The Cross

The Cross

April 17, 2011

Introduction

The cross! It has come to be the symbol for Christianity. In our world, and in our country, there are many who would love to do away with the symbol of the cross. Next Sunday, the thoughts of many will be focused on Easter. What is Easter? The name itself is not found in most English Bibles because it is not found in the Greek New Testaments, but to most people today, they associate Easter with the resurrection of Christ from the grave.

The New Testament puts three things together, the death, burial, and resurrection, and calls this the gospel. (1 Cor 15:1-4 NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, {2} by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. {3} For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

This morning we focus our attention on His death and what it means to us.

Body

I. What did the cross mean to Jesus?

He knew the cross was part of God’s plan for Him, and, of course, for us.

\(Mat 16:21-23 NKJV) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. {22} Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" {23} But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

1. He set His face to go to Jerusalem.

(Luke 9:51-53 NKJV) Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, {52} and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. {53} But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

2. Being the Son of Man, He wished He could be delivered.

(Mat 26:36-39 NKJV) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." {37} And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. {38} Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." {39} He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

His agony about the cross was very real.

(Luke 22:41-44 NKJV) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, {42} saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." {43} Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. {44} And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

He was scourged and crucified.

(John 19:1-5 NKJV) So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. {2} And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. {3} Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands. {4} Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." {5} Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!"

II. What does the cross show us?

A. It is the demonstration of God’s love for us.

(John 3:14-17 NKJV) "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, {15} "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. {16} "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. {17} "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

B. It is demonstration of Christ’s love for us.

(John 15:13 NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

III. What does the cross mean for us?

It means there is a cross for us also.

(Mat 10:38-39 NKJV) "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. {39} "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

1. He repeated the thought a few chapters later.

(Mat 16:24-26 NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. {25} "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. {26} "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

2. He repeated it for the “rich young ruler.”

(Mark 10:21 NKJV) Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

It means we are to love others as He loved us.

(John 15:12-13 NKJV) "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. {13} "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

Our faith in Christ may cost us our lives.

(Heb 11:35-38 NKJV) Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. {36} Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. {37} They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; {38} of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

Conslusion

I. We began our study talking about the gospel, so let’s conclude with the gospel.

1 Cor 15:1-4 NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, {2} by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. {3} For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, {4} and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

II. We must obey the gospel.

(2 Th 1:7-8 NKJV) and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, {8} in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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