I Lay Down My Life
Oberammergau
When my daughter was only about two years old we went to Germany. One of the cities we visited over there was Oberammergau. Oberammergau is a crafters city and there were many crafters shops in that city filled with wood carved religious sculptures such as nativity scenes and crucifixes and images of Jesus carrying the cross.
Passion Play
Oberammergau is also famous for a Passion Play that they used to perform every year but now they perform it about once every 10 years. The year we were there they did not have the passion play going but that would have been awesome to see. The next one is 2020 if you wish to go see it - you can buy tickets online!
Began in 1634
Oberammergau was suffering from the Bubonic Plague. The surviving villagers appealed for Divine intervention to save their families. They vowed that if God were to spare them, they would perform a Passion Play every ten years. They say not a single person fell victim to the Plague after that. Keeping their promise, the people of Oberammergau performed the first play in 1634 and have continued to do so throughout the centuries.
Package Inclusions
$1350 Euros
Accommodation in a 3-5 Star Hotel
Ticket in the chosen category
Breakfast and Dinner Provided
Textbook
Bus Services to and from the performance
Jews - Crucify Him
So the city of Oberammergau got in trouble with the Jews because during the passing play where the crowd yells “Crucify Him”, the Jews say it’s biased because surely some of the crowd said no. So they made them change that part of the play to were some say crucify him and some say let Him.
Acts 23:13-24 (Crucify Him)
13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” [17] a
18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)
20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”
23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
Jews Bad Wrap
Now Jews have this wrap that they killed Jesus, right? They are trying to get rid of this wrap of course.
Who Killed Jesus?
So if a Jew comes to you and asks you who killed Jesus, what will you say?
Well, you know, there were several people groups there during Jesus’ crucifixion. The Romans, the Jews, others. But who particularly do you pin that blame on? I’m going to tell you who is certainly to blame for Jesus’ death! Maybe you’ll be surprised by my answer?
Jesus Allowed it!
John 10:7-18 (l lay down my life)
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
He Could Have Called 10k Angels!
Can anyone kill God? Of course not! Not the Jews, Not the Romans, Not anyone really, He laid down His life.
Like 4:28-30 (Walked through the crowd)
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Pain, Agony, Death - took our punishment
He with through the pain and agony not because Evil won but because Good won! He took the punishment we deserved, he took the death that we deserved, He paid for our sins on the cross. If He didn’t give up willingly and lay down His life, we could not be saved.
John 15:9-17 No Greater Love than this
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Our Sins put Him there! We are the ones to blame!!!
So if you want to blame someone? We need to blame ourselves. Our sins put Him there. Even while we were sinners He died for us! He loved us so much and He knew we could not save ourselves.
Could you pay that debt? NO! - well, yes.
Can you pay for your own Sin debt? No way? The wages of sin is death - but not just death but the second death which is the Lake of Fire for all eternity! So if you reject His free gift then you will pay for your sins forever down there? You are not good enough to escape it.
This was His purpose, This was His destiny!
His Love His Life - Will You Accept it?
He offers His love and His life to save you? Will you accept His gift of salvation or will you reject it and go to pay for your sins?
And If you love Him back - keep His commandments.
