.

43:26 - 43:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Be prepared to be marked out as followers of the Lamb when God sovereignly precipitates a crisis.

A young man's response to a sexual proposition in a schoolyard illustrates how a divinely precipitated crisis of temptation can reveal his deep, Christ-centered identity and loyalty.

He sort of blends in with the crowd. He's come to Trinity Church. Maybe he's gone to Trinity Christian School, or Parsippany Christian, or Brookdale Eastern Christian. Not living a wild life.

45:19 - 45:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin highlights that true followers are often women who manifest devotion and loyalty beyond natural expectation, citing their aversion to brutality yet steadfast presence at…

Martin shares a personal anecdote about his wife's aversion to him wrestling with their son, contrasting it with men's enjoyment of 'controlled violence' like prize fights, to illustrate a general difference in how men and women react to brutality.

I say this incident teaches us a vital lesson concerning the true followers of Jesus. The first is that the true followers of Jesus are often unknown and unseen until a crisis of loyalty is sovereignly precipitated. But there's a second lesson under this heading and it's this, that the true followers of Jesus are often women who manifest a devotion and loyalty beyond what we would naturally expect. The true followers of Jesus are often women who manifest a devotion and loyalty beyond what we would naturally expect. God has so made women that they are more averse to brutality, cruelty, and even...

47:24 - 48:50 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We might well have supported that when all the disciples but one had forsaken our Lord and fled, the weaker and more timid sex would not have dared to show themselves the friends of Christ. It only shows us what grace ca…

He discusses the observation among preachers that there are more converted wives with unconverted husbands than vice versa, and more female followers of Christ, wondering if this incident at Golgotha underscores this ongoing pattern.

One of the greatest griefs to me, and I've talked about it with many other preachers. I've tried to analyze it. I've discussed it with others. Why do you have more situations where you have a converted wife with a converted husband than vice versa?

52:26 - 52:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We might well have supported that when all the disciples but one had forsaken our Lord and fled, the weaker and more timid sex would not have dared to show themselves the friends of Christ. It only shows us what grace ca…

Martin quotes Bishop Ryle extensively on the honorable mention of women in the New Testament, their unexpected loyalty at the cross, and their significant, non-public role in the church, reinforcing the point about women's devotion.

That the true followers of Jesus are often women who manifest a devotion and loyalty beyond our natural expectation. Listen to Bishop Ryle. After I had already decided to amplify this point, I said, let me turn to Ryle. Surely if it's valid, he would have caught it.

53:38 - 53:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine if your devotion to Christ is dependent on any form of service you render; if so, it is suspect. Be content to simply 'look' when providence locks up other avenues of service.

The example of Paul's contentment in a Roman prison, despite his active service coming to a halt, illustrates that true devotion to Christ is not dependent on outward service but on submission to God's sovereign will.

And if your devotion to Christ is dependent on any form of service you render to Christ, it is suspect. Want me to give that to you again? If your devotion to Christ is suspect, it is prepared to submit to the sovereign will of Christ no matter how you will express it. I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. You see, if Paul's devotion to Christ expressed by going on and see as a mighty general in the army of Christ conquering one Roman city after another in the name of Christ, and his gospel, if that devotion to Christ were not real, what would he have done when all t...

63:22 - 64:47 Read in full sermon