The Wondrous Cross
TEXT: Matt. 24:31,35; John 19:19; Matt. 27:39,40,46,50; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 2:13; Col. 1:20; Gal. 1:20; 6:14
INTRODUCTION
1. After Scripture reading have song leader Sing:
1) The Old Rugged Cross (vs. 1&2).
2) Beneath the Cross of Jesus (vs. 1&2).
3) When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (all verses).
2. Quietly take the song leaders place and begin with the words, "What do you see when you survey the Wondrous Cross?"
3. We know what the apostle Paul saw.
(Galatians 6:14 NKJV) But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
DISCUSSION:
I. What did those present at Calvary see when they surveyed the cross?
A. The Roman soldiers saw a robe to be coveted and gambled for
(John 19:23-24 NKJV) Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. {24} They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things.
B. The religious priest saw a rabble-rouser and a blasphemer worthy of death (John 19:6,7)
C. Like modern day rubber-necks stopping to gawk at and accident scene where death and carnage abounds …… Curious by-standers occupied the time by ogling the death and suffering
(Luke 23:35 NKJV) And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."
D. One criminal saw just another criminal being crucified
(Luke 23:39 NCV) One of the criminals on a cross began to shout insults at Jesus: "Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us."
E. Another criminal saw the hope of heaven.
(Luke 23:40-43 NKJV) But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? {41} "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." {42} Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." {43} And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
F. A ruler of the Sabbath saw a body that had to be disposed of before the Sabbath
(John 19:31 NKJV) Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
G. Joseph of Arimathaea saw a body to be lovingly laid to rest
(Luke 23:50-53 NKJV) Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. {51} He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. {52} This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. {53} Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
H. A Roman soldier was forced to exclaim
(Matthew 27:54 NKJV) So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
I. The God of heaven looked down and saw a cruel sacrifice of his only begotten Son (1 Cor. 15:3).
J. But what do you see when you survey the wondrous cross?
K. I cannot answer for you. I can only know what I see when I survey the Wondrous cross
II. When I survey the cross, I see first and foremost my own sin.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(1 Peter 2:24 NKJV) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
A. When I look at the cross I see the enormity and depravity of my sin.
B. When we look at the newspapers and TV we are sometimes overwhelmed by the depravity of unregerate man.
C. But there is not greater reminder of how serious my sin is than the Old Rugged cross.
(Luke 22:42 NKJV) saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
D. We don’t want to think about our sin.
E. We want to evade it cover it up justify ourselves.
F. When I tell Benson our Bassett to get of the couch, he looks the other way because he doesn’t want to hear me.
G. The purpose of the Bible is to bring men to the obedience of the cross.
(1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
H. If sin were all I could see when I surveyed the cross, there would be no reason for me to live.
III. When I survey the cross is see the word sin written in blood but then I see the hand of God reaching down from heaven erasing the sin and writing love.
A. We see the depth of God’s love
(1 John 3:1-3 NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. {3} And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
B. (John 3:16)
(2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NKJV) For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; {15} and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. {16} Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. {17} Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
IV. What do YOU see when you survey the cross.
A. If you are a faithful child of God you should see a reminder of our debt to god Paid in full.
B. If you are unsaved.
C. How would you like to be in the shoes of the men who nailed Christ to the cross.
D. If you are uncommitted.
(Luke 9:23-26 NKJV) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. {24} "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. {25} "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? {26} "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
(Hebrews 10:26-31 NIV) If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, {27} but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. {28} Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. {29} How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? {30} For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." {31} It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
