INTRODUCTION:
Beginning first with Matthew 27:33-44 New International Version (NIV)
33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Luke 23:34a (NIV)
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
John 19:25-27 (NIV) 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Luke 23:39-43 (NIV) 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV) 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Luke 23:46a (NIV)
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
John 19:30b (NIV)
Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Matthew 27:51-54 (NIV) 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[a] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
BODY:
In almost any church it is lifted up as the focal point in our worship services.
It is the most recognizable symbol that identifies Christianity.
What am I talking about? I'm talking about the Cross!
Crucifixion was a form of execution reserved for the worst offenders. It became the common form of execution for traitors, defeated armies, and rebellious slaves. It was officially accepted as the most painful and disgraceful form of capital punishment, more so than decapitation, being thrown to wild animals or even being burned alive. This tortuous execution was viewed by the Jews as a cursed form of death. Deuteronomy 21:23 states that “anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse.”
Why then is possibly the most cruel and gruesome form of capital punishment, the Cross, so celebrated and uplifted? Why is this symbol so precious to us? Why do we adorn our walls, clothes, and bodies with its likeness? Why would Jesus say to His followers that for them to be His disciple, they must carry a cross? Why does something so cursed, so terrible, so bloody give hope to millions? Why would so many cherish this symbol of torture and death?
And this is the reason: Salvation. Because who would have imagined that the Holy One of God would voluntarily take upon himself the curse that should have been ours?
But I think we forget and sterilize and water down the reality of what God did for us. It doesn't affect us as it should. We are desensitized to the awful truth of the cross. The awful truth is that God's Son endured all that … for what you did and for what I did and for the sins of humanity.
A lot of us look at our lives and we compare it with others. We say, “I'm not perfect but at least I'm not as bad as some are. And look at all the good I've done! Look at how much I do and never get a thank you! Isn't that worth something?” And so we justify ourselves. We justify our wrongs. We justify our sinfulness. We justify it by our supposed self-righteousness, never thinking for an instant that it has nothing to do with how good you are compared to someone else. It has to do with how good you are compared to God's standard of righteousness, of which we all FAIL! And we are all guilty!
Righteousness means a right relationship with God.
And I want to tell you today that either you know Him as your Lord and Savior in this life or you will know Him as your Judge in the next. I want to say that again: Either you know Him as your Lord and Savior in this lifetime or you will know Him as your Judge in the next.
Salvation is not an option among many. It is a choice between life and death!
Romans 6:23 New International Version (NIV) says…
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the OT the sacrifices that were given for sin always included a bloody death. Why? Because sin equals death no matter how small. What we earn, what we gain from our sins is death. That is the payment for choosing to disobey God, death. But the Gift… that must be received, that must be accepted, is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. You cannot earn salvation and you cannot give yourself eternal life. It comes as a gift from God to those who follow Christ.
The Bible says in Romans 4:25New International Version (NIV)
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
There are two main definitions for Justify. One means to show something to be reasonable. The other is this: to pardon and clear from guilt; to absolve or acquit from guilt and merited punishment. To Forgive!
Think of it this way: The root word is just, as in justice. Just means true, honest, blameless, innocent, guiltless, and conformed to the truth and to the rules of justice.
When Christ died on that cross for our sins, justice was served on your behalf. And when He rose from the dead, it was so you and I could live a new life as a brand new creation, blameless in Christ. Jesus was delivered over to death for your sins and he was raised to life for your justification so that you could be forgiven. But not just forgiven – set free.
1 Peter 2:24 New International Version (NIV) says...
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds, you have been healed.”
He bore our sins on the cross and died so that we might die to sins and live for what? Righteousness. Jesus died to give you a new life. Not a life of more sinning, but a life of righteousness, of holiness, of being set free from sin, a life of change. To Save You!
Illustration- There's a story about a rich old miser who lived on top of a hill in the midst of a forest in an empty mansion he built for himself. The house was built upon the property of his ancestors and he lived in the comfort provided to him by his family business. All the memories, possessions, pleasures, and comforts that made him happy were in this home.
But one day... one day the old rich man got a call. It was the fire department warning him that a forest fire had broken out and they were trying to stop it, but he might consider evacuating just in case.
The man thanked the fire chief, but promptly told him that he would be fine in his mansion on the hill.
As the hours passed by he received another call, this time from the mayor. The mayor informed him that the fire was out of control and they were unable to stop it thus far. The mayor was ordering everyone in the surrounding area to leave their homes and seek safety before it was too late.
The man thanked the mayor for his kindness but he insisted, “I'll be okay. I'm up on a hill and my house is well-built. I'll be just fine.” Despite the mayor's pleadings, the old man would not be moved.
Another hour passed and this time a helicopter could be heard outside his door and a megaphone voice boomed a third warning, “Sir, we've come to save you. The fire isn't being stopped. The flames are getting closer. Please come with us! It's not worth losing your life!” The old man got up from his chair opened the window and waved the fire rescue on. Nothing would make him leave the comfort of his life here. Finally, another call. This time his daughter pleaded with him, “Daddy, please get out of there. The fire is almost at your doorstep. I don't want to lose you!” But the old man insisted, “I've lived here my entire life. I've built this house to stand. It's not as bad as you say and I will not leave.” Soon the fire had reached the ole' mansion and the firefighters could not quench the flames and the man lost his life. He died with his mansion, his comfort, his memories, and all his possessions. All that was important to him. Some would say that it was worth it and some would say what a waste.
What would you say? What would you say about that? What if that old man is us?
Proverbs 16:25 New International Version (NIV) says...
25 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.
There is a way that we think is right, wise, important, happy, good, pleasurable, fun, enjoyable, comfortable, is the American way, is my right, is what I want and what I need, is what I understand as life, but in the end, it leads to death.
And this is why Jesus had to die. If we do not get this, then we miss the whole point of being a Christian, we miss the whole point of the Good News, and we miss the whole truth of the Gospel. Salvation for that old man was not one of many options that he could choose. It wasn't just a preference of lifestyle. It wasn't just someone's opinion for him. It was a reality that if he refused salvation, he was choosing death.
You see he thought he was choosing his wonderful house, his great life of pleasure and wealth and fun and comfort, but he was in reality choosing death. All of those things burned up with him.
There was a destiny that he could not avoid and a choice that he was forced to make. Salvation or death.
Don't you think for a minute that Jesus died just to make you a better person than you already are? No. No, Jesus died to save you from the sin that leads to death. He died so that you might live. And it doesn't matter... it doesn't matter that you are not as bad a sinner as some.
You are still in the same situation. The fire is coming. The calls have gone out. You're living in the mansion and the flames are getting closer and you refuse to be moved, to be saved.
Will you be saved?
CONCLUSION:
Summary- Why did Christ have to die? Why is the Cross, this cruel and unusual punishment device used to bring hope and freedom to so many? Because it illustrates two things: That sin brings death, but that God gives us life through Jesus Christ. That a life of sin means death, but life lived according to following and obeying God's Holy Spirit means life eternal and free.
I wonder if there's anyone here today who is kind of like that man living in his mansion on that hill. Oh, you're not rich by the world's standard, but you're awful comfortable and you've convinced yourself that this is all there is. Maybe you've trusted in some form of religion, that's why you're here today, but you haven't been saved. You haven't been saved.
And the fire coming. The judgment is coming for you. It can't be stopped. One day your number will be up and will you have chosen life or death, salvation or judgment?
Invitation- Please stand
