Iron Mike Sharpe vs Savannah Jack

S.D. Jones vs Brickhouse Brown

Armstrong Brothers vs Smokin' Gunns

Eric Embry vs Terry Funk

PG-13 vs Nightmares

Austin Idol vs Rick Rude

Television Title Match: Jason Kincaid (c) vs Jimmy Golden

Great Muta vs Raven

Curt Hennig vs David von Erich

American Heavyweight Title Match: Goldust (c) vs Honky Tonk Man

How will a conscience know when a work was done by the inclination of this habit of love so that it is possible to conclude that the work merits grace in a wholly deserving way? This very distinction has been created to dodge the Scriptures. (Ap V 200)

''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 (Matthew 27:41-44).''

Jesus was reviled by all when He was on the cross. He is reviled by all when we sin against Him. Does Jesus deserve it? No. But He gives forgiveness to those who repent of their reviling.

You don't wish to revile Jesus. But He stands waiting for you to repent so that He can forgive you. Forgiveness that was also for the chief priests, the scribes and the elders who taunted Him on the cross. Forgiveness for everyone who believes in Him. Amen.

''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" (Matthew 27:39-40).''

The chief priests and elders were filled with haughtiness over Jesus' complete helplessness on the cross. They make fun of Him while using His own words of boasting against Him. Certainly Jesus never boasted. Boasting is sinful. And Jesus never sinned.

But those who derided Him wanted Him to prove He was the Messiah. A demand they had made over and over again throughout His ministry. Over and over again they demanded that Jesus perform some miracle to prove His Messiahship.

But when He proves Himself as the Messiah, they don't see it. They see Him dying on the cross. They don't see sins being forgiven through His death. They see another wannabe Messiah getting His just desserts. They don't see God's salvation being proclaimed to the whole world.

Head wagging has no place in the Christian life. The Christian life is about humility. Not boasting except in Jesus' crucifixion. Not unless it's in His work for your forgiveness. Amen.

''Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left (Matthew 27:38).''

James and John wanted it. But they weren't the ones whom God had appointed. They wanted to sit on Jesus' left and right when He entered His kingdom. Instead of two of His greatest disciples, the people at Jesus' left and right were common criminals. Robbers. Thieves. Not those who we would consider worthy of such a great honor.

But we look at the honor wrong. Just as we look at Jesus entering and ruling His kingdom wrong. Jesus doesn't enter and begin to rule His kingdom after He ascends into Heaven. Jesus enters His kingdom on the Cross. He begins to rule as the nails were driven into His hands.

Positions of honor are not given to those who strive after them. They are given to those who believe they are unworthy of such honor. So we see from the repentant thief (Luke 23:39-43). He felt unworthy of the honor of being crucified next to the Messiah. With one of his last breaths, he confesses his faith and is welcomed into Paradise with Jesus. A robber in this life. A saint waiting for you in the next. That's the great honor we should strive for. Amen.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8)

''And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews" (Matthew 27:37).''

This morning we discuss the most familiar four letters in the Bible: INRI. Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The charge that was nailed over Jesus' head. Why He was crucified. Because He was the King of the Jews.

Although the chief priests piled up bogus charge after bogus charge against Jesus, none of them stuck. Only the charge that God Himself had given against Jesus. He was the King of the Jews. The Messiah. The Suffering Servant. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the charge that sticks to Jesus. The only thing that found basis in fact.

St. John records that Pilate refused to change the charge after it was posted. "What I have written I have written" (19:20-22). It will not change. Jesus of Nazareth is the King of the Jews. But He is also the King of the Gentiles because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who died to provide entrance into His kingdom. Amen.

''And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among them by casting lots (Matthew 27:35).''

Trophies can take many forms. We have the traditional trophies with the brass plate detailing either an accomplishment or simply participation in an event. Trophies can be t-shirts or signed pictures from celebrities.

Trophies for Roman soldiers took darker forms. Pieces of fallen enemies' armor. For soldiers on crucifixion duty, the trophy was the condemned person's clothing. But there had to be a fair way of deciding who got the clothing. After all, they are trophies. Trophies go to the winners. At least they used to.

So the soldiers cast lots--dice--to see who would get each piece of clothing. Winner takes all. But the winners weren't winners. They were eyewitnesses of the greatest event in human history, but they were oblivious to what was really going on. They were too busy chasing trophies.

But the old hymn reminds us, "Go, spread your trophies at [Jesus'] feet and crown Him Lord of all" (LSB #549.5). In comparison to Jesus' death on the cross, our trophies are garbage. To be dumped at the foot of the cross to receive the ultimate trophy. The water of Baptism for the salvation of your soul. To have the trophy of Christ's shed blood for the forgiveness of your sin. This is the trophy we should strive for daily. Amen.

Rounds 5 & 6 of the Illinois Heavyweight Title Deadly Dozen Tournament!

Iron Mike Sharpe vs Savannah Jack

Deadly Dozen Tournament Round 5

Chris Candido vs Ken Wayne

Bobo Brazil vs Chris Adams

Iceman King Parsons vs Steve Corino

Billy Gunn vs Jerry Lawler

Christopher Daniels vs Buzz Sawyer

Steve Austin vs Honky Tonk Man

Television Title Match: Jason Kincaid (c) vs 'Dirty' Dutch Mantell

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE LETHAL LOTTERY TOURNAMENT ROSTER

Deadly Dozen Tournament Round 6

Chris Adams vs Jerry Lawler

Honky Tonk Man vs Bobo Brazil

Iceman King Parsons vs Buzz Sawyer

Billy Gunn vs Chris Candido

Christopher Daniels vs Ken Wayne

Steve Austin vs Steve Corino

''And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it (Matthew 25:33-34).'' 

Golgotha. The Skull. Fitting place for the deciding battle between good and evil to take place. Fitting place for the Son of God to crush the serpent's head.

On this hill outside Jerusalem, the first Gospel promise will be fulfilled. Eve's offspring's heel will be wounded. The serpent's head will be crushed.

In this epic battle, Satan offers Jesus wine to numb the pain of the crucifixion. But Jesus refused to drink it. There would be no numbing of man's salvation. Jesus would drink the entire cup of God's wrath down to the very dregs. No dilution. No numbing. Jesus took it all.

And He took it all so that you might be saved. Your salvation doesn't come with anything extra attached or expected. Your salvation is the free gift of God through Jesus' death. Celebrate Jesus' willingness to suffer everything full-force for you today. Amen.